The world’s best record shops #061: Mount Analog, Los Angeles

Wax, tapes, books and gear.

Every week, we pick out one must-visit spot from a different city around the world with photos and a little bit of history. Think of it as a kind of 1000 places to see before you die but for record shops.

The last time we were in LA, the utterly awe-inspiring catalogue of music at Amoeba Music – which occupies an entire city block on Sunset Blvd – had us digging for days.

This time, we’re climbing Mount Analog in the Highland Park ‘hood for a more specialised (though no less exciting) shopping experience.

Mount Analog

Location: 5906 1/2 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042, Los Angeles, CA 90042, United States

Go for: Wax, tapes, books and gear

What’s the story? Though it only opened in 2012, it’s hard to picture the LA circuit without Mount Analog.

Set up by Zane Landreth and Mahssa Taghinia, Mount Analog frames itself as “a place for the creative idealist, progressive artist, music and arts enthusiast, rarities collector, and moreover: the everyday curious and adventure seeker.”

That said, vinyl-wise this is the spot for house, techno, experimental, broken beats and other DJ tools, reflecting LA’s rapidly expanding club scene. But you can also grab some pretty classic tapes and a Sony Walkman.

There are two listening decks by the window, which is bursting with that LA sunlight; it’s a truly idyllic setting to work your way through a stack of 12″ records.

More than just a record shop, Mount Analog also operates as a clothing boutique, film and book store, live event space, gallery, and the West Coast outpost for Finders Keepers and the B-Music collective.

Photos: Kara McCulloh / Instagram @_klm____