Hong Kong Style

Behind the Groove took a few days out to explore the world of independent record shops in Hong Kong’s sprawling metropolis, and found this little gold mine… and a Cat.

I was lucky enough to find myself in Hong Kong in recent weeks with a few days to spare, to see what a crate digging adventure might turn up. 

Despite some serious online digging and asking around, I could only come up with a few recurring independent record shop names to focus my sights on, but undeterred, I stepped out into the 32 degree, 90% humidity heat and set off in pursuit of some plastic, spending some time visiting the likes of Zoo Records, Vinyl Hero, Walls of sound, The Beat and White Noise Records.

Whilst all of my encounters turned up a wide array of great quality, well presented vinyl, usually in mint condition, generally, most independents had a broad span of all popular genres, including a lot of Chinese/Japanese/Asian music (obviously) , along with a pretty big focus on Jazz and classical in most stores, with various shop owners sporting the legendary BluNote Records t shirts and the like, indicating a thriving Jazz interest on the alternative music sub culture front… bravo on this count Hong Kong!

However, being more inclined towards electronic underground music sound, I was surprised to find that the amount of shops supporting this would appear pretty thin on the ground in Hong Kong generally speaking, with the exception of one amazing 1st floor shop I found (I am sure there are others) by the name of White Noise Records, based in Kowloon.

White Noise Records is an independent running out of a first floor space at 720號1/F ,  Shanghai St, Prince Edward, Hong Kong, and is a solid example of a very respectable underground vinyl emporium selling an enviable range of cutting edge electronic music from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Moderat, Kompakt, Mode Selektor, Burial, Nicholas Jarr, Actress and a great many more, of which I gladly indulged.

Prices are as to be expected for Hong Kong and comparable to shopping in independents in London, but the amount of vinyl in stock and the calibre of music on offer was super high calibre, and the shop even has an in store cat lounging around the place to add to the karmic vibes…

More on White Noise Records

White Noise Records… Record Store, Label and Distributor…
White Noise Records was opened in April 2004 by three passionate music lovers.

“We quickly followed opening the record store with event promotions for Hong Kong’s burgeoning music scene. We have a long track record of inviting a number of well-known international artists to perform in Hong Kong”

The three owners eventually landed on the name “White Noise” after each found they were all fans of an obscure 60’s UK band of the same name, and although each owner had his and her own particular and unique taste in music, each ardently respect the band. Aside from the hipper-than-thou reference to obscurity, White Noise signals the sounds of 60’s psychedelic rock, and the sounds that inspired the American noise guitar bands of the 80’s such as Sonic Youth, Swans, and Big Black, which represent the grittiest, roughest voice of the underground music scene.

WHITE NOISE also offers an event promotion/production branch of White Noise Records.

“We have a long track record of producing quality alternative music, sound art programs, and have arranged over thirty events and two music festivals, namely the SAND festival and NOTCH08 festival. We have also worked with and invited to Hong Kong a number of well-known international artists….”

More on this little treasure chest…