Band Integrates Board Game into Album Cover to Finance Release

A festival band has incorporated a board game into the limited-edition release of its new vinyl album cover as a means to finance its broader distribution. Opaque, based in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, issued 200 vinyl records that feature this game, complete with interactive QR codes, concealed tracks, visual art, and interviews. Through a pre-order campaign, the band successfully raised £3,000, which will contribute to its production expenses. “Beginning To End,” Opaque’s fourth studio album, delves into the band’s 25-year history and considers what lies ahead. Moony, the band’s singer-songwriter, explained that the game comprises 75 squares, each symbolizing 75 years of life. He stated that the objective is not to be the first to finish, but rather to accumulate “happy points” along the way before rolling the dice to determine one’s demise. Moony remarked, “I had a feeling that maybe [Opaque] is beginning to end, but then I thought to myself… it’s been beginning to end since the day we started.” He further added, “I revisited and reworked some tracks that I wrote as a teenager, so the album’s got songs written in the late 80s, early 90s and songs I wrote this and last year.” Moony also explained, “But, trying to do this album is very expensive and I realised, my ideas were well above my budget.” The five-piece indie alternative gypsy swing band indicated that the pre-orders are crucial, as they will “make all the difference to whether we can release this album on vinyl or only as a digital release.” Asserting that the inclusion of the interactive board game is a world first, the band stated: “In order to record, produce and tour this album we actually need around £5,000 to £6,000. We are not asking for charity or donations but rather for you to become one of a very exclusive group of people to own this physical piece of art and music. We have no label or financial backing so the ambition of making the world’s first vinyl album board game rests in the hands of our fans.” For updates on Cambridgeshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.