OTHER NEWS: Turnstyle got a new website

 

I'm sure its just me not checking in enough but low and behold Turnstyle the dopest record shop in VA capital got a wicked face lift!  Mad respect to Joanna O and Jessie for holding things down and promoting the sound.

Randomness: From the Other Side of the Pond

Isle of Skye Phone Booth. Photo Credit: Ocean Eiler

So I've been busy catch up since my trip out East to the mother land of Scotland. Two weeks being unplugged from technology, jet lagged and dealing with the lack of darkness due to summer solstice made for a grand vacation.

Your friendly neighborhood Technics dealer. Photo Credit: Addison H.

Shortly after arriving in Glasgow we fetched a train up to Inverness. Inverness although lacking a good electronic dance music store had plenty of pubs, clubs, and novelty stores to keep our jet lagged brains amused. The following day Scotland foolishly let me hire a car to drive about in, (LOL stupid people). 

Glenco. Photo Credit: Ocean Eiler

 So it wan not "tramping" around like all the books I was reading, but our travels around the Highlands would have looked like a Family Circus map. Driving down along the length of Loch Ness, around the Isle of Skye a few times, hoped a ferry on our way to Fort William. Load of hiking and sight seeing but no real record hunting. (Whomp Whomp).

Returning the car we hitched a train to Edinburgh, my home away from home.  It felt great to stretch my legs on the streets that i grew up in. Visiting old hunts, and checking out new ones. As coincidence would have it, my parents were in town that week which I have to say is the most amount of time I've spent with them in nearly 10 years. It was great!

Now 10 odd years ago, I walked into Underground Solu'shn at the bottom of Cockburn Street and fell in love with this intimate record store. The staff was helpful, engaging and did there best to impart some wisdom of what was moving crowd in the Scotland. 10 years later I found the staff to be just as engaging. Although George Macdonald was on vacation, Andy...(I hope that was your name) was super nice, and did his best dealing with a DnB head. Smiling. What was more striking to me was I handed him a demo and he straight away put it on blasting it over the store speakers. That gave me a bit of a thrill to hear my mix being play. Hat Tip.

Underground Solu'shn, Edinburgh Scotland. Photo Credit: Ocean Eiler

Car less we were now getting around Scotland by train. Holy hell is that the way to travel! During another adventure to ventured to Sterling and ran across Europa Music. From my first impression I thought it was going to be a bust till I noticed the sign that said vinyl in the back...

Europa Music Sterling Scotland. Photo Credit: Ocean Eiler

 HOT DIGITY DING DONG! Its the mother load I thought. Although not as impressive as the golden plaster of the Sterling castle this comes in at a close second. If your looking for Shut Up and Dance records, early Techno, loads of Acid House and a smattering of Jungle records. Get off this computer and do directly.

Europa Music's Back room Sterling Scotland. Photo Credit: Ocean Eiler

On the topic of mother loads I should note that Avalanche Records in Edinburgh's Grass Market has a stock pile of dance records that is mind boggling. If the story true they bough most of their dance records from an unnamed BBC DJ that had been stock piling promo records over the last 30 years. I was able to find some unplayed ragga jungle tunes from the 1994-7. Mind you I also had to clean the mold off these records... but thats a small price to pay.


Note from the Librarian:
If your looking to make a record buying holiday for DnB / Jungle records do not go to Scotland. It stand to reason that an country that hates its neighbor, is working on separating itself from "Great Britain" would of coarse not pay any attention to the London sound that is Drum & Bass...oh well. With that said I love Scotland, the people, the country side, their beer, and Veggie Haggis. The adventure was totally epic and I'm glad to have been able to share it with my partner in crime Addison, who did not roll her eyes to much every time I dipped into another moldy record shop. Cheers.

OTHER NEWS: Richmond.com's article on TurnStyle

Turnstyle: Indie Records in Richmond

"Sure, the First Fridays Art Walk was beginning to give the area a boost, but an independent record store catering to techno, house, jungle, break beats, drum and bass and all things electronic music in this particular neighborhood in downtown Richmond—are you kidding me?"

Read the full article [HERE] on www.richmond.com

Big ups to Turnstyle. Much respect.

The Librarian

FTA REPORT: Turnstyle Record Shop in Richmond Virginia

This little write up is long, long over due. Some where about 6+ months ago I was desperate for a record store. With the death Yoshie Toshie, Capital City Records and finally DJ Hut. The DMV was looking wicked bleak for my vinyl addiction. Sure, I could roll to Crooked Beat, Som Records, or even CD Depot but their I would only be able to fine a record possibly two. This was starting to really force my hand to looking at Digital DJing as a real alternative. Then some where on a DJ forum I found a mention to a record shop called Turnstyle down in Richmond.

Now at the time my reaction was probably similar to yours, how long is that going to take me to drive? Especially when driving 6 miles in DC can take up to 45 mins depending on the time of day. Yea, I was little apprehensive, however one day the need for new tunes was just to great. After a coffee and a quick stretch, I was off on fine Saturday morning!

The drive was a breeze, finding Turnstyle on the main drag was easy, and parking was like shooting fish in a barrel. EPIC WIN.

A brief run down of the joint...

Turnstyle is a boutique electronic vinyl record store with a moderate injection of clothing & art work. Just thinking about this store puts a smile on my face. Joanna and Jessie the owners of Turnstyle have to be the nicest people I've meet in ages. Seriously, their comradely, costumer service and excitement for the dance community is infectious. This combined with a sick DnB/Jungle selection makes it totally tops as far as I'm concerned.





Conclusion:
If your in need for scratching that vinyl itch. Take the time, make the drive and go visit Turnstyle. You will be glad you did.

Turnstyle
102 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220

email:
info@turnstyleonline.com

phone:
804-643-8876

Hours:
Tuesday - Friday:
12-7pm
Saturday:
12-6pm

-the Librarian