Vinyl Revival
Sales of vinyl records have rocketed up for a 16th consecutive year, so why are vinyl records having such a resurgence?
The allure of vinyl records is a combination of sound quality, physicality, nostalgia, and collector culture. Even though streaming services have made listening to digital music more convenient and accessible than ever, vinyl remains a beloved format for many music fans, bringing back fond memories and through owning a piece of music history.
The first record I bought was Joy Division when I was twelve, which is now a highly collectable and valuable original pressing that I am proud to own. I used to write my school homework whilst listening to John Peel on the radio, who was a huge influence on my dark and grungy music taste. When I play a record, I love the dusty pops and grainy crackles as the needle falls into the grooves and, for me, it all adds to the raw quality of the sound.
It's not just about the music though. A big part of the joy of owning a record is the varieties in cover design, adding visual interest to a work of art. You might see photographic portraits, paintings, sketches, collages or they might be minimalist with nearly nothing at all. The artist might feature plastered all over the front cover, or perhaps they take a backseat entirely, letting evocative imagery pull the listener into their world.