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Gareth

@justplayed.bsky.social
1.1K followers 346 following 720 posts

Music obsessive. Record shop frequenter. Occasional self-elected gatekeeper. Clash Magazine’s vinyl nerd. @justplayed on Twitter, @justplayedvinyl on Threads & IG.

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Reposted by Gareth
Clash Magazine @clashmusic.com · 11/10/2026
Just Played is our space to celebrate vinyl releases - this edition, we go deep on Soul Revivers excellent new album, alongside re-issues from The Sundays, Mojave 3, The Go-Betweens, and more. www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...
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Reposted by Gareth
Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
How has the last month or so sounded on vinyl? Find out with my latest column for @clashmusic.com www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...
clashmusic.com
Just Played: A Column About Vinyl Records #73 | Features | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
Time for the end of summer round up then. The nights are drawing in and about 50% of recent releases have a slight warp after being moved around
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
How has the last month or so sounded on vinyl? Find out with my latest column for @clashmusic.com www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...
clashmusic.com
Just Played: A Column About Vinyl Records #73 | Features | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
Time for the end of summer round up then. The nights are drawing in and about 50% of recent releases have a slight warp after being moved around
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Looks nice, doesn’t it? Could almost convince me of the merits of coloured vinyl pressings
A picture of the Unspun Heroes edition of Dan Arborise’s ‘Of Tide and Trail’
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
It’s better than 7/10, by the way. I was cautious back then.
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
And, after all that time, looks like I’ll be covering it again thanks to @unspunheroes.com’s wonderful work on an opulent vinyl edition. Bonus point for the personally labelled pointless OBI!
The Unspun Heroes edition of Dan Arborise’s ‘Of Tide and Trail’The back of Unspun Heroes edition of Dan Arborise’s ‘Of Tide and Trail’ with the obi info
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Seventeen years ago, one of the first things I reviewed for @clashmusic.com was the second Dan Arborise album, having fallen hard for his debut:
Text of review for Dan Arborise - Of Tide And Trail

Described on his Myspace page as 'John Martyn meets Nick Drake for the 21st Century', Dan Arborise certainly has the strung out, jazzy tendencies of the former when it comes to his guitar playing and even a touch of the vocal fragility of the latter.
Lyrically, 'Of Tide And Trail' is a collection of meditations on life, death and fatherhood. Fine though they are, however, it's not the words that are the principal concern. The woozy drone of one man and his guitar may not seem like anything particularly noteworthy, but this is a hugely atmospheric record that's gently beguiling, with picked acoustic guitar layered to create ambient swathes of sound that engage the head and melt the heart.
7/10
Words by Gareth James
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
And as for the discs?!
A ripped shiny inner More rips on the shiny innerThe state of a GZ disc from inside a shiny inner. Bits everywhere!The state of a GZ disc from inside a shiny inner. Bits everywhere again.
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
This series was mentioned in the recent @webuyrecords.bsky.social episode. Words fail me
Listing for a The Thousand Club title at £39.99The hype sticker for Caravan’s terribly titled ‘For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night’ sounding like a serious audiophile productA description of the deluxe nature of the product:
“What Is The
'Thousand Club'?
The Thousand Club is a new series of exclusive vinyl pressings, ranging from all-analogue lacquer cuts of iconic catalogue titles to bespoke compilations curated by artists and specialist tastemakers.
Each release is strictly limited to just 1,000 copies, with every record individually foil-numbered from 1-1000, making each one uniquely yours.
Every vinyl is housed in premium packaging, including a heavy duty card sleeve, embossed Thousand Club logo, individual foil numbering, a foil sticker, and a protective PVC sleeve.”The reality: a Made in Czech Republic sticker revealing it was done at GZ
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Snap!
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Oh god. Why?! That is madness. That level of detail and then they sacrifice the actual pressing
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
There’s a new @clashmusic.com column imminent, but the next one is already taking shape with Mo-Fi The National & Angel Olsen, DSS R.E.M. & Hole, the new Beatles box and this all-analogue Terry Callier all set to feature
Slow Down Sounds' all-analogue reissue of Terry Callier's 'Occasional Rain'
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Urgh. No words.
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Reposted by Gareth
We Buy Records Podcast @webuyrecords.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Ep 79. A new 30 quid club entrant, the 1000 club, more AI nonsense, Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social with a full run down of new vinyl. National Album Day. Letters, vinyl stupidity, quiz and your usual crate digging shenanigans Episode link pod.link/1456163688 Support the show ko-fi.com/webuyrecords
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
New mastering. “Sourced from the original masters, mastered by engineer Krieg Wunderlich, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing…16-bit / 44.1kHz digital master to analog console to lathe”
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
This sounds incredible.
Mobile Fidelity’s 2x45rpm of The National’s ‘Boxer’ (review copy)
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The Steven Wilson remix of ‘Coming Up’ feels pretty good to these ears.
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
And such a bargain
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
@octopus.energy 6 weeks of the dire scratchcard and nothing but Greggs vouchers. If Caffè Nero pulled out or just massively reduced their commitment to the programme, why not just say? This used to be an appreciated perk.
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Reposted by Gareth
We Buy Records Podcast @webuyrecords.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Ep 78. We share listener's pre streaming discovery tales, a bumper letter bag, meta glasses get renamed, a quiz, lady pop and all your usual crate digging larks. Our cloud recording for @justplayed.bsky.social failed halfway, so he's half cooked until we recover it. Episode pod.link/1456163688
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
One of the rare occasions where the unnecessary apostrophe isn’t the most annoying thing in an advert
Advert for an event listed as follows:

Album Wine Tasting

To celebrate 25 years since it's release, Tapps Wine Bar will be paring wines with Björk's acclaimed album Vespertine.

The Listening Bar will be open after the wine tasting and we'll be playing vinyl into the evening to continue your wine tasting experience.
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Unlikely, but they seem keen to release literally everything they can in every possible iteration, so who knows?!
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
A chipolatte, I presume?
A sign in Sainsbury’s on their covered fridges saying

“I'm keeping cool in this extreme weather

SAUSAGE DRINKS

My blinds are down to help keep our food
cool.

Please lift the blind or ask a colleague for help.”
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Thank you for the kind words about the latest column. Listening underway for the next one:
‘The Rest Of’ New Order - 3LP - remastered 2026
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Reposted by Gareth
Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The latest edition of my @clashmusic.com vinyl review column is now live. Fling it before the eyes of the record lovers in your lives. Including you, of course: www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...
clashmusic.com
Just Played: A Column About Vinyl Records #72 | Features | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
There’s quite the selection for you this time around, with a number of huge artists returning, some newbies doing very fine work and a few deluxe
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
That is utterly appalling. And far too common. No quality control at all these days.
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Solid logic
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Unspun Heroes® @unspunheroes.com · 11/08/2026
A fantastic round up, as ever. Worth reading the Gish review for the final paragraph alone.
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The latest edition of my @clashmusic.com vinyl review column is now live. Fling it before the eyes of the record lovers in your lives. Including you, of course: www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...
clashmusic.com
Just Played: A Column About Vinyl Records #72 | Features | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
There’s quite the selection for you this time around, with a number of huge artists returning, some newbies doing very fine work and a few deluxe
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Reposted by Gareth
Pete Paphides @petepaphides.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
John Douglas 1963-2026. Sending all my love to Eddi, Frank, Stephen, Paul, Davy and all of John's co-travellers in life.
patreon.com
“Robert Burns said, ‘You’ve got to rivet words together just to hear them clang.’ That always stuck with me.” John Douglas (1963-2026) | Pete Paphides
Oh God. Not John? Surely not John? To the best of my knowledge John had never done anything as shocking, anything as dramatic as this. Low-k
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
@faberbooks.bsky.social Is the whole John McGahern catalogue getting re-done in the style of the four titles released last week?
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John Self @john-self.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
This mimsy, excuses-filled piece on loudcasting fails to point out even once that if we vaporise all offenders, their poor genetic material will not be passed on to future genersations.
bbc.co.uk
Why phones on loudspeaker may become just another noise
Playing music or videos out loud on your phone is bemoaned by many - but in the future, it might not seem so outlandish
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Suggests that somebody has been listening to the final few Low albums: www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...
theguardian.com
Phoebe Bridgers: Lost Weekend review – long-awaited return is a thrilling, daring study in dislocation
After sweeping the Grammys and being scrutinised by the press, Bridgers deploys electronics and unsettling sound design to brilliantly evoke emotional turmoil
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Whatever we might suspect, if Modella are keen to build a successful, streamlined version of TG Jones as they say, why visibly sell off all the stock at a discount when it could be redistributed to other, still operational, shops?
The Bath branch of TG Jones where, presumably, incredibly, the landlords aren’t falling for the 3 years of free rent nonsense.
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Absolutely. And I know, there must be a market or they wouldn’t make it, but still…
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
That makes two of us!
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Ha! Good lord, no
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Who comes up with this shit? Another exciting way to do variants
Some new bollocks from Rough Trade. Four black and white photos as a sort of OBI being added to a record to make it artificially collectible
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
A must have for any discerning music fan
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Mark Watson @watsoncomedian.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Will there ever be a day of our lives where we're not called upon to think about Farage? I'd got all the way to noon. It's like that thing with 'Last Christmas'.
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WHAT A FUCKING RECORD @whatafuckingrecord.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
16 UK
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Exactly! Too risky these days unless it’s something you *must* have regardless
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
£50 for a new Madonna 2LP pressed at GZ? I’ll pass.
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We Buy Records Podcast @webuyrecords.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Ep 77. Rolling Stones merch, a listener's fever dream, more Flip Vinyl shenanigans, @justplayed.bsky.social new vinyl reviews, The Flaming Lips (again), news, features, vinyl stupidity and of course a quiz. pod.link/1456163688 Support the show. ko-fi.com/webuyrecords
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Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Oh, Qobuz. We had been getting on so well
A recommended playlist featuring the ‘music’ of Muse.
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Pete Paphides @petepaphides.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The worst thing about James Blake's "Can't trust a review" claim is that it's unleashed a swarm of agreement from conspiracy theorists & musicians who (for whatever reason) never made it. FWIW, neither I or any journalist I know has ever been offered money by a label in exchange for a review.
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Matt Jones @maffrj.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
A nice quiet first hour in the office before the hoards descend, perfectly soundtracked by the new Coral album. It really is as good as you all said isn't it?
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Reposted by Gareth
Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Are you in need of a helpful vinyl review column to give you purchasing tips for the weekend ahead? If so, my new one for @clashmusic.com is live now: www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...
clashmusic.com
Just Played: A Column About Vinyl Records #71 | Features | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
It has been a bumper month and a bit since all of the fuss around RSD and there is much to please your ears in what follows. Some big hitters are back,
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Music Saves (Worthing) @musicsavesuk.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
whether you’re throwing money away on an average or sub standard pressing and package. So it is with such major relief to get such a glowing review of the album for the musical content, the vinyl pressing and the package we’ve put together! Review at www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...
clashmusic.com
Just Played: A Column About Vinyl Records #71 | Features | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
It has been a bumper month and a bit since all of the fuss around RSD and there is much to please your ears in what follows. Some big hitters are back,
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Music Saves (Worthing) @musicsavesuk.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Out of all the reviews for the Late Transmissions album the one I was most nervous for and anticipating was from Clash magazine’s vinyl specific column. Gareth quite rightly doesn’t take any prisoners, knowing full well for music fans the cost of investing in a record in this age, and
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