The world’s best record shops #042: Music Mania, Ghent

Inside Belgium’s oldest record shop.

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.

Having dropped in for a waffle at Wally’s Groove World, our second trip to Belgium takes us to the port-side university town of Ghent.

Still very much young at heart, Belgium’s oldest record shop has maintained a peerless reputation among collectors and DJs of all ages.

Music Mania

Location: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 19, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Contact: http://www.musicmaniarecords.be/

Go for: The full spectrum from the ’60s to the present day

What’s the story? Opened way back in 1969, Music Mania is Belgium’s longest running record shop. But unlike other such institutions where dust has been allowed to settle on the racks, the team of heads and selectors running Music Mania today still keep things fresh.

One of those is Ziggy Devriendt aka DJ Nosedrip, whose ear for obscurities belies his modest years. The man behind online radio station and soon-to-be label STROOM.TV, it’s not surprising that Music Mania has retained such a central role in Europe’s young selector scene.

In the store you’ll find records from across the spectrum, from jazz, blues and folk, to disco, synth wave, cosmic, Afro-funk and practically every sub-genre in between.

Alongside this steady flow of second hand vinyl sourced from the US as much as Europe, Music Mania also keeps on top of contemporary dance music and the burgeoning reissue market.

What’s more, it’s the store that serial collectors 2manydjs / Soulwax call home. High praise indeed.