Friday record shopping

I decided that if I had any hope of getting all my clothes PLUS my purchase back in my suitcase for my trip to Wales tomorrow, I was going to have to unload the DJ mix CD demos I had brought, which made today my record shopping day. My main destination was IMO records, which I had discovered was way south, barely in greater london. I hadn't taken a train anywhere, but I figured this would be a good time to learn the system for my trip tomorrow.

I took the tube to Victoria Station, and bought a ticket out to Sutton. I didn't really figure out the system until the end of my trip, but I think I've got the hang of it now. I got there with just an address, and soon found that it was on the opposite end of the looooong street that I had arrived at (there was another stop within a 100 yards of the store, I later discovered). I had a nice refreshing walk through Surrey, which is definitely more laid back and rural than central London.

IMO Records storefront is quite small, with just the newest/most popular releases on the walls, three turntable listening stations, a couple tables of flyers, shelves of tapepacks, and one internet station. The real shopping is done on the internet station, and then you hit the "print list" button (look for it on the site, under the shopping cart stuff!) and it prints a list down the hall in the back where the guy at the front counter runs back and finds everything on your list. There was a constant flow of people in and out, and I was too timid to do much talking. So, even if something was out and on the wall that I wanted to hear, I listened to it online. I also saw Spinback walk through a time or two. I eventually picked out my list and printed it up. The guy at the front counter was very nice, and found them all for me. We chatted for a bit, and he did some research for me so I could avoid paying the VAT tax stuff. He gave me a list of used record stores around london to check for hardcore stuff. A couple of the best ones it turns out are way out at the edge of london, so I dunno if I'll make it to them. He also gave me some extra flyers and IMO Records bags to take home. Quality place!

I rode the train back into London, dropped off my records at the Hostel, then decided that the nice weather and sunlight would probably be a good time to take some pictures. My sister had told me the top of St Paul's Cathedral is excellent, so I headed down there. I got there at about 5:15, and it turns out that most of the church closes at 4:00 so they can have their evening service at 5. I got to listen to the service for a bit, snapped a few photos outside (none allowed inside), then headed towards Green Park. I walked through the park, took some photos, then as it got dark I headed for Oxford street to check out some of the record stores I head been told about. I found Reckless Records and Vinyl Exchange on a side street off Oxford, along with a bunch of other record shops that were closed that late. Both had tiny hardcore sections, with nothing desireable whatsoever. The people working at each said they rarely get in hardcore. Apparently there used to be a few shops that regularly dealt in used hardcore, but they have all closed down. I'm gonna see if I can get a confirmation on the stock at some of the ones in outer london, and if they'll have a decent amount, maybe spend half a day trekking out next week.

After that I came back to the hostel to start repacking and preparing for my trip to Wales. The amount and complexity of the information I've got is beyond daunting. It's downright scarey and discouraging. I hope I survive this trip. I've been so rediculously busy, that I haven't even been able to look at it. And now that I do, I can't even comprehend any significant portion of it. I just now noticed that I'm supposed to catch a 7am train. Which means I need to get up in six hours if I'm to have a prayer of making it.

I'm going to bed. Hopefully I can do some reading on the train there.