A couple of days ago I got a package from Get Into It Records. They're based in Newcastle Upon Tyne and possibly more punk than you. I first heard of them when they made CD Copies of Brush Yr Teeth, Again by Dads and I check back as often as possible, picking up what I can on the way.
I'll talk about two releases from GIIR in this post. Two bands. Different formats. Vastly different musical styles. Both absolutely incredible. Let's get going.
The first release I'll wax lyrical about is Breathe by Fractions. I believe this is their debut release. In a nutshell, Fractions play a charming crossover of synth driven electro-pop with some goth undertones. Kind of spooky, kind of sad and very cute. Oh, and there's remixes. Good ones at that.
I'm not sure camera phones do cassette tapes much justice, but I really like the look of this release. The colours of the J-Card match the cassette shell and the it all seems to flow quite well. This is part 3 of the Singles Series that Get Into It are running. All cassettes, all limited to 60. Similar layouts. All different bands. Singles Series' have always been of great intrigue to me, but I'm always put off by the fact that you have to buy into a selected time frame and gamble on what you'll get, both in terms of quantity and quality. Get Into It don't mess with that nonsense here, you can buy what you like.
Back of the case and B-Side of the shell. Aside from the A/B markings, the shell layout is identical and the music plays on both sides. Kind of handy, as the handful of times I have played this, it has been popped straight back in and played again. GIIR logos on each side of the shell, track listing and Single Series number along with band title and release name. Similar information is on the back of the J-Card on display.
Spine view of the cassette case. This is GIIR #16. Cool label logos everywhere on this release. Someone paid great attention to detail as far as layout and art direction are concerned, but it's not credited on the physical so you'll have to head over to the GIIR store to find that one out. Also, for anyone who moans about tapes being awful in terms of audio quality, this sounds considerably better than most, even through my shoddy cassette deck.
Finally, a small insert inside the cassette case with some extra artwork, along with media contact regarding Fractions. Also, another GIIR logo, along with label designations for the release (GIIR#16 // SS#03). Seems to be a bunch of eyes in the Get Into It artwork, I'd kind of like to know what that's about. Saying that, they seem like spooky dudes, as aside from churning out some sweet releases, they make spirit boards in their spare time. Won't stop me from picking one up mind.
On to the next. These are the order the releases are logged on their webstore, so I assume this record is GIIR#17.
Healing Powers S/T 7''. Unlike Fractions, I had been previously acquainted with this lot, courtesy of a split cassette featuring the band Wade. That also came out on Get Into It, but from the looks of things that's long gone. I ramble, on to the record. The front sleeve looks to be stamped with a leaf pattern, make of that what you will. I feel it greatly sums up the content.
B- Side and back cover. The lettering on the back simply reads: Healing Powers // Wolf Town DIY // Get Into It Recs. From the look of this and the B-Side you get to see that the packaging kind of tells you only what you really need to know. The record itself especially brings out the inner geek in me, as to tell the sides apart before playing it, you have to delve into the matrix numbers looking for any identifying markers on each side (there are, but it's not A/B like they sometimes are) and count the run off grooves to tell what is what. The sleeve has these folded creases along the bottom and right hand edges, looking more like an envelope and kind of feeling like one too. It's a very DIY affair, as all of these sleeves were hand stamped and could well be hand cut. With 250 of these in existence, that's a fair amount of stamping and cutting. The record then sits in a dust cover and slots in the sleeve along the folded edges.
On to the insert. Single sheet, two sided black and white deal. The main photograph is used as the cover on the GIIR Bandcamp and may well be the original art. I like both, and the more art there is in a sleeve, the more likely you are to really pay attention to what's going on.
Reverse side of the insert, and we see the leaf logo again. The top left illustration really got me thinking. It looks like a manual for a rocket of some description. But a bit closer to home, it reminds me of the illustrations on the S/T Orchid 7'' and I adore the art on that release, so it's another reason I'm really finding myself spending a bunch of time with this one.
Next to the leaf is the track-listing and lyrics. This band have stepped up their game massively compared to the split release. I enjoy that too, but the lyrics are really developed here. Everything just seems to have been turned up a notch. I don't tend to delve too much in to the sonic elements of a release here, but this has got me excited. Those guitar tones...
Beneath is a small thank you to Get Into It and Wolf Town DIY for putting this out, and a thanks to Bob Cooper who recorded the EP. For those that don't know, Bob Cooper has recorded a whole host of great bands, Nai Harvest and Self Defense Family spring to mind.
Long story short, if you don't know now you know. Great label, great bands. Both releases are very different in most aspects but very similar in some. Both releases are incredible, and are presented in a way that appeal to any collector nerd, but for different reasons. Basically, the dudes at Get Into It Recs are some clever fellas, keep an eye out.
LISTEN: http://getintoitrecords.bandcamp.com/
BUY: http://getintoitrecords.limitedrun.com/
LURK: http://getintoitrecords.tumblr.com/
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