It feels like many, if not most, Record Store Day “limited edition” releases are put out in quantities that way exceed their actual demand. This is evidenced by how many shops have RSD “remainder” sections, often bursting at the seems with “limited” releases that no one wants. Look – I’m not a RSD hater. I like it, and it’s been a boon to a lot of indie record stores, and I’ve picked up plenty of the titles. But there’s also a lot of stuff put out every year that just feels unnecessary. Was anyone really desperate for a picture disc version of The Cure’s 1985 album The Head on the Door (“limited” to 8,250 copies)? I’m all for the live releases and anything that is truly “new” to the marketplace, but I hate the idea of pressing plants being booked up with a bunch of stuff that no one is asking for.
There are, of course, some interesting RSD releases (disclaimer –> one man’s interesting is another man’s complete and utter indifference, or even active dislike) – things that are new and actually limited. One such title came out earlier this year – Biggi Maus & The Bigital Orchestra’s Dead Pigeon Society. Following the the band Maus going on hiatus at the end of 2004, Biggi (aka Birgir Örn Steinarsson) embarked on a solo quest. While in the UK he met a group of classical music students and began to perform and record with them. The material on Dead Pigeon Society was originally recorded with this group between 2005 and 2007, but per a Facebook post by Biggi (translated below) the material was largely forgotten.
But what happened to this album? No streaming services, no money, no interest from record companies and I mentally like an old vacuum cleaner – had no strength to finish the work. The recordings were forgotten on hard drives. Life took over, studies, marriage and children and the album was unfinished for too long for it to make sense to finish it… until now!
And I for one am glad he re-discovered these songs and put them out. Stylistically Dead Pigeon Society is a bit hard to describe. Separate parts indie, folk, psych, shoegaze, and maybe even hints of free jazz and reggae, the songs could be just as at home in the 1970s as today. Even when the tracks wander they follow a path that, while not straight, is still defined, the musicians balancing what feels like improvisation with an understanding of where one another will go, keeping it on the rails. “Just Like the End” is probably my favorite, the slow beginning transitioning to a pulsing and slightly desperate middle, the bass propelling it forward while the drums almost try to hold it back just a little, but to no avail. But picking favorites on an album like this feels a little disingenuous
“It will be released on vinyl in such a small edition that it could be called an endangered species in album,” Biggi wrote on Facebook, and he wasn’t lying – Dead Pigeon Society was limited to 100 copies, and accordig to Biggi it will never be re-pressed. Copies are already in the $50 or so range, and since almost all were sold in Iceland you’ll have to deal with the shipping on top of that. Fortunately, however, it’s on Spotify and many of the other streaming services, so at least you can experience the music. And you really should check it out – it’s an intriguing listen.