Lathe-cut records - still a thing!

Lathe-cut records - handmade polycarbonate discs - have been a fixture of independent record labels for years, and they're still being produced.

But as ever, in short runs - including one of the best-known, "Grey Cortina" by Bungalow, produced by one of the most prolific lathe-cutters, Peter King. 

Luke Wood

James Meharry cutting

James Meharry cutting

Lathe-cut records from the collection of Luke Wood credit Haru Sameshima

The Opawa 45s Sleepwalk ’17 (slash) Bullwinkle Ilam Press Records 2017 Cover art by Luke Wood Lathe cut by Peter King

Bruce Russell Luke Wood Visceral Realists Ilam Press Records 2017 Cover art by Luke Wood Lathe cut by Nathan Sawford (Small Run Records)

7-inch lathe cut record by Peter King Image Haru Sameshima

Meat market Spotty Dog Records 1997 cover art by Meat Market

The record covers are also hand made, and it was the cover art that got Luke Wood, senior lecturer in Graphic Design at the University of Canterbury's Ilam School of Fine Art, totally hooked.

Hooked enough to scour the country to get examples of lathe cut albums for an exhibition that's about to open in Auckland before heading to Wellington.

It's called A Short-Run: A Selection of New Zealand Lathe-Cut Records, and it debuts on Saturday at Auckland's Objectspace. 

Lynn Freeman speaks with Luke Wood, and with James Meharry, musician, DJ - and one of the handful of people still producing limited edition, lathe-cut records in New Zealand.