Vinyl junkies nationwide are eagerly counting down to their next big hit at Record Store Day.
The annual event held April 20, now in its sixth year, encourages people to support local bricks-and-mortar record stores and independent retailers. As part of the celebrations, limited edition vinyl reissues of some of the world's favourite and forgotten records will be available at participating stores.
From modern masters to retro classics, there's just about something for every taste, including a hot pink 12” of Gotye's single, 'State Of The Art', a special edition of Pink Floyd's 'See Emily Play', complete with Colombia bag and poster, and an exact replica of Nick Drake's 1971 self-titled album, which was previously only available in the United States.
It's not just reissues, either. For instance, Ryan Adams' new punk band, Pornography, will release their debut 7" EP, Seven Minutes In Heaven, on the day via Adams' own label, PAX-AM.
The event takes place worldwide and Australian record stores have jumped on the bandwagon in droves, with dozens of stores hosting in-store performances and signings. EMI, Universal Music, Sony Music and Fuse Group have published comprehensive lists of the records they will be releasing.
Notable Australian releases are headlined by Tame Impala’s 2008 debut EP, which will be reissued on a red 12” and include two tracks previously unavailable on vinyl, ‘Forty One Mosquitoes Flying In Formation’ and ‘Wander’. Cut Copy’s debut LP, Bright Like Neon Love, will be available for the first time on vinyl, with cover art redesigned by frontman Dan Whitford.
All genres and tastes are covered and accounted for, from rock and punk to dance and electronic artists. Australian Music Prize winners Hermitude will offer a six-track 12” of their Parallel Paradise EP, including the highly sought-after Flume remix of ‘Hyperparadise’.
For the hardcore collectors out there hoping to fill those oh-so-annoying gaps in their collections, Snapper’s debut self-titled EP will be available as a limited edition 12” (which comes with a digital copy). The Dunedin band released the album in 1988 and it quickly went out of print. And for the first time in 30 years, The Bats’ debut EP, By Night, will be on shelves again.
Despite a huge portion of music being purchased online these days, there’s still a large contingency of people that actively support local record stores. Frontman for The Bamboos, Lance Ferguson, speaks about the importance of independent record stores for local bands and those trying to make a name for themselves.
“Without support from local record stores at a grassroots level, bands like The Bamboos would be lucky to get off the ground,” he says. “Sure, you can buy everything online, but nothing beats hearing something LOUD through the speakers in a record store and thinking: 'What the fuck is this?! I MUST own it!’”
Because many of the releases are special and limited editions, they won't be available at all stores, so organisers are urging people to check out the website to avoid missing out on the day.
Record Store Day takes place Saturday April 20.
