What started as a coffee shop with a small vinyl corner has now moved to a new location at a proper shop on Ladphrao where the focus is purely on music. The music at REC Records spans two genres, indie-pop/rock and world music, reflecting the different tastes of its owners, Kanyaweeratha Nara-Eim and Pairot Damkong. From Kanyaweeratha you’ll find Real Estate, Cut Copy, Warpaint and The Radio Dept., while Pairot’s selection covers Afro beat, Mexican beat, old-school mo lam and luk thung. Order online or dig for vinyl in person at their shop and the upcoming Noise Market (Museum Siam, Nov 8-9)
Good for: World music
Real-world shop: U/F, QI Studio, Ladphrao Soi 15, 085-366-9116. MRT Lat Phrao
Located on the second floor of the new branch of street fashion brand Sneaka Villa on Sukhumvit Road, Surface Noise by DJ Ballistic is both a record store and a community space for DJs of hip-hop and old-school R n’ B. Surface Noise also hosts events, and recently brought LA-based DJ Mike Gao to Wine Bibber Sangria.
Good for: Hip-hop, R n’ B and electro
Real-world shop: 64/10 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-661-5267. BTS Thong Lo
After launching in Aug 2013 as an online record store, 1979 Unknown Pleasures has now set up business on the fourth floor of the same building as Amber barbershop, Smitheries jewelry studio and leatherware brand R-Studio. Its specialty is 90s-2000s Brit-rock, so expect the likes of Blur, Coldplay and the Libertines up to new musicians like Kurt Vile. 1979 still offers its online service, but the store is worth stopping by for coffee or to watch the occasional gig.
Good for: Brit-pop/rock
Real-world shop: 4/F, Black Amber Building (behind Kiatnakin Bank), between Thonglor Soi 5-7
The new record business by fresh graduate Panuwat “Ball” Kongamnuaysuk spans vintage alternative, rock and electro as well as modern releases from bands like The Vaccines, Daughter, Lana Del Rey and Chvrches. Expect to find a lot of 90s classics too, like Oasis and Coldplay. His online store also provides a good mix of music-related film memorabilia. Visit the Facebook page for up-to-date stock information.
Good for: New music
Run by Whim Jingjit, the guitarist and vocalist of The Vitagers blues band, Jam Records currently operates exclusively as an online business, but is set to have a proper shop on Sukhumvit Soi 39 by the end of September. Whim’s selection focuses on blues, roots, soul and old-school jazz like early Nat King Cole. While his stock is mainly secondhand at the moment, Whim hopes to expand with new reissued records once the shop has properly opened.
Good for: Old-school classics