The Vinyl is Back!!! (*)

(*) Well, in LA at least! We all know that vinyl sales, stores, availability and even pressing plants have been in massive decline over the last 15 years. The staple format for DJs and audiophiles alike has been disappearing from record store shelves (what are those, I hear all you under 25’s saying!) at an alarming rate. The first jabs came from the Compact Disc revolution, then the knock-out blow was well and truly served in the form of digital downloads and file sharing.

Vinyl is a fighter though. Perhaps Dan Brown will one day pen a novel with the holy, 12″ black plastic grail at the centre of the story! There certainly is an incredible, intrepid group of Vinyl Knights who continue to carry a torch for the beautiful, tangible, artistic, crackly, and down-right perfect medium.

One of these valiant Knights is Origami Vinyl founder Neil Schield, who opened up shop in Echo Park (Los Angeles) in April 2009, against a wave of opinion that told him he was simply mad. Well Neil is a believer, as well he should be, with his store going from strength to strength, on the basis of his superb collection of music, unfailing passion for Vinyl and being a superb patron.

You can check out an interview with Neil Schield and our very own CheckPoint below (courtesy of our friends over at Metrogum) where he discusses everything that brought him and Origami to Echo Park, and where he sees the vinyl resurgence going from here…

Origami Vinyl is based at 1816 W. Sunset Blvd. Echo Park, CA and you can keep up to date with this pioneering store at their blog here:

http://www.origamimusic.blogspot.com/