Stream Half Japanese’s Surprise, Six-Sided Bingo Ringo EP
Longtime art-punk band Half Japanese influenced countless groups, most notably Neutral Milk Hotel and Nirvana (Kurt Cobain was allegedly wearing a Half Japanese shirt when he died). The lineup changed countless times with the inimitable Jad Fair as the sole permanent member. Their catalog spans from 1977 to the present, including seven EPs, 14 LPs, and three live albums. And today, that discography grows by one. Half Japanese’s surprise six-sided, six-track EP Bingo Ringo is out today in a limited edition of only 173 handmade lathe-cut records designed by Mike Dixon. The vinyl will have three spindle holes, each having its own groove on either side of the record for the needle to follow. That’s a lot of technological innovation, but musically, fans will instantly recognize the untuned guitar and punk talk-singing that have become Fair’s calling cards. Listen to the EP and watch a tutorial on how to play the six-sided vinyl below.
Bingo Ringo is out today on Joyful Noise. Buy it here.