[Squee]

Spending the next few days in Berlin. Does anyone have any recommendations for decent record shops? Soundtrack, experimental, etc.

Thanks

[scottydoo]

If you fancy making your trip more interesting visit this shop - Schallplatten Franz und Josef - there are tons of stories on the net of how crazy the owner is, I got thrown out after being in there for 10 mins (for no reason I might add) and there's a few other shops on the same road to check out

[manuorru]

I will be in Berlin in mid of July, any help?
@Squee did you find out some cool shop?
@occhionero?

[Antoni Maiovvi]

I would say:

Head to west Kreuzberg, the station is Gneisenaurstr on the U7. Head for Space Hall. Generally I find them to be overpriced, but they have an interesting 2nd hand section (once got a ton of New Beat 12"s there for 2 euro each, though this was 2010, before the documentary, but I've found a ton of old Legowelt/Bunker stuff there too, you'll have to dig) around that whole area are some weird little shops in the basements of aparment buildings, there is also a great coffee place next to Space Hall.

In Friedrichshain, there is Bis Aufs Messer they have a healthy stock of experimental and soundtrack stuff, there is also a couple of weird places, without signs, fairly near there, but this is more for disco freaks.

If you are a disco freak, go to OYE in Prenzlauerberg, it's the bigger shop and has a good selection.

There are tons of weird shops around the city, some of them are chancers and mark up everything regardless, sometimes in "rock" leaning shops, they'll mark down anything electronic because it's not "real music" (I got the first two Boytronic LPs for 1 euro in one of those once)

You'll find a lot of Tangerine Dream / Klaus Shulze stuff dotted around, and last but not least, check the flea markets, some sellers know what they have, some don't, you'll have to deal with the crowds though, especially on the sunday one in Mauer Park.

[thewaystation]

- Platten Pedro is way out in the 'old west' and it is oozing the atmosphere of an old bookstore (which I enjoy a lot). It has a decent soundtrack section. After I had gone through three shelves high up in the back room (where I didn't find much of interest), I was deemed worthy of the more interesting stuff, which is right next to the owner's counter (on his left, when entering the store). All the records in there appear to be at least twenty years old.
- Hard Wax is amazing for techno, but if that is your thing you will know that anyway.
- Bis aufs Messer - Antoni is spot on, these guys are awesome. They come from a punk/hardcore background, which is also reflected in a lot of the prices. Soundtracks aren't really their focus, I think. Their stock is pretty well documented online.
- Rumpsti Pumsti is great for experimental/Avantgarde/Sound art etc. Again, their website represents their stock pretty neatly.
- Close to Bis aufs Messer is hhv, who generally have great prices and certainly the biggest selection. Hardly anything is actually displayed in the store, though, which means you'll have to order online in advance and choose the 'pick up in store' option. The store itself is, unless you're interested in hiphop, not actually that interesting.
- Lastly, there is a seller called "recordsale-de" on discogs, who has some 380,000 items (in fact, they boast to be "#1 seller on discogs"). In some cases, the prices are excellent, in others, they make little sense. When ordering through them, you can pick up your records somewhere in Mitte, iirc at a cinema box office. I have never done that because I became aware of the scheme too late on my last visit, as it takes some time (a couple of days, if memory serves, depending on the weekdays) for them to pull your order and have it ready for pick-up at that place.
EDIT: I have just seen that pickup is no longer possible. Sorry if I have caused confusion.

Note that hhv and that discogs seller (and probably Bis aufs Messer as well) have competitive shipping rates, even internationally. If you have scored on the flea markets that Antoni has mentioned it might be more convenient to have your purchases from these stores sent to you.

[Occhionero]

Ciao manu,

in this link you can find good shops:

http://www.top10berlin.de/de/cat/shoppi ... aeden-1771

Forget Club Sounds Records, they have only commercial Dance music. Check out hhv.de-store where you can find lots of new Soundtracks beside HipHop.

Enjoy Berlin. It is getting really hot....

Frank

[Antoni Maiovvi]

Totally forgot about Rumpsti, good call.

Some of these I didn't know about, I haven't lived there in three years though, I'll be there in September if anyone knows any other good places. I AM a disco freak though

[manuorru]

Thank you @Antoni, much appreciated!

[manuorru]

Thank @thewaystation, very useful hit!
You are right, hhv.de has honest shopping fees, €9.99 for Italy, but I think I'll give a look to sneakers too!

[manuorru]

Thank you Frank, I really loved Berlin last time I visited in 2012!
I hope weather will be not too hot...
I will also see Mumford & Sons gig at Waldbuhne, that seems to be a great venue!