Side One, Warsaw
With the phenomenal music that was made during the communist days and the unique design that often accompanied it, it’s no wonder that Poland punches way above its weight. Side One, a tiny record store in a little courtyard in central Warsaw is awesome. Run by Wojtek Żdanuk, aka DJ WWW, it embodies what good record stores should be about: friendly, supporting local acts and community, and bringing good music from around the world on the format we all love, vinyl. The store has now grown to see local artists band together to create a label , S1 Warsaw. With great releases already from local artists I’m sure it will continue to grow. I have found so many gems in this record palace.
• Chmielna 21, sideone.pl
Recommneded by Tight Pants aka Tyson Ballard
Doctor Vinyl, Brussels
Walking into Doctor Vinyl, it’s impossible not to breathe in the remarkable impact on dance culture that Belgium has had over the years. The owner, Geert Sermon, also responsible for the lauded The Sound Of Belgium documentary, is a walking encyclopaedia of local electronic music history, from new-beat and electronic body music (EBM) through rave, trance and beyond. It’s not unusual for some of the world’s most revered DJs to walk out with armfuls of gems from Geert’s stash, alongside all manner of cutting-edge new releases. I can’t think of a record shop in Europe that better embodies the “small shop, big heart” adage.
• Rue de la Grande Île 1, doctorvinylrecords.be
Recommended by Volte-Face
Posh Isolation, Copenhagen
In the Copenhagen sweet spot Blågårdsgade lies a small store run by Posh Isolation. It is a Danish record label and distributor that has been pioneering in Denmark’s underground noise and industrial scene for the past couple of years. In the store you can find a limited, but incredible, selection of vinyl and tapes with techno, noise, industrial, power electronics, black metal, punk and synth, or grab some of its merchandise: it has some pretty sweet scarf and shirt designs going on. Or just have a chat with the people from the amazing crew. Open Fridays 2pm-6pm or by appointment.
•Blågardsgade 14, poshisolation.net
Recommended by Najaaraq Vestbirk, Apeiron Crew/Dunkel Radio
Groove City Records, Hamburg
The vinyl revival demonstrates the fact that there are many people out there who, unsurprisingly, still place value on tangible objects. Groove City Recards is a superb spot for vinyl enthusiasts, with a range of music on offer from classic soul cuts to more recent house jams. The love for music borders on obsession and has resulted in an amazing bounty of rare cuts, first editions and limited runs that can usually only be found on Discogs. Just two minutes down the road is a BBQ restaurant Gefundenes Fressen, owned by Hambug rapper Samy Deluxe, which is a perfect place to sit down, munch on some jerk chicken and admire one’s newly purchased slab of wax.
• Marktstraße 114, groove-city.com
Recommended by Marcus Barnes, editor of Don’t Lose the Magic
Discos Paradiso, Barcelona
Barcelona was a city full of fascinating record shops – the majority in the heart of the city – where I gladly emptied my wallet to purchase vinyl. Unfortunately, there is just one survivor with those characteristics now. Discos Paradiso was opened by Gerardo López and Arnau Farrés in 2010. It’s a true paradise for lovers of new and classic releases alike. As soon as you open the door, you can understand perfectly why it’s called Discos Paradiso. Everything is highly organised, 12ins and LPs are always protected in plastic, prices are reasonable and the owners are quick to find common ground with the customer. Another thing I love about this store is that there are always things happening (special record releases and live performances), plus it’s a great meeting place to catch up with another artists and label owners. When the Mutek festival arrived in Barcelona, part of it took place there. Not that long ago I was also interviewed there for a Boiler Room documentary that will come out in November.
• Carrer de Ferlandina, 39, discosparadiso.com
Recommended by Coyu (Suara)
El Almacén de Discos, Madrid
I have to say that I’m not buying as much vinyl as I used to and many of the Madrid stores that I’ve spent countless hours listening to records in over the years aren’t open any more. But we have a new place in the centre of the city. Its name is El Almacén de Discos and it’s in the famous Malasaña neighbourhood. You can find new releases in all genres of electronic music but also secondhand vinyl of other styles such as jazz, soul, and rock. It also organises DJ reunions, exhibitions and various other events.
• Minas 13, facebook.com/elalmacendediscos
Recommended by Ramiro Lopez
The R.A.G.E, Dublin
If there’s one place in Dublin that encapsulates the city’s eclectic and thriving music scene it’s the R.A.G.E. I’ve been going here since I was about 15. Nowhere else in the city matches up to it because it almost feels like a secret for the music obsessed. I’ve found everything from Blur to The Rolling Stones there, mixed in with dozens of other bands I would never have known about without them. I’ve spent ages browsing the racks; which is good, because it’s one of the only music stores you’ll find with staff cool enough to let broke teenagers look around for hours then leave without buying anything and not only will they not give you dirty looks, but welcome you back the next time. It’s the kind of place I’ve wandered into on a rainy day on my own, but it’s also where I recently saw one of my favourite bands (the incendiary Girl Band) launch their album in the tiny little record store where they had played their first gig. It’s that kind of place where, as a musician, it’s impossible to feel like you don’t belong there.
• 16B Fade Street, therage.ie
Recommended by Tara Gormley, drummer, Spines
Rubadub, Glasgow
Rubadub, as well as being a great record and equipment shop that’s been around for over 20 years, also operates as the central hub for electronic music enthusiasts in Glasgow. When I was younger I used to find it really intimidating, which is pretty laughable to me now. Even above the small but carefully and beautifully curated selection of records for sale, and the wealth of technical information (and opinions) available from the staff, the most striking thing about the place is the genuine warmth emanating from it; a rarity for a record shop like that in my experience. For me, going to Rubadub still feels like being invited into the clubhouse of my childhood dreams.
• 35 Howard Street, rubadubrecords.co.uk
Recommended by Emma Blake, Apeiron Crew/Dunkel Radio
Snickars Records, Stockholm
Snickars Records is an institution in Stockholm. In the southern part of the city, it’s one of those places where you go to hang out, meet up with friends, chill and talk. And then you dig for records. The secondhand scene has always been a big part of the vinyl shops in Stockholm and at Snickars it’s easy to see why. There are thousands of records to check out and every genre is represented. The main focus is dance, though it also spans soul, funk, disco, hip-hop, jazz, techno, pop and rock. If you’re after New Detroit techno or obscure free jazz from Mexico City, you’ll find it here. DJ and producer Mika runs the shop together with Jessica and together they organise events and in-store sessions with local labels nd DJs. Every now and then they sell entire collections and also make room for Saturday scratch sessions in the store. What makes the shop unique is the community feel. In one way or the other you always end up there, even though you had other plans for the day.
• Hökens gata 11, snickarsrecords.com
Recommended Tooli aka Tobias Lidström – DJ, label owner and producer
Kompakt Record Store, Cologne
Some say vinyl is dead. Some have never even heard of these ancient, black, round music-making things. But there is a place right in the heart of Cologne where vinyl is more than alive. The German independent label Kompakt has been releasing extraordinary music for almost two decades and has heavily influenced the electronic music scene around the globe. It also runs the only vinyl shop in our area. While others have had to close down, the Kompakt Record Store is the place to be when you are looking for underground music pressed on vinyl. Right below the Kompakt label headquarters, in the Werderstraße, you will find one of the world’s largest selections of vinyl. Enjoy some crate digging and have a chat with the guys behind the counter or just enjoy the atmosphere and the smell of the black gold.
• Werderstrasse 15-19, kompakt.fm
Recommended by Tube and Berger
Yugovinyl, Belgrade
Belgrade is an unlikely destination for record shopping; we’ve almost never had a proper record shop with current dance music releases. There were a couple of attempts ages ago, but the market here just doesn’t exist, it’s an expensive hobby by our standards. That being said, there is an absolute gem here which is a real heaven for serious crate diggers. Yugovinyl is the place where Gilles Peterson, Ron Morelli, Jeremy Underground, Young Marco, Chee Shimizu, Interstellar Funk and many others rushed into when visiting Belgrade. It has acollection of 20,000 records covering countless music genres. The owner is passionate about his work and has been into it for over 20 years now. He digs the records from private collections and international vinyl markets. The experience of listening to these records is also outstanding as it has a soundsystem you rarely see in a regular record shop. This is absolutely the best place for obscure and rare records from the golden era of the Yugoslavian music industry and publishing, especially if you’re into synth, wave, disco and prog rock.
• Toplička 35, facebook.com
Recommended by Tijana T
Waxwell records, Amsterdam
To be honest, I’ve had my best record shopping experiences in Japan. As soon as I discovered the incredible network of secondhand vinyl stores, I was disappointed by their equivalents in France and Europe. Except for one place: Amsterdam. It’s the only city where I find the same dedication to collecting, conserving and sharing rare stuff. I could name at least three shops that I love, but my favourite is probably Waxwell. I was there only a few weeks ago finding gems that I had been searching for over the years. Of course, today, everything is online, and it’s easy to order a rare piece on Discogs. But the thrill to stumble upon something unique only happens in real life, so I’m happy that places like this still exist.
• Gasthuismolensteeg 8, waxwell.com
Recommended by Para One
