Ground Zero – independent record shop
Posted on May 12, 2009 by VINGT Editorial
Text: Will Hutchins
If you’ve failed in your bid to find that Senegalese 1969-1972 funk rarities compilation you’ve been searching for in your local Fnac, then you’ll have better luck at Ground Zero – formely tucked away on rue Saint Marthe but now collocated with vinyl soulmates Nationale 7 at Poissonière.
You’ll still find the superb stash of independent music on vinyl and cd from around the world to get the taste buds of any discerning pop music fan watering.
Catering for the album loving anorak, Ground Zero don’t bother with stocking the classics and instead just keep it to a well chosen selection of the latest and most interesting indie, reggae, soul, funk, African, hip-hop, jazz, blues and electro releases and re-editions including obscure finds such as compilations of West African music in 1920s Britain.
Of course, like all good record shops, Ground Zero sell more than just records, but unlike bad record shops, that end up selling more DVDs than discs or books that have nothing to do with music, here they sell just a few great music DVDs and books, and also a rather nice line in locally designed t-shirts. And like any dedicated record store should, they host the occasional in-store performance.
They’re no anachronistic establishment losing out to the Internet in this digital download age either, as you can order on-line from their site. Handy if you can’t get there and it’s the only place selling that special record you’ve been after but totally missing the point if you’re in Paris. The whole marvel of this place, as with any great independent record store, is that they have handpicked what they sell because they like it, not because people will necessarily buy it in its shed loads and they have physically set it out for you to wonder around its splendour.
Ground Zero
114 rue du Faubourg du Poissonière, 10th
Hours: Tues-Fri 12-8pm, Sat 11.30am-7.30pm
Metro: Poissonière (7)
