Home Grown: The architect whose set-up looks as good as it sounds

Because every record collection has a story.

Home Grown is our series profiling you lot and your excellent record collections. Taking our cue from the brilliant submissions to the #VFRecordCollections thread on Instagram, we want to share a little of your hard-earned love for vinyl with the world.

Each week, we’ll be profiling a different collector from around the world and finding out what makes them tick. Want in? Send us a pic and a few words about your collection to [email protected]

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Name: James Webb

Location: London

# of records (approx.): 1,000

How long have you been collecting for? 20 years

What part of your set-up are you most proud of?

I love it all in equal measure at the moment. I am also happy that the system doesn’t dominate the room, it looks naturally part of it. As an architect, the visual design of objects is hugely important to me. There is a constant balancing act of aesthetics and performance.

Would I buy an ugly turntable if it sounded great? Probably not…

I love the simplicity of the Nottingham Analogue turntable. I also have an aversion to hi-fi equipment stands that look like oil rigs – I’m happy to place them in a mid century credenza.

What record(s) are you most proud of?

My Autechre Basscadet box set given to me by a friend visiting London during the mid 1990’s and all of the Higher Intelligence Agency LPs that were given to me by Bobby Bird (from Higher Intelligence Agency).

What does your record collection mean to you?

It means a lot – it’s the major way I relax. Listening to records helps so many moods, and can change the atmosphere instantly. I often host random “listening sessions” at the flat too.