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We had a lot of strong orders come through this week, all pulling in different directions and all well judged in their own way. A few stood out internally, not because they were louder or more ambitious, but because they left space to work with. This one sat at that point where the brief was specific without being prescriptive, which is usually where the best selections come from. We love a tricky selection, and this order was exactly that. The request listed Masayoshi Takana

Each month, one Collectors Cut from The Mystery Vinyl Company includes a Special Insert. It’s not something you can choose or add on, and it isn’t guaranteed. It’s simply part of the Collectors Cut, an extra moment of discovery that occasionally appears in a box. This month’s Special Insert has already been claimed. A signed LP by Elton John found its way to a collector, uncovered the same way most great records are: by opening the sleeve and taking a closer look. There was

Drop the needle on an old record and you hear it straight away, that faint crackle before the music starts. Some people hear it as a flaw. Others know it is part of the deal. In a world full of filters, edits, and polish, that sound feels real. Nothing cleaned up, nothing corrected, just music carrying the marks of time. Vinyl collecting has changed. New pressings are spotless. Heavy, flat, built to last. They look impressive, but they often turn up without much history attac

Google Logo The story of vinyls comeback is usually told as a reaction to the digital world, a move away from streaming and back toward something real and physical. People talk about the warmth, the sound, the sleeves, the ritual. All of that is true, but it misses an ironic twist. The vinyl resurgence, especially the rise of used vinyl, owes just as much to the digital world as it does to the analogue one. In particular, it owes a surprising amount to Google. Before the inte

Choosing the right Mystery Vinyl Co box depends on how you want to explore used vinyl. Every tier includes hand cleaned records graded VG and above, along with a Golden Age Collectable, a patch and a sticker. What changes between the tiers is the mix of artists, the level of merch and how curated the selection feels. Here’s a simple breakdown of what you can expect. Backstage Pass (£25) Backstage Pass is the most accessible way to get started. It gives you a blend of recognis

I’ve always preferred things with a bit of age to them. Old books, used vinyl, old houses. Things that were built properly, with history and character, and can be brought back to life with a little attention. Restoring older houses taught me early on that most things don’t need replacing. They just need care. Used vinyl is exactly the same. The Mystery Vinyl Company grew out of that mindset and from noticing how expensive collecting had become. New reissues now regularly cost