Music

Crate Digging With Wampire

A lifetime is a long time to bulk and damage a once pristine record collection. With an eccentric flair for rigorous psych-rambles and twisted nostalgia, who better to talk to about precedence and deep cleansing than master of ghoulish kitsch, Eric Phipps of Wampire? 

 

Interview by Roxy Merrell

 

You have a manic moment and decide to purge your entire record collection. Which one is the first to go?

The very first record would be that 4th copy of Fleetwood Mac Rumours that seems to occupy space in every record collection. I’ve thought of completely purging several times, but each time unsuccessfully. I just need the vinyl!

 

What record survives the purge?

Deerhoof’s The Runners Four.

 

What scratched-up record do you treasure in a protective sleeve despite knowing its spinning days are over?

El Guapo’s Fake French.

 

//www.youtube.com/embed/e07Gv3BPl-s

 

Have you ever refused to buy a record for a friend due to blatant personal opinion and keeping face at your local indie record shop?

My friends aren’t the kind of people you would expect to “request” a record as a gift unfortunately, so no, I haven’t found myself in that situation before. BUT, let’s assume they were… I wouldn’t be caught dead picking up a new Arcade Fire record. Old stuff is alright, but I’d be embarrassed toting that thing around. Or Jack White, no way bro.

 

You return to the shop and there’s a stunner browsing LPs next to you. What record do you request from the store clerk to show your obscure sonic stripes?

A #1 Stunner?! I’d probably just ask politely if they have Iron Curtain Desertion 1982-1988 on vinyl.

 

Sometimes something really good is actually pretty bad. What album do you cherish that fits this description?

Third Eye Blind’s self-titled first album.

 

For a lot of us, our adolescent auditory beginnings are a source of shrewd mortification. What made your heart thump uncontrollably once upon a time, that makes you cringe now?

I used to love Boyz 2 Men. I loved their album Evolution when I was like 9 years old, and I think it was my first CD. After that was a Weezer phase that shook me out of the modern R&B obsession.

 

What vinyl trophy is your first to flash at newcomers to your home?

Honestly, I don’t think I have anything super rare, but I’d most likely whip out the Nina Hagen records first!

 

You wake up with the urge to re-categorise your collection based on the metric of sheer genius. What goes first?

The New Edition Cool it Now 7” single.

 

//www.youtube.com/embed/RZUq6N7Gx1c

 

What goes last?

All Jazz and Classical. Although do I love that stuff from time to time, it gets spun the least.

 

The day has past and you’re feeling buzzed about your achievement. What do you blast at full volume to celebrate?

Wu-tang’s Forever while I spark one up.

 

The ghoulish kitsch aesthetic works wonders for you guys. What record do you display proudly for its album art despite its sound making your eardrums bleed?

Well, hmmm… The truth is, I actually like this album. But it is something that I rarely feel like I “need” to hear again. It’s gotta be the original concept album: The Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles. I feel so cliche saying it, but, with the large photo book on the inside of the packaging, it is one of the radest albums to look at while listening.

 

//www.youtube.com/embed/n4_TXuU9ars

 

What all-time favourite record would you never recommend to anyone?

I would recommend it if it was an all-time favourite. It is hard to love a record and not stand behind it. I know there is a huge amount personal taste that factors into musical preferences, but I trust my judgement enough to stand behind anything that I love.

 
Wampire will play on 4 December at V11, Rotterdam. And it’s free for Subbacultcha! members.
They will also play on 14 December at Paradiso, Amsterdam.