Trojan Records: The Reggae That Conquered Britain
From Jamaican sound systems to the British charts. How Trojan carried reggae into British life — and how skinhead reggae, a multiracial working-class scene, was later hijacked.
In This Issue
Prefab Sprout: Pop's Great Underrated Recluse
Paddy McAloon wrote some of the finest songs in English pop, then vanished. The story of Prefab Sprout, his writing, and the albums he never released.
Read the story →- 01 Review Augustus Pablo — King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown The dub island opens on the studio-art side: the record where King Tubby's mixing desk becomes an instrument, and Augustus Pablo's 'Far East' melodica sings.
- 02 Vinyl Cities Paris The city where American jazz found what America withheld — dignity, a wage, and a record shop on every other corner of the Latin Quarter.
- 03 Reference Best Phono Preamps 2026 (UK) The best phono preamps on Amazon UK for 2026: Rega, Fluance, Pro-Ject, Douk and Pyle compared by quality and value, with US picks and buying advice.
- 04 Picks Records of the Month — September 2026 Five records chosen by the editors, every month.
Reviews
This week
The dub island opens on the studio-art side: the record where King Tubby's mixing desk becomes an instrument, and Augustus Pablo's 'Far East' melodica sings.
The peak of dub as studio art: King Tubby re-playing the tracks at the mixing desk, Augustus Pablo's 'Far East' melodica. The Jamaican Yard original is a grail; to listen, the Dub Store/Greensleeves reissues are excellent — mind the wrong tracklists on many pressings.
The island's grail: a single frantic record made by teenagers in 1973, then gone. How to spot the Trident TRI 1004 original — and the fakes.
The record that made Italian prog exportable: the sound of Impressioni di Settembre, and why collectors chase the 1972 Numero Uno first pressing.
Not another 'lost classic': Ys as an object to hunt — what the 1972 Polydor first pressing is, how to spot it, and why Japanese collectors chase it.
Vinyl Cities
Every real music city has its own vinyl geography. It doesn't show up on Google Maps. You find it by going.
Paris — The city where American jazz found what America withheld — dignity, a wage, and a record shop on every other corner of the Latin Quarter.
Read the episode →Deep Cuts & Reportage
essays, portraits, listening, reportage
Den Harrow: The Voice That Never Was
Den Harrow wasn't just a singer who didn't sing. He was an Italian pretending to be American: Italo Disco's founding fiction.
Guides & Reference
finding your way in vinyl
The Complete Vinyl Collector's Guide
Everything serious vinyl collectors need: turntables, pressings, marketplaces, cleaning, storage. 14 sections, the definitive guide.
Best Phono Preamps 2026 (UK)
The best phono preamps on Amazon UK for 2026: Rega, Fluance, Pro-Ject, Douk and Pyle compared by quality and value, with US picks and buying...
The 10 Best Turntables under £500
The 10 best turntables under £500 in 2026 in three tiers: Rega Planar 1, Pro-Ject EVO 2, Fluance RT85, Audio-Technica, Sony. Scores, table,...
Fluance RT85 vs Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2: Which Should You Buy?
Fluance RT85 or Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2? Cartridge, platter, ecosystem, availability and value compared. Which step-up turntable to buy, and...
Best Bookshelf Speakers for Entry-Level Amps
Four bookshelf speakers chosen for their return with an entry amp, not absolute quality: which to pick and for which system.
Ortofon 2M Red vs Audio-Technica VM95E: Which Should You Buy?
Two upgrade ecosystems compared, not two products: the cartridge you pick binds you for years.
The editors' picks
every month, five records chosen blindEvery month, five records the editors listened to with their eyes closed. No charts. No algorithms. Just ears.
September 2026 · From the editorsThe Collector's Books
books for record lovers
Groovilla Books
Not books we recommend — books we write ourselves, on the records and the culture around them.
Browse the collection →
Field Guides
Short, practical guides for vinyl collectors. What you actually need to know, in your pocket.
Vinyl GlossaryThe Language of the Groove
Go to glossary →Picture disc
Pressing
Record with an image printed and visible through the transparent vinyl. Audio quality is generally lower than black vinyl due to the added material. Produced primarily as a collectible, often in limited editions.
cf. Colored vinyl · Limited edition · Flexi disc
