Listening to the wind : encounters with 21st century independent record labels

In Listening to the Wind, Ian Preece sets out on an international road trip to capture the essence of life for independent record labels operating in the twenty-first century. Seek to get behind the scenes to the nitty-gritty of life in the more boutique, hand-to-mouth world of the independent music industry today? A world where the handful of vinyl pressing plants that still exist on the planet are creaking at the seams to keep up with demand; a world where middle-aged bearded hipsters and sixth-formers alike can be found thumbing through the racks buying (or re-buying) those classic Talking Heads, Can or David Bowie LPs; where copies of the new Tindersticks album on clear vinyl on City Slang are scarce; where a Nils Frahm LP is re-released by Erased Tapes a year or so on complete with a second LP of fan remixes; a world where you could fly to Europe in the time it takes to queue round the block on Record Store Day outside Rough Trade's Brick Lane shop. Part handbook for the hipster nation, part thoughtful probing of a semi-cottage industry that brings joy to millions, this is a celebration of sleeves, records, good taste, and all independent music.