Discogs mission is to create the worlds biggest music database. It is impossible to think about Discogs without menoning the rise of Internet and social media. When the first webpages went online, Internet was a place whewhere someone would upload something to a server/webpage and many other people would see it. Nowadays, interacon on the net is far more complex than it was in the beggining. When Kevin Lewandowski (Discogs ffounder) started uploading and adding his own record collecon to an online database, he started sharing his webpage with different music mailing lists he was part of. In a few months, the webpage was exploding with new rrecords being added to the database. People began sharing

and adding informaon to the database, so the webpage started to get aenon from more and more music enthusiasts around the world. What started as a database then became a social network for music fans. It all ststarted with electronic music records and aerwards it spread to all exisng music genres. The marketplace is probably the way new people get to know the website, but it was created once the database was loaded with rreleases. But the most interesng aspect of Discogs is, in my opinion, the Community aspect. Discogs is like a hub in which collectors from all over the world meet online. Its a database, a marketplace, but mostly, its a ccombinaon between these and a social network about music.

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The road to creating the worlds biggest music databaseBy Hernán Touzón

The “social” aspect is visible when vising the discussion forums. On this forums, members are constantly giving ps about the best way to catalog records, add releases and all sorts of things related to record collecng. It is truetrue that Discogs wouldn't exist without the database, but it is also true that the discussions and members inputs are very relevant to the feedback of the website. The plaorm has a wiki style, in which its own members keep the wheel spinning.spinning. There are hierarchies, of course. Older or more experienced members have more power of choice than new members. These older members can delete releases that don't follow the rules and they can warn other members if they aare doing something wrong. Nevertheless, new members can add releases to the general database without any trouble. So, for instance, if a new member owns a release that is not listed in the database, he can add this release tto the database and contribute to its growth.

Whats interesng about Discogs database is that it serves as a music reference, besides the physical medium informaon itself. The database has informaon about tracks, albumbs, credits, including a wide range of popular musical gengenres. So, the database is a reference not only for music collectors but for music fans in general who want to check for arsts and albums. One thing that you can try is to search any record on google without using keywords rrelated to physical mediums. For example, using google you can search any album. You will see that Discogs will appear in the first search results, although the search didnt include any reference to physical media. In that sense, DisDiscogs competes with other well known database sites such as allmusic.com or even wikipedia! It seems that the original mission of creang the worlds biggest music database on the net is on its way.

Kevin Lewandowsky, Discogs.com founder

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Its true, vinyl world is mostly analog. But digital features can be useful. In this case, Discogs allows every member to create his own collecon, linking the albums in its database to the members collecon using the “add to collecon” buon. Then, in the “Collecon” secon of your prprofile you will be able to see your personal collecon.

Tired of searching for a specific record? In this case the best opon is to use the “Add to Wantlist” buon. If a seller lists the record, Discogs will send you an email alert so you can buy it.

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Two interesting features....

Add to Collection

Add to Wantlist

Discogs started as a personal project to catalog records online, but how did it happen that other people started updang and adding releases by themselves? Was it unexpected or was it con-ceived in the original idea?

LIz Maddux: It was designed as a "wiki" style database, before wiki was a word. At the start Kevin added 200 of his own records, and then invited other people to add theirs. And it took off.HeHe posted announcement messages on a few music mailing lists and newsgroups that he was a member of. He in no way expected it to explode like this.

ImIm very interested in the “community” secon of the website. I think that as more and more record stores are closing its doors (specially big stores), Discogs is a place where people

meet each other online”. For many people, Discogs is just a plaorm in which records are being sold but i think the main aspect of the web-site, or what makes it interesng is the community aspect. What is your opinion about it and how do yyou work to let this interacon happen? Do you parcipate in the adding/updang releases or is it merely controlled by the users?

LM: The community is what makes Discogs unique and I believe what draws buyers, sellers and collectors from all over the world. The fact that we are mainly user built it gives an individual a sense of ownership and pride that they are cocontribung to the preservaon of music history. Staff do parcipate in the groups and forums mostly to give an opinion or to help sort out disputes as well as to con-tribute to discussions that they might be passionate about.

“Vinyl represents 14.3 million items listed in the marketplace whereas CD's represent a little over 4 million”

INTERVIEW WITH LIZ MADDUX,DISCOGS COMMUNITY MANAGER

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There are members of our staff that are contribung on a daily basis. It's vital that we have people on board that have the same drive as our users because we are all working towards the same objecve: We're on a mission to buildbuild the biggest and most comprehensive music database and marketplace. Imagine a site with discographies of all labels, all arsts, all cross-referenced, and an internaonal marketplace built off of that database. It's for the love of music, and music, and ge ng closer every day.

About the marketplace, is the vinyl revival of the past years im-portant to the website? In com-parison, vinyl sells more than CDs or is it the opposite?

LM: Absolutely! With the upswing of vinyl we are seeing more traffic to the site. Not just buyers but people interested in contribung to the database as well. Vinyl represents 14.3 million items listed in the marketplace whereas CD's reprepresent a lile over 4 million.

Do you consider possible in the future to add something like an “audio preview” of the records added to the database, something like linking each release to a streaming website to listen the album or similar?

LM:LM: Audio is a big topic of conver-saon of late and It's something that we are acvely researching.

What do you consider is the reason or the reasons for people to keep collecng physical music in the digital era?

LM: With physical media it gives people something tangible that they can not only touch but it's a unique sound experience that you will not find replicated anywhere else. The answer to this quesons is personal for everyone but for me It'sIt's the complete sensory experience. Feeling the actual record in my hand, hearing that familiar crackle, taking in that unique smell and being transported to a different place and me.

Thanks to Liz for the interview!

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Time is the first obstacle when planning a visit to Utrecht Mega Record Fair. Im on the train that departs each 30 minutes from Amsterdam Central Staon. In the meanme, i check the sellers list from the flyer I got the day before in a record store. With a brief descripon on the side of the sellers name (60s, indie, progressive, kraut) I select approx 20 exhibion stands from the 500 that display on the list. A huge list. When I arrive at Utrecht Train Staon Im a bit disoriedisoriented so I ask for direcons to a lady that is standing in the main square and seems to know the place.

“Hi, do you know where is the record fair?”“The what?”“It doesn't maer: im looking for a place where they sell records”“Ohh, records. Its over there (poinng to the other side of the square). My husband is there. He collects….(he says this as a joke, meaning shes red of waing in the cold).

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Utrecht Record FairBy Hernán Touzón

Jaarbeurs means trade fair in Dutch. I have the QR code of my cket directly in the cell phones screen. I put the cellphone above the scanner and im inside the Jaar-beurs. But, for my surprise, im not inside the record fair. I see an-ques, pots and pans, non music related objects. As I walk by I real-ize that i'm in another area, not in record fair area. I keep walking, the same objects. I walk at least 50 metres along what seems to be (literally) an hangar. Some records start to pop up but the pots and pans are sll there. Then I see that there is a separate area in which collectors put their records for sale. Interesng. Ill be back, I think (I didn't remember to get back!). At last, I enter the Record Fair area.

Because I knew that this would happen, I came with a prear-ranged record list, like a wantlist, loaded in my cellphone. So, here I am, showing my wantlist to every seller in the fair. There is not an age range. There are old sell-ers, young sellers, brothers, friends, wives, kids, employees. Theres people from all over the world: german, french, swedish, north american, peruvian. As re-gards music, theres a wide vari-ety of genres, from Rock to Jazz, from Soul to Blues, from Folk to Classical. There are lots of stands dedicated to singles. Theres a lot of Kraut Rock, too much for an amateur like me who only knows Neu! and Can. They have the origi-nal Cans Tago Mago at 250 euros. It sounds different. The Swedish seller is telling me that he made a comparison between the original and the reissue (which you can get there for 15 euros max). The ver-dict: it sounds different. Next me ill bring more cash.

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First is….first. Where to start? I see the flyers map and im oriented as a human GPS. I walk by following the number sequence on the flyer while comparing this to the real path. I go directly to the selected exhibion stands. I won't be able to see the 500500 stands, so things must be le behind. Stands themselves are prey dull and boring. Some sellers were more creave than others, they did put records on the wall structures. Others didnt. But, in general terms, visual art is not the main main talent of record sellers.

Going back to the wantlist….theres a slight issue. It seems I showed up late. It is not recommended to go to the fair the last day (Sunday). Officially, the record fair is held on saturday and sunday, twice a year. But on friday I was at this record ststore talking with the owner and he told me something I didn't know: “Today (friday) the fair is open. Its for extreme collectors, so in order to get in you have to pay 60 euros. Extreme collectors and sellers gather together”. Well, I should hhave visited the fair on saturday, at least. But Amsterdam has so much to offer, that I completely forgot about it. When I finish checking the stands I have marked I start to wander around the hallways. I find very good records in stands I didnt check.check. Parcularly, I stop at a dutch stand with great variety of rock music (mostly rare reissues). Apart from the fact that Sunday is not the best opon, I bought many good records I was looking for: the first Velvet Underground album (1st ppress French issue), Mr Tambourine Man by The Byrds, Bjorks Homogenic (UK 1st pressing), a double LP from Mercury Rev including some demos.

And how to avoid the price issue. Internet is omnipresent. Its really hard to find rare records for 3 bucks. Were talking about collectors who know what they're looking for and sellers who provide raries (or scarce records) for them. Of course, thethe 2 dollar Yes Album opon is always there, but most hard to find records are expensive. I should be collecng Jazz. The vinyl revival. Lots of demand, the same offer. Everybody is searching for Rock records. Everybody wants the same. BesidesBesides the fact that the market is loaded with reissues (and specially in Europe), the problem is that the used records are not infinite. It is impossible to walk along the fair without listening the annoying gossip between the sellers. EEverybodys talking about money. About records. But about money. About prices. About the revival. About how expensive some records are. Theres some arrogance in some cases. In others, its just the gossip about money, as if sellers weren't partpart of the market. The market, that invisible hand that sets prices. You buy I sell. Its not that simple. But thats how Capitalism works, some say.

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Regarding prices, the key issue, I think, is related to the Internet. If we talk about rock music, most of the records that are stocked during the fair are also listed on the internet (discogs, ebay). And in most cases, cheapecheaper. The closeness with the object produces some sort of irraonal impulse, the urge to reach the record no maer the price. Someone will appear from behind and steal it from view. Calm down. At this me, yyou should be like a Buddhist Monk doing his meditaon roune. I was looking for the debut album by Television Personalies. Thankfully I wasn't looking for Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies, which wwas hanged up in some stand for 600 euros.

At the beginning of the end of the fair I started hearing a conversaon between a heavy metal fan and the seller. “Last customer is always the best customer. Could you sell it for 250 instead of 300? I have to keepkeep something for gas, you know…”. The scene might repeat in loop from the beginning to the end of the fair. Nothing to do there.Ill come back, probably next year. Ill go on Saturday. Ill come back, probably in 2 years. Ill go on Friday. Ill get back home with empty pockets, of course. But...stay all day inside the fair? I dont think so, thetheres so much to see and do in the city. The fair closes down and record stores open again normally. Rare records go back to the shops. Buyers and sellers relax and wait to the next fair.

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Fernando Blanco is the guitarist of Argennians band Valle de Muñecas, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. Like many other colleagues, apart from his arsc acvity, Fernando is a passionate record buyer and vinyl colleccollector.

Which was the first vinyl record you remember having in your hands?

There were already vinyl records at home before I was born, it was the most popular music format in those days. My family used to listen to The Beatles (we had “A Hard Days Night” - known in Argenna as “Yeah Yeah Yeah”-, “For Sale” and “Rubber“Rubber Soul”). Queen “Jazz” was also there, “Yesterday” by Yes and Pink Floyds “The Dark Side of the Moon. Those were the ones I really liked, but there were other albums such as The Bee Gees, New Orleans Jazz and Argennian Folk.

¿The first record you bought with your own money? AnAn Interdisc compilaon called “Dancer”, which included the Break-dance hits of that me and also Ian Dury, Madness, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. A total mess. Have you ever sold a record and then regret? YYeah, lots of mes and it was always for necessity or to buy something else. Not so long ago i had to sell some Radio Tripolis 7” to pay some debts (an independent record label from Argenna from the 80s-90s).

YYou belong to the generaon that went to the record stores to buy your favourite records...Which bands did you discover by digging at record stores? AA lot. From The Who to The Stooges, from The Cramps to Motown, from Joy Division to Wilco.

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“I always collected vinyl, since I was a child. And I never stopped buying, not even in the mid 90s where they were very cheap and nobody wanted them”By Juan Pabo “Astilla” Domiínguez

CD vs. LP. Your insight. II always collected vinyl, since I was a child. And I never stopped buying, not even in the mid 90s where they were very cheap and nobody wanted them. Vinyl is my choice. Besides that, CDs had a lot of influence on my musical tataste. You have to consider that unl the arrival of CDs a lot of records where very difficult to get, if not impossible. For instance, I don't know any Argennian who would know T Rex before 1992 or who would ttalk about The Small Faces before that me. Theres a lot of records that without CD we wouldn't be appreciang, if it wasnt also for the urge of record labels to reissue their enre catalog, including cases suchsuch as Rhino or Sundazed, searching hidden vaults to find lost master tapes. So, i don't sgmaze CDs and I won't go mad if I cant buy a vinyl record that I already own on CD. But, if i have to choose, I definitely choose vichoose vinyl.

Do you remember which was your first sound system? My first soundsystem was an Acoustech amplifier with a Sincron turntable with the N44c stylus and M44 cartridge, the same i use nowadays.

Which is your actual sound system?

II have a Pioneer Sx-780 stereo receiver, Pioneer Cs-660 speakers, two Sony turntables, a JVC deck, and i use a DVD player as CD player.

The most difficult record you got? II don't get anxious when I can't find a record, theres always an opportunity out there, but I could say that the Kicking Television Box Set by Wilco was a hard to find record which I bought on a trip. WhichWhich record would you like to get? IdId love to get REMs Reckoning, Damned Damned Damned by The Damned, Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie, or even an easy one: London Caling by The Clash, but ill buy it if I get a good deal, i don't like to pay lots of money in ArArgenna for records that are cheaper in other countries. Favourite record stores? Oid Mortales and The Hacienda are my favourite record stores in Argenna

Your top 5 records

Nuggets “Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968”

Sex Pistols “Never Mind the Bollocks”

Sonic Youth “Sister”

Iggy & the Stooges “Raw Power” (doble de Music on Vinyl)

Velvet Underground “VU”

Thanks to Fernando for the interview!!

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This quote is from Robert Nesta Marley and its true. You have to feel that rhythm, the 4/4 beat in which magic melodies are drawn from 50 years ago. Melodies that changed the desny of world music.music. Aer invading rock n roll neuralgic centre (70s London), reggae spread like a virus, genecally modifying the sound and message of popular music. But, trying not to look down the Bob Marley quoquote, I would like to give my opinion as a reggae fan and vinyl record collector about what listening to reggae means.Reggae is perhaps the best adapted genre for listening

vinyl records, from the first rocksteadys that emerged from the island, coming from its elder brother, ska, to reggae rhythms which connue to evolve as well as vinyl records do. From the fifirst low quality jamaican pressings in the 60s, to the evoluon of american and english labels of the 80s (for me, the best period for audiophile records) labels such as Tuff Gong, Mango, Island,Island, produced excellent vinyl records with audiophile quality, deep bass, where subgenres like dub made the difference with precise rhytms and roots vocal harmonies.

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“Reggae is not about listening, its about feeling. If you dont feel it you dont get it”By Carlos Nocera

As a vinyl enthusiast, I can hear different genres on vinyl, but I wouldnt dare listening to reggae in other format than vinyl. Its not coincidence that reggae is the only genre that never stopped producing vinyl, ofof course, not with always at the same rate, but, consider-ing 7 inches and 45 rpm records, Djs never quit using them in the islands Sound Systems.Reggae Culture in Argenna is not as developed as in other countries. To tell the truth, most of the people is not familiar with the genre, and collectors are happy having one or two Bob Marley rerecords, something by Tosh and some local record compiling the reggae hits with two palm trees or some sandals in the front cover. Thats why its hard to make a good reggae collecon, it takes me,me, perseverance and money.

Plus, there are some original pressings that are very hard to find. Luckily, some labels are doing reissues of scarce records. For example, Lee Perry and the Upseers Super Ape, which is a must hahave record. Greensleeves from UK also has produced some gems with excellent sound and very good pressing quality in general: “On the rocks”by Wailing Souls”, Don Carlos Day to day living or “Black“Black Soundo f Freedom”,Black Uhurus debut album.

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Another interesng label is Negus Roots (american). This label produced two records that are a must listen. The first one, by an arst who passed away at the age of 23, Im talking about Lacksley Castell withwith the albums “Morning Glory” and Princess Lady”. Posive Vibez by Horace Marn (a perfect rockers album) was also reissued by the same label. If you want to give a try to these albums and otherother original pressings, you should check www.ebreggae.com.Now I would like to menon the first pressings. Catch a Fire or Burning by The Wailers, when they were a band, with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailers composing and singing closely to Bob Marley are must haves (both f(both from Island Records).

Or the great Dennis Browns Visions (Shanachie label). The Same Song by Israel Vibra-on, Gregory Issacs Night Nurse (Island), The Roots is There by Mighty Diamonds, Sugar Mino s Gheo-ology ((Trojan), and of course, Saa Amasagana, Arise and Forward by The Abyssinians (Alligators label).I dont want to forget men-oning the great english bands such as UB40, Aswad, Capital Leers, Steel Pulse and the all me best: Black roots (sll on the road and producing vinyl). Rocksteady, rroots, dub, dance-hall, rock-ers, lovers, ragamuffin, new roots, choose any of these styles and it will sound beer on vinyl.

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RIGHT HOUR, RIGHT PLACE. NO TRACE OF MY FRIEND

AFTER A 13 HOUR FLIGHT, IM IN THE CITY. IM GOING TO MEET MARCELO, A FRIEND AND

VINYL COLLECTOR WHO LIVES HERE

TRAVELLING AROUND BARCELONA

“EMILIO”DIALOGUES: HERNÁN TOUZÓN / NICOLÁS FLORES

DRAWINGS: NICOLÁS FLORES

T

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BARCELONA IS A SMALL CITY....

HEY MATE!!

AND THENI SEE HIM

WHO IS HE??

MID SIXTIES, BEARD, WHITE HAIR, USED JEANS AND A LEATHER JACKET FILLED WITH ZAPPAS PINS

CHECK THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, OLD MAN!!

AND THEN I SEE THIS GUY...

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DONT WORRYI ALWAYS CROSS THAT WAYMARCELO TOLD ME YOU LIVE

IN BUENOS AIRES

HI EMILIO, SORRY FOR THE SCREAM. YOU WERE CROSSING WITH RED LIGHTS...

HEY MAN, THIS IS EMILIOWERE GOING TO HIS PLACE RIGHT NOW

THIS IS MARCELO, ANOTHER VINYL COLLECTOR

THERE YOU ARE!

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SURE, LETS GOTO OUR PLACE

ILL SEE WHAT ICAN DO...

HAHA, EMILIO, ALWAYS THE SAME

ITS THE ONLY SINGLERELEASED IN ARGENTINA

THEN ILL WRITE ITDOWN SO YOU WONT

FORGET....

...IM MISSINGTHAT ONE...

NEXT TIME BRING METHIS FRANK ZAPPA SINGLE...

OR PERHAPS YOUCAN SHIP IT...

IF YOU GET BACK TO ARGENTINAWELL, LET ME ASK YOU...

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DONT YOU DARE!!

HI, CAN I SIT HERE?

COME ON IN...THERES A FRIEND HOME....

INSIDE THE HOUSE, THERE WAS A MAN FROM ALGERIA AND HIS TRIPLETS, WATCHING THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBSTHE PLACE WAS LIKE THE CBGB, FULL OF POSTERS AND R RECORDS, A TOTAL MESS

ON THE WAY HOME, MARCELO WAS TELLING ME THAT EMILIO WAS A HUGEFRANK ZAPPA FFAN. HE COLLECTED EVERY LP AND SINGLE, FROM EVERY DIFFERENT COUNTRY. LETS SEE IF LETS SEE IF WE CAN SWAP....

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NOTHING IS FREE, AT LEAST WITH EMILIO

SEE YOU GUYS....BY ANYCHANCE.....COULD YOUGIVE ME AN EURO FORTHE COFFEE...?

HOURS LATER...

BYE EMILIO

I DONT SWAP ZAPPA!!!

HEY, YOU GOT “FLINT”, I KNOW ITSFROM ZAPPA BUT...

SAID NOBUT...

ZAPPA PLAYS HERE

FOR...

TAKE IT EASY....HEY, I LIKE THIS ONEFROM CAPTAIN BEEFHEART

AND ANOTHER THINGI DONT SWAP ANYZAPPAS RECORDS

STAY AWAY FROMMY RECORDS!!

DECEMBER 2014 - #4

FORMAT+V

CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS NUMBERHernán Touzón

Juan Pablo “Astilla” DomínguezCarlos NoceraNicolás Flores

Contact: htouzon@gmail.com

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