It took me a while and it wasn’t easy, but I’ve decided to get rid of the few vinyl record I still have lying around. I just don’t play them enough any more to justify the space they use (and the record player). I also believe that they will be in better hands elsewhere. Most of the records are collector’s items, they should be part of a real collection. Not that I plan to make much money with it, the number of people that are interested in this kind of stuff is pretty limited.
First one to enter the room, is Astralasia‘s “Pitched Up at the Edge of Reality”, the limited edition with “A.N.D.E.” tracks. Just taking out the record, starting the player, brings back a lot of memories. Judging by the website, Astralasia is still around, producing and playing music. I clearly have some catching up to do. The record label, Magick Eye Records, clearly is not around any longer. It’s very nostalgic, to surf the Magick Eye site, try out some links, and see how much has changed.
I got to know Astralasia right around the time Goa Trance had it’s short period of fame in Belgium. One of my fonder memories, was experiencing the 1999 solar eclipse during an outdoor Goa festival. Organized by Dance-a-delic, now also sadly gone. Astralasia’s music, however, spans a number of genres, and that is probably why they are still around.
The power of vinyl is that it is very “physical”. You get those large discs, packed in large paper bags. And you can actually see the music. A good release has lots of artwork and much to discover. When you take out the records from this limited edition, you have a black and white folder. One holds the actual LP and one holds an additional LP. A little extra thrown in. There’s even a personal note on the backside of this A.N.D.E. envelope, telling you the ideal state of mind to take out this record.
It’s magic.