Collector's Choice 2017

So many good records made it into my collection this year again. I'm more than happy with what I managed to pick up in 2017. I didn't make a whole lot of progress with my want list, but I was able to cross off some items at least. Plus I picked up a few records that weren't on that list and some that I didn't even know of one year ago. That's what makes collecting fun though. The other element that makes collecting really fun is the people you get in touch with. Quite a few people have helped me in my efforts by pointing me to records, selling, trading or straight up giving me records for free. All of which I'm very grateful for. My favorite pick up is the test press for Bane's It All Comes Down To This LP, because it embodies everything I like about collecting: great music, incredibly rare, release by one of my favorite bands, and I was tipped of by fellow collector.

Here's to 2018, which will hopefully add more new good music and some old records to my collection and get me in touch with more people. Let's keep collecting fun.

XXX

Ralf

Are These Our Lives?

I think I've never gone so quickly from putting out a want list on the Internet and getting all of my wants, not only virtually, but also in my hands. I've been listening to Trial's Are These Our Lives a lot these last few weeks and I needed to fill that gap in my collection. I posted my list on Instagram among other social media platforms and I think it took about two hours that a buddy messaged me and told me he had a spare copy. Fast forward two more days and I had the record in my hands. Sweet. As Marcus/Endless Quest has put it before, collectors are rivals, but collectors are also a pretty friendly bunch and try to help out each other as often as possible. At least that's my experience.
Since I'm a little particular about records I really like, I wanted to have a special colour. The price for a first press on white seemed a little steep, so I went with the next best colour, which is maroon. I'd expected it to be a little bit different, but I still thinks it looks pretty good. No need to talk about how fantastic this record is. Repress on maroon vinyl out of 250 copies.

Trial

I've never really been into Trial. I knew they existed and were sort of influential in the 90s, but I never really checked them out. I remember reading the bit on Trial in the Burning Fight book last year, which sort of intrigued me to finally give them a listen, but it wasn't until I caught them live at a Festival last year that I actually listened to them. I liked their live show so I decided to pick up a few of their records when possible. Some time after that a buddy of mine decided to get rid of some of his records, a chance I gladly jumped at. I must say though that I don't like Trial on this record as much as I liked them live. Then again, maybe this is not their strongest output, so I'll probably grab some of their other releases at some point. This 7" on brown marble is from the repress run New Age did in 2011. 500 copies exist.