Liars' Angus Andrew picks three records he'll be crate digging for at Le Guess Who? Mega Record Fair
While the main attraction of Utrecht's Le Guess Who festival is clearly the abundance of musical riches, curated this year by Perfum Genius, Grouper and Shabazz Palaces, the gathering also hosts the world biggest CD and record fair.
The Mega Record and CD Fair houses over 500 stands over 12,500 square feet of space meaning it's a haven for anyone wanting to pick up a rarity or two.
We've asked some festival attendees to pick some records they'll be keeping an eye out for during November's festival/fair, and the first to do so is Liars' main man Angus Andrew.
1
Which three records would you be on the hunt for at the world's biggest record fair?
Demdike Stare - Elemental, Parts 1 + 2
OOIOO - Feather Float
Jlin - Dark Energy
2
When and how did you get to know these records?
"I saw OOIOO play some of the music from this record in the early 2000s at a now demolished tiny club in Manhattan. It was an amazing show. I think Pixeltan opened for them.
I've never seen Demdike live. I really hope to this year. There aren't a whole lot of artists that I feel like I can endorse everything they make. DS is exceptional.
Black Origami, JLIN's more recent album is brilliant. I think I just need to get a hold of Dark Energy because it’s where I started. It was recommended to me by a friend and I've never looked back."
3
What’s so special about these albums, and why would you recommend them to others?
"All these records represent ground breaking, free thinking, exploratory music. Sure, I could list Appetite For Destruction or Sade's Love Deluxe as albums that would be nice to own. But really, if I'm going out of my way to purchase physical music I want to feel like I'm supporting the push forward, the boundary breaking. I can't sanction any more rehashing of traditional musical tropes - these albums help the world understand where we are right now and where we might be heading. Skull emoji."
4
What album have you been listening to the most over the last year?
Vektroid/Macintosh Plus - Floral Shoppe
"I get a lot of grief for my interest in vaporwave. It’s disregarded as an ironic blip genre. I disagree. Artists like the ridiculously prolific Vektroid speak to interesting and relevant issues of consumerism and ownership. Finding this music really inspired me to re-think my own musical process. No, I haven't made a 'vaporwave' record but debunking all the rules governing authenticity and technical ability have widened my scope for the creative process. You may not be able to listen to Floral Shoppe on repeat but I certainly believe it’s worthwhile delving into this fascinating world."
Liars perform at Le Guess Who? on Thursday, 9 November, together with Grouper, Sun Kil Moon, The Soft Moon, and Thurston Moore & Han Bennink. Full line-up and tickets can be found at the festival website.
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