Best Physicals of the Month: March 2021
Updated: May 3, 2021
At the end of each month here on Celadon Plaza, we like to highlight our favorite Vaporwave physical releases. Although the past month brought us many top notch releases, we’ll be narrowing it down to the top 3 that we most enjoyed and personally picked up.
March was a busy first month here on Celadon Plaza, with a plethora of physicals across the Vaporwave scene that we decided to grab. It’s a tough hobby in collecting Vaporwave, especially in 2021. The past 2 years have proven that quite literally almost any album can be pressed onto vinyl (we just got Yes! We’re Open on vinyl for goodness sake). The number of small cassette only labels featuring works by more underrated artists grows by the day as well. It becomes increasingly hard, especially when on a budget as most people are, to pick and choose their favorite releases to own on a physical format. With releases happening almost daily, it can be near impossible at times.
With that being said, here are some of the best of the best from the month of March. The cream of the crop of physical vaporwave. The releases that made us decide they were worth owning physically, a high standard indeed. These three are not the only great ones from the past month by any stretch, but they were the ones that overwhelmingly jumped out to us.
Chuck Person’s Eccojams Vol 1 - Chuck Person
Rollin Recs - Vinyl (Unofficial Pressing)
It was only a matter of time.
Daniel Lopatin, Chuck Person himself, has been on the record encouraging fans of the album to bootleg it themselves on cassette if they never picked up one of the original copies.
But the day has finally come for lovers of vinyl. Nobody knows who did it or how, but the album that started the entire Vaporwave movement has found its way to wax. Eccojams was pressed on stunning deep blue vinyl with a label featuring art from the album cover. Speaking of which, the album cover is of the utmost high quality, especially for bootleg standards. The art has been extended nicely to the back of the jacket and the package even includes an insert featuring a review of the album and a picture of Lopatin himself. Its a very nice touch that didn’t need to be done; a sign that whoever bootleged this understands its importance to the Vaporwave Community. The music speaks for itself; without it, we wouldn't be writing this post here today, nor would Vaporwave exist. Expect a full review on this unique product in the coming weeks.
Favorite Track: A2
ダウンタンブルと死にます ep - haircuts for men
Self Released - Cassette
Relaxing, bold, high energy and otherworldly are all words I’d use to describe this entry into HFM’s catalogue. It’s been one of my favorite works of his for years and seeing it get a tape reissue this past March was a welcome sight, given that the original Bedlam Tapes cassette was misprinted with side A on both sides. The bright orange of the tape matches the hue of the busts on the front cover and the sound emulates that of a smoke filled longue in the 1980’s while sipping on a cocktail.
Favorite Track: 手紙, は保つ
おはよう ATHLETICS! - death’s dynamic shroud
Self Released - Cassette (NUWRLD Mixtape Club Exclusive)
Philadelphia based Death’s Dynamic Shroud’s fifth entry into their “NUWRLD Mixtape” series finds an album featuring a satirical take on the world of sports and athletic competition. It’s not a world often explored in Vaporwave, with one of the only other examples I can think of being the 2014 album World War Olympics (coincidentally also by DDS), but it’s definitely a theme I’d love to see explored more. DDS’ sample choices reflect the feel of a sporting event in an empty and hollow way and the high quality j-card artwork is equal parts confusing and beautiful. It’s a great album and one I would honestly recommend joining their Mixtape club for alone. You really just have to listen to it to understand it.
Favorite Track: Hospital Pass
(Support them to listen the track and album here)
That's all for the Top 3 March list. Remember to subscribe to our email list to get Weekly Physical Updates and as always, check out our Release Archive to stay up to date on every Vaporwave Cassette and Vinyl release.
Until next time, hope to see you around the Plaza!