Norman Records

Norman Records UK record store selling records, CDs and tapes. First record sold? No idea. "Probably something by Cows," according to Phil. This is where the story really begins.

In the beginning (1995-1999)

Norman Records was born in 1995 when Phil set up the business in the attic of his terraced house in the Hyde Park area of Leeds. Initially selling via ads in Record Collector magazine, by 1997 Phil was employing extra members of staff to deal with the volume of parcels that were being carted off to the local post office. The early years (1999-2003)

In 1999, with a be

droom ceiling beginning to sag due to the sheer weight of vinyl upon it, office premises were found in an old Victorian school in Armley, Leeds. Using an ancient, wheezing, dial-up internet connection a basic website was built (still available!) offering the latest releases at low prices with super-fast shipping. The 'famous' Norman Records reviews started around this time, mainly written by Phil as other members of staff shouted their opinions from across the room. Eventually staff were writing their own reviews providing passionate, knowledgeable and idiosyncratic opinions. As night follows day, the extra space available led to a huge increase in the amount of stock we started to hold. To cope with the sheer number of records needing packing and reviewing, more staff were gradually employed. The difficult teenage period (2003-2010)

The decline of physical sales that began in the early 2000s presented challenges. We kept on finding the best new music out there. We kept plugging away at the reviews. And whilst we kept refining the site (making it as simple and fast as we could) we resisted the siren calls of the download markets, stuck to our guns, and continued to support the physical formats. Traffic rose, we were able to ride out the slump, and found ourselves at the forefront of a vinyl revival...

Leaving school (2010-now)

In 2010 we outgrew the antiquated Armley school and moved to larger premises in a brutalist 60s council building in Holbeck, 15 minutes from the centre of Leeds. Fun times. As well offering a much bigger space for the ever-growing stockroom, the move allowed us to officially open to the public. Although not a store in the conventional sense (far from it) customers can not only walk in and buy but ’click and collect’ ofter ordering online. A bit like an Argos for vinyl lovers. Having a physical presence also allows us to take part in Record Store Day, the first of which was a cold, frantic morning in April 2013 when crowds snaked down the stairs and out the doors of the building. Future
Who knows? We are proud to have been trading for 22 years and proud that the same ideals we started out with are still in place today. And as long as you lovely folk keep buying records, we'll keep selling and reviewing them.

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Top Ten Vinyl ReleasesTen of the best in new vinyl plus our favourite Reissue of the Week, hand-select...
12/06/2026

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Top Ten Vinyl Releases

Ten of the best in new vinyl plus our favourite Reissue of the Week, hand-selected and covered by a couple of our staff members.

Picks include the second from costumed math proggers Angine de Poitrine, non-costumed costumed math proggers Horse Lords, art pop cellist Kelsey Lu, post-rock favourites MONO, a concept-steeped collab on Clay Pipe between Richard Bundy & Anna Phoebe, and a Moebius-inspired kosmische work from Berndt / Schmidt aka M.C. Schmidt of Matmos and composer John Berndt.

You’ll also find vinyl from Cluster, Fruit Bats, Genghis Tron, Shannon Wright, and La Securite, plus our Weekly Playlist.

https://www.normanrecords.com/features/best-new-music/new-music-friday

REISSUE OF THE WEEK: 'Sowiesoso' by ClusterThe fourth and arguably finest from the Düsseldorf early electronic and kosmi...
11/06/2026

REISSUE OF THE WEEK: 'Sowiesoso' by Cluster

The fourth and arguably finest from the Düsseldorf early electronic and kosmische duo returns ahead of its 50th anniversary.

Released in 1976, the seminal and acclaimed work from Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius is back on Bureau B as a heavyweight, limited-edition vinyl reissue.

Check out our retrospective review for talk of Eno, Craven Faults, Woo, Boards of Canada, The Moomins, and all sorts else.

https://www.normanrecords.com/features/best-albums/best-reissue-of-the-week

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ‘Demand to Be Taken to Heaven Alive!’ by Horse LordsThe Baltimore experimental rock titans follow las...
11/06/2026

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ‘Demand to Be Taken to Heaven Alive!’ by Horse Lords

The Baltimore experimental rock titans follow last year’s Arnold Dreyblatt collaboration.

Horse Lords return, once again balancing avant-garde and post-classical technique with bizarrely catchy instrumental work and hypnotic, dancefloor-friendly grooves.

With influences spanning from minimalism and no wave to krautrock, Afrobeat, prog, math rock, and jazz, ‘Demand to Be…’ is a genre-bending treat which will slowly burrow in, as the hypnotic grooves become indelible and its sly melodies become hummable.

Check this week’s lead review piece below and grab it on LP, CD, or white coloured vinyl via RVNG Intl records.

https://www.normanrecords.com/features/best-albums/best-album-of-the-week

FEATURE: This Week’s Best Preorders Big names meet cult groups, long-awaited returns, anticipated reissues, and a range ...
09/06/2026

FEATURE: This Week’s Best Preorders

Big names meet cult groups, long-awaited returns, anticipated reissues, and a range of quality releases across the electronic and left-field spectrum.

Hand-selected vinyl includes Emma Ruth Rundle, Interpol, Weezer, Mike D, OSEES, The Mary Wallopers, The Afghan Whigs, Ibibio Sound Machine, Fenne Lily, Margaret Glaspy, Penelope Isles, Chat Pile and more.

Ant’s electronic, ambient, and experimental picks count Floating Points’ collaboration with the San Fran Ballet Orchestra, Gold Panda, Space Afrika, John Frusciante in Trickfinger mode, a couple of Sun City Girls archival releases, drone composer Sarah Davachi, and Manchester duo Space Afrika.

Reissue highlights include The Durutti Column, Reigning Sound, two from the Pixies, Meshuggah, Electric Wizard, Os Mutantes, King Crimson, The Cramps, and more.

https://www.normanrecords.com/features/best-new-music/best-preorders-this-week

PREORDER: ‘Who Loves the Sun’ by Chat PileOklahoma sludge-noise rock outfit Chat Pile announce their third album.It’s no...
09/06/2026

PREORDER: ‘Who Loves the Sun’ by Chat Pile

Oklahoma sludge-noise rock outfit Chat Pile announce their third album.

It’s no secret we’re big fans of this bunch - they’ve landed three Album of the Week accolades, bagged the 2022 Album of the Year gong in 2022 for ‘God’s Country’, and we’ve dug their soundtracks and standalone singles too.

The wryly titled ‘Who Loves the Sun’ follows a 7’’ on Sub Pop and their Hayden Pedigo collaboration, and hears the quartet exploring present day dystopias, societal apathy and discord, the wilful decline of cities and community, and the collapse of late capitalism.

They’ve just released their new track ‘Deep Blue’ and they’re sounding as top notch as ever - roll on September.

On limited-edition indies-only split coloured vinyl, LP, CD and via The Flenser.

https://www.normanrecords.com/records/216420-chat-pile-who-loves-the-sun

DINKED EDITION 421: ‘3’ by Penelope IslesThe indie dream pop four-piece return with their third LP, its Dinked set inclu...
09/06/2026

DINKED EDITION 421: ‘3’ by Penelope Isles

The indie dream pop four-piece return with their third LP, its Dinked set including an exclusive vinyl variant, a signed postcard, sticker, and air freshener.

A record steeped in influences from the coast, the Brighton group were inspired by surfing and travels to the Algarve. Recorded on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, the album’s sound undoubtedly being shaped by the Outer Hebrides island’s stunning coastlines and rugged beauty.

Recorded live, there’s a sense of drive and immediacy to the songcraft here, with their most direct material brushing up with drifting, expansive, and open-ended instrumentals.

Released on Bella Union - limited to 400 copies.

https://www.normanrecords.com/records/216375-penelope-isles-3

REISSUE OF THE WEEK: ‘Blown’ by SwallowTwo-in-one release set from the Camberwell dream pop duo featuring their debut al...
06/06/2026

REISSUE OF THE WEEK: ‘Blown’ by Swallow

Two-in-one release set from the Camberwell dream pop duo featuring their debut album, its remix companion, and a bonus 12''.

Swallow’s debut and sole album ‘Blow’ returns alongside ‘Blowback’, a complete remix overhaul with ambient, electronic, and psychedelic leanings reflective of the group’s initially intended sound.

‘Blow’ remains one of the underrated records from the shoegaze era. Though released on tastemaking indie label 4AD, it didn’t quite make the same splash as their labelmates and contemporaries on Creation, and they split some four years after forming.

Check this week’s retrospective piece below.

Also available on CD.

Swallow
4AD
https://www.normanrecords.com/features/best-albums/best-reissue-of-the-week

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Top Ten Vinyl ReleasesTen hand-selected records plus an underrated 1990s shoegaze record feature in th...
05/06/2026

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Top Ten Vinyl Releases

Ten hand-selected records plus an underrated 1990s shoegaze record feature in this week’s release roundup.

We’ve picked the debut from Newcastle avant-folk songwriter Frankie Archer, French psych power trio SLIFT, one each from indie veterans Modest Mouse and Death Cab For Cutie, modern soulster Jalen Ngonda, a BIG SPECIAL mini-album, Scandi jazz meets psych outfit Kronstad 23, and Birmingham indie newcomers Overpass.

Dig in and you’ll also find our Weekly Playlist, reviews for each LP, plus an AOTW-winner from Tara Clerkin Trio.

https://www.normanrecords.com/features/best-new-music/new-music-friday

PREORDER: 'Off Course' by OSEES Highly prolific garage-psychers OSEES return to the jam-focused, expansive, and longform...
05/06/2026

PREORDER: 'Off Course' by OSEES

Highly prolific garage-psychers OSEES return to the jam-focused, expansive, and longform compositions of their mid-2010s era.

‘Off Course’ follows last year’s ‘Abomination Revealed at Last’ and the debut of psych-noise rock project Heathen Axe. John Dwyer and company built the album from extended live in-studio jams, later editing, adding vocals, and inserting instrumental and production touches here and there.

Bearing hallmarks of their ‘Exits’ / ‘Entrances’, ‘Face Stabber’, and ‘Smote Reverser’ eras, they tap into influences from progressive rock, jazz, krautrock, speed metal, and acid rock, moving between garage punk blasts, proggy freakouts, trippy Organ-led sections, and cosmic instrumental runs.

Brigid Dawson and Tom Dolas feature. Released through Dwyer’s Deathgod Corp records on LP, CD, and red coloured vinyl.

https://www.normanrecords.com/records/216345-osees-off-course

DINKED EDITION 420: ‘PADDYWHACKERY’ by The Mary WallopersThe Irish folk group bring their third album to the Dinked seri...
04/06/2026

DINKED EDITION 420: ‘PADDYWHACKERY’ by The Mary Wallopers

The Irish folk group bring their third album to the Dinked series, featuring a signed print, a set of beer mats, and a gatefold sleeve.

Following the success and acclaim of their wider breakthrough record ‘Irish Rock n Roll’, the Dundalk quintet return, a record which gleefully hops between live primed anthems and balladry, the trad and contemporary, and punk stormers and pub rock brawlers with teary-eyed bawlers.

The limited-edition set ships in September.

https://www.normanrecords.com/records/216292-the-mary-wallopers-paddywhackery

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Unit 20, Croydon House, Croydon Street
Leeds
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