Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 13:50:35 +0000 (GMT) From: alastair@pretentious.co.uk

I can readily think of two record shops in London that have latest rock/pop releases next to avant guarde stuff - Rough Trade (two branches, one in Covent Garden the other in Notting Hill), and Selectadisc (Soho). Selectadisc also has a branch in Nottingham, but I've not been to it. Piccadilly Records on Oldham Street, Manchester has the mixture you mentioned, as does Vinyl Exchange nearly opposite, a second hand store with a big Experimental section.

Just off the top of my head. Why was the question asked, out of interest?

First of all, thank you to everyone who responded. You're a wise and kind bunch indeed. This is part of a paper that I'm writing for a conference at the Experience Music Project next month. I'm pretty sure I mentioned this before on the Zorn list but just in case, here's some details: <http://www.furious.com/perfect/rockavantproject.html> Other than the particular artist collaborations and such that I mention there, I'm also interested in other ways these rock/avant convergences have been happening. It seems to me that this is fostered by certain record stores (including ones that people here have mentioned), magazines (i.e. The Wire), clubs, festivals, record labels and definitely mailing lists and other online communities like this one. Best, Jason Perfect Sound Forever online music magazine with warped perspectives perfect-sound@furious.com http://www.perfectsoundforever.com