Vacuum Records
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people PLEE BASFORLD WRITERA Y LIFE There are people in this world who have a need to collect listening to music in an analogue format. This new interest in turn stuff – toys. Obviously this operates on many different spawned a resurgence in the production of vinyl by some of the levels, we’re all individual, but there is a clear divide better informed record companies. Seeing an opportunity here, between those who do and those that do not. There are Fukushima approached Nippon Columbia (Denon) who produced definitely people who make a point of accumulating an the GP-3R portable record player, a cheap alternative to the abundance of all the cool, cute, kitsch and crass turntables available elsewhere. At the time this unit was being sold collectable objects we are bombarded with whenever a almost exclusively to instructors of ‘Odori’, a traditional form of new American movie, Japanese game or McDonalds Happy Japanese dancing, and didn’t really have a very long life Meal is released. expectancy. After many discussions, Vacuum managed to There are organisations producing what they themselves obsess convince Columbia to agree to a business partnership which over; Mo’Wax, A Bathing Ape, and the Beastie Boys have all would secure the future of the GP-3R and allow the more fashion played a part in making some of the most sought after and best conscious youth the chance to listen to music on a player with conceived items in recent years. These strictly limited run items style, personality and interesting crackly mono sounds. are borne from the minds of true collectors, aware that there will As a result of the outstanding success of this initial venture, always be people who are willing to hunt down these hard to Vacuum was able to begin work on some of their own designs. obtain consumables – not to play with, simply to own. Initially the Cornelius Skeleton Ape model, developed with Keigo Vacuum Records celebrate this obsession, and with such notable Oyamada (Cornelius) which included a flexi-disc containing special A VISIT TO EITHER OF THE OSAKA OR TOKYO STORES IS patrons as Beck, Sean Lennon and Cibo Matto they don’t really unreleased tracks. This model was produced in a limited quantity LIKE ENTERING AN ALADDIN’S CAVE, A SHOP CREATED need to prove themselves to anyone. They weren’t actually a of 9,669, which were specifically targeted for sale in interior BY A JAPANESE INCARNATION OF PEEWEE HERMAN record label of any description until very recently. In 1992 Yoshiaki shops, boutiques and music shops, but not regular audio stores. Fukushima began by selling used CD’s all over Japan. Operating They sold out in no time and earned Vacuum high acclaim in over in the event spaces of famous department stores, later they also fifty magazines – they’re still getting magazine requests almost started to produce their own compilation CD’s – this was the first four years after its initial release. Vacuum Records merchandising. In 1995 they’d grown enough to The next chapter in Vacuum’s development continued in the vein move to a permanent residence in Osaka where they began a of cute chic in November of ‘96 when they released the Vinyl Killer process of expansion which would lead to the eventual (see Level 07), inspired by a design popular in the seventies. A progression away from the sale of music, while retaining the name single 9v battery powers the VW Combi van. Flip the aerial/switch Vacuum Records. in to the on position and you’ll see it drive along the groove of It’s been Fukushima’s commitment to his ideas that has led to the your record at 3 31/3 rpm, playing the sounds through its built-in success of the company. During 1995 there was what the speaker. These have proven to be one of the company’s greatest Japanese refer to as a ‘boom’ in the popularity of DJ’s. Many sellers, and you can choose from the basic model which comes in young people who had never seen vinyl before (due to the blanket red, yellow or blue, or one of the special models including Money saturation of CD’s) were finding a new fascination in buying and Mark and Shonen Knife which is where Vacuum really excel. Money’s version comes with a metallic candy-apple red paint job and a very special translucent purple 12” disc for Maybe I’m Dead , pressed originally as a promotional item. There’s also a Parappa the Rapper model that includes a set of ten pin badges and an 8-track picture disk produced only for Vacuum. Everything about this project was designed specially by the original Parappa artist, Rodney A Greenblat. Currently in the design stage is a Sean Lennon model Vinyl Killer – Sean was already a fan of Vacuum, and while touring Japan in ‘99 he met with representatives of the company backstage where he himself put the proposal to them. More recently Fukushima visited Sean at his home in New York to discuss concepts for this new model which will possibly be available for a summer release and there are plans for future models currently in the discussion process. Ultimately, it’s been the public’s great response to these initial products from Vacuum that has set the standard and allowed them to become what they are today. Among other specially A manufactured items in the shop you can now buy Spacy K R O U Z M Headphones which have a great retro feel like many of Vacuum’s O A left T T A A products, these however have a very special additional feature the Osaka store K K A A Y T A U you won’t find in any other headphones currently available. The M here Z A A K semi-transparent plastic of the housing will gradually change its the Harajuku, Tokyo store #94 95 # THERE’S A STRANGE CONSISTENCY TO THE PRODUCTS. THEY ALL HAVE AN ORIGINAL PURPOSE TO THEM, BUT SEEM EQUALLY WELL PLACED JUST SITTING ON A SHELF colour to orange when exposed to sunlight. It doesn’t stop there, Rodney A Greenblat approached Vacuum with an idea for a Parappa the Rapper toaster. This was launched in August 1998, and features three different settings that will print Parappa’s, Miss Sunny’s or Frog’s face on to your hot toast, it’s the ultimate addition to anyone’s kitchen. A visit to either of the Osaka or Tokyo stores is like entering an Aladdin’s Cave, a shop created by a Japanese incarnation of Pee- Wee Herman. Just wandering around is an experience in itself, they’re practically filled with cool stuff from all over the world. A sure sign of quality is the life size Lego R2D2 that greets you on entering the Harajuku department. Vacuum are proud stockists of Lego, and since 1998 they have carried a variety of goods aimed at all age groups, not just children. It’s no longer necessary to simply play with Lego, now you can wear your Lego, even carry it. Among the items Vacuum stock are; Lego’s watch system, large Lego brick lunchboxes, craft tape, CD cases, bags and a cool Lego memo brick (Post-It notes). There’s also a great collection of Lego key rings that include Santa Claus, robots, ninjas, policemen, cowboys and indians. The stores also have a wide range of Playmobil, which now come in over 200 designs and a great variety of play sets. These range from huge castles complete with green dragon and a really cool magician’s lab, to the toddler specific 1-2-3 range which feature a more basic design. This range is only available in the Osaka store and is actually a whole lot cuter than the original Playmobil figures newly opened department in Harajuku, Tokyo, is a different matter that are now 28 years old. Around the store you’ll also find a nice entirely. Harajuku is the area of cutting edge style, fashion and range of items from Tamiya, the model car maker, which include everything else in Japan. Fads start and end here, changing at the stickers, caps, tape, and Solaemon-Go, a solar car kit with the drop of a hat. If something becomes popular it becomes REALLY famous Japanese blue cat, Doraemon. There’s a strange popular, everybody wants it and every store will sell it, until that consistency to the products available at Vacuum. They all have an product inevitably sells out. original purpose to them, but seem equally well placed just sitting Shin Nishibori who previously worked for Panasonic specifically on a shelf. Not only this, each of the individual companies have designed Vacuum’s store, and he now owns a café in Kyoto while very well designed logos, classics, which are mostly available continuing his work as a product designer. The store’s overall look individually on t-shirts, baseball caps, and even packing tape – try is based around white pillars with curved enclaves brought to life finding that in England. from within by strong orange lighting – these hollows are used for If you are lucky enough to visit one of the stores, one thing you’re shelving and display. It’s all very reminiscent of 2001 , The Prisoner certain to notice is their amazing selection of t-shirts. From rare and many other retro future movies, and is an incredibly well Sonic Youth and Cibo Matto items to strangely cool unknown thought out store. The mood it creates is of the product on bands and prints.