Wanganui, NZ | Vinyl is back in the groove: The attraction back to vinyl has occurred for many reasons and generally depends on the buyers’ preferences. Some people have rediscovered that the sonic qualities are a little different than the digital, compressed stuff. The visual element can play a big role with creative art work, inserts and posters. The use of vintage amplifiers and big speakers is an attraction for the sound folks. Some just like to “hold” their music, and the hunt for vinyl is and of itself an attraction as folks hit flea markets, independent retailers, second-hand stores and junk stores to find vinyl. And what’s essential to the collector?
London, ENG | London’s Kristina Records To Relocate: East London record shop Kristina Records is set to close. The shop opened in 2011, largely pre-empting the wave of vinyl outlets that have opened across the capital in the past few years. Paving the way, Kristina helped underline the commercial potential for Kingsland Road, and through its links to local labels helped build a real community round the shop. All good things come to an end, though, with Kristina Records set to close their East London hub with a view to relocating elsewhere in London. The final day is August 31st.
Lipstick Crush Records brings synthwave classics to vinyl: Lipstick Crush Records, a forthcoming synthwave vinyl label, is kicking off its launch this month by issuing some important earlier releases of the genre on wax for the first time. There’s Betamaxx’s crucial 2012 album Lost Formats, Vincenzo Salvia’s 2013 album Auto Radio, and synthwave pioneer and Girlfriend Records founder Sferro’s 2015 favorite Ornaments. Accompanying those releases is the 2017 album Static Shock from prolific Sellorekt/LA Dreams. (Keep reading for brief interviews with all of those artists.) Label founders Minneapolis-based Adam Black and New Orleans-based Matthew Weeks met in the Synthwave Vinyl Collectors Facebook group and in January 2018 started formulating the concept and mission for Lipstick Crush Records…
Five Classic-Era Yes Albums Get the Remix Treatment: The Steven Wilson Remixes Provide an Interesting Counterpoint to the Originals. …Wilson’s remixes of five Yes albums have made their way into a new vinyl box set, with each disc bearing reworked artwork from Roger Dean. These mixes were originally released on deluxe Blu-ray editions, for which Wilson rejiggered—in both stereo and 5.1 surround—the English band’s best-loved work, including 1971’s The Yes Album, 1971’s Fragile, 1972’s Close to the Edge, 1973’s Tales from Topographic Oceans, and 1974’s Relayer. This run of albums found Yes becoming one of the most successful prog bands of the era, as their song lengths swelled to 20-plus minutes and their lyrics embraced abstract and cosmic conceits. Close to the Edge is frequently lauded as the high-water mark for prog rock; the double album Tales from Topographic Oceans is often laughed at as its indulgent nadir.
Maxwell Announces Embrya 20th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue: The 1998 record has been remastered by Maxwell and Sade’s Stuart Matthewman. Maxwell has announced a 20th anniversary re-release of his 1998 album Embrya. The new edition is out September 28 (via Sony Music’s Certified Classics). The reissue, available as a 2xLP white vinyl, will include a 12-page booklet featuring previously unreleased photos from the Embrya photoshoot, taken by Mario Sorrenti. In addition, the record has been remastered by Maxwell and Sade’s Stuart Matthewman. It’s also been re-sequenced, with the original opening track (“Gestation: Mythos”) moved to the end. Maxwell heads out on a massive North American tour next month. He most recently released blackSUMMERS’night in 2016.
