Thursday 14 June 2007

Aztec Camera - Mattress of Wire


https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/707628063/

Aztec Camera
A Mattress of Wire / Lost Outside the Tunnel
Postcard Records
Postcard 81-8 (1981)

Roddy Frame's second, and indeed last, release on Postcard before moving on to Rough Trade. This disc was also the last one issued on the label -if you go by the Cat. N°- during it's initial incarnation. In fact, I'm not too sure if this came out before or after Josef K's 'The Only Fun in Town' (Postcard 81-7) album. Releases tended to be a bit erratic with Postcard 81-6; Orange Juice's 'Wan Light' single never being released at all. The track eventually surfaced on the band's 'You Can't Hide Your Love Forever' album.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/707628063/




https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/707628063/

The 'A Mattress of Wire' single, like some the earlier limited-edition releases, also featured original artwork. A move away from the previous generic 'cowboy' and 'kilties' type sleeves. The 'drumming kitten' logo remains a permanent fixture appearing both on the back of the sleeve and on the yellow 'tartan' label.Front cover features what looks like a painting of some young Roman emperor with a yellowish (sort of pale ochre) background like the colouring used by the Greeks and Romans on the walls of their villas and other buildings way back then. As I bought this in Belgium, my copy still has the original price sticker of 95 Belgian francs on it. I don't want to remove it in case I damage the sleeve. Back sleeve has the Rough Trade distribution sticker in the bottom, right corner. There's no mention of who did the artwork for this release.
 

Attention Trainspotters !
A rare postcard version of 'A Mattress of Wire' also exists and was released on the Czecheslovakian label B+H Records. Rather strange item which has grooves on the front so you can play it on your turntable. Never actually seen one myself.
(source: killermontstreet.com)



All images ©japanese forms


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