Records en Route

Written By Juliet Kennedy

Vinyl-digging on the London Overground line: The best independent record stores from Camden to Peckham

 
 

The London Overground line, better known as the “Ginger Line” to those who haunt it, spans the length and breadth of the capital. One can hum along in air-conditioned tranquility from the depths of Croydon to the lofty heights of Chingford; from Watford in the West to Barking in the East.

The east-central section of this ubiquitous train track encompasses what many consider to be the axis of London’s artistic quarters; where warehouse-dwellers unite and underground music communities thrive. It’s no surprise then, that the number of high-calibre, independent record stores smattering the connecting pillars of this section of the Ginger Line - namely, from Camden to Hackney, Shoreditch and south to Peckham - will surpass and delight you with their rare and original offerings, their community spirit and rich cultural heritage.

We’ve selected our favourite independent record stores populating the Ginger Line for those avid diggers (or trainspotters) amongst you. Note that this article is also a work in progress so if you’re opening (or have discovered) a new groovy corner of the world where high-vibrational waxy black discs are shared, please get in touch. We’ll pop over for a chat and even give you a sticker <3

  1. Rough Trade East

Rough Trade East

Credit: Rough Trade

The iconic independent record label’s flagship store, located at the Truman Brewery, just off Brick Lane, is the largest Rough Trade store in the UK. Boasting a bar/cafe as well as a live stage at the far end of the cavernous space, the venue has housed some legendary live performances since it first opened in 2007, including Blur, John Prine, Public Enemy and Iggy Pop.

  • Nearest station: Shoreditch High St

2. Yoyo Records

Credit: Yo-yo Records

Record store on Hackney Road specialising in U.S. Originals and Vintage pressings. Yoyo specialises in the genres of Funk, Soul, Jazz, Fusion, Brazilian, Latin, Disco, Boogie, Rare Grooves, Afro and Psych. Photos you’ll see on the website are of the actual records for sale.

3. Gearbox Records

Credit: Gear Box

Founded in 2009 and based in London and Tokyo, independent record label Gearbox Records’s commitment to the highest quality pressings by proxy extends to an analogue studio situated in King’s Cross. Founder Darrel Sheinman was inspired to build an all-analogue cutting and mastering studio based around vintage vacuum tube tape machines and a 1967 Haeco Scully lathe, to which one can attribute the signature “Gearbox sound.” With the guiding ethic of “future analogue”, label and third-party releases are cut and mastered for analogue and digital using the best combination of rare vintage and modern equipment inside the London studio.

The label’s dual output includes previously-unreleased historic recordings and genre-breaking new music by contemporary artists; you will come across music by Thelonious Monk, Don Cherry, and Nico as well Binker and Moses, Sarathy Korwar, Chihei Hatakeyama and Abdullah Ibrahim. The label is also responsible for the one-off, beautifully-designed Gearbox Automatic Mkii turntable, custom built by Pro-ject.

  1. Nearest station: Caledonian Road & Barnsbury

  2. Website: https://www.gearboxrecords.com/ 



    4. Inverted Audio Record Store

Credit: Inverted Audio

Curated by Tom Durston aka DJ Antepop, Inverted Audio Record Store (an off-shoot of Inverted Audio Magazine) is located in Peckham’s Holdrons Arcade offering a hand-picked selection of new and used vinyl records, cassettes, CD’s and clothing from the best underground record labels and artists exploring the intersections of house, techno, dubbed-out grooves, experimental, avant-garde and esoteric ambience.


5. Flashback Records

Credit: Flashback Records

Set up in 2014 in a large two floor property on Bethnal Green Road, with a dedicated Soul, Jazz and Reggae basement, the Shoreditch branch of Flashback Records rivals its sister outlet in Islington for depth and breadth of stock. It also hosts regular instore gigs by well-known and emerging artists.

Credit: Reddit

This Hackney record shop is a metalhead's dream. In addition to more than a thousand used and new heavy metal records, including all the usual subgenres, it stocks merch, zines, T-shirts and more. It's open Thursday through Sunday (and by appointment only on Tuesday and Wednesday).

Credit: Hidden Sounds

Tucked away up a winding flight of stairs on Ridley Road, amongst the fabrics, fresh foods and various crafts of one of London’s oldest market streets. Amongst the fusion of Afro-Caribbean, Asian and European staple goods, you will find a true gem in the shape of Hidden Sounds.

Credit: Love Vinyl

Love Vinyl a mecca for dance music lovers wether it's the latest house or techno releases or vintage underground disco gems from the 70's. Brought to you by four music lovers with a long history in London club's, on the cities' turntables and most importantly behind (and infront) of London's record shop counters.

Zafar Chowdhry and Jake Holloway have a wealth of London club and music history between them and aim to bring this history, love and knowledge of music to their new enterprise 'Love Vinyl', a music emporium that will be split equally between new releases and collectable, rare, used vinyl.

Weather it's the new counter which although will focus on the latest house, techno and disco/edits releases (but also stock some of the best new reggae, soul and jazz) or the vintage counter where you will find rarities from back in the day the aim is to feed that vinyl need.

9. World of Echo

Credit: DELUXE

World of Echo is a record store right on Columbia Road. They have a mixture of new, used & rare vinyls. Named after Arthur Russell’s LP World of Echo, the shop will buy and sell new, used and rare vinyl – “including early electronic music, krautrock, noise, EBM, punk, post-punk, industrial, jazz, art rock and DIY” as well as London imprints.

Credit: recordstores.com

Like the film it’s named after, this small, independent record store is more than meets the eye. One of the East London movers and shakers, the 900 sqm multipurpose space hosts DJs, a restaurant, late-night bar, deli, coffee roastery, florist and hairdresser! The store owners have released exclusive, limited edition vinyl pressings in conjunction with the labels including Sound Way label, Mexican Summer, Anthology Records, and Heavenly Records, and hosted a wide range of events at the store from live shows with Theon Cross, David Holmes, Acid Arab and Ultraista to signings with Michael Kiwanuka, Heavenly 30th Birthday Celebrations and Steve Davis to name a few. They even had the late, great Andrew Weatherall play at their first birthday party.

Credit: Trippin World

Founded in 2014, Rye Wax is an independent record shop, restaurant, bar and event space part of The CLF Art Cafe situated in the cultural hub that is Copeland Park, Peckham. Shining a light on underrepresented or marginalised music and providing a space for countercultural movements to flourish, the owners say, “we challenge the idea that record shops are typically exclusive and inaccessible spaces. We endeavour to create new opportunities for participation, inspiration and collaboration, providing a platform to encourage new partnerships. Our aim is to extend our impact beyond our space to showcase the vibrant and creative quarter of south London.”

12. ALL AGES RECORDS

Credit: The Alternative Guide

“Totally DIY since 2003”, ALL AGES RECORDS is an independent punk and hardcore record store located in Camden Town. A shrine to punk culture, the store stocks not only records but  CDs, DVDs, t-shirts, fanzines, books, patches, badges, gig tickets and more.


13. ColdCuts // HotWax

Credit: @recordstoresofinsta

ColdCuts // HotWax is, at the time of writing, an online-only record shop whose owner is based in Loughborough Junction, South London. Founder Will Baxter (aka Baxter The Future) is planning the opening of a physical record shop nearby. If the online shop is anything to go by, this is one to keep an ear to the ground for. Follow the ColdCuts // HotWax instagram page for the the latest news on this or subscribe to the ColdCuts email newsletters.

Credit: The Vinyl Factory

Starting life in 2016 as a popup to celebrate BBE’s 20 years of releasing Real Music For Real People, The BBE Store is now a permanent fixture in Hackney’s musical landscape. Housed in Arch 376, a creative collaborative space comprising a bar, restaurant, events & work-space, the BBE Store stocks thousands of new & 2nd hand vinyl & CDs, specialising in BBE releases (past & present), plus new music from Brownswood, Mr Bongo, R2 Records, Atjazz and many more. The 2nd hand vinyl offering is sourced from private collections across the globe, spanning a variety of genres including soul, funk, blues, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, house and more. Every week they drop a batch of new & 2nd records on the floor so there’s always something fresh to dig.


15. Peckham Soul

Founded by adopted local, Craig Jameson shortly after he moved to Peckham in 2014, this eclectic indie vinyl label-slash-record shop based in Rye Lane’s Bussey Building might only just be approaching its tenth birthday, but it’s already considered something of a south east London institution thanks to its devotion to championing the area’s vibrant local music scene. 

16. Idle Moments & VDS (Vinyl Delivery Service)

Crredit: The Vinyl Factor

Audio equipment, music, and drinks, curated by the team behind brilliant corners, "mu" & GIANT STEPS. Need we say anymore? 

17. Eldica Records

Credit: Credit Foursquare

A cornerstone for the Hackney community, Eldica Records is as much a record store as it is a living history of London’s musical roots. 

“It’s the kind of place you might expect reggae generals to share stories of vintage sound clashes while co-owner, Andy Westbury, enthuses over James Brown to local diggers.” ~ The Vinyl Factory

  • Nearest station: Dalston Kingsland

  • Website: IRL only, this one’s for the locals 


18. Tome Records

Credit: recordstores.love

Buying, selling and trading new and used vinyl and cassettes. Ultimate local diggers’ backroom vibes. 


19. Out on the Floor Records

Credit: Out on the floor records

With over 60 years combined experience, Jake and Mick, the dynamic duo who own and run Out On The Floor Records have been serving the local community (and beyond) with music and a place to meet, keeping the fires of sound burning at Camden's oldest record shop in the heart of Camden Town.

20. Massive International

Credit: Massive International

A cultural institution and community meeting point, the reggae-specialising record store Massive International London has been developing cultural awareness and identity to the Black British Diaspora since 1983. 

“We are more than just a Reggae merchandiser, we provide a sense of family, togetherness and community to all our customers.” 



21. Vintage Vinyl

Credit: Long Live Vinyl

Billed as the East End’s best-kept secret, the basement of Brick Lane’s Vintage Market hosts an impressive stall that’s rammed with a steady stream of ever-changing stock. Certainly worth a visit if you’re Brick Lane bound.

Juliet Kennedy
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