May Newsletter
Hi folks
It's lockdown but we're not down, just shut down. So if you're craving records while incarcerated at home, we at Vinyl Vanguard are continuing to do local-ish home deliveries -- either by bicycle (what we call Spin-a-roo) or by foot (let's call that Pins-a-roo).
Since the lockdown began, we've delivered jazz, rock, reggae, classical, avant-garde, country, folk music, blues. African, disco, dance, easy listening, also Vinyl Vanguard gift tokens. So call or email or Instagram us if you're after anything for your collection.
Other than that, a couple of developments to tell you about:
DON'T GO LOCO, GO LOCAL
We've acquired new vinyl from interesting labels, including the locally-based Fuzzbrain. Pictured is Ben from Fuzzbrain, outside our shop, holding aloft the label's new release, about which Ben - wishing the shop well in current circumstances -- says: "I run a studio and label just off Lea Bridge Road and I'm releasing a compilation record called Fuzzbrain Music: 2020 Visions. It's 13 songs from 13 different artists who have all recorded exclusives for the compilation. The artists themselves range from hardcore via Splitknuckle, Lawful Killing, Frame Of Mind to fresh psych in micromoon, Flaccid and some new wave UK hip/hop from deijuvhs.
The compilation is based around my studio, Fuzzbrain Studios, and the music scene that is coming up through it. It's the first time a lot of this particular type of London youth culture has been put on a physical record so it's really exciting. I'm born and raised in Walthamstow and it would be really cool to get the release in the local shop. We've sold just over half of the records in the first week since the streaming release."
The records are very limited and come in pink and green vinyl -- here's a link to get a flavour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhiJ686e2qc
JAZZ ALBUMS OF THE MONTH
We've also got for sale critically-acclaimed vinyl albums issued by the Whirlwind jazz label, featuring Walthamstow-based musicians with European reputations -- Julian Siegel and Tori Freestone.
In a scene somewhat reminiscent of a John Le Carre novel (what with all the social distancing capers), we bought new vinyl pressings from tenor saxophonist Julian. Vista is a double LP which when released in 2018 was the Guardian newspaper's jazz album of the month - now available in limited edition vinyl. Likewise Julian's other album that we've acquired, Nit de Nit, issued in 2019 and recorded live at the Vortex club in the neighbouring borough of Hackney.
And tenor sax is also the main instrument of Tori Freestone - the only Tori -- if you'll pardon the pun -- that we at Vinyl Vanguard support. Her trio's latest release is El Mar de Nubes, and it too was a the Guardian newspaper's jazz album of the month on its release last year. Besides Tori's own compositions, El Mar includes two takes on a lovely sea shanty inspired by her father, who was a merchant seaman. We took this pic of Tori outside her house when we picked up some copies, which we can also acquire from her on CD.
Also on CD, Tori's two previous albums, and those Julian Siegel releases.
