Delving into Matrices: The Significance of the MPO Abbreviation
MPO, aka Moulages et Plastiques de l'Ouest, is a legendary French pressing plant located in Averton, France. Founded in 1957, this badass spot has earnt itself a respected name globally as one of the premier pressing and mastering plants for vinyl records. You can spot MPO's work all over the place, from tunes by the likes of Steve Vai, Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, and Depeche Mode.
Curious about the number of records this powerhouse has pressed? At the time of this chat, MPO boasts an impressive 85,974 credits on Discogs! They're still rocking the industry with modern reissues of classic artists like Mike Oldfield and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Wondering how to identify an MPO pressing? The easiest way is to look for "MPO" etched into the vinyl matrix between the last track and the label. But wait, there's more! MPO pressings often feature 'pressing rings' on the label. These are circular indentations or ridges that give a physical mark of the machinery used during the record's pressing process. Pre-1984 MPO pressings had a single ring around the spindle hole, while post-1984 releases usually had three rings. If a release has 'MPO' in the matrices but the pressing rings differ, it means it was mastered by MPO but pressed elsewhere.
Let's dive into some cool MPO records we stumbled upon:
1 - Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll - LP (1988) – This exquisite LP features 'JA MPO' etched into the matrices, telling us British mastering engineer Jack Adams cut the lacquer, and MPO was responsible for the pressing.
2 - The Sugarcubes - Birthday (Christmas Mix) - 12" (1988) – This delightful release by The Sugarcubes showcases the three concentric pressing rings we mentioned earlier.
3 - Metallica - Ride The Lightning - LP (1984, UK release made in France) – This metal monster features 'MPO MFN 27 A1 TY' in the A side matrices. MFN 27 is the catalog number of the record, and 'TY' refers to Tim Young, who mastered/cut the record.
If you're itching for more insights about matrix etchings, take a look at our blog articles on matrix codes and what they mean!
- The Cocteau Twins' 'Blue Bell Knoll - LP' (1988) showcases a collaboration between British mastering engineer Jack Adams and MPO, as 'JA MPO' is etched into the matrices, indicating Adams cut the lacquer and MPO was responsible for the pressing.
- The Sugarcubes' 'Birthday (Christmas Mix) - 12"' (1988) is an example of an MPO pressing, featuring the three concentric pressing rings we mentioned, indicative of the machinery used during the record's pressing process.
