Vinyl Discoveries of 2016
Barcelona is not famous for record shops like Berlin or Manchester. But the city does have some great music on sale, if you know where to look. Barcelona’s vinyl offering has been buoyed in recent years by records becoming trendy again worldwide. New record shops and stalls at markets seem to be popping up all the time now, after a few barren years when only the strongest survived. I gave vinyl buyers a helping hand by starting the Barcelona Vinyl Guide. Check it here. There are a number of new shop profiles on the way.
Vinyl collecting has never been about buying expensive or rare records for me. It’s always been about getting amazing records, regardless of their availability or value in monetary terms. The whole of my Top 10 of Vinyl Discoveries cost me all of 24 Euros, and many of them were found for 1 or 2 Euros. These records were mostly sourced from trendy ‘flea’ markets, record fairs, metro stations etc, in and around Barcelona. A couple were even picked on a trip to Valencia, a city which proved to be a relaxing counterpart to Barcelona’s at times frenzied way of life (at least by Spanish standards).
This 10 represents some of the most interesting records I picked up this year. 80s jazzy pop sounded unexpectedly refreshing, which brought me to Anna Domino and Isabelle Antena, among others. I found some brilliant old Catalan records this year. This was in part helped by Vinilissim, as well as lots of good old fashioned digging in shops. I found some very different but brilliant Latin records, from Frankie Ruiz’s ‘hot’ salsa, to Wara’s mystical psyche and Les Maxel’s summery grooves. The other two in this chart were an uplifting mid 80s New Jersey effort from Wayne Johnson and a powerful old Dillinja record that I’d never heard until this year. I also picked up some other great records along way the way (and lots of rubbish).
Anna Domino - Anna Domino - Grabaciones Accidentales
Beautiful jazz influenced 80s pop.
Enric Barbat – Quatre - Philips
A really surprising find. Early 80s experimental electronic grooves from Catalonia with prog overtones.
N'Gai N'Gai – Sunglasses - Blau
Disco influenced new wave jazz rock from 1986. Released on Joan Bibiloni’s Blau imprint. In Catalan with English title and refrain. Thanks to Ultra Local Records for the tip. Vinyl sourced elsewhere.
Frankie Ruiz - Mas Grande Que Nunca - TH Rodven
Magical late 80s salsa from the late Frankie Ruiz. Puerto Rican pressing. Muy caliente!
Enric Hernaez – Set PM – Fonomusic
Mid 80s earnest pop with jazzy and funk overtones from Barcelona. Killer cut is the brass assisted Aquesta Ciutat. Red Vinyl. Sealed.
Wara - Quimsa/Hichhanigua Hikjatata – Lyra
Impressive 70s Bolivian Psyche. Strong melodies, wind sounds and mystical vibes.
Wayne Johnson - The Power Of Love - Sure Sound
The Power Of Love is real. Fantastic mid 80s New Jersey grooves.
Capone - Soldier / Massive – Hard Leaders
Catchy G-Funk flexing mid 90s D&B from Dillinja. Sourced on a trip to Valencia.
Isabelle Antena – En Cavale - Grabaciones Accidentales
Isabelle of Antena fame. Camino de Sol might have been the big Balearic track, but this album is fantastic. Not sure what’s she’s doing on the cover, though!
Les Maxel’s - Le Retour De Toto - Disques Debs International
Uplifting colourful music from Guadeloupe.
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