Within 10 minutes of my on-the-way-home route I pass 20 record stores, just in Shibuya alone: Ultra Shibuya, Lighthouse Records, Discland Jaro, Recofan Magnet, Face Miyashita, Hi-Fi Records, Tower Records, Union Record Parco, Union Jazz Soul Punk, Disc Union Rock, RnR Garden, Manhattan Records, Next Records, Nerds Record, Mothers, Records, Original Face Records, HMV Shibuya and Coco Isle Music Market. From there, I can either take the shorter way home through Shimokitazawa where there are just as many shops, or I can take the ever-so-slightly longer route through Shinjuku and where I think there may even be more than 20 more. It’s virtually impossible for me to get home without spotting somebody carrying a record store bag. My only ever issue is running out of time before shops close, which many are by the time I’m zipping past them, hence most of the TRS photos being made a night. I often wonder what it would be like if I had all day everyday to do chat people up about music, make their photos, and write stories about them throughout the day. That would be something.
On this particular day, I spotted Caz from France, who’s living in Tokyo for a spell, and who had lovely Heloise coming for a visit. We spoke about France and how I got to spend a lovely week in Provence some years ago and my amazing time in Marseille, and about the nearby and renown photography festival, Les Rencontres d’Arles where my pal Herve has been inviting me for years. It was great to chat about France, …and then about music.
Caz loves techno, house, and dance music, and DJs regularly at what looks like pretty crazy parties (Oh to be in my 20s again!). He scored a handful of 12” singles, one in particular that he was excited about, Massive Attack’s “Unfinished Sympathy.” He told me that he had been on the phone with his mother THAT morning and that she had mentioned Massive Attack being one of her favorite bands, so when he saw the single on the same day, he had to get it! Great story, Caz, I’m sure you made you mother proud! Enjoy your stay in Tokyo and time with lovely Heloise. Hope to see one of your sets before you head back to France! Until then, keep spinning and smiling!
Tim Taylor – The Horn Track
Label: Missile Records – Missile 53.5
Format: Vinyl, 12″
Country: UK
Released: Sep 2004
Genre: Electronic
Style: Techno, Minimal, Industrial
https://www.discogs.com/release/323079-Tim-Taylor-The-Horn-Track
James Ruskin – Cipher
Label: Blueprint – bp 016
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: UK
Released: 2000
Genre: Electronic
Style: Techno
https://www.discogs.com/release/3989-James-Ruskin-Cipher
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
Label: Virgin – DMD 1662
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1991
Genre: Electronic
Style: Downtempo, Trip Hop, Ambient
https://www.discogs.com/release/127146-Massive-Attack-Unfinished-Sympathy
Jay Denham – 1964 EP
Label: Cosmic Records – COS018
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, EP
Country: UK
Released: Apr 1998
Genre: Electronic
Style: Techno
https://www.discogs.com/release/15947-Jay-Denham-1964-EP
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