Record Store of the Week: If Music… (London, UK)

Sunday, December 26th, 2010

This Holiday season, we’re jumping the pond and heading over to London to bring you our Record Store of the Week–If Music… (London, England)! Perhaps borrowing their name from the famous Bill Shakespeare quote “If music be the food of love, play on”, If Music… definitely bring it with their eclectic mix of new and used vinyl, expertly curated by the staff. So if you’re heading London way (or live there!), then hop the Oxford Circus tube to If Music… and get diggin’!

Tell us some stuff about If Music.The shop is so well curated. And there are audio samples online. How do you do it?

The curating is easy…”every day is a digging day”. Recording samples is even easier: Vestax portable plugged direct into the computer via the sound card. Into Godwave and done.

What kind of folks frequent your store, and what sort of records do they typically buy?

The days of the Dj needing to buy records from an indie shop is almost a thing of the past. The majority of our clients are professionals who still want to own a beautifully recorded, elegantly packaged piece of music that is now more a collectable indulgence, almost in the same way one buys art. Yes, they are collecting, but doubly important is the music on that slice of wax especially if they are willing to pay £50.00 for a Miles Davis Vol. 3 Comparison album (a 10″ 200gr. audiophile press with original artwork coupled with a 12″ cut at 45 for one to compare sound quality, crazy but oh the sound is to die for).

We have always prided ourselves in being extremely eclectic and discerning in what we offer our clients but in the last 2 years its all about 50s/ 60s R&B 7″s that have taken our customers breath’s away.

What record do you always find yourself listening to in the store?

Anything and everything. It’s all dictated by the mood of the moment.

What is your favorite Light in the Attic release and why?

If i have to choose one of all the great LITA releases it can only be Karen Dalton. Why?…. do u really need to ask that!

What is the coolest record has come into your store that you never thought you’d ever see?

In 2010 it has to be the 180gr. re-issue of Milton Naschimento’s Club Esquina album re-released by those dudes at 4Men with Beards. The fact that it looks and sounds better than my mint original is simply awesome.

What’s the scene like in London right now?

In comparison with what has happened around the rest of the world when it comes to indie shops London is still the place to be for what we do, but it is hard, the young cats have no passion for physical product, it does not turn them on at present and they see it as so passe.

Do you carry many local artists?

Obviously we carry a lot of imports but never sacrificing the homegrown talent.

What do you love most about working at a cool independent record shop?

Every day is the same yet always different: the same as in everyday new records come in and go out, different because one never knows what toons we will discover that day.

—–

If Music
36 Langham Street
London W1W 7AP

+44 (0)207 580 3338

MONDAY – THURSDAY from 11.30 am to 7.00 pm

FRIDAYS from 11.30 am until late

SATURDAYS from 11.30 am to 7.00 pm

Tags: If Music, Karen Dalton, Milton Nascimento

Tags: If Music, Karen Dalton, Milton Nascimento
Posted in Record Store of The Week | 1 Comment »

One Response to “Record Store of the Week: If Music… (London, UK)”

Frederic says:

January 3, 2011 at 3:14 am

I’ve been there on a short NYE London break and came out with a huge bag of records, most of which I had never heard of before, thanks to the very enthusiastic Nick !