Sunday, August 26, 2012

diggin guide - Toulouse (France).

Toulouse, southern France, is probably one of the best spots in France for digging records. As a lot of record dealers claim rightfully, the ratio inhabitants/record stores is the most prominent on the French territory. Sure, Paris will provide more quantity and eclectism, but Toulouse ain't bad either.

Starting with the only one with a real "euro bin", Paul Emile Vinyls. A good shop, with a lot of variety. The world music section isn't the best you could imagine though. But across the store, you'll find a lot of discounted items and some interesting pieces in all genres, sometimes pricey ones though. And the shop owner is willing to give more discounts at the cash register. You'll have to go through a bit of negociation to listen to a few records. Expect long chats with the owner.

Anthology might well be the most underrated of the Toulouse record stores. The location is really convenient as it is right next to the Capitole square. The owner is a sweet old guy, who's devoted to his business. Old school rules here, as the owner doesn't seem to use a computer or to know new school tools like Discogs. Every time I went there, he gave discounts on all the items I bought, arguing that nobody would buy the records I was buying (mainly Mediterranean music). The most important crates are French variétés, rock music, with a bit of jazz and soul. The world music often provides good surprises, but is not the most interesting one.

Right next to Anthology, Croc Vinyl used to be a disappointed spot. I think I was blaming the store for being too young. Since then, it evolved in the right direction. When entering the shop, the vinyl section is what you get at first ; in the back, you'll find the CD section. The vinyls are well ordered and the variety is nice. A turntable is available to listen to records.

In the same street (rue des Lois), there's Bullitt, which is quite appreciated by casual diggers. The owner also has stands on local markets, especially on the Capitole market on Wednesday and Saturday, Place du Salin on Friday, Place St Aubin on Sunday, and Place Saint-Cyprien on Monday. This info could change without any notice, of course. I remember buying LP's of Ennio Morricone and Francis Lai on the market stand, then being redirected to the main store, where I found interesting pieces, especially in the discount area. 

In the area of Paul Emile Vinyls, stands the 10-year old or so Laboratoire. I saw it opening and evolving. It was widely about CD's before, now it's all about vinyls. Black music (soul, blues, jazz, reggae) is quite a religion here and the selection is fine. Prices are not always attractive, but the selection is quite wide. 

Not in the same area, there's Armadillo, which is also an old shop I used to go back in the days. As for the Laboratoire, Armadillo is mainly about American music. The guy is mainly about rock (all kinds of rock music) and soul music (ah, Curtis Mayfield was in the air when I entered). Don't forget to visit the jazz section, which is a bit hidden next to the counter in the back of the store. This store is often forgotten because it's not in the same area as the other ones, but it's still located downtown. Prices are ok, I bought a few English rock LP's there. Though I enjoyed digging there, I gotta link to Derek's page (bottom of the post), who didn't have a good experience with the owner. 

Vicious Circle is home of punk and hardcore, but there's also a bit of electro and avant-garde hip hop. One thing you should know about Vicious Circle is that they are true to the vinyl game ; they were already doing it at the peak of the vinyl crisis. 

OCB, Le Comptoir Du Rêve and Gibert Joseph have crates of used and new vinyl records. Don't neglect this option, as you could be struck by a good surprise once in a while. Like a Brazilian press of a Françoise Hardy record for example...

I think I've been exhaustive, but I could adjust this diggin guide in future posts, depending on the evolution of the diggin scene in Toulouse.

Baby Girl.

Remembering Aaliyah. 11 years ago, Aaliyah died in a plane crash in The Bahamas, on her way up to the total success. Backed by Timbaland and Missy Elliott, she was on the verge of replacing all the divas of her time. She was cute, she could sing, and she could perform. She acted like the girl next door. 

If you're too young to know about Aaliyah, The Fader made several past articles available online. One is from The Fader #8, another extensive one is from The Fader #54

Today, it's sad to hear about a Drake-led posthumous album of Aaliyah. Let her RIP. She already did her best stuff, thanks to R. Kelly, Missy and Timbo. Drake can't do better. 

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Colony shutting doors.

This is odd. In a previous post about digging records in New York, the record store Colony was referred to. 
It appears now that this iconic shop of Times Square will shut doors really soon, because of the severe increase of rent (from $1 million to $5 million, monthly). 
The owner said that the remaining stock would be sold on the internet. While a lot of music customers would wait for that unique opportunity, I guess there will be a massive sale at the shop in the coming weeks. So if you're around NYC, you know what to do. 
Too bad I'm not in the area. 

Z-Trip.

Z-Trip may not be well-known in Europe. But on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, he's an accomplished DJ, certified "American Best DJ" in 2009. 
Well, beside this, he's a digger. True to the game. His ordering system is kinda specific, as he orders his records by... BPM. Among the rarities he owns, there are hip hop acetates and "show vinyls". 

Watch everything from Fuse's "Crate diggers" series. 


Friday, August 24, 2012

diggin guide - NYC (USA) #1.

Once again, not based on my own experience, here's another info sheet about diggin somewhere in the world, for instance New York City. I've had this page saved on my computer for days, so I just felt like sharing it. 

So, here's what Guest Of A Guest thinks of diggin records in the Big Apple, which appears to be a Mecca for a lot of diggers. This is really small info, as there are only 6 shops displayed in the slideshow, but it could be a start to dig deeper and search for your own record stores. 

J.Rocc + M.E.D.

When it comes to hip hop, DJing and realness, J.Rocc is the man to listen to. Associated with labelmate rapper M.E.D., he released a few tracks they're currently working on, under the title "Axel F.". 
It was compiled a few weeks ago as a Stones Throw podcast, but J.Rocc posted a selection of tracks on his Soundcloud. So you can either download the podcast, or stream the project on Soundcloud or download the J.Rocc-selected tracks
Either way, you can please yourself.

M.E.D.'s unique flow lands perfectly on the funky production and record cuts of the one and only J.Rocc. For your info, "Superman" samples "Hal Hal" by Anadolu pop megastar Baris Manco. Guests of the project include Oh No and LMNO.  

This is damn good rap music.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Shitao - "No Bridge Behind".

Reminding me of the glorious days of ASP, Shitao released a project he started somewhere around 2009. "No Bridge Behind" is that kind of instrumental albums that carries you to another place, like, into space for example. While some tracks bring a trip hop feeling to the table, others are closer to the boom bap vibe. The album will make you think of Tricky, Moby, Massive Attack... it's dark, gloomy, cloudy, spooky and brilliant. 

As usual with ASP releases, it's free. And it's quality. The cover and artwork were done by Elise Boularan, a cool talented photographer.

If you're the kind of guy to be cautious about what you download, stream the whole album on Last.fm or Soundcloud

Just listen. And download. 

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Radio Vinyle.


It started with Archie Shepp, and I remember being stunned by the footage of the inside of the record collection of Radio France. In that video, Archie Shepp detailed in a perfect French his influences and tastes, musically speaking. 
What I ignored until Laid Back directed me towards the website of Radio Vinyle, is that Radio France kept doing on with the series, and now broadcasts online the 10th episode of Radio Vinyle, featuring Geoff Barrow, the mastermind behind Portishead.
Previous artists featured are Lulu Gainsbourg, Alain Chamfort, Ahmad Jamal, Cassius, Mathieu Malzieu, Thomas Dutronc, Daniele Gatti, Jean-Jacques Milteau...
Really, that concept is amazing and will please a lot of diggers out there. Plus, non-French speaking people can still watch the videos of non-French featured artists, as the videos are not dubbed but simply subtitled. 

Impressive.

diggin' Asian psych #1.

Psychedelic music is commonly divided into geographical areas. Following the discovery of rarities and major pieces, the different continents made it the collectors' shelves. From a Westerner's point of view, for obvious reasons, Western European and North American psychedelic music was the first (chronologically) priority.

Then, thanks to the efforts of various record labels, record lovers got easily introduced to music from Africa, Asia, South America, Middle East and Eastern Europe. Notice that beatmakers like Madlib, Oh No, Onra, the Side Men and many more followed (or sometimes initiated) those discoveries, contributing to the growing interest for these music sources.

Asian psychedelic music attracted me after I heard interesting music by Rahul Dev Burman, notably with "The Burning Train" soundtrack, which is a masterpiece and a nice introduction, even if it's not labeled as strictly "psych". But it definitely crossed genres. Afterwards, I searched the field and stumbled upon lots of awesome stuff. Here are a few you should definitely check out, if you haven't already.

Let's start with Japan. I suppose that Japanese youngsters got introduced to the psychedelic genre through the American soldiers stationed in Japan after the World War II and until very recently. Compared to musicians from other countries, Japanese psychedelic rockers didn't mix traditional local elements with rock music as much as their Asian counterparts. They have been largely influenced by US psych music and kinda sticked to the formula. But with a lot of crazyness and creativity. 

Among the stars of the genre, you can rely on Shinki Chen. Considered as the "Japanese Jimi Hendrix" (but still, you'll see that this nickname was given to the leader of the genre in each country), Shinki's destiny is truly rock'n'roll. He started playing guitar at a young age, acquired a strange look according to Japanese standards, tried drugs, lived like a bum and entered rock bands just for the fun of it. He left a first mark on wax with Food Brain (the record's price nowadays hit the rooftop). Early in his career, Shinki Chen chose to  use the English language to accompany his incredibleguitar game But, more than for his solo career or his temporary Food Brain membership, Shinki Chen gained fame as part of the revolutionary band Speed, Glue & Shinki, alongside Joey Smith and Masayoshi Kabe. There are two records of Speed, Glue & Shinki circulating : "Eve" and "Speed, Glue & Shinki".
Shadoks printed albums by Shinki Chen and Speed, Glue & Shinki, but they go for more than $400. The records also got the Phoenix Records treatment, and these issues are much more affordable.
There are great articles about Shinki on the web, and I can't outshine them, so go read Progressive Area (in French) and Japrock Sampler.
For more Japanese psych, check out Blues Creation, Far East Family Band... and head to this incredible blog that is Japanese Old Prog/Psych Rock (even if it seems to be abandoned now).

Now, Indonesia. You may not know but Indonesian rock is just off the hook. And it hasn't been a safe journey for the local musicians. Indeed, like many other countries, music has been treated like an enemy under a dictatorship. In that kind of circumstances, rockers can be seen as true heroes.
Benny Soebardja is the iconic psych leader in Indonesia. Recently, Strawberry Rain released three records by this man, including one in very small quantity (250 pieces, with 125 copies being reserved for the Indonesian market).
But Soebardja's career is not restricted to these three albums, as he created major bands.
For more Indonesia psych, the compulsory stop is Madrotter's blog, old and new version. Big names include Koes Plus, The Gembles, Panbers, Ariesta Birawa, AKA... Strawberry Rain (again) dropped a compilation album of AKA, called "Hard Beat" (announced as sold out, but it might be available at some retailers), which showcases the rawness of their style. Try buying original issues of AKA's albums if you have the dough, but be ready to cash out a lot, sometimes for damaged pieces...


Closer to the Japanese spirit (even though they historically don't stick together), as Korea hosted batallions of American soldiers following the Korean war, the Koreans created some creative rock, especially thanks to one man : Shin Jung Hyun. Considered the "Korean Jimi Hendrix", this man made Korean psych known across Asia first, then across the world. His skills go way beyond guitar playing, as he revealed himself as an excellent songwriter and producer. 
He launched the career of a then young girl called Kim Jung Mi (nicknamed the "Korean Françoise Hardy"... yeah, I know this name-dropping is quite a thing), crafting the album "Now", which is at the time one of my all time favorites. The original issue is an ultimate rarity, but fortunately Lion made a reissue available.

Other works of Shin Jung Hyun include participation to bands like Add 4, Superstar, etc., and countless solo works. His career covers a five decade-span.
Nowadays, Shin Jung Hyun's original albums and collaborations sell for crazy prices and are believed to have been massively purchased by... Japanese collectors, who caught on Korean psych album much earlier than the Koreans themselves. Who can't stop biting their fingers since then... Fortunately, Light In The Attic released a quality compilation album for us poor folks of the Western world, which even attracted the attention of the Guardian newspaper.
Egon, of Now-Again Records, wrote an article about Shin Jung Hyun for NPR. The man gave an interview to a French journalist in 2009.
San Ul Lim is another major name of the Korean psych scene. A trio of brothers with a classic formula guitar-bass-drums, they recorded a demo as college students, and acquired a cult status with it. They kept releasing albums after their demo got turned into a real album, and were critically acclaimed with their three first efforts. Afterwards, the brothers kinda lost their appeal but remained legends of Korean rock music. Originals of their albums are now pricey. But they're worth it. 

That's it for now, but this series is only starting. 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Matthew Glass.

For those who like record covers, the LP Cover Lover website is a must seen : it's full of weird, excentric, astonishing cover art. The main guy behind all that is named Matthew Glass. A record collector, he welcomed Mr. Paz from Dust & Grooves to his apartment in NYC for an extensive interview

As usual with Dust & Grooves, it's full of infos, gentle humour, and classic photography. 


diggin guide - NY's Capital District (USA).

Not mine once again, but in an attempt to list the most interesting diggin spots in the world, here are record stores in the Capital Region, next to NYC, as listed by All Over Albany.

press review.

First, there's the common statement : vinyl is getting bigger and bigger worldwide. In India, for instance, a country with a strong tradition of music, particularly printed on vinyl. But like everywhere else, vinyl records were replaced by cassettes (much respect for tapes) and CD's. 
Today, it goes much further than the usual audience of purists, DJ's and audiophiles. It is simply replacing the other formats for a portion of consumers. 

Then, you have the flaws of this phenomenon : people taking advantage of that resurgence. Sadly, you can now see new releases on vinyl with crazy price tags, as well as second hand records going for exagerated prices. 
Blogger Britanny Todd explored the reasons of the increase or decrease of the value of vinyl records. Pretty interesting articles, as Todd mentions online sales, popularity gain (especially through the lens of hip hop crate digging and producing), reissuing, file-sharing etc.
I guess the offer/demand economic law applies everywhere, especially when you play on the field of passion. 


Passion is a word which sticks to a guy like Elijah Wood. The actor who played Frodo Baggins is a true record collector, both on CD and vinyl. His eclectism is now legendary and could be a true inspiration for a lot of diggers. Of course, his financial means may not be a real problem, but still... Wood even released a compilation of obscure records. 
Passion also applies to those music retailers who went through bad years only to be rediscovered now by young and less young people. Nick Barovsky's testimony is pretty clear : vinyl sounds better
Others sell their collection, to make room, to make money, or simply because they lost the passion. No disrespect, it could happen to anybody. 

diggin guide - London (England) #1.

I wanted to do my own diggin guide, based on a summer diggin experience, but just found a short article about record stores in London on the website of the Telegraph. 

So, head to the page and get some info. My own diggin guide would have referenced (almost) the same spots.  

un poquito de house music.

Summer is dancefloor season. So while it's still hot outside, a few DJ's are dropping efficient mixes on Soundcloud. Among them, get a taste of summer vibes with Boombass (Initials BB mix), Busy P (Musica Para Tu Autoradio mix), A-Trak (Fool's Gold Radio August mix).

Somehow someway, the best of electro for your mobile device.