New record stores are popping up all over the place, with the resurgence of vinyl increasing demand. This is a great thing to see, especially as this looks to be run by a young guy with a bit of enthusiasm for all of this.
This replaced the Lost Chord, which became one of the most frustrating shops in the world for me: it used to promise a goldmine of decent cheap vinyl, but it was never open, and even when it was you could never find anything that was any good. Luckily, LP has improved this straight away by having fixed opening hours that they appear to stick to! Also, they've done a really good job with the look and feel of the place - it's now bright and inviting, where it used to be a dull guddle, and I'd now see myself wanting to spend some time exploring their stock. There is also a mezzanine space, which I think is for events and the like, but I didn't go up for a look.
In terms of stock, it's encouragingly solid. One side has new releases, and R&B and Blues sections, while the other side has standard second hand stuff and a wee bargain bin. As Rocco said, the new releases don't go down the B roads of the music world, but the motorways (big sellers and reissues of classic albums) and A roads (US and UK alternative stuff - nothing really off the wall, but you'll know most of the stuff if you're a 6 music listener) are well covered. I did get something that I had been after for a while (latest Fu Manchu album - highly recommended), and the prices looked pretty good. Second hand stuff is a step above charity shop stuff, and if you like '70's and '80's FM radio rock you'll do quite well (the aforementioned blues and R&B sections also looked good). Yeah, it has the Best of Bread in 3 different versions like all other second hand shops, but on the whole it's not bad.
With LP opening you now have the ability to do 2 good record shops on one trip, as this is definitely somewhere to visit if you're planning on going to Mixed Up. Hopefully events and other things get started (listening parties would be cool), and it's trying things to get itself known, like giving out free stickers and T shirts. I think regular visits are definitely going to be on the cards! read more