RECORD BAR analog

# Record Bar Analog: One song each

At most bars, asking to choose the music earns you a polite smile and a firm no. At Record Bar Analog in Shibuya, there's a badge for precisely that.

The bar occupies the third floor of an unremarkable building in Hyakkendana, one of Tokyo's more colourful nightlife districts. This tangle of narrow streets, little bars and love hotels also has an impressive musical pedigree. The nearby Meikyoku Kissa Lion, a classical music café dating back to 1926, is a reminder that Shibuya was listening to records long before vinyl became fashionable again.

Analog opened in 2018, the brainchild of Takahiro Matsutsuru, who previously worked at two of Tokyo's celebrated nightclubs, AIR and SOUND MUSEUM VISION. His idea was to create a gathering place for former clubbers who still loved music but had developed a certain appreciation for sitting down.

Inside, deep blue sofas, exposed brickwork and a copper coloured counter evoke a Japanese *snack bar* from the Shōwa era, with a few eccentric additions. A giant chair shaped like a hand suggests that Matsutsuru has retained a healthy sense of mischief. So does the splendidly green melon cream soda, complete with ice cream and a cherry. Behind the retro surroundings sits some rather impressive equipment: vintage Altec A7 speakers, originally designed for cinema sound, and Garrard 301 turntables.

The musical selection is refreshingly democratic. Japanese city pop, nostalgic kayōkyoku, soul, R&B and contemporary hip-hop all get their turn. Best of all, guests are invited to browse the record collection themselves. Find something you like, take the sleeve and your request badge to the counter, and the staff will play your selection. There's normally one request per person, a restriction that makes choosing a record surprisingly consequential.

The result is a wonderfully sociable listening experience. One minute you're enjoying a forgotten favourite, the next you're discovering something entirely unexpected, courtesy of a stranger across the room. And when it's your turn, there's the small matter of making a good impression on everyone else.

Choose wisely.