A new record store just opened in Castlemaine, proving vinyl is still on the rise: Opening in early October, Record Low is the newest store to open in Castlemaine dedicated to the music lovers in the region. What began as an online store soon grew into something bigger, and on October 8 the doors swung open at 203-205 Barker St to physical store. Stocking everything from classic hip hop vinyls (“Vinyls” is not a word. —Ed.) (and every other genre under the sun), music autobiographies to one-off quirky pins and magazines, Record Low is one of those places where it’s hard to “just browse.”
On the record: The vinyl resting place for the spirit of Brenda Fassie: Dave Durbach, more commonly known as DJ Okapi, is spinning a vinyl record of the old African electronic music that is a large part of what’s on sale at Afrosynth. Located in the lively Maboneng precinct, the store is right in the heart of the bustle of a regenerating downtown Joburg. Among its neighbours are the Museum of African Design and the newly opened Cosmopolitan building. “I was born in the ’80s, so I was too young at the time to really be exposed to a lot of this music, except maybe what one would hear on the radio, like Marcalex or Brenda Fassie,” says Durbach, adding that his taste for bubblegum and Afro-synth disco has evolved since he began DJing 10 years ago as a student in Cape Town.
Women and Vinyl Records: Last summer, I went to a local record store to look for a specific album. This was the second store I had been to that day looking for this album. With no luck looking for it on my own, I decided to ask the person behind the counter for help. He told me they did not have what I was looking for and proceeded to tell me how he has been seeing a lot of young girls come in to buy records. He stated that he was shocked to see this happening because this activity was something that used to be mostly dominated by males…After hearing his comments, I started to think about how that fact came to be. So I analyzed why I, a nineteen-year old girl, started to buy records.
Capitol Records Celebrates 75th Anniversary With Vinyl Reissues, Essay Book & Docuseries: The first is a year-long major vinyl reissue campaign called The Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Collection, which features 75 albums. The list spans many Capitol eras, genres and artists and includes well-known and lesser-known releases. Capitol joined noted music journalists, authors and other renowned creative figures to decide on the final list, which includes artists like Coldplay, Katy Perry, Bonnie Raitt, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra. The album is set to be launched in partnership with Crate & Barrel and will become available through music retailers throughout 2017.
LIDL Is Now Stocking Budget Record Players: German discount supermarket chain LIDL has begun to stock a new range of budget turntables. The vinyl resurgence is now a generally accepted fact of 21st century music, with even chains such as Tesco and Sainsburys getting in on the act. LIDL, though, seem to be taking a more astute view of the phenomenon – the German supermarket chain have begun stocking budget turntables. The ION Record Player is available for £49.99 and comes with a three year warranty. It also features a number of other add ons, including a USB port for quick digitisation of your vinyl collection.
Local record vendors discuss love of vinyl before Northside Record Fair: nyl records are tangible time capsules. Along with capturing memories and feelings of nostalgia, they also provide a source of reminiscence and joy. “Music is the only art form that can’t be seen or touched or felt. It can only be sensed,” said Darren Blase, co-owner of Shake It Records in Cincinnati. Blase said his introduction to the world of records began in 1978 when he bought Shake It Records, which was a record label at the time. In the ’80s, Darren and his brother Jim began putting out records, and in 1999 they opened their first store. The influences of records on people today, as well as the timeless quality they have always possessed, have many different sources.
Napster sides with Kanye: Exec says exclusive streaming deals are ‘anti-consumer’ and ‘anti-artist’: “I don’t think that vinyl record sales are reflective of consumer reactions to streaming services. Streaming numbers are rising daily, and will continue to do so as services like Napster expand into more foreign markets. Sure, people love the novelty of having their favorite albums on vinyl, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t also streaming said albums. The beauty of vinyls (“Vinyls” is not a word. —Ed.) is they memorialize the album while streaming service brings the music to you in real-time without extensive equipment. Why shouldn’t consumers be able to enjoy both?”
