With the advent of online record stores making the DJ’s life, all the easier nothing can compare to checking out what some of the finest record stores in the world has to offer.
In the first in a series looking at some of the best record stores in the world, we visit Berlin, a city that embraces vinyl and record culture more than most…
Elevate
Behind every great record store is a great woman, or so the saying goes. Cinthie’s recent success has been neither overnight or easily gained and the American artist and her collection of labels have steadily been embedding themselves in the house and minimal over the last few years.
Her Elevate record store situated at Gubener Str. 24, 10243 Berlin houses an up to date collection of releases from the likes of Beste Modus, Best Freund, We_R House, 803 Crystal Grooves, Unison Wax as well as other closely related imprints such as Rubisco and Certain Circles.
Keep an eye on Cinthie’s Facebook page for more details on opening hours and if you can’t get down to the store then you can visit their online store.
Webstore | Gubener Str. 24, Friedrichshain, Berlin
KMA60
Founded and run by Jamie Fry & Dana Ruh, KMA60 was actually set up originally as music consulting/ distribution service but has only recently evolved to also include a physical record store.
The bare bricked space offers something closely related to more of intimate event space with KMA60 holding live stream events, close-knit parties and an ambient yoga session with Christopher Ledger. Of course, you cannot forget the stunning selection of electronic music too which Dana is renowned for possessing.
You can find KMA60 at Herrfurthplatz 8 as well as offering a very well rounded online service. This stylish store will also regularly play host to visiting close friends and family of the scene, so you just never know who you might bump into.
Facebook | Webstore | Herrfurthplatz 8, Neukolln, Berlin
The Ghost
DJ duo The Ghost are a pair of selectors with a combined 15 years in the game and have impressively record bags to prove this. Friends Josh Tweek and James Creed are also the brains behind Berlin’s first mobile record store and have rocked up to many spots in recent times but have settled on Betahaus, Harzer Strasse 39, Alt Treptow.
The selection of vinyl that The Ghost offers is not just confined to minimal and there are unbound goodies of most house and techno flavours to be found in the back of their old white van. When the lads are not offering their wares to passers-by then they can be found at some downright amazing parties such as the Slow Life & Friends party in Barcelona on Thursday, July 18th and the SlapFunk Summer Gathering at BRET on Saturday, July 20th.
Facebook | Various location, often outside Club der Visionaere
Black Round Twelve
Located at Nöldnerstr. 6, Black Round Twelve is a great little store that while does also offer a great range of other music styles their hook up with Ourown.ro back in 2016 resulted in an insane selection of minimal and Romanian lables such as Raresh’s Metereze, Amphia and of course [a:rpia:r]. Their recent drops have included our recent premiere of Subtil’s new ‘Making Waves’ EP from Mihai Pol and the Dan Andrei ‘Loose Dots’ EP on Amphia. This should go some way towards demonstrating the calibre of this store.
However, when is a record store not a record store? When it is also a distribution arm, vinyl pressing service, and a coffee shop. Obviously. Black Round Twelve is much more than just a record store and should rank quite high up on your list for your next digging visit and if you can’t make it to Berlin to visit in person they also offer shopping from the comfort of your own home.
Facebook | Webstore | Nöldnerstr. 6, Rummelsburg, Berlin
OYE Records
Located at both Oderberger Str. 4, 10435 Berlin and Friedelstraße 49, 12047 Berlin OYE Records is one of Berlin’s most important record stores. Also, offering an extremely wide selection of genres including hip hop, beats and jazz and of course a dizzying amount of house, techno, and disco. OYE Records also organises some extremely lively in-store sessions as well as keeping their loyal fans up to date with all goings-on in their stores via their highly informative monthly newsletter. Their online store is also massive too, so either of their physical stores or online version will keep even the most hardened of diggers heads down in the crates for hours on end.
Facebook | Webstore | Oderberger Str. 4, Kollwitzkiez, Berlin & Friedelstraße 49, Neukolln, Berlin
Spacehall
It is is not possible to look at Berlin record stores without mentioning one of the best record stores in the world. Spacehall is literally a cornucopia of vinyl of all colours shapes and sizes. The cavernous store situated on Zossener Str. 33 / 35, 10961 Berlin is actually 3 stores in one and while the first 2 “rooms” are dedicated to jazz, new wave, industrial, and rock the latter room is where the electronic music heads head and do so in numbers.
Spacehall is somewhat of a mecca for vinyl enthusiasts and so rifling through the various crates of vinyl will indefinitely unearth hard to find gems time after time. All you need is to be able to give this store as much of your time as you can and you will walk out with a tidy selection of wax under your arm.
Facebook | Website | Zossener Str. 33 / 35, Bergmannkiez, Berlin
Hard Wax
Founded in 1989 by Basic Channel duo Mark Ernestus and Moritz Von Oswald Hard Wax is also one of the finest record stores in the world. With a pedigree, so strong this store rose to iconic status many moons ago and the fact that the likes of DJ Hell, Marcel Dettmann and Modeselektor all worked behind the hallowed counter pushing vinyl to all that climbed those famous sticker laden stairs tells you all you need to know about Hard Wax.
This store isn’t nearly as big as the likes of OYE or Spacehall but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in the strength of its curation. Hard Wax also maintains their web store meticulously, so you can check out all tracks online before coming to the store. House and techno of most shades are paramount here and you will likely bump into visiting musical dignitaries if you spend any sort of time in this store.
Facebook | Webstore | Paul-Lincke-Ufer 44a/2. Hof, Kreuzberg, Berlin
Bikini Wax
If you head to Manteuffelstraße 48, 10999 Berlin you will find a main door where you will need to press the buzzer in order to gain entry, but once inside and upstairs in the comfortable confines of Bikini Wax you will find a haven of used records that covers most shades of house and techno. It is clear why the serious digger makes sure that this store is on their list while on the hunt for forgotten gems and it is the familiarity that comes with a visit to Bikini Wax. It is like digging at your mate’s house and the finely curated selection is sure to turn up a bargain or two.
Manteuffelstraße 48, Kreuzberg, Berlin
Libertine Records
A newly opened store at Forster Strasse 51, 10999 Berlin but not a new name in the record store game. Having previously been a major playing in the Barcelona the Berlin chapter will pick up where the BCN store left off and that is offering hot new releases as well as a great selection of second gems. Not specifically dealing in minimal but with Libertine Records throwing some of the finest parties featuring guests such as Spacetravel, Onur Ozer, Baby Vulture as well as owners Yoshi and Sbri.
Facebook | Forster Strasse 51, Kreuzberg Berlin
