peter wyeth

I don’t know when it was that bookshops became more interesting to me than record shops. Moreover, I don’t know when second hand bookshops became more interesting to me that second hand record shops, but at some point they did. Back in Leicester there would only ever be one copy in of something I found interesting and someone always got it before me. Also, as the staff changed over they seemed to become less interested in the people coming in and what they were buying – you used to be able to walk in and the folk behind the counter would say ‘ Have you heard this? It’s form Chicago like so and so…’ They’d remember what you’d bought and try and turn you on to something else. Those days are long gone for me.

So I’m totally excited to tell you about the place I found this weekend just gone….

I went to Cornwall (for the first time ever) to see my parents for a few days – I had a total adventure and experienced things I will remember for the rest of my life, but there for another time. On the saturday we went to Falmouth and hung about whilst waiting to get a ferry up the Carrick Roads. After popping into The Poly to see the printmakers exhibiton (ace) and climbing Jacob’s Ladder to visit and old friend I haven’t seen for 13 years or so (so lovely to see her again)

I walked up the old High Street and stopped by a window that appeared to have cuttings from an old Jazz mag in it (Jazz as in Jazz not as in ‘top shelf jazz’), intrigued, I stepped inside.

The place is called Jam and it is a most fantastic place. They were playing Kurt Vile on the stereo, one side of the wall is stacked with a really eclectic range of records – super hip hypnagogic, a boat load of ECM releases, proper jazz and real out there stuff, as well as other stuff that would appeal to the most conservative of new music buyers.It made Rough Trade feel like Fopp. The fact they were playing someting they wanted to listen to and pointed out on site to me and answered questions was great. There’s a table full of books. There’s battered sofas, coffee and biscuits. In short, there is SOUL. I found myself in a total daze in there being confronted with so much great stuff presented with care and love and joy and I recommend the beJesus out of the place. Can’t wait to go back and this time soak it up a bit more.