Pitchfork

Love singles clubs but plumb out of cash? Fancy creating and checking out DIY art? Well sniff a few quarters out from under the couch cushions and get ready for the 3" series designed especially for you!

The Dark Beloved Cloud singles club, helmed by Pitchfork contributor Douglas Wolk, has returned with another round of 3" CD goodness. Yes, all releases in this club come on 3" compact discs. Not only do they play in most CD players, but they're also just like cute little baby versions of regular CDs. Awww!

Two installments in the latest wave of Dark Beloved Cloud 3"s have surfaced thus far: a split between Japanese freakout artistes Melt-Banana and Boston noisemakers Fat Day (both covering Devo) called Q./A., and a four-song EP from unsung Aussie indie-pop heroes the Cannanes known as Grassy Flat. Future contributors include Atlanta folkie Grace Braun ("The Soldier & the Lady"/"The Fox"), psych mainstays Fly Ashtray (Doodnat Mahadeo), and Study Partners (self-titled), a project from out-there L.A. music-maker Azalia Snail. Other surprises are promised as well.

Subscribers get six 3"s at absolutely no cost, save for the price of postage and the time it takes to craft a half dozen 3" x 3" pieces of art. That art will wind up atop some other club member's 3"s, while your own 3"s will bear the unique designs of yet another singles-happy art-maker. The 3"s come in batches of two, with the second batch's arrival expected in June or so. Read all about it here, see some art samples here, and then go here to sign up.