Scotland's Indie Record Shops, and their Albums of 2023
It's an undeniable fact that records make for excellent Christmas presents. With that in mind, we've spoken to some of our favourite independent shops about their favourite albums of the year
Assai Records
33 Union St, Dundee; 1 Grindlay St, Edinburgh; 233 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow
Staff-favourite specialists in vinyl, turntables and music merch.
assai.co.uk
Staff pick: Geese – 3D Country
3D Country is as ambitious musically as it is thematically, taking the late-night, sleazy groove of Exile on Main St. and throwing it against a wall repeatedly. The 60s blues-rock style somehow feels timeless, given new life by the contemporary production and avant-garde vocal delivery. Geese are chaotic and totally wonderful. [Aimee Douglas, Assai Edinburgh]
Le Freak Records
159 Perth Rd, Dundee
Underground record shop, seller of new and used records.
lefreakrecords.co.uk
Staff pick: Róisín Murphy – Hit Parade
We love it because it's mental. A surreal, silly, sample-heavy, chaotic mess from two icons of dance music [Róisín Murphy and DJ Koze]. [Jack Le Feuvre, Le Freak]
Orange Moon Records
Upstairs at Steampunk Coffee, 49A Kirk Prts, North Berwick
A tightly-curated shop in the upstairs of a trendy coastal coffee shop.
instagram.com/orangemoonrecordstore
Staff pick: Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here.
I’ll admit, when I heard a mumble rapper was releasing a psych-rock album I rolled my eyes pretty hard. However, with an incredible team sheet of producers and features fused with Lil Yachty’s vocals, this album really blew me away, challenged my previous judgements and created a unique sound I can honestly say I’ve never heard before. [Becca Ferrier-Baker, Orange Moon Records]
Some Great Reward
Unit 2, The Cooperage, 674 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow
Independent record store with a monthly residence on Radio Buena Vida.
somegreatreward.scot
Staff pick: corto.alto – Bad With Names
After a string of different singles, EPs, tonnes of live performances, not to mention guest spots with the likes of JSPYNX and Pyjaen, Glasgow's corto.alto have hit out with their debut LP, Bad With Names. You'll find a great mix of sounds across its 12 tracks, from broken beat to electronica to some heavier punky moments, all with a nu-jazz cherry on top. Favourite track: Slope. [Faye Woodcock, Some Great Reward]
corto.alto - Bad With Names
Thirteen Records
13 Union St, Dundee
New and used record shop from the staff of former Dundee mainstay Groucho’s.
thirteenrecords.co.uk
Staff pick: Sparks – The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
One of my favourite bands of all time and a new album to rival their best. Add in an incendiary show that left a smile on my face for days and there can only be one winner. [Frank Mills, Thirteen Records]
Thorne Records
125 Bruntsfield Pl, Edinburgh
Well organised indie with a strong devotion to local artists and customers alike.
thornerecords.com
Staff pick: Meursault – Meursault
This sixth LP from the Edinburgh collective was recorded on Skye and listening to it you can feel the power of the elements of that 'island in the mist' seeping out of the speakers. It's an utterly nourishing and cathartic experience until the devastating closer, Teacher, Was I Wrong To Burn, appears and knocks the utter shit out of you. [Mark Thorne, Thorne Records]
Meursault - Meursault
Umbrella Vinyl
20 Valleyfield St, Edinburgh
Specialists in second hand world music, collectibles and rare wax.
umbrellavinyl.com
Staff pick: Esther Phillips – Capricorn Princess
Umbrella Vinyl opened in August this year and we specialise in second hand records. One of our favourite records is Capricorn Princess by Esther Phillips from 1976. It's a fantastic mix of jazz, disco, funk and soul and Esther's voice is incredible. We sell our copies as soon as we stock them; it is by far our most requested record to date, and ideal for Christmas parties! [Laura, Nick and Josh, Umbrella Vinyl]
Underground Solu’shn
9 Cockburn St, Edinburgh
Central Edinburgh mainstay for dance music, decks and DJ equipment.
undergroundsolushn.com
Staff pick: Lord Of The Isles & Ellen Renton – My Noise Is Nothing
In a strong year for homegrown produce, there was one clear stand out for us. All bias aside, this follow-up to their first collaborative EP from 2020 is everything we’d hoped for and more. Neil McDonald’s living, breathing analogue electronics once again provide the perfect sonic pairing for Ellen Renton’s astonishingly honest, earthly yet elemental poetry. [Gavin Sutherland, aka Other Lands, Underground Solu'shn]
Lord of the Isles & Ellen Renton – My Noise is Nothging
Elsewhere in Edinburgh
You’ll also find indie record shops in The Old Town (Slow Progress, 53 Blackfriars St), the New Town (Avalanche Records, Waverley Mall), Stockbridge (VoxBox Music, 21 St Stephen St), and Leith (Good Vibes Neighbourhood Store, 151-153 Constitution St) with second hand record shops similarly widespread. Check out Elvis Shakespeare (347 Leith Walk), Backbeat Records (31 E Crosscauseway), Vinyl Villains (5 Elm Row) and Oxfam Music (64 Raeburn Pl).
Elsewhere in Glasgow
In the City Centre you’ll find Love Music (34 Dundas St), and Rubadub (35 Howard St), while the Merchant City hosts Glasgow institution Monorail Music (97 King St, 12 Kings Ct). In Finnieston, you’ll find Strip Joint Records tucked in the back corner of Strip Joint Bar (956A Argyle St), as well as Music From Big Blue (1103 The Hidden Ln), the shop from local label Last Night From Glasgow, while in the West End you’ll find Mixed Up Records (18 Otago Ln). For shops specialising in second hand, seek out Otherside (724 Pollokshaws Rd) and Oxfam Music (171 Byres Rd).