Pressing Matters Jennifer McCormick Director Helium London 020 7242 5311 [email protected] Register to bid at www.heliumlondon.com First Edition, 2021 Published by Pavement Licker Design & artwork by: James-Lee Duffy Words & editing by: Josh Jones Main photography by: Dan Wilton B/W photography by: Tom Medwell & PRESENT CURATED BY A simple concept: Ask musicians, labels and managers to donate vinyl, test pressings and acetates of their records. Then give them to contemporary artists to use as a blank canvas, auction them and give all the money raised to Music Support. *Test pressings and acetates are described as such in this book Alex May Hughes Sonic Youth Barry Reigate Yungblud Cold War Steve Sleaford Mods David Shrigley Chic Fred Coppin Sam Fender Gavin Turk The Rolling Stones Grace Neutral Charli XCX Ian Bruce Róisín Murphy James Joyce Fatboy Slim Jamie Reid Slowthai Jean Jullien Idles Jeremy Deller James Blake Jess Wilson Robbie Williams John Isaacs James Lavelle Joy Yamusangie Underworld Larry Achiampong Michael Kiwanuka Lucy Pass Kano Marcus James Skunk Anansie Neale Howells Manic Street Preachers Nettie Wakefield Kim Gordon Patrick Morales-Lee The Horrors Paul Insect Arctic Monkeys Penny Blink 182 Pure Evil Pet Shop Boys Ralph Steadman The Who Remi Rough Depeche Mode Sarah Maple Frank Turner Seana Gavin LCD Soundsystem Shepard Fairey The Clash Thomas J Price The Prodigy Vhils Tricky Will Martyr Coldplay Zoltar Bicep It’s well documented that I’m a huge fan of The Clash, so when the Pavement Licker guys offered me the opportunity to create an art piece on a rare, signed London Calling vinyl for the Pressing Matters exhibition, it was a no brainer for me. The fact it was donated by Topper Headon makes it even more special. Music Support do a fantastic job supporting folks in the music industry with mental health and addiction issues who might otherwise not know where to turn for help, so I’m glad to be involved in a great show that will continue their good work. We all have struggles in life but with the right support, as Joe Strummer said, “the future is unwritten”. Shepard Fairey Really buzzing to be a part of this project and amongst some of these legendary artists! It was proper difficult parting with the first test pressing of ‘Weird’ but what Barry Reigate has done with it blows my fucking mind!!! Everyone has been affected by the state of the world these last 12 months so to know it’s all going to a good cause makes me so happy. Can’t wait for the exhibition — it’s gonna be wild!! Yungblud Artist Musician Alex May Hughes Sonic Youth She Is Not Alone Brentford’s finest, Alex May Hughes is one of the UK’s most in demand sign writers. Using gold leaf, paint, brass and other exotic materials, she’s created this incredible sculpture using the test pressing of Sonic Youth’s live album ‘Battery Park’. Vinyl, glass, 23ct gold leaf, enamel paint, oak and brass Barry Reigate Yungblud Untitled (fuck you punk) We figured Barry Reigate and Yungblud would have a similar outlook. When we saw this fantastic piece we knew we were right. Then Barry told us, “I make these drawings as a way to immediately get stuff out of my head. They’re about expenditure and energy, using time to be creative. In a way, these drawings are my way of making sense or finding a way to deal with the chaotic cartoon world that we live in right now.” And we knew we were even more right. Ink, watercolour, pencil & gouache on papier-mâché Cold War Steve Sleaford Mods Untitled This is a collaboration between two gloriously outspoken social and political commentators. Cold War Steve’s piece on the test pressing of Sleaford Mods’ 2021 album ‘Spare Ribs’ takes influences (literally) from Cabaret Voltaire, John Steinbeck, Sun Ra, Action Man and Russian Revolutionaries. Digital collage David Shrigley Chic Eyes Well this is a heavy hitter isn’t it? The global musical force that is Nile Rodgers donated the test pressing of ‘Chic’ by Chic and we gave it to the incredible, Turner Prize nominated artist David Shrigley to do what he does best on it. This one needs the record in the sleeve to make it complete. It’s watching you. Acrylic Fred Coppin Sam Fender High Time By painting the blank, white album cover that contained the test pressings of Sam Fender’s number 1 album ‘Hypersonic Missiles’, and then doing a different painting on the centre label of each side of the inner sleeves, Fred has cleverly created a piece of art that can changed up four times, and be tailored to your mood. Fred’s nice like that. Oil Gavin Turk The Rolling Stones On The Record We thought we’d let the responsibility of what to do with the test pressing of The Rolling Stones’ album, ‘Honk’ fall on the broad shoulders of Gavin Turk. It turns out that what he created perfectly matches the title of a track on the record: the one that’s called ‘Love Is Strong’. Print on slipmat Grace Neutral Charli XCX Cosmic Web Generously donated by Charli XCX herself, the test pressing of her album ‘Charli’ is all about collaboration with strong, independent women. So who better to paint the sleeves and vinyl with their trademark mandalas than world famous tattoo artist, TV show presenter and successful entrepreneur, Grace Neutral? Pen and ink Ian Bruce Róisín Murphy Incapable of Love After the recent and untimely death of his musical partner, Tim Cole aka ‘Chucks’ from his band The Correspondents, fine artist Ian Bruce has been raising money and awareness for Music Support, including this brilliant piece painted on the test pressing of Róisín Murphy’s single, ‘Incapable’. He said this piece represents the antithesis of social distancing, inspired by all the sass and licentiousness in her album ‘Róisín Machine’ that the single comes from. Acrylic and oil James Joyce Fatboy Slim Untitled Fatboy Slim loves a smiley face. When he donated a very rare acetate of Gutter/Stars, cut especially for his Glastonbury performance, we were delighted king artist and designer James Joyce was up for painting it. His recreation of the iconic acid house symbol shot to fame, you may remember, as a lead image of the infamous Dismaland exhibition. Acrylic J a m i e R e i d Slowthai Fear Is The Key When Slowthai and his management donated the test pressing of his blistering debut album, ‘Nothing Great About Britain’, we thought we’d need an artist who’d know how to reflect that feeling. James from Pavement Licker crossed his fingers and gave Jamie Reid’s manager a ring... We were blown away when he said yes. A perfect pairing of punks. Marker pen, photocopy and collage Jean Jullien Idles Looooong Hair / Puffer French artist Jean Jullien is a magician with a paintbrush. With the simplest of strokes he creates incredible worlds, and makes you feel a bit like you’ll never be any good at art. His studio is in Paris so we thought that the test pressing of Bristol rockers’ ‘A Beautiful Thing: Live At Le Bataclan’ would be right up his rue. Acrylic Jeremy Deller James Blake Untitled If you’ve ever wondered what Turner Prize winning conceptual artist, and rave culture connoisseur, Jeremy Deller would do with a vinyl copy of James Blake’s eponymous debut album, well, here’s your answer. Acrylic Jess Wilson Robbie Williams Untitled Artist and printmaker Jess Wilson has had her work shown at London’s V&A Museum, the infamous Jealous Gallery and at not one, but three separate Royal Academy Summer Shows. Her piece was done on the test pressing of Robbie Williams’ ‘The Christmas Present’ donated by Robbie himself — the first ever patron of Music Support. Acrylic John Isaacs James Lavelle Untitled When James Lavelle was interviewed by Josh from Pavement Licker a few years ago, he told a story about artist John Isaacs staying over at his house and they spent the night chatting about art and music. So when James and Chapel Studios donated the test pressings of his epic ‘The Road: Part II / Lost Highway’ box set, off it went to John to see what he would do. Collage Joy Yamusangie Underworld Night Shift Underworld’s Drift Series 1 was released as a combination of audio and video art — something we thought would fit perfectly with the art processes of hotly-tipped, London- based Joy Yamusangie. The piece they created on this test pressing is simply wonderful. Acrylic Larry Achiampong Michael Kiwanuka Untitled Larry Achiampong jumped at the chance to create something with the test pressing of ‘Kiwanuka’. Don’t take our word for it, take his: ”I love Michael Kiwanuka’s music,” he told us. “I’m so excited to collaborate with his work on this project, I love his music and I loved his debut album — such a soulful, beautiful soul!” C-type print Lucy Pass Kano Satellite You may recognise Lucy’s work from her recent appearance on Sky’s Portrait Artist of the Year, or as one of the John Ruskin prize finalists in 2019. Calling herself an ‘anti-portrait, portrait artist’ she draws and paints using old and found photos of people she’s never met. We’re absolutely in love with this piece on Kano’s Mercury-prize nominated album, ‘Hoodies All Summer’. Acrylic, oil and coloured pencil Marcus James Skunk Anansie Untitled Faced with the three disc behemoth of Skunk Anansie’s album ’25live@25’, fine artist Marcus James has created this fantastic abstract work.