During a late-night scroll, I stumbled across some ReVox gear, complete with grainy, low-res photos. (More on the rest of the haul soon.) But the big score? A very tidy ReVox B790 linear tracking turntable from around 1977–1982. I’d heard of this lovely bit of audiophile kit but had never seen one in person—bit of a unicorn in NZ.

If you're thinking about starting a record collection, you might be asking yourself: why bother? More than anything, records are cultural artifacts. They're reflections of what matters to you—snapshots of your identity, values, and the moments that have shaped your life. They are part of your life story.

What could possibly be said about Siamese Dream that hasn’t already been said? Smashing Pumpkins didn't just release an album in 1993—they detonated a sonic bomb that blindsided the alternative scene and reshaped rock music for the rest of the decade.

Back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, there was a wave of brilliant audio engineers and companies all striving to create equipment that captured the emotion and energy of a live performance. Some succeeded spectacularly, some built to a price point — but many products are iconic and still worth celebrating today.
This isn’t to say that modern equipment isn’t excellent — much of it is. Sometimes the price is a barrier. But in the relentless drive for the next new thing, a lot of fantastic vintage gear gets overlooked.

From early synth-pop darlings to avant-garde pioneers, Talk Talk’s evolution over just a decade remains one of the most striking transformations in modern music. Emerging in the early 1980s alongside the likes of XTC, the band initially found success riding the wave of the synth-driven pop movement. With infectious hooks, polished production, and Mark Hollis’ distinctive, emotive vocals, they delivered hits such as It’s My Life and Such a Shame, securing strong commercial sales and mainstream recognition. Much like Tears for Fears, Talk Talk’s breakthrough came as a tidal wave—sudden, overwhelming, and accompanied by everything a band could seemingly desire:...

We all have them.  Those albums we played to death—so much so that one day, we just can’t do it anymore. Maybe we overplayed them, maybe they remind us too much of a time long gone, or maybe we just heard them on the radio one too many times. Here are a few of mine—albums I once loved (or tolerated) but can’t bear to spin again:  Tracy Chapman – Tracy ChapmanA stunning album, a magical voice, and Fast Car? A masterpiece. But I’ve heard it so many times, I’d rather tripe than listen to it again. Still, it’s a classic,...