Forget waffles, forget chocolate, forget Manneken Pis. The real treasures of Belgium lie hidden amongst dusty crates and spinning turntables – the record stores! Whether you're a vinyl veteran or a music noob, Brussels awaits to offer a vast playground for your ears. Here’s a selecta of the coolest shops Common Ground works with!
Tropical Records
Ah, the moment you started feeling like a vintage vine instead of a fresh grape! Was it that groggy morning after a rather tame night out? Or perhaps when you considered reporting the neighbors for enjoying a few beverages at the ripe hour of 10 pm on a Thursday eve? For me, it hit harder than a funky bassline while vibing to Brussels Tropicall Records' Jazz, Soul, Funk, Afro, and Psych-Rock collection. Suddenly, I was channeling my old man cruising in his car, his immaculate white hair blowing in the wind and some Blues tuning on the radio. Getting better over time, just like fine wine…
→ www.tropicallrecords.be | Photos: Tropical Records ©
Crevette Records
Probably the most famous shop in the list, or at least for the music alternos running a label who eventually saw one of their releases ending on the shop’s shelves or in the stocks of their missed distro activity (until 2022). Crevette Records has been operating from Brussels since 2016 and offering a real social hub to the local scene, thanks to a wide catalog of genres spanning all types of electronics and beyond. On their main page, a more-than-welcome selecta of fresh arrivals, including in-house tips. And if you dig a bit more online, you’ll find a nice section of music-related books, DJ accessories and merchandising.
→ https://www.crevetterecords.be | Photos: Crevette Records ©
Archive Music
While some diggers are on the hunt for the cheap hidden gem - turning every thrift shop in a treasure map and every crate into a treasure chest -, others are on a quest for the crown jewels, the rare, iconic and legendary. It's not just about the music; it's about the art and the sheer joy of owning a piece of history. To them, we can only recommend to pause their current adventures and make a detour to Archive Music, the Brussels-shop specializing in original pressings and rare records. Jazz, Electronics, World music, Musique Concrete, Classical, Hip Hop or Indie Rock… Many precious stones that could belong to a museum!
→ https://www.archivemusic.be/
Dorst Records
Ah, the routine of a vinyl addict… You fall in love with new records, long for them and finally give in to temptation. Then, out of the blue, after a hundred or so listens on repeat, you developed another crush on a new stack. So here you are, trying to stuff them in the back of the storage unit to make space for your new loot.
Or you could live the dream just like Steve, who’s running his own Dorst Records store at home. Located in Bekkevoort (55 km away from BXL), the man welcomes you on-demand in his wax haven to share his epic collection of (Belgian) Trance, Progressive House, Raw Techno and other rave-friendly 90s-00s materials.
→ https://www.dorstrecords.be | Photos: Steve Caers ©
Turtle Records
Ah, the routine of a vinyl addict… You fall in love with new records, long for them and… Woops, let’s move on as you must get the idea from the previous focus. BUT, this time the shop is in Brussels since 2022, run by JB (who first launched it online in 2015) and was named after a cute anecdote about his daughter. You’ll find there more than 1200 references of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Folk, Electronic Music, Downtempo, Funk, Afro… Actually anything he has carefully curated according to his own tastes.
Due to the fact he combines several activities, the shop is open every Thursday and Fridays and one Saturday out of two. Little advice: make sure to check Turtle Records’ website before to drop by and say hello to JB’s other baby
→ https://www.turtle-records.be | Photos: Turtle Records ©
Sono Ventura
Venturing from the legendary Les Marolles district, the epicenter of Brussels' record store scene, Sono Ventura has been dishing out since 2021 the freshest international releases and hand-picked second-hand gems, all curated by your local heroes - Attari, Soja and Bon Voyage.
Don't let the shop’s groovy, 70s vibe fool you, head downstairs and you'll find a hidden basement pulsating with house, techno, and electro, ready to soundtrack your dampest club nights.
→ https://www.sonoventurarecords.be | Photos: Sono Ventura Records ©
Words By Loïs Markarian.