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Sonic Archives Sonic Archives
  • Sound
  • Touch
  • Smell
  • Taste
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Op-Eds & Cheap Comments
  • Sight
  • Blog
May 02

Spooks!

Every now and then I have to break away from the industry aspect of the music biz, and tackle a pet project just for the fun of it. This time it was an old cassette that Peter Jesperson loaned to me many years ago, of Curtiss A's early band, Spooks,... read more →
  • May 2, 2024
  • Audio 101, Recordings Of Independent Origin, Twin Cities Music Archives
May 02

Lathe-cut Plunderphonics!

Here's a little blast from my early adventures in lathe-cutting : A nifty Plunder-phonics styled track I created entirely from dozens of vinyl scrubs; embedded in my very first 5" record, created at Mike Dixon's Lathe Camp in Tucson, 2018. https://videopress.com/v/VLmQoNzn?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fsonicarchives.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fbrazil-goes-to-the-byrds_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Can anyone identify the original source LP I used... read more →
  • May 2, 2024
  • Audio 101, Recordings Of Independent Origin
May 01

An Introduction to Lathe-Cut Records

A lathe-cut record is small-batch art. It was made by hand, one-at-a-time, in real time, on a polycarbonate (plexiglass) medium, using machines built in the 1930s & '40s. The embossing process presses the sound into the medium with a stylus made of tungsten or sapphire as the music is playing.... read more →
  • May 1, 2024
  • Audio 101
Feb 18

Catching Up With The Past

This post is dedicated to a clever troll - tapesfor2 - who once publicly posted this nice comment about my efforts to preserve the Sonic Archives tape collection: "You shouldn't have. His recordings were at 'best' personal souvenirs. They were not quality recordings. They should not be shared. Those tapes... read more →
  • February 18, 2024
  • Live Music Archive, Portland Music Archives, Recordings Of Independent Origin, Tampa Music Archives, Twin Cities Music Archives
Jan 17
One of a series of mock First Avenue calendars; circa 1983

Mpls band archives

During the ’70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and early oughts, I worked at The Longhorn Bar, First Avenue, and the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis. Throughout those years, I worked at a handful of record shops in New York and Minneapolis, wrote for Your Flesh magazine, and several US weeklies, including City Pages,... read more →
  • January 17, 2024
  • Live Music Archive, Recordings Of Independent Origin, Twin Cities Music Archives
May 08

Matisyahu & Wookiefoot • 2004-10-31 • Mpls MN • Cabooze

Matisyahu, on the verge of becoming huge, in a small club, wove his songs into the Wookiefoot set, who then backed him during his own set. [link to audio below]• • • • MatisyahuWookiefootMinneapolis, MNThe CaboozeSunday, 31 October 2004 Matisyahu: start (0:17) Matisyahu: title unknown (1:57) Matisyahu: beatbox (0:55) Matisyahu:... read more →
  • May 8, 2023
  • Live Music Archive, Portland Music Archives, Recordings Of Independent Origin, Twin Cities Music Archives
May 08

Mike Watt 1998-05-24

Mpls MN • 7th St. Entry Watt + The Black Gang rip through the complete Contemplating The Engine Room opera, plus a few covers by Daniel Johnston, Wire, and Blue Oyster Cult [link to audio below] • • • • Mike Watt And The Black GangMinneapolis MN7th St Entry24 May... read more →
  • May 8, 2023
  • Live Music Archive, Recordings Of Independent Origin, Twin Cities Music Archives
May 08

Quasi 2023-03-05

Portland OR • Doug Fir Lounge Quasi delivered a pretty good representation of just about every one of their albums since 1993, and even threw in a Breeders cover for good measure [link to audio below] • • • • QuasiPortland ORDoug Fir LoungeSunday 5 March 2023(3pm all-ages matinee show)Duration:... read more →
  • May 8, 2023
  • Live Music Archive, Portland Music Archives, Recordings Of Independent Origin
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Hi, my name is J.Free, and I wear a few different hats!

Get in Touch

E-Mail: info@sonicarchives.com

The Sonic Archives Recording Company:
Small-run lathe-cut records made by hand – if you’re interested in a unique alternative to traditional factory-pressed records for your band or musical project.

Record Rescue Rehab Restore:
For the last 40 years or so, I’ve been buying and selling vintage vinyl records. If you’re looking for a hard-to-find vinyl record; or if you have a collection of records you would like to sell, please get in touch with me!

The DJ Hypnos Sound System:
Not your usual DJ – If you have a special event that calls for something a little different, how about a space-age blast of rhythm, soul, jazz and pop, at all speeds!

While you’re here, why not take a look around and check out some of the bands I’ve played in, and some early writing and visual art from the past few decades. You just never know…

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