Press Release November 2013

a double-edged berlin store

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BASS CADET RECORD STORE / DOWN BY RETROWESERSTR. 189

12045 BERLINMON: 12:00-19:00

TUE-THU: 11:00-20:00FRI: 11:00-21:00SAT: 14:00-21:00

downbyretro.combasscadetrecords.com2

A TWO-IN-ONE STORE

INTRODUCTION

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TWO-IN-ONE

Everyone knows the old adage that two heads are better than one. !rough collaboration, the whole ends up as way more than the sum of its parts. It was in this vein that BCR / DBR was founded: A two-in-one store where music and fashion can interact. A place that not only sells exceptional goods, but also acts as a platform for the cross-pollination of ideas and interaction of scenes.

By combining two favorite Berlin pastimes – vintage fashion and electronic music – they represent contemporary sensibilities unlike any other store in the city. It is a buzzing boutique that refuses to be labelled as a record or clothes shop. Rather than a damp and dusty trawl through hundreds of old clothes lines and record crates, here, you get one tightly curated selection of absolute must-haves. Not to mention the many special events and soirées held here (more about this later...).

BACKGROUND

Perhaps more than any other European metropole, Berlin is a city of contrasts. A hotch potch landscape of Gründerzeit, Bauhaus, Plattenbau and avant-garde architecture, where old sits next to new, just as East sits next to West, and Döner shops next to organic supermarkets.

In such a helter-skelter locale, with change "rmly rooted in its DNA, different areas and streets come to de"ne a city at particular times. !ink of David Bowie’s Schöneberg and Nürnbergerstraße in the ‘80s or the raw-edge of Mitte and Auguststraße in the ‘90s.

For the past few years, however, it’s Neukölln – a district set apart by its cosmopolitan mix and varied cultural possibilities – that has been the place on everybody’s lips. In particular the long, hockey stick-shaped strip Weserstraße.

Since opening in 2013, Bass Cadet Records / Down By Retro has gained notoriety as one of the stand-out locations on the much-hyped street.

Introduction

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On the opposite side of the store, Laura Le Marchand is the fashion connoisseur. An avid collector of "ne vintage, she used to organize pop-up markets at music events in Paris before joining forces with Etienne to create BCR / DBR. Commenting on the bene"ts of their dual space, she says:

L: “We create a diverse experience for customers; one that you’d never be able to offer through a singular shop. "ere’s a tangible ‘meeting point’ vibe. People gather, chat, drink, discover new and awesome records and get excited about fashion. Records and clothes are a great match. On top of that, there are no rules in the store either – it’s a free-for-all kind of environment.”

BCR / DBR was founded by two distinct individuals, each an expert in their respective "eld. Both hailing from France, the two friends now call Berlin home.

Etienne Dauta is the music pro. Having worked in the business for six years and being the son of record store owner, it was an obvious next step for the self-confessed vinyl addict. !e store also operates as HQ for his eponymous record label, Bass Cadet Records. Here, Etienne describes their handpicked stock:

E: “Regarding how we curate our selections, I like to think that we are being open minded. It’s not our intention to hone in on speci#c genres or eras. On my side, you can #nd old tunes sitting side-by-side with fresh releases, but whether it’s house, techno, soul, funk, or even punk, the focus is always on quality. Actually, I purposefully avoid buying records purely based on sellability.”

Meet "e Founders

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FASHION

DOWN BY RETROVINTAGE CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

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Marrying classic stylings with a modern vibe, the rails are a veritable treasure trove for the casual sartorialist. For the gents, there are items such as Dr. Martens boots, Pendleton plaid shirts, Essl bags and Harrington trench coats. And women are equally spoilt with a range of accessories, tartan trousers, colorful onesies, Levi’s shirts and the latest pieces from cutting-edge, London-based brand: !e White Pepper.

Laura tips her hat in the direction of a variety of in$uences:

“I love bringing vintage clothes back into contemporary focus. I’m really inspired by English fashion at the moment, Vivienne Westwood in particular. I also love classically chic French brands like APC and YSL, as well as U.S. fashion designers such as Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs. And Jil Sander from Germany, of course.“

“I love bringing vintage clothes back into contemporary focus.”

FINE VINTAGE

Just like the the ever-changing surrounds of Berlin, the uniqueness of vintage wear is its history, with each and every item having been on a different journey since its creation. Locked into the warm touch of well-worn leather or the faded-out look of an old pair of 501s, is a unique story – one that’s not heard, but felt. A far cry from the fresh out of the packet, mass-produced spirit of consumerism, vintage clothes offer timeless quality, which in this case, comes cherry-picked by the individual behind the whole operation.

Scouring the breadth of France, Italy and America, Down By Retro is a "ne selection of garments and accessories. Laura’s keen eye for quality has a distinctly French in$uence, after all it was honed during her years in Paris where she utilized all of her spare time indulging her passion for seeking out rare pieces of stylish clothing.

Down By Retro

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FROM NEW RELEASES TO HARD-TO-FIND CLASSICS

BASS CADET RECORD STORE

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FAIRLY-PRICED RARITIES

In protest against the growing hordes of Ebay entrepreneurs who buy limited release records only to resell them later for pro"t, BCR gets ahead of the game by purchasing and holding back selected vinyls to be resold at original price once they’re sold-out. !is power-to-the-people mentality is a unique offering in Berlin, which helped win over both local and international DJs alike (namechecks include Jus'Ed, Aybee, Fred P, Christopher Rau, !e Mole and Daniel Wang).

Having said that, if entertaining friends on your home-studio setup is the limit of your DJing aspirations, BCR is the perfect place to seek guidance for your "rst steps into the world of vinyl. And just like the long-lasting satisfaction of owning a unique piece of vintage clothing, in our compressed format MP3-plagued age, vinyl offers the ideal analogue alternative – a crackling protest at the homogenization of the pop music charts.

CHOICE VINYL

Operating as a pocket-sized hub for vinyl a"cionados, Bass Cadet Records is the perfect place to discover new music. BCR’s tight and unique collection of hard wax simply oozes class. with the emphasis here being placed "rmly on quality rather than quantity.

Here, you can expect a mix of new releases, rarities and second-hands – all spanning the outer limits of electronic music staples like techno and house, alongside soul, funk and disco. Current scene darlings including the likes of Ron Morelli’s L.I.E.S and insurgent Berlin-based label PAN share crate space with established stalwarts like Sound Signature and Basic Channel.

!e store’s founder, Etienne, hand-picks all the vinyl himself and is always happy to enter into a dialogue on current dance$oor trends in Berlin and beyond. Listening stations are also on-hand for unlimited use to road-test that perfect new record for your collection. BCR’s welcoming, open-door policy and expertly-curated selection has quickly established it as an important player in the elite ranks of Berlin’s must-visit record stores.

Bass Cadet Record Store

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Azuli RecordsBalance

BBEBlue Note

Bottom Line RecordsCasablanca

Cutting TraxD.J. International Records

Djax Up BeatsFactory Records

FFRRGroove OnGuidance

Henry Street MusicItalians Do It Better

Junior Boys OwnKing Street Sounds

KMSLarge RecordsMAW Records

MotownMute / Novamute

Nite GroovesPeacefrogPrelude

PrescriptionR & S Records

Rams Horn RecordsSalsoul Records

ShelterSlip’ N Slide

Strictly RhythmTrax

UMMUnderground Construction

Warp

LABELS

7th SignAntinote

AxisBu-Mako

Basic ChannelBunker

Clone RecordsCreme Organization

Dance ManiaDelsinDial

Dopeness GaloreEglo RecordsFuture Times

FXHEGoing Good

L.I.E.S.Maslo

MeanderMister Saturday Night

MoodhutMule Musiq

NousOminira

Ostgut TonPerlon

Rush HourSistrum

SmallvilleSoul People MusicSound Signature

Strength Music RecordsSUED

Tape Records Amsterdam!e Trilogy Tapes

Underground QualityVanguard Sound

Versatile Wild OatsWorkshop

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BCR / DBR IS A NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORITE

A LOCAL HANGOUT

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CURATED EVENTS

At any time of the day, punters are encouraged to take time to hangout and grab a cold drink – no purchase necessary. In addition, through a range of successful events, Weserstraße 189 has established itself as a bona "de Kiez favorite. DJs regularly come to spin into the evening while friends, customers and neighbors congregate.

As well as the regular electronic music soirées, where the people spill out the door and onto the pavement, there has been a photography exhibition and also a new boutique shopping series in collaboration with a handful of like-minded independent stores in the surrounding area. On these special evenings, BCR / DBR keeps its doors open later than usual so that shoppers can discover the store during post-office hours whilst enjoying special discounts on all goods.

SHOP LOCAL

Consumers are increasingly concerned with where and how they spend their money. No longer content with "lling the coffers of global chains, people are searching for more authentic, local alternatives – where a familiar face rather than a $ashing logo awaits.

In the face of a ballooning online marketplace, shopping local has become a lifestyle choice for many. Not only does it offer a more tailored experience but it helps support the vibrancy of Neukölln. In this regards, BCR / DBR is a proudly independent store, playing its part in uniting the local community.

A Local Hangout

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THE BOTTOM LINE

BCR / DBR is a double-edged neighborhood hangout, a place to discover and be inspired by an expertly curated selection of vinyl and vintage fashion – the very best of two worlds in one space.

Laura Le MarchandFounder of Down By Retro

laura@downbyretro.com

Etienne DautaFounder of Bass Cadet Recordsetienne@basscadetrecords.com

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