Vinyl for Synth Lovers: The Best of Record Store Day 2026
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Love it or hate it, the annual celebration of Record Store Day can often deliver some gems for lovers of electronic music. What has 2026 got in store for us?
Vinyl for Synth Lovers: The Best of Record Store Day 2026
Record Store Day – A Bit of History
What started 18 years ago, with the first ever official Record Store Day, designed to support and promote a then languishing industry of bricks and mortar record shops, has grown to become a major global event that takes place every year.
It has its fans and its detractors too, with many people seeing it as a cynical event now dominated by the major record labels, releasing spurious content to simply squeeze every last drop out of their customer base. Even independent record stores, the very businesses for whom the event was created to support, are becoming disenchanted with the day.
What few vinyl presses are left are booked up months in advance by the majors, locking out the indie labels and artists that Record Store Day always championed in the past. It has become so bad that some stores, labels and artists now refuse to get involved with the event.
As a long-time vinyl collector and someone who truly prefers the vinyl format from almost every perspective, I can see and appreciate all points of view, but you can bet your sweet ass I will be camped outside my local record store from Friday evening until opening time on Saturday.
Learning to Play the Record Store Day Game
I have become more selective with my choices and more savvy to the ploys that certain labels use to grab your attention and hard-earned wages. The original concept of Record Store Day was to sell exclusive releases that could only be bought from independent record stores for one day only, thus driving concentrated footfall to these small but important businesses.
These days, many of the releases listed aren’t so exclusive, and will sometimes be reissued later in the year, maybe just not on coloured vinyl or some such. SO a certain degree of caution should be exercised in order to save a few pennies and/or a chilly night on the steps of a record store.
That said, every February, I sit down with the list and go through it numerous times to identify the releases I really want, and I always find that the bulk of these are predominantly by electronic artists from the 1980s. Quelle surprise!
So this year, I thought I’d share some synthy highlights that can be found on the Record Store Day U.K. list for 2026. Bear in mind that the list for your particular territory may well be slightly different. Many releases are global, but some are only available in specific regions. As the kids say, your mileage may vary.
My Electronic Picks from Record Store Day U.K. 2026
In Alphabetical Order:
Art of Noise – The Seduction of Claude Debussy
The last album from Art of Noise was originally released in 1999, blends drum and bass with Debussy-like orchestrations and the vocal stylings of John Hurt, amongst others. One of their finest releases and on vinyl for the first time, with bonus tracks.
Brian Eno with Jon Hopkins & Leo Abrahams – Small Craft On A Milk Sea
On his most successful release since ‘Apollo’, Eno collaborates with Jon Hopkins and Leo Abrahams to deliver a beautiful collection of instrumental tracks.
Coldcut – Smoke Mirrors
20th anniversary reissue on marbled vinyl, this album sees the innovative and inspirational duo demonstrating their continued prowess for concocting breakbeats with a vast array of collaborators.
Confidence Man – Active Scenes Vol. One
The Aussie duo release their 2025 digital E.P. on vinyl for the first time.
David Bowie – Hallo Spaceboy 12″
One of a pair of Record Store Day releases from the Bowie estate celebrating the ‘1. Outside’ album, it features the well-known Pet Shop Boys remixes along with a previously unreleased Tim Simenon remix.
Dead or Alive – The “Youthquake” Tour
This live album was previously available on CD only, so now we have a lovely purple vinyl edition. The band, riding high on the success of their PWL-produced ‘Youthquake’ album and its classic lead single, You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), went on tour in 1985, and this LP features their sold-out gig at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon.
Electronic – 1996 Remixes 1999
Featuring remixes from their less well-known second and third long players, Raise The Pressure and Twisted Tenderness. The remixes include some by ‘Fluffy Dice’, aka Bernard Sumner
Faithless – To All New Arrivals
Double LP reissue on transparent yellow vinyl to celebrate the album’s 20th anniversary.
Hot Chip – Selected Remixes 06-10
Still one of the U.K.’s most innovative, original and exciting electronic music acts, who are simply stunning live, Hot Chip release a 12″ E.P. featuring a selection of remixes by the likes of Soulwax, Carl Craig and DFA.
The Human League – Being Boiled 12″
Quite possibly ‘ground zero’ for many of us, this 12″ features the League’s classic debut, along with some supposedly rare bonus tracks taken from John Peel sessions in 1978. Fingers crossed it contains the original version, recorded in a Sheffield warehouse for the princely sum of £2.50!
The Orb – Bicycles & Tricycles
Has it really been 22 years since this double LP from ambient house pioneers, The Orb? This limited edition reissue is pressed on red and black smoked vinyl and features a bonus track that was only released on the Japanese version.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Archive Vol.1 (1981-1990)
This collection was originally part of OMD’s ‘Souvenir’ box set six years ago. Released as a double album, it contains a lot of rare and previously unheard goodies from one of the forerunners of synth pop in the 80s and 90s.
Soft Cell – Danceteria (Remixes)
The title track of their forthcoming album, the last that Dave Ball worked on, this 12″ features three remixes, one of which is by Mark Moore.
Sugarhill Gang/Grandmaster Flash – Rapper’s Delight DUB/The Message DUB
Two classic rap tracks united on 12″ coloured vinyl and featuring dub versions. Expect deep grooviness!
Tangerine Dream – Night Trains & Cityscapes
An interesting 12″ E.P. featuring tracks from the bands work on Grand Theft Auto V plus a new version of ‘Love on a Real Train’, which originally appeared in the movie ‘Risky Business’.
Ultravox – The Re-Mixes
Released to support the reissue of their greatest hits collection, this double LP gathers together a selection of new remixes of classic Ultravox tracks by the likes of Steven Wilson, Blank & Jones and Midge Ure himself.
How About You?
Well, that’s my pick of the best electronic releases for Record Store Day U.K. 2026. Did I miss any? What releases are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below! And if you’re going to attend the event this year, have a great time and I hope you get what you’re looking for!
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