Guy Buttery goes vinyl

South African fingerstyle guitarist Guy Buttery will release his newest album, To Disappear in Place, on vinyl format with previously unreleased content.

Buttery, who won last year’s 'Best Instrumental Album' at the 2010 South African Music Awards for Fox Hill Lane, will hand-number and personalide each of the 300 available limited edition LP copies sold.

The album, pressed in Holland on 180 gram virgin vinyl, will appear at Bandcamp and includes a coupon insert for an MP3 download.

The 10-track album is a B-sides successor to Fox Hill Lane, comprising of an exclusive collection of outtakes, remakes, live recordings and demos.

It was initially due for release last year, Buttery says on his Facebook page, after being completed at Peace of Eden Music Studios in 2010.

“Needless to say, in a strange twist of fate that ironically lives up to its name, it was held back due to contractual ties. Finally free from the corporate grip, To Disappear in Place is bound to make its mark on the South African music landscape.”

The album also features three track remakes by the mastermind composer Chris Letcher from London, initially intended for the original release of Fox Hill Lane.

“We tried to get his beautiful string arrangements, voice and soundscapes included, but ran out of time before the album went to print. I'm so happy these versions are finally seeing the light of day" says Buttery.

Another outtake was the demo version for the title track featuring UK singer/songwriter Piers Faccini, along with various other special guests such as KwaZulu-Natal legend Madala Kunene on vocals and jewish harp, as well as Guy's long-time guitar hero, Tony Cox.

The LP release also includes an exclusive vinyl only track and extensive liner notes about each recording.

“The inspiration for releasing an album exclusively on vinyl goes back to an obsession I had with collecting records from as young as 14 years old” says Buttery.

“It was eventually long time friend Steve Hawes from Erased Records who actually manifested the project for me.”

Despite the ongoing change in the industry, vinyl records have remained a sought after product to serious music fundis, DJs and album collectors.

He says if anything, vinyl has become a sort of antidote symbol for those that value the tangible embodiment of hard copy albums. “ LP sales have increased where CD sales have dropped, probably because they represent authenticity to fans.”

For Buttery, it is a way of recognising independence within the industry, to develop his music and distribute it in ways that fit with him and his personality, by ultimately going the indie route.

Buttery will be performing at several festivals and shows this year where he will embark on a tour across the country promoting the album. Next up is The White Mountain festival in the Drakensberg, followed by Rocking the Daisies in Cape Town during October.

Buttery made a name for himself at 16 when his unique style got music circles talking.

Only two years later, his debut album When I Grow Up was nominated for Best Newcomer at the South African Music Awards in 2003.

His cover of Joanna Newsom’s The Book of Right On found it’s way onto a compilation album Versions of Joanna released internationally alongside nu-folk icons M Ward, Billy Bragg and others.

Guy has since trotted the globe headlining a number of festivals, sharing the stage with exemplaries such as Jethro Tull, The Violent Femmes, Bob Brozman and many others. A recent three page spread in the worlds largest publication on guitars - Guitar Player Magazine - catapulted Buttery into the American scene.

Watch the video for a single of the new album, Conceptualised,here: