Music in Hamburg

All the best stores in Hamburg seem to be in or around the neighbourhood of Sternschanze, northwest of the city's downtown.  This helps explain why I'd never been to any of them until now.

Slam Records has an impressive selection of rock and jazz vinyl, which is clearly the store's calling card.  In the CD section there are plenty of second hand bargains to be found for surprisingly cheap.  Google's description calls it "unassuming", which is accurate based on the graffiti that adorns its outside walls and the colourful yet scruffy display of records in the window.  Zardoz Records is closer to a boutique shop, featuring more contemporary electronic music and a strong indie selection.  It's easy to see why it's considered a "one stop" type of store according to its reviews online.  But the best hidden gem in Hamburg may well be Rekord Musik.  Ignore the blinding whiff of cigarette smoke by the entrance and the oddball, wizardly-looking staff/clientele.  This store has one of the best selections of second hand electronic music I've ever seen.  The quantity isn't huge, but almost everything in stock is a minor classic.  In this genre, albums and compilations from the 90's and 00's are their specialty.  The back room had an eye-opening rack of 90's dance records as well. 

The musical epicentre of Hamburg these days has to be the Elbphilharmonie.  It's exorbitant cost -- over 800 Million Euros -- is something of a running joke among Hamburg residents based on my last two visits to the city.  Its unconventional look -- shimmering waves of glass plopped on top of a red brick warehouse -- also takes some getting used to.  Entrance to the plaza level (~ 35 m) is free, and gives you a taste of what the building has to offer.  Once I saw the building from close up, walked around inside, read more about the architectural concepts behind the building, it all seemed a lot more impressive then it did on my first glance two years ago from the port.