The above photo taken from this series of photographs once again highlights the sad truth of what has happened to independent music stores over the last decade. While the photos are depressing – though not without their own, certain, stark beauty – let’s not focus purely on the negative as their appearance online comes on the week where we celebrate Record Shops all over the world…
While it is also certainly a sign of the times that there is deemed a need to actually highlight the existence of the independent music retailer it’s a good reminder to some folk that THEY ARE STILL HERE. Many readers on here probably (hopefully) do their best to frequent their local stores more than once a year, but you still get those who seem to be oblivious…
Anyway, this year sees a nice turn up for the books compared with that series of pictures as Plugd Records in Cork finally opens in it’s permanent new home on Saturday. I have mentioned it’s closure and subsequent re-opening over the last year – it’s first home after re-opening was only ever temporary – and while there have been unseen delays that meant the shop was barely functioning over the last few months it’s a nice two fingers up to a world that ignores the indie retailer, that it opens back up again on World Record Shop Day. I’m not sure what the guys have planned but up here in Dublin All City/Earwiggle are gonna have a bunch of us local jocks spinning records in the shop all day, with maybe some other bells and whistles to be added, I dunno the full details yet. These 2 businesses, working together, have shown also that a physical shop can still survive. Sure they don’t have stock coming out their ears but I and many others still get our vinyl fix from the place on a regular basis. So Dubliners, pop in, listen to some music, hell, even buy some!
LittleWhiteEarbuds have just run this article from techno producer Stefan Goldmann that is a pretty interesting read, focusing on the change over the years in other facets of the music industry. He talks about how the times have changed for those seeking to make a profession out of this industry and in general talks about how technological advances since the 70’s have played a good and bad role in it all. It’s a pretty lengthy read containing much more than that brief summary and while I find it a little bit too depressing, it is still an excellent piece.
The one comment I will make is that at this moment in time, be it producers and/or label owners many now understand before they enter in to this world that it is a labour of love/amateur pursuit where dollar cant really be a top priority – esp within the realms of underground dance music – so that they build it around the rest of their lives. He argues that it’s a bit of a shit way to be, that you can’t live off it and dedicate all your time to making music but so be it. He hints that because people don’t get to dedicate all their time to music that it means the quality has slacked off now. Ok, there is tonnes of nondescript half arsed shit clogging up the online digital stores, but they used to just clog up the bins in record stores too. There was always loads of shit to wade through. People tend to look back a bit with rose tinted spectacles about the good ol days, as if the shelves were stacked with gold. It wasn’t quite like that.
Finally, for those who haven’t already seen it, I wanna direct you over to Resident Advisor’s article on Lost, London’s most famous techno night. In an ever changing world, some things do still survive intact as Lost is not far off celebrating 20yrs of parties. The article brilliant invokes the excitement folk felt about these parties, which in it’s prime sounded simply incredible; influencing a whole generation of UK producers and Djs. While I never witnessed the likes of Jeff Mills playing alongside Basic Channel or Rob Hood decked out in a bowler hat and waistcoat, lashing out one of his incendiary live shows I still had the chance to attend a couple of parties back when I lived in London in 2001/2002, the highlight of them being Mills closing the 10th anniversary party with Sonic Destroyer. As a noob to the techno world they were still fantastic for me as before moving to London it was the one party I knew I HAD to attend when I got over there. I’d like to think that I will some day get to attend another Lost party, especially now that Mills – their most valued guest – really is back on form in the last few years. As much as things have changed over the years in the world of music, it isn’t all bad and there is still a lot to be grateful for; be it warehouse raves, record shops or just the great music that still appears week in week out. Don’t lose yer faith just yet.
Ta to Max Duley for the Lost flyer/letter.
4 Comments
I was at that BC vs Jeff Mills Lost, they played behind a sheet, being from london originally lost was my home 🙂
O ill add the first time i went in 93(Stockwell, think it was the wag club?) Derrick May was playing but we spent the night with a big bag of weed in the ambient room sat on chairs lol
I found that collection of pictures severely depressing but as you say, Plugd re-opend on Saturday and the place is looking fantastic. The day in there really lifted my spirits. There was a great turnout as well, hopefully they’ll get a fraction of that business on a normal weekend. I hope the people of Cork realise what they have with Plugd records and go out and support it. Can’t wait for the abuse dept to re-open when Albert is back. 🙂
There’s a good documentary now out about the strain felt by small record shops to survive these days, and how gathering places for like-minded people to come together are being lost as they keep closing. Called “I Need That Record!” I thought it was really worth watching.