FAQ

By Chris, December 2, 2009 6:46 pm

How long have you been around?

Deception Island started out in New York, in Spring 2005, as a means to release the series of 3″ cdrs later compiled as Bee Mask’s “Living’s Just Defying the Ocean.” Operations moved to Cleveland in the following Fall and Philadelphia in Summer 2008. The city of origin is noted in the packaging of virtually all Deception Island releases.

How can I find out about new releases?

Deception Island no longer posts official updates to any social networking site, and the general direction of our efforts has been away from maintaining much of a message board presence. News will continue to be posted to this site, where it can be followed through an assortment of topical RSS feeds. We have also maintained an email list in the past, though it’s currently closed for maintenance. Those of you who have already subscribed will remain so, and operations will resume prior to the release of any new editions.

What’s the deal with those RSS feeds?

The deal is that they’re a pretty good way to find out what we’re up to on various fronts. Here are a few options:

Of course, a lot of the category-specific feeds are likely to be redundant, so we recommend subscribing to all updates if you were going to opt for more than one of the above anyway.

Can I place a hold on (title)?

Probably. If you contact DI with a hold request, please be completely clear about the proposed duration of the hold (up to the following Monday only, please) and the best means for contacting you in the interim. We reserve the right to terminate any hold with 24 hours notice, via email to the address from which the hold was requested.

What carriers and options are available for shipping?

As of this writing, we ship everything via USPS. Large wholesale orders go out via media mail, while individual orders go out via first class. International orders ship first class/first class parcel international. Delivery confirmation is mandatory for domestic wholesale orders. If you need alternate carriers or extra services for any reason, feel free to ask. We’ll look into the viability of your request and let you know, but be aware that it may delay your shipment by a few days.

Additionally, if you’re outside the United States, please note before ordering that you are responsible for ALL additional handling charges, tariffs, etc imposed by the country of destination. DI can assume no responsibility in the event that you decline to pay them.

I operate a distro/store/mailorder outlet… Do you offer any wholesale options?

Absolutely. Wholesale rates are available at multiple tiers, based on quantity per title ordered. Right now, this means one break at three pieces, another at five, and another at fifteen. We LOVE wholesale orders (provided that you’re actually a shop or distro), so please do email for details.

Do you accept demos?

Sorry, DI is strictly a curatorial project, and the artists whose work we publish tend to have some sort of preexisting real-world relationship to the label.

I write reviews for (publication)… Any chance of my getting some promotional copies?

Probably not. We do not consider promotional copies a practical expense for smaller editions, meaning that they tend to be sold out by press time. That said, the value of good coverage extends beyond the lifespan of a specific release and we will consider providing promotional materials to facilitate serious offers from established publications only, on a case-by-case basis. Interested parties are encouraged to inquire via email.

Any interest in a trade?

Probably. It’s how we get most of our records. Please email to discuss.

I, too, operate a label… Where can I get the (tape, cases, paper, mailers, etc) you use?

Get in touch. We’d be happy to help you out.

Where can I find a copy of (title)?

Visit the Editions page. If it’s no longer listed as available, have a look at the links in the right-hand column and check with the distros/shops/etc listed there. Failing that, most of the artists who have released on Deception Island have some form of contact info available to the public and might be able to answer your question.

Will (title) be reissued?

Perhaps. We’re open to the idea of reissuing certain pieces of back catalog, though as of this writing, the specifics are far from clear. For now, we encourage you to let us know if there’s anything specific you’d like to see back in print.

Will (title) be made available as mp3s?

Absolutely not, at least not by us.

What is your position on the sharing of Deception Island releases, generally speaking?

Laissez-faire, within reason. We ask that no one share rips of releases that are still available, whether from DI, from distros, or from artists. Deception Island and many (most?) of the artists it publishes simply cannot afford to operate at a loss. That said, once an edition is legitimately sold out, we certainly won’t stop you, though we would really like you to link back to us.

Seems like it’s been a while since your last update… Does the label still exist?

Absolutely. While we would like to see things moving at a snappier pace as much as the next person, our priority is – and will remain – publishing high-quality editions of first-rate work. Because we cannot pay a living wage to any of the artists we publish, we are not in a position to make actual demands where their schedules are concerned.

Additionally, we do our best not to spread ourselves too thin and to keep production schedules relatively transparent and responsive to the needs of artists, so there’s rarely a huge backlog of potential releases. That means that the intervals between Deception Island batches are likely to continue fluctuating, as they have to date.

Tell me about some of your forthcoming releases.

We prefer to refrain from discussing pending editions until all duplication is complete, so we can guarantee that virtually any rumored releases will ultimately materialize.

Will you link to my site?

Probably not. As a means toward clarity of purpose, the collection of links on this site includes only labels and distributors with whom we have a professional relationship. It’s intended solely as a resource for locating copies of scarce/bygone editions. If you are such a label or distributor and we’ve forgotten you, please do remind us, though!

Why should I support Deception Island?

Mostly because we think that the only reason to publish someone’s work is because you like it and you want them to do well and be able to make more of it.

Also, because our curatorial sensibility is based on real-world affinities and continuing support for a slowly growing family of artists, we’d like to think that Deception Island provides a useful perspective to anyone seeking to understand the niche of contemporary practices we document.

Additionally, Deception Island compensates artists at a rate well above industry standard and has, in its present incarnation, maintained a focus on archivally stable materials, domestic sourcing, and high-quality production practices, to say nothing of, uh, punctual shipping.

Have you ever been to Deception Island?

Of course not, but this might be a good time to mention that the first person to fund round-trip transportation for two persons will be compensated to the tune of a lifetime subscription to the label.

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