Sleazy Records: the Spanish record store inspiring a rockabilly renaissance
As a self-styled music obsessive and vinyl nerd, I always like to visit a record store when travelling somewhere new. This practice has led to some truly obscure, often bizarre revelations about local music scenes within various European cities, but no matter where I roam, one strange little record shop always sticks in my mind: Sleazy Records.
As soon as I walked into this unsuspecting little shop, a stone’s throw from the birthplace of Pablo Picasso in Málaga, Spain, I became acutely aware that this was not merely a retail outlet for a collection of black plastic discs. It is the cornerstone of a musical renaissance.
Speciality record stores are a haven for collectors and music obsessives, but Sleazy Records takes this idea to entirely new heights. Within the many racks of this strangely narrow store, you will not find any hints of mainstream pop or moody post-punk, but you can sample a range of endearingly retro rockabilly. The genre that paved the way for rock ‘n’ roll has long since been viewed as outdated and irrelevant by the musical mainstream, but Sleazy Records is helping to cause a resurgence in its popularity, reissuing old-school classics in addition to issuing some truly captivating new tracks on their own independent label.
During the genre’s heyday, back in the 1950s, rockabilly was largely limited to the Southern United States – its name derived from a portmanteau of ‘rock’ and ‘hillbilly’. Seemingly, its ramshackle spirit and DIY origins adhered quite well to the bluegrass and country traditions that these Southern states had been enjoying for decades. So, how did this distinctly American genre become so popular in modern-day Spain?
The European nation seemed to miss out on the first wave of the rock ‘n’ roll revolution, owing largely to the politically tumultuous period Spain was experiencing at the time. Nevertheless, that probably goes some way to explaining the rise in popularity of rockabilly all these years later, a kind of nostalgia for an era which nobody really experienced.
In addition to this strange brand of nostalgia, it also helps that rockabilly has an incredibly strong image. Characterised by gas-guzzling muscle cars, preppy dresses and slicked-back hair, the genre offers a definitive identity for people to connect with. Throughout social history, these strong senses of identity have proved to be essential aspects of any and every blossoming subculture movement.
Established in the year 2000, Sleazy Records has been an essential aspect of establishing this rockabilly subculture in Spain over the past 24 years. As well as reissuing a variety of obscure, long out-of-press tracks from the first wave of rockabilly, surf and R&B, Sleazy has also taken an interest in the local scene. Tirelessly supporting Spanish and Portuguese rockabilly revival groups like Los Mambo Jambo, A.J. & the Rockin’ Trio and Matorralman, among countless others, the unsuspecting store in Málaga has established itself as one of the most prolific and important independent labels in the entirety of mainland Europe.
Independent record stores are an essential aspect of any great music scene, providing a sort of agora for local bands and music fans alike. In addition to distributing a wealth of incredible rock ‘n’ roll material, Sleazy also hosts local gigs and contributes to the growing number of rockabilly music festivals around Spain. This vibrant Spanish music scene has remained something of a secret outside of mainland Europe, but for those who care to look, there is a whole world of incredible and pretty off-the-wall music waiting to be discovered.
So, next time you find yourself in the party town of Málaga and get sick of sinking cervezas or eating tapas, try heading outside of the tourist traps and seeking out the backstreet record stores. Modern rockabilly might be a relatively obscure genre within a wider context, but once you enter the walls of Sleazy Records, it seems to be the only style of music that really matters.
