Background / History
Few record shops arrive with as clear a sense of identity as Inverted Audio, which opened its doors in Peckham’s Holdrons Arcade in September 2023. The shop is the first physical home for Inverted Audio, the underground electronic music platform that Tom Durston, who DJs as Antepop, founded back in 2009 to champion the records and artists that the mainstream press tended to overlook. A bricks-and-mortar store had long been the goal, and Durston opened it after recognising that south-east London, and Peckham in particular, lacked a shop dedicated to the further reaches of dance and electronic music. The store now carries that editorial spirit into physical form, translating years of writing, listening and digging into a tightly curated space.
What You’ll Find
The selection is hand-picked and unapologetically specialist, spanning house, techno, dubbed-out grooves, experimental, avant-garde and esoteric ambient sounds. You will find new and used vinyl sitting alongside cassettes, CDs, clothing from partner labels and Inverted Audio’s own merchandise. The racks draw on respected underground imprints such as Astral Industries, Ilian Tape, FXHE, The Trilogy Tapes, Tresor and Natural Sciences, while the second-hand stock includes records pulled from Durston’s personal collection. Listening decks are set up so visitors can sample pressings before buying, which suits a shop where discovery matters as much as the familiar name on a sleeve.
Experience / Atmosphere
Tucked into a unit within a vintage indoor arcade, the shop shares its surroundings with other independent traders and a neighbouring coffee house, giving the place a friendly, lived-in feel. Walls lined with carefully chosen sleeves turn the small space into something close to a gallery of underground artwork, and the layout invites slow, unhurried browsing. It functions as a cultural hub as much as a retail counter, regularly hosting in-store sessions and DJ sets, with anniversary parties that have welcomed selectors including Ozel AB, Chuggy and Durston himself. Conversation flows easily, and the curation is knowledgeable without ever feeling exclusive.
Why Visit
- A genuine specialist in electronic music, from house and techno to ambient and the avant-garde
- Hand-picked new and used vinyl from labels such as Astral Industries, Ilian Tape and The Trilogy Tapes
- In-store listening decks for sampling records before you buy
- Regular in-store DJ sets, events and anniversary sessions
- A welcoming spot inside Peckham’s characterful Holdrons Arcade, close to independent cafés and shops
Summary
Inverted Audio Record Store brings the focus and editorial knowledge of a long-running music platform to the shop floor, offering one of south-east London’s most considered selections of underground electronic vinyl. With its specialist stock, listening facilities and lively programme of in-store events, it rewards both committed collectors and curious newcomers. For anyone exploring Peckham’s thriving independent scene, a visit to this Holdrons Arcade fixture is time very well spent.
