The Record Bar Edition

Colin here. I’m in Tokyo for a few days for the first time since pre-pandemic. And while the world has seen a proliferation of these Tokyo-style audiophile bars (Eavesdrop in Brooklyn or Gold Line in LA being two examples), I was thinking about why the actual experience is hard to emulate elsewhere. On its face, it’s not complicated: a killer analog sound system and glowing tube amp coupled with a meticulously crafted record collection housed on wooden shelves and a devoted set of patrons. 

But the truth is something gets lost when you take the concept out of Japan. And I realized that each of the countless audiophile bars here (Buy Back, Bar Martha, Bar Track, etc.) has its own personality. It is the sensibility and the human that drives the experience, not the surroundings. While other bars fetishize and emphasize the aesthetic, the otaku (obsessive) and often gruff Japanese proprietors bring the intangible magic. Their unique point-of-view, and not just the cozy, photo-friendly interiors, are the draw.

Why is this interesting? 

My case in point: Buy Back was founded by a former employee of another series of record bars in Tokyo. It’s a small space, with just the bar and a few seating areas. There’s no complicated reservation system: if there is a seat, it is yours. But what I realized is the bar was operating on an interesting human algorithm: the deep musical knowledge of the proprietor. My friend, who had been coming to the bar for ages and invested in the opening, told me that there’s always a common line between the records and sequencing of what gets played. But it might not always be apparent to the guests. Sure there are stylistic cues: the angular guitars of a Television track into another with a similar aesthetic. Still, often the governing principle of what gets played is more buried and more interesting. 

My friend told me that the proprietor's knowledge goes so deep that it is often the subtext: this bass player also played on that record, or this cut was produced in the same studio by the same guy. Or other tiny details that are easy to miss. So rather than bouncing around based on algorithmic parameters, it is truly a journey dictated by the “if X then Y” logic inside one guy's head and based on his frame of reference. What’s more, when you revisit some pop tracks you think you have heard a million times on proper, beautiful vintage Altec Lansing loudspeakers, you notice nuances and elements that make you appreciate everything a bit more. U2’s With or Without You sounded particularly good on a Thursday night. The sound, combined with encyclopedic knowledge and a quirky, often hidden throughline, makes for a nice evening vibe. And that’s before you get to any of the rare bourbons. (CJN) 

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Thanks for reading,

Noah (NRB) & Colin (CJN)

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