Our thoughts: Pressure Machine, The Killers

26 May 2022

A bit of a new feature for us but we do spend a lot of time listening to music, and vinyl in particular, so we thought we would share some of our thoughts here. First up, Phil’s take on Pressure Machine, the seventh studio album from The Killers released in August last year:

“As returns on album sales dwindle rapidly these days, most musicians need to go on the road to earn their keep. The previous album from Las Vegas band ‘The Killers’ was recorded just before lockdown and released in the middle of it during 2020. They never even got a chance to tour with it.

Therefore, ‘Pressure Machine’ is their second album within 12 months. It seems that this release has brought the band back down to earth, especially for the lead singer Brandon Flowers who was born in a small town in Utah, USA. Reliving his past, he takes us through his teenage years, with awkward scenes, poignant moments and some very touching ones as well. Most tracks involve an opening narrative by a local town person, describing an event that happened and briefly re-living it in the process. The song’s lyrics then follow this introduction as its main theme. (more…)

Preserving your cherished vinyl

18 August 2020

You’ve spent hundreds, even thousands, on your vinyl collection (not to mention the equipment on which to play it!) so it is vital that you keep those records clean. Both to enjoy the best audio playback and preserve the records themselves, but also to avoid damaging your cartridge.

Record cleaning is something we are frequently asked about. We own large collections ourselves so know all about what is required to preserve vinyl.

The condition of your records has a direct impact on their sound quality. Dirty records not only sound bad, but they also exacerbate stylus wear and contaminate your turntable – spreading the muck across your collection. Both new and used record purchases should always be cleaned before they go anywhere near your turntable and stylus. New records can often be statically charged, making any unwanted particles or factory debris stick.

A typical vinyl record has around half a mile of grooves; any dirt or debris picked up as your stylus makes its long journey through your record will have an impact on sound quality. Also, just like a dirty or bumpy road will wear your car tyres quicker, dirty grooves will inevitably make life harder for your stylus.

So what’s the best way to clean? Well, if you have the time and inclination, your own Okki Nokki cleaning machine is what we recommend. Compact and easy to use, the Okki Nokki produces excellent results. Available to order from us, the Okki Nokki comes in black or white and is now supplied complete with dust cover for £495; the perfect preserving solution for serious enthusiasts.

We do also offer a record-cleaning service at Adventures – £3 for two sides, with a new anti-static sleeve included. It’s not our favourite job, but we realise how important it is!

Why you should always clean records

7 January 2019

The condition of vinyl records has a direct impact on their sound quality. It’s common knowledge that records need the occasional clean; used record purchases especially should always be cleaned before they go anywhere near your turntable and stylus. Dirty records not only sound bad, but they also exacerbate stylus wear and contaminate your turntable – spreading the muck across your precious vinyl collection.

What isn’t always common knowledge however, is that brand new vinyl needs cleaning too – ideally before it hits your turntable. The reason for this is two-fold: static charge & factory grime.

Ever pulled a new record from it’s packaging and have said packaging sticking to it like glue? That’s because it is statically charged. And that’s bad, not just because they stick to the turntable mat every time you swap sides or remove the record, but also because the static charge attracts all dust and particles in the immediate proximity. It only takes one sharp piece of debris to scrape across the record and your brand new vinyl is damaged before it even gets played!

You might think that a shiny new record will be beautifully clean, but factories are typically pretty grubby places and dust and dirt is easily attracted onto the record surface. Also, the record production process can leave gummy release agent residue on the record surface, which can, in turn, contaminate your stylus and ultimately diminish the sound quality.

A typical vinyl record has around half a mile of grooves; any dirt or debris picked up as your stylus makes its long journey through your record will have an impact on sound quality. Also, just like a dirty or bumpy road will wear your car tyres quicker, dirty grooves will inevitably make life harder for your stylus. Some new records will come cleaner than others, but for the time it takes just to give your record a quick pre-play clean, it really isn’t worth running the risk.

We offer a record-cleaning service at Adventures – £3 for two sides, with a new anti-static sleeve included. It’s not our favourite job, but we realise how important it is! Even better though – the Okki Nokki record cleaning machine produces excellent results, is easy to use and relatively cheap at £435. It’s pretty compact and allows you to clean however may discs you feel like, whenever you want, in the convenience of your own home (or shed?).

Email to find out more.