#mrscruff

[artvinyl]

Uncovered: The Ninja Tales

2. Mr Scruff - Trouser Jazz Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition (2023) AND Ninja Tuna Deluxe Triple LP out today! (29/03/24)

Part II of our ‘Ninja Tales’ series for our ‘Uncovered’ blog explores the creative for two re-releases from Manchester’s own Andy Carthy aka Mr Scruff on Ninja Tune. We speak to Ninja Tune's Head of Production, Sean Preston to get the full story.

Former fine art student at Sheffield University, DJ and Cartoonist, Andy Carthy’s iconic line art cartoon drawings have illustrated gig flyers, record sleeves and merchandise and usually accompany him at gigs as live animated visuals. Mr Scruff's cartoons feature across his body of work are a big part of his identity, instantly recognisable to electronic music fans.

Trouser Jazz, originally released in 2002, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Deluxe anniversary edition on a double LP with blue/red vinyl to match the cover palette of the original iconic artwork by Mr. Scruff & Airside with an “infinity” peelable trouser sticker on the cover to reveal silver and gold foiled 20th anniversary trousers. 

Ninja Tuna, the fourth studio album by Mr Scruff, originally released on CD in 2008 through Carthy's personal Ninja Tune, is the latest Mr Scruff album to get a fancy makeover and is released on 29th March 2024. Now available for the first time on vinyl, the record is presented as a deluxe triple LP housed in a gatefold greyboard sleeve, complete with bonus tracks, pressed on Biovinyl and also with an “infinity” peelable tuna sticker on the cover.

We spoke to Ninja Tune’s Head of Production, Sean Preston to get the story behind the creative.

Sean explains, “These two records first came out decades ago when budget and RRP limited what we could do. Ninja Tuna didn’t even get a vinyl release. The two new versions utilise the same "gecko sticker” design to take a product concept and roll it out across the act's work. When ‘Trouser Jazz’ came up for an anniversary edition, it felt like a really good opportunity to delve into the original artwork, honour it, and bring it to life. It’s a fun, interactive and borderline silly design package, that is apposite to Scruff’s playful and tongue-in-cheek cartoons.”

He continues, “I had become aware of a “gecko” sticker thanks to music product maestros SixtySix Productions, specifically Emily Robbins there. The sticker is in fact more like velcro than a normal sticker adhesive, which is why it’s often called "infinity peel”. In fact, like velcro you prob get a few thousand re-peels of it, so whilst “infinity” is a stretch, it’ll take some debunking in practice.”

Sean continues, “We took the trousers which make up the original front cover’s central feature, and created new 20 year anniversary trousers, foiled in gold with a beautiful silver belt. Then, traditional marketing sensibility troll that I am, I placed the standard blue trousers over the top as a sticker. The trick here is not only covering up the expensive bit to leave as a surprise for buyers, but to create a small deboss into the sleeve where the foil trousers are, and present the record as it originally was, with the old school blue trousers sitting in place, flush against its surroundings. Of course, at home, once those trousers are peeled off, the owner of the record can put them wherever they want. My Trouser Jazz trousers currently sit on my copy of Bob Dylan’s Street Legal.”

With today’s release of Ninja Tuna on vinyl for the first time the new package design was in keeping with Trouser Jazz's concepts.

Sean told us, “Part of the decision to present Trouser Jazz with this peel and reveal gatefold sleeve was made with an eye on future Scruff reissues. This week we release Nina Tuna on vinyl for the first time, and as a 3LP no less! Its cover features a centrally located tuna fish. No free copies to anyone guessing what we’ve done with it! Andy (Mr Scruff) was very up for reinterpreting the original CD artwork, and got to work on new illustrations to exist alongside original illustrations."

"The main tuna dude on the front gets a beautiful new coat (scale even?!) of silver. It really shimmers in the sun. It’s so fun working with artists like Scruff, he’s totally open to ideas and has such vital advice and feedback. I think initially I was steering towards a greyboard to replicate the original CDs, but availability of that type of board wasn’t what it was 15 years ago, and it tends to be difficult to work with when you want to use heavier versions of it that are necessary for a heavy duty gatefold sleeve.”

Sean continues, “It’s a small thing, but I’m dangerously self-satisfied with the inner sleeves. They spell out NINJA TUNA between them, and reveal vinyl discs pressed onto BioVinyl, which is a relatively new thing in the world of vinyl offered by Optimal Media in Germany. There are a few specifics about Biovinyl that make it a better choice for the environment, but the key is using biogenic waste like cooking oil rather than petroleum. It’s something we are trying to encourage more use of, with one eye on truly eco-friendly, carbon neutral vinyl alternatives that are in development.”

Sean Preston is an award winning product designer and artist from London. He is Head of Production at independent record label Ninja Tune, a bastion of ground-breaking music since 1990, working with artists such as Black Country, New Road, Bonobo, Thundercat, Mr Scruff and more. Sean founded Fiction magazine and publisher Open Pen.

We already loved both these records, but Ninja Tuna getting a first release on vinyl is particularly pleasing for us of course. We shall be peeling and un-peeling our copies with glee! We were also extremely chuffed to have got some words from Andy Carthy (Mr Scruff) himself about this project, “I really enjoyed collaborating on the design with Ninja Tune’s Sean Preston. Both albums needed a lot of re-drawing & re-writing hand-written text, so I did the bit that I am good at (potato drawings & writing) & Sean did the professional design bit, which I struggle with beyond basic illustrator fiddling. The daft hype stickers were fun to do as well!”

With Mr Scruff's back catalogue getting this delightful vinyl upgrade, we're hopeful that there’s another one on the way to complete the set.... !!

NINJA TUNA (Vinyl Debut Edition) by Mr Scruff is released on 29th March 2024 on Ninja Tune. Design by Mr Scruff and Sean Preston. Vinyl record FlipFrames by ART VINYL

#art vinyl #play and display #lp cover frame #vinyl record frame #record cover art #best art vinyl #flip frame #mrscruff #trouserjazz #ninjatuna #ninja tune #art and design #creative process #vinyl records #vinyl collection #vinyl artwork

[neutymes]

Big Wave City Wash Out | Mr. Scruff

#MrScruff #art #chillout #hiphop #lounge #digital #painting #deface365

[argoleet-blog]

Mr Scruff, Leeds Metropolitan Student Union, 2004. On this day 18 years ago, my girlfriend and I went to see Mr Scruff. This artist entered our lives through the Spaced soundtrack: 'Spandex Man's opens their second series, and this excellent sitcom had become part of our lives and vocabulary. My main memory of this gig is wondering whether we were the only ones not high on something 🤔 #onthisday #mrscruff #leedsmetsu #gigdiaries #ticketstub (at Leeds Metropolitan University Union) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjR8m67D4I8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#onthisday #mrscruff #leedsmetsu #gigdiaries #ticketstub

[seansheap]

Record 2089. #NightmaresOnWax #StillSmokin #12inch Dope remixes from the Smokers Delight album, including #MrScruff on the remixing desk and a vocal mix of "Stars". #triphop #downtempo #vinyl #records #nowspinning #vinyljunkies #recordcollection #vinylcollectionpost #vinyligclub #now https://www.instagram.com/p/B-B_5Bmpd0J/?igshid=oyhokabqxtop

#nightmaresonwax #stillsmokin #12inch #mrscruff #triphop #downtempo #vinyl #records #nowspinning #vinyljunkies #recordcollection #vinylcollectionpost #vinyligclub #now

[andilistenstomusic]

[89min]

#Mr. Scruff #MrScruff #Boiler Room #House #Dance #Funk #Soul

[djpaulette]

Glorious photo set here from the Worldwide FM takeover of The Band On The Wall last week. Posted @withregram • @worldwide.fm Last week we took a trip up to Manchester for an all-day takeover at @bandonthewall. Thank you to the venue and their lovely staff for hosting us, the dj's - @mrs_cruff, MC Kwasi, @dj_paulette1, @lovescene_official, @murmurs_sound, @santana_guerout, @megustaatike, @jonahbaldwin, @peteonthecorner, Irfan Rainy, Idania, Christos, everyone who came along to watch live and to all the listeners who tuned in. 💫 ⠀ ⠀ All sets are now available for listen back over at Worldwide FM. . . . . . . . #worldwidefm #bandonthewall #bandonthewallmanchester #takeover #mrscruff #mckwasi #djpaulette #lovescene #peteonthecorner #murmurs #santanaguerout #megusta (at Band on the Wall) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcD0lutsD49/?utm_medium=tumblr

#worldwidefm #bandonthewall #bandonthewallmanchester #takeover #mrscruff #mckwasi #djpaulette #lovescene #peteonthecorner #murmurs #santanaguerout #megusta

[radiolewes]

Vapour Trails #154 13th January 2022 " Of Bread, Bagels & Keere Street."

#archersofloaf #ashingtoncollierybrass #boneym #bread #budgie #felakuti #fightlikeapes #johnfaulkner&sandrakerr #laidback #lieutenantpigeon #liquidcheese #mottthehoople #mrscruff #nataliemerchant&billybragg #smallfaces #streetband #thebeat #toriamos

[longtimegoneart]

#mrscruff #trouserjazz #seamingto #sneaky #braintax #triphop #downtempo #electronica #hiphop #ninjatune #albumcovers #albumart #vinyl #promarker #brushpen #6musicart (at Stretford) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7wnL2BprJp/?igshid=1971jfldrw2ma

#mrscruff #trouserjazz #seamingto #sneaky #braintax #triphop #downtempo #electronica #hiphop #ninjatune #albumcovers #albumart #vinyl #promarker #brushpen #6musicart

[sydstra247]

The venerable Kalimba song which was shipped with every installation of Windows 7. #endoflife #kalimba #kalimbamrscruff #mrscruff #ninjatuna #ripwin7 #ripwindows7 #spotify #spotifyandroid #win7 #win7eol #windows7endoflife #windows7eol https://www.instagram.com/p/B7WD9GDJ5R8/?igshid=sgehcos6er89

#endoflife #kalimba #kalimbamrscruff #mrscruff #ninjatuna #ripwin7 #ripwindows7 #spotify #spotifyandroid #win7 #win7eol #windows7endoflife #windows7eol

[mathewsaudio]

Master! #Repost @digitaldjtips • • • • • • 🥳 ⁠#mrscruff #DDJT https://www.instagram.com/p/B1u3ccSBshi/?igshid=1qu0w6k2l6f72

#repost #mrscruff #ddjt

[drewandnightandmusic]

#nola #onthespot #london #hot8brassband #theharlemglobetrotter #mrscruff #webrasshard #roundhouse

[stewartprdigital-blog]

Wearing one of my oldest serving shirts today. 12 years I have owned this. It's a @mrs_cruff official tee. Still my all time favourite DJ. #doodle #dj #mrscruff #tshirt #tee #shirt #fashion #cute #funny #illustration #gentleman #dapper

#cute #fashion #dj #shirt #funny #doodle #gentleman #tee #illustration #tshirt #dapper #mrscruff

[neutymes]

New Museum Of Joy | Mr. Scruff

.

/* an event note

#MrScruff #Art #lounge #Music #Digital

[backseatmafia]

Mr. Scruff - Get a move on / Ug, 2001 (Ninja Tune)

Not strictly allowed in our usual pre-2000 cut off, but this 12” - Get a move on / Ug by Mr Scruff on Ninja Tunefrom 2001 can sneak in there

Track added: Mr. Scruff - Get a move on

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5C5oR63QDwKXNKR3zBcD2k?si=QdOLGLD4SOWPMNev49ENlQ

#mrscruff #ninjatune #electronicmusic #electronic #leftfield #breaks #music #vinyl #vinylcommunity #vinylcollection #vinylcollector #vinylrecords #records #recordcollection #recordcollector #backseatmafia #lexiconofundergroundmusic

#Spotify

[seansheap]

Record 2084. #MrScruff #ChickenInABox #12inchsingle Some classic Mr Scruff right here. Chicken In A Box b/w Spandex Man. #12inch #ninjatune #breakbeat #triphop #vinyl #records #nowspinning #vinyljunkie #recordcollection #vinyligclub #vinylcollection #vinylcollectionpost #vinylcommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/B9_FXovJ4Mh/?igshid=8lvvb3uia2q1

#mrscruff #chickeninabox #12inchsingle #12inch #ninjatune #breakbeat #triphop #vinyl #records #nowspinning #vinyljunkie #recordcollection #vinyligclub #vinylcollection #vinylcollectionpost #vinylcommunity

[networkedmediatp-blog]

The Technics SL-1200 Still the most desired and utilised DJ turntable today, with a design unchanged since the 1990s... Good design is timeless design 💫 #technics1200 #vinyl #dj #timelessdesign #gooddesign #analogue #mrscruff https://www.instagram.com/p/CAaB7wnAEoO/?igshid=5rt34mrnz79z

#technics1200 #vinyl #dj #timelessdesign #gooddesign #analogue #mrscruff