A guide to Record Store Day 2016 in Montreal

Inside l’Oblique

Record Store Day is just around the corner. On Saturday, April 16, the 10th edition of this international event brings hundreds of exclusive releases to brick-and-mortar record shops to encourage the notion that music has worth, and that musicians and the people who run record stores deserve a little business.

Here is a guide to what is happening at Montreal stores this weekend, followed by a (a totally subjective) list of 10 interesting Record Store Day exclusives that you may find locally. (Note that the stores don’t control how much stock they receive, or even what stock they receive — shops request items that suit their clientele, but they almost never get everything they ask for. Click on their websites and Facebook event pages for more information.)

In-store events

Aux 33 Tours

1373 Mont-Royal E.

9 a.m.–9 p.m.

Aux 33 Tours marks the 15th anniversary of local label Dare To Care/Grosse Boîte, giving a free vinyl compilation to the first 1,000 clients with any purchase. The comp will feature tracks by artists including les Soeurs Boulay, Coeur de Pirate, Bernard Adamus and Fred Fortin, who will be on hand to launch the vinyl version of his new record Ultramarr. Fortin will perform in-store, as will Fanny Bloom and Maude Audet — the show is set to begin around 6:30 p.m.

L’Oblique

4333 Rivard, 514-499-1323

10 a.m.–7 p.m.

L’Oblique promises RSD releases, various specials on other stock and a full afternoon of in-store performances, from noon to 7 p.m., featuring Sarah Toussaint-Léveillé, Rosie Valland, Corinna Rose, Bolduc Tout Croche, Helena Delland and Mathieu Bérubé, les frères Berthiaume and les Deuxluxes.

Sonorama

260 Bernard W., 514-273-5553

9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Expect an acoustic performance by a surprise guest around 5:30/6 p.m., five to 10 per cent off used vinyl and whole 50 per cent off CDs (that’s compact discs, kids).

More Montreal shops participating in RSD

Atom Heart

364 Sherbrooke E., 514-843-8484

10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Atom Heart will offer unspecified discounts on purchases of regular stock — the-more-you-buy-the-more-you-save kind of thing.

Beatnick

3770 St-Denis, 514-842-0664

8:30 a.m.–9 p.m.

Beatnick will shave 15 per cent off used stock.

Cheap Thrills

2044 Metcalfe, 514-844,8988

11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Phonopolis

207 Bernard W., 514-270-4442

10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Used vinyl will be 15 per cent off, new vinyl (not including RSD releases) will be 10 per cent off.

Sonik

4050 Berri, 514-288-2113

Soundcentral

4486 Coloniale, 514-393-4495

10 a.m.–5 p.m.

These punk/metal specialists will be offering unspecified discounts on regular stock.

10 interesting RSD exclusives

Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force

Planet Rock Remixes (Big Beat/Atlantic/Boysnoize Reco)

12″

Limited edition (1,000)

The original Afrika Bambaata track is backed by an instrumental version and remixes by Boyz Noize and Montreal’s own Lunice.

David Bowie

“TVC15″ (Rhino)

7” picture disc

Limited edition (5,000)

Of the three Bowie items out for Record Store Day 2016, this single, featuring two tracks from his 1976 funk/post-punk fusion record Station to Station, is the best. The picture disc features the original single edit of the song and a 2010 remix of “Wild Is the Wind” by the track’s original producer, Harry Maslin.

Buzzcocks

More Product in a Different Compilation (Legacy)

2x 12″ orange vinyl

This compilation collects almost all the material that the British punk/power-pop band released on the United Artists from 1977 to 1980. The only thing missing from the first (and best) Buzzcocks period, before their break-up in 1981, is their debut release, the Spiral Scratch EP.

Chvrches

Every Open Eye: The Remixes (Glassnote)

Limited edition (5,000)

Three singles by Scottish band Chvrches — “Leave a Trace,” “Empty Threat” and “Clearest Blue” — are “reinterpreted” here by producers Four Tet, Goldroom, Big Wild, KDA, Gryffin and Whyt Noyz.

Miles Davis, Robert Glasper, Bilal

Ghetto Walkin’ (Legacy)

Limited edition (5,000)

Glasper and Bilal reinterpret the Miles Davis track “Ghetto Walk,” the original version of which is featured on the B-side.

J Dilla

The Diary (PayJay)

12″ album and 7″ single “The Ex”

Limited edition (4,000)

This posthumously produced Dilla release features vocal tracks recorded by the Detroit hip hop legend in the early aughts, with beats by the likes of Madlib, Pete Rock, Nottz, House Shoes and Karriem Riggins. The tracks that weren’t mixed by Dilla himself were completed by engineer and Dilla collaborator Dave Cooley. Only the RSD edition will feature the bonus 7″

Fela Kuti and Africa ’70

“I Go Shout Plenty”

This release contains two tracks by the grandaddy of Afrobeat, “I Go Shout Plenty” (1986) and a 1983 B-side called “Frustration,” both featuring his trademark mix of jazz and high life.

Low and S. Carey

“There’s Not a Word” / “I Won’t Let You” (Sub Pop/Jagjaguwar)

10″ coloured vinyl

Limited edition (2,000)

This split single was conceived by produced BJ Burton, who worked with both bands — slowcore act Low and singer-songwriter (and Bon Iver drummer) S. Carey — to complete each other’s unfinished song.

Métal Urbain

“Panik” / “Lady Coca-Cola” (Alternative Tentacles)

7″

Limited edition (1,000)

A pair of tracks from 1977 by the first French punk band.

Xiu Xiu

Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks (Polyvinyl)

Limited edition (2,000)

180g red and blue 12″ LP

The experimental California band covers Angelo Badalamenti’s soundtrack for David Lynch’s classic TV show.