Michael Sumsion takes a look back at the most recent record store day and sums up the good and bad points of the now global yearly event. That whirlwind of the musical social calendar, Record Store Day, has come and gone again for another year, a now regular fixture that appears to generate as much anxiety and disgruntlement as goodwill and consumer pleasure. Whilst I for one … [Read more...] about Record Store Day: How Good Is It For The Record Industry?
Feature
Nina Simone – Another Spring
As winter sheds its pall and the rejuvenation of springtime's bloom takes hold, I've been moved to dig out a slew of old Nina Simone albums from my collection, particularly her much-admired And Piano! set from 1969. A commercial flop recorded at the pinnacle of the soul-jazz legend's powers during her genre-straddling, crossover period at RCA, the album is notable for the … [Read more...] about Nina Simone – Another Spring
This Is Just A Tribute: Mystical Energy At My First Gig
Jared Parson's looks back at the gig that introduced him to the power of live performances and how music can change young lives. When I was growing up, my dad would always be seriously joking about these "real bands" that he used to listen to. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Clash... you can see him reminiscing something in the back of his mind, back perhaps to an unspoken … [Read more...] about This Is Just A Tribute: Mystical Energy At My First Gig
Primal Scream – Screamadelica: The Record That Changed My Life
Michael Sumsion takes a look back at Primal Scream's acclaimed record Screamadelica, and how it changed the way he viewed music and the record industry in general. Back in the autumn of 1991, British indie guitar pop resided in its polite, 'NME'/'Melody Maker'-driven niche away from the vagaries of the glossy pop mainstream. 'BritPop' was waiting to be coined four years down … [Read more...] about Primal Scream – Screamadelica: The Record That Changed My Life
How To Clean Your Vinyl Records
We look at the best ways to maintain and clean your vinyl records, so you can enjoy their music for years to come. Cleaning your records is vital to maintain sound, maximise the life of your records and keep your entire vinyl setup running smoothly. There’s a lot of bad advice and old wives’ tales out there, so we aim to bring you the easy and safe methods to keep your … [Read more...] about How To Clean Your Vinyl Records
Top Ten Records of 2016
We take a look at our top ten vinyl releases of 2016, picking out the best music, the best features and the best soundtracks to keep you going before we enter the new year. What a year 2016 has been eh? We’ve watched sporting heroes participate in the Rio Olympics, a marmite President is entering the White House, and the Mannequin challenge craze took over our … [Read more...] about Top Ten Records of 2016