Kvatch and Sha-la-la flexidiscs

Baby Lemonade Flexi

The Kvatch flexidisc came with issue#6 of Clare’s fanzine, while Sha-la-la was a flexidisc label set up by Matt, Jim Kavanagh (Simply Thrilled fanzine), Pete Williams (Baby Honey/Searching For The Young Soul Rebels) and David Payne (Trout Fishing In Leytonstone). Flexidiscs had been around for years, but usually as unsleeved, gimmicky, promo freebies taped to the cover of a magazine. Ours came in proper sleeves because we wanted them to be treated as proper records – albeit records that were the complete antithesis of all the exploitatively expensive 12″ singles and emotionally manipulative multi-format 7″s that independent labels had succumbed to in mimicry of the majors (the Sha-la-la flexis were actually only 6½”, just for good measure).

Most of our flexis featured two bands, with each band providing the artwork for one side of the sleeve. In a couple of cases the artwork was done jointly, but we’ve included front and back images anyway, just so it all matches. And if you’re wondering about the ba ba ba-ba ba catalogue numbers… it’s a quote from the coda of Hip Hip by Hurrah!

As ever, click on any sleeve to enlarge.

KVATCH

ClingfilmBaby Blue Marine

KVATCH 001

THE SEA URCHINS: Clingfilm

THE GROOVE FARM: Baby Blue Marine

SHA-LA-LA

ThrowawayJenny Nowhere

ba ba ba-ba ba 001

The “Bring Back Throwaway Pop” EP

MIGHTY MIGHTY: Throwaway (Throwaway Version)

THE CLOUDS: Jenny Nowhere

I Told You SoSad Kaleidoscope

ba ba ba-ba ba 002

The “Who Needs The Bloody Cartel Anyway?” EP

TALULAH GOSH: I Told You So

RAZORCUTS: Sad Kaleidoscope

Jiffy Neckwear CreationGirl Of Your Dreams

ba ba ba-ba ba 003

BABY LEMONADE: Jiffy Neckwear Creation

THE BACHELOR PAD Girl Of Your Dreams

Postcard For FlossyPostcard For Flossy reverse

ba ba ba-ba ba 004

Postcard For Flossy EP

THE POPPYHEADS: Sun Shines Forever; Changes Yesterday;
First Thing; On And On

SummershineFrom This Day

ba ba ba-ba ba 005

THE SEA URCHINS: Summershine

THE ORCHIDS From This Day

Wherever You GoThe Sun Slid Down Behind The Tower

ba ba ba-ba ba 006

THE SIDDELEYS: Wherever You Go

RESERVE The Sun Slid Down Behind The Tower

Hey Hey HateThe Old Stone Bridge

ba ba ba-ba ba 007

REMEMBER FUN: Hey Hey Hate

EMILY The Old Stone Bridge

It's TrueGoldmining

ba ba ba-ba ba 008

THE MAGIC SHOP: It’s True

THE VISITORS Goldmining