Hereditary Obligation

INFO

10 years ago, JAROD ISENBARGER (artist, musician, and owner of In Case of Emergency Press) held an art exhibit titled "Hereditary Obligation" at the Art Hospital in Bloomington, Indiana. The exhibit featured pieces such as an antique chair with nails protruding from the seat, lithograph printings of teeth piles, and other macabre creations. At a slightly later date, an accomplice collaborated with JAROD on a recording to match the exhibit's eerie nature. Never before released, this is that recording. "Hereditary Obligation" features 3 minutes of teeth grinding captured with a contact microphone inside JAROD's mouth, amplifying every exhale, inhale, and pure enamel on enamel collision. The result is subtle, but pervasive - evoking a disconcerting feeling inside that is a perfect manifestation of the title's heavy meaning.

This is one of the most unique releases we've ever published, and the audio content is merely the beginning. Each copy was meticulously examined from a water-damaged, smelly, moldy box of dental x-ray's that JAROD had collected, with many of them labeled with the year 1960. The center holes were then manually punched out, and the x-rays hand-cut with a razor blade into a perfect circle. Using a Rek-o-Kut record lathe from the 1950's, we lathe-cut the track in mono with a New Old Stock Soviet Russian clear sapphire stylus. These materials and process are a near exact recreation of the famous "ribs" records, which were black market items used to smuggle Western music into Soviet Russia from artists which were banned from being broadcast. All of this combines to form a truly one of a kind release that is unlike anything we've ever made before.

In addition to our standard "lathe cut" info below, we want to stress the fragility of these x-ray records, as well their slightly warped nature from being nearly 60 years old. Some turntable adjustments and extra weight on the disc might be necessary for smooth playback.

Notice: Due to the hand-made nature of lathe cut records, the fidelity & consistency of each copy will vary slightly. An assortment of audio ailments such as dropouts, warble, pitch-bending, static, crackle, hiss & extreme frequency shifting are to be expected, and all flaws which may arise are entirely condoned as adding cohesion to the release concept.

PACKAGING

• Round 7" lathe cut X-ray
• Clear picture disc sleeve
• Screen-printed black on white sticker
• Screen-printed white on clear sticker
• Serial numbered in black ink

Tracklisting

A1 – 03:00 – Hereditary Obligation