Rough Trade Counter Culture

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00007GZFI/ref=sr_aps_music_1_1/026-4862007-9026022

Saw this comp in Victoria Station Our Price (now called s'thing else, I forget what) this morning. I didn't buy it because I don't like many of the bands, and because I had mixed feelings about it - on the one hand, good to see smaller artists getting exposure and shelfspace and I could see the comp being a real eye-opener for some. On the other, it doesn't seem to me to reflect what going to Rough Trade 'feels like', certainly not what gets played there - every time I'm in the Neal's Yard branch it's Greensleeves Rhythm Albums and European techno - and where's the modern composition or world stuff? It seems an odd word to use about a comp which is obviously pretty different and adventurous compared to what else is on the shelves (note o fellow pop-fans that I do not say better) but it seems conservative in a way. Maybe I had too high expectations since I like the shop a lot.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 27 January 2003 11:09 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't really go in RT these days as Berwick Street works better for me, so can't comment on the authenticity. But I will definitely buy this - there's plenty of artists on here who I have never heard but am curious about 'cos of ILM mentions.

What would be on a Record and Tape Exchange 'Counter Culture' comp? Every bloody time I've been in there over the last 15 years it's been Nick flippin' Cave or Leonard Cohen or some similar crap. (Yes, I know you used to work there Tom - what did you play?)

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 27 January 2003 11:22 (twenty-three years ago)

heard about this a bit back, looks interesting. doubt I'll love it all the way thru, though except Rock & Roll 1 that hasn't been true for any of them. nevertheless am anxious to hear it.

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 27 January 2003 11:30 (twenty-three years ago)

The Book and Comic Exchange had slightly different music policies Dr C - we got more leeway from the Boss. We used to play quite a lot of noisy/minimal/offputting stuff to keep punter levels down. Lots of Japanese stuff. Lots of jazz c/o Andrew L. On the electronic front Basic Channel got a lot of airtime.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 27 January 2003 11:46 (twenty-three years ago)

How is adventurous not better?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Because it's possible for adventurous music to be rubbish. You can admire its adventurousness at the same time as not wanting to hear it.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Also re-reading what I wrote I meant 'adventurous' mostly in the selection sense. Next to Counter Culture on the shelf was a compilation called 'Schooldisco.com - 40 classroom classics from the 80s'. Selectionwise this was the most unadventurous comp ever made - in quality terms though almost everything on it was excellent.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:30 (twenty-three years ago)

It's mostly taken from the Shop's Top 10, 20, whatever of 2002. So although the manager in Covent Garden likes Euro techno or one of the staff there is always playing Greensleeves records, this maybe reflects the staff at the Ladbroke Grove shop aswell or those that don't get control of the decks in the shops.

― Wandering Boy Poet, Monday, 27 January 2003 16:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom, the store name is: Sanity.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

So it is DJM. thankyou.

Yeah I see your point WBPoet, I sort of assumed that was why - I'm always a bit disappointed by the Top 10s/20s of the year too. It's just that I think a Rough Trade look-at-all-this-stuff-we-stock sampler would be even better: this comp seems unrepresentative of a shop which has always surprised and excited me.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Sanity are an Oz company. My local store: Our Price >> then went >> V.shop >> and recently rebranded Sanity. Whatever they call it the selection is very limited and the prices are not competitive.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually looking at it again I made the schoolboy error of looking at the bands I didn't like and using them to judge the bands I didn't know. It's a more interesting comp than I'd thought this morning. Apologies to Rough Trade for my maligning their good compilational name!

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:50 (twenty-three years ago)

8. Shack up - Bis

Oh, dear God, please tell me this isn't a cover of the Banbarra song.

Other than that, it looks, in my opinion a very good compilation, lots of variety that I would say definitely represents the stuff played at the shop.

― Stephen Burrows (steveeeeeeeee), Monday, 27 January 2003 16:54 (twenty-three years ago)

This looks like the least interesting one yet, for me anyhow. Then again, I thought that about the rock one, and I think I'm going to go get it at next opportunity.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 27 January 2003 19:35 (twenty-three years ago)

the Bis song is a cover of A Certain Ratio and is quite good actually

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 27 January 2003 23:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, it's kind of a cover of A Certain Ratio, because it takes it's cues from their interpretation of the Banberra song. It's taken from an EP of Factory cover versions, they also do Section 25 'From a Hill Top', New Order 'Hurt' and Joy Division 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and it is in keeping with their synth heavy sound of the last couple of years, ie FANTASTIC.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 05:04 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm obviously totally biased as i released the record but the bis cover of 'shack up' is glorious. i love the banbarra original to death and think they have totally done it justice with their interpretation (of a certain ratio's version). however, i did kind of hope they would try to programme that break but, you can't have it all.

― stirmonster, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 05:28 (twenty-three years ago)

you run Optimo? great label.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 05:29 (twenty-three years ago)

This looks like an interesting comp. Quite varied.

it doesn't seem to me to reflect what going to Rough Trade 'feels like', certainly not what gets played there
Heh, last time I was in the Portobello branch of RT, just before Xmas, I was flipping through the Rough Trade Shops recommends rack and one of the regulars behind the counter there drew my attention to the "Hung On A Fence" Fence records comp. that the Rough Trade Shops are associated with, and reeled off a list of the artists on it. "Doesn't sound like my sort of thing", I said. "No, I don't much like it either", the guy replied.

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 29 January 2003 18:28 (twenty-three years ago)

electric sound of jim
....and the club is fantastic too:
www.optimo.co.uk

― Jens (brighter), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 19:27 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

been playing this a lot; really enjoying it, though it's hardly definitive in any sense. anyone else?

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 17:37 (twenty-three years ago)

three years pass...

ts: 2006 vs. 1976

http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000KZRKUS.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V46340089_.jpg

2006 edition ON 2xCD now available. Track list here:
http://www.betweenplanets.co.uk/2007/01/19/rough-trade-shops-counter-culture-06-details/

ALSO ALSO the Shops have compiled a single CD "Rough Trade Shops Counter Culture 1976" documenting what they were selling in their first year of operation.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GCF93K.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V46338429_.jpg

Track list here:
http://www.recordstore.co.uk/productdetail.jsp?productPK=unittest-ockgP2mQnNPsIYwqqN3IEb-1

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:28 (nineteen years ago)

just picked this up in Fopp. It's good!

― Slumpman (Slump Man), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:33 (nineteen years ago)

'ow much?

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

£6 in Rough Trade, iirc from Saturday.

― Neil Stewart (Neil Stewart), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:42 (nineteen years ago)

You can buy both for £10 in the Rough Trade shop in Covent Garden. Both are pretty great, so far... no real surprises on the '76 comp, but it's solid regardless.

― Tiki Theater Xymposium (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

The '76 is a nice idea. I'll have to find both.

― Make a Beck Song #1 (M Matos), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

BNoth together for £10, or £10 each?

I quite fancy the 76 one.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 1 February 2007 09:16 (nineteen years ago)

Both together for £10! Was listening to the '06 one on the way into work this morning; even the typical indie throwaway songs are pretty fun.

― Tiki Theater Xymposium (Bent Over at the Arclight), Thursday, 1 February 2007 09:44 (nineteen years ago)

> just picked this up in Fopp

funny.

― Koogy Bloogies (koogs), Thursday, 1 February 2007 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

I just download these and then go seek out the albums of the bands I like, I usually find at least a few bands I've never heard of. They're pretty good comps for that.

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Thursday, 1 February 2007 09:51 (nineteen years ago)

Wait, why's the Fopp thing funny? (genuinely curious).

― Tiki Theater Xymposium (Bent Over at the Arclight), Thursday, 1 February 2007 14:09 (nineteen years ago)

I think he means because it sounds like you picked up a disease or something. But I could be wrong.

The joint offer is now up to £14.99, which is perhaps a relief, as I don't really really really want either of them.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 1 February 2007 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

tracklist link doesn't work, zebedee.

― sleeve (sleeve), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

Wait, why's the Fopp thing funny? (genuinely curious).

I don't get it either. i really did pick it up.

― Slumpman (Slump Man), Thursday, 1 February 2007 21:18 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

On a first listen, I like the 2009 one. Seems like a lot of funny electronic stuff, deadly.

however, I was a bit underwhelmed by The XX track (on a first listen) - nothing like the great sensation I was hoping for.

― The New Dirty Vicar, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 17:04 (sixteen years ago)

i would probably be excited by the xx more if i were a 16 year old nerd girl dressed in black. sadly, i'm old and have heard too much great music to be excited by them.

― scott seward, Tuesday, 2 March 2010 17:13 (sixteen years ago)

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Rough Trade Counter Culture - C/D