S/D -- The Numero Group

tyler I agree, theres something about the cd format that suits big sets like that, and the price difference between a 2 or 3 CD set and a 4 or 6 LP box is usually insane. The last 12 months I've been having a great time snapping up 2ndhand copies of all the CD box sets that I coveted over the last 10-15 years for peanuts.

yeah, and numero at least put some care/thought into their CD design. maybe they don't look quite as cool on your shelf as the LPs, but they're still cool.

their 24-carat black CD has a handsome all-black embossed slipcase iirc
http://www.numerogroup.com/d/24-carat-black-gone-the-promises-of-yesterday

I'd say a reissue label like The Numero Group saying they are done pressing cds is a another sign that the format is really getting near the end.

Pretty much. Although Numero's stuff is pretty niche, so I imagine justifying the expenses (packaging etc.) going into their CDs isn't something other reissue labels have to consider. OTOH, I have noticed that other Boutique American Indie Reissue Labels recent CD titles are frequently 'unofficial' limited editions, as in they do initial press run, and that's it.

What's weird is that I assumed some of these more niche labels might be the ones to keep CDs going a little longer, but I guess this is another step along the inevitable path of the format's forced death. As tyler points out, it'll be a shame when big archival sets are only on super expensive vinyl packages.

Yeah, but I think they put a bit more into their discs packaging-wise than most other labels (even the majors). They've been very mindful of what their fans actually acquire. They phased out download cards a few years ago, and a couple years back they announced they were scaling back CD production to single press runs on new titles and no represses on catalogue stuff. They've also leaned harder on vinyl and curated streaming playlists, the latter being something few in their field have done to that extent.

They never had download cards in their lps, if that’s what you mean?

Hmm, if it wasn't them, then what label did make a big deal a few years ago about discontinuing them? It was discussed somewhere on ILM.

the Buttons comp is tremendously fun power pop

Well, I just spent a bunch of money.

If you're bargain hunting, don't just stick to the sale page linked above--I found several titles for $6 that were not listed on that page (Express Rising, Los Alamos Grind).

Ah, good tip! Of course, I already have $106 worth of stuff in my cart. sigh

Welp, I just spent $114.

Wish that Willie Wright was on sale, but happy with my haul

Very tempted to buy one of each of the Eccentric Soul discs but limited myself to the two Deep City comps, Bandit, and Capsoul. Found Spirit Free for the sale price in the non-sale section (thanks, Hideous Lump!), and bought a bunch of early Christmas presents for my proto metal and power pop pals. Good sale!

Dang, wish i'd thought to look beyond the sale page! Oh well - I kept myself in check due to spending a fortune on records last week, but picked up the Jackie Shane set, Basement Beehive, Good God: A Gospel Funk Hymnal, and Eccentric Soul: A Red Black & Green Production

If you like salsa or 70s latin music at all, the salsa boricua de Chicago comp is soooooooo good -- excellent liner notes as well, very informative and great photos!!

Express Rising is amazing

Come to me Bedhead live disc

Another unexpected bonus:

They gave me links to download MP3 copies of every CD I ordered. In most cases, if the LP version has exclusive tracks, you get them with the MP3 download.

Again I've never seen a download copy in a Numero LP...?

Oh, I guess you aren't talking about MP3 download cards.

No, they just appeared on an Audio Downloads page on my account. After ordering sale CDs, they sent me this email:

"Due to popular demand, the Numero Group is paying a brief visit to the 21st Century to deliver you these popular packets of bits known as MPEG-2 Audio Layer IIIs, or mp3s as the kids are calling them. Enjoy your digital audio files by logging back into your account and downloading them to your preferred device or brain implant."

they had download cards for the first project 12

I decided to splurge on the Unwound box set. It's only 20 quid or so more than what I paid for the Husker Du one two years ago, so I reason that's a great deal for 11 discs and a book.

prices have gone back up. I assumed that until the 6th August included the 6th August.
Well I got some stuff. Was just thinking of grabbing more thgough.
Do wish they weren't dropping cds though.

Also discovered that pretty much all of the Numero group stuff is up on bandcamp which is useful.

I’m eternally grateful to Numero for reissuing that Jordan De La Sierra album, the most beautiful cloudy piano minimalism I’ve ever heard

THought that Willie Wright was in the sale possibly cos I discovered it on the bandcamp page. It does sound really good so shame it won't be around in that media though that label again. Is anybody else likely to pick things up on cd or is the death knell slowly tolling. I do find it a convenient format but maybe it is just too easy to copy.
Also just found the Happy Rhodes and Medusa over the last couple of days. THink medusa may have been talked about elsewhere when it was first out but somehow never got around to getting it.
ho hum.

anyone check out the seafaring strangers private label soft rock one from a couple years ago? stumbled on it this week and it's putting me in a great mood.

that “back to the streets” song is dope as hell. First heard it on the first soft rock for hard times mix.

yeah that song is a banger. the whole comp is a lot of fun, some goofy jams and some stuff that is genuinely inspired. "don't it make you feel" sounds like a cass mccombs tune. "madam operator" is just smooth as hell.

Ha, bang-on re: the Cass-ness of that "Don't It Make You Feel" track; also not worlds away from Donnie & Joe Emerson in terms of contemporaries--cool Beach Boys-y bass harmonica on that one, too.

hah yeah i love the harmonica hits. great arranging.

that “back to the streets” song is dope as hell

love that one, amazing song

http://www.numerogroup.com/d/reach-ride-the-algorithm

haha, i've read the email, i read part of that, i read the product page - and only now do i understand that no, there's not going to be a tracklist

TRACK LIST

Lenny White - Enchanted Pool Suite: Prelude & Part 1
Masumi HaraTo - Live In The Sea
Alex Johnson - The Kiss
LaRhonda LeGette - Thou Art With Me
Ascending Wave Modulation - Del Sol
A.R.T. Wilson - Past Life Regression
John D. Curnow - Wisconsin Bird Songs
Calvin Keys - Touch
Suse Millemann - Open Heart-Hawk Belly
Batang Frisco - Myth
Bob Siebert - Rain
Reach - Gold Dust Twins

whoops

Ascending Wave - Modulation Del Sol*

that Bob Siebert album is gorgeous, I got a cd of it that has some newer solo piano bonus tracks.. kind of a jazzy debussy-ish thing? very very cool. I asked them via email if they were planning on doing a physical release of the (also hot) Calvin Keys album that “touch” comes from... they said they’re partnering with another label to put it out later this year.

Great article!

oh duh, thanks Evan! i didn't see there was another tab on the website with the tracklist.

bummer though, i already know all of those songs inside-out

Gotta say I'm not a big fan of the move towards gimmicky packaging at the expense of actual liner notes. I understand the appeal of building an alternate reality with all the kayfabe stuff (Numero 95 and etc.), but context is one of the main things physical releases still have over browsing youtube or whatever.

Also if I'm reading the liner notes while listening that means I'm not on my phone.

yeah. the imaginary/conceptual releases are a fun idea in the abstract, an interesting take on how a reissue label continues and stays fresh in the 2020s, but I agree that I'm not terribly interested in reissue comps with fake liner notes or none at all.

It just bums me out so much that one of the few reissue labels that put so much time, care and thoughtfulness into their packaging is moving further and further away from physical releases. I mean, I get that physical media for reissues is a niche within a niche at this point, but if a label with the quality control and respect of Numero can't keep it up, it doesn't give me a lot of faith for other labels.

I'm not paying a ton of attention so I'm really asking here- is that what is happening? Or is it that they're expanding their catalog overall but most of the expansion is digital format?

I think it's the latter, so far, but they have explicitly said they aren't doing CDs anymore and hinted multiple times that they may be scaling back vinyl as well.

this gimmicky stuff is incredibly lame, did they determine that most people don’t read liner notes or something? depressing.

what release are y'all talking about?

xp ive always assumed its a combination of them looking at the decline in physical sales plus the idea of them prepping the 247th comp of local soul singles from Wichita Falls or w/e and thinking they need to find a different way forward

which i can relate to, but as a fan of lavishly notated historical reissues is still a drag

I remain totally baffled by this conversation

are the liners for that Reach comp fake or something?

Sorry, I was talking more generally wrt what they've been saying about physical releases in general. I'm not sure which comp has the fake(?) liners.