El Michels Affair - Sounding Out The City
El Michels Affair - Sounding Out The City
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In mid-2000s Brooklyn when retro soul was just beginning to flex its nostalgic muscles, a teenage Leon Michels, barely out of high school and already a veteran of the raw funk outfit The Mighty Imperials, holed up in a windowless 10×10 bedroom with a Tascam 388 to craft Sounding Out The City, the debut LP from El Michels Affair, now gloriously remastered for Big Crown Records.
This time capsule of cinematic soul drips with the warm grit of 60s rocksteady, afrobeat’s polyrhythmic pulse, and the reverb-soaked twang of garage rock. Picture a sun-dappled joyride through a sepia-toned cityscape, where tenor sax wails tangle with Homer Steinweiss’s snappy drums and Nick Movshon’s basslines slink like a street cat. Tracks like “Detroit Twice” swagger with a Meters-esque groove, while “Musings to Myself” unfurls a mournful, almost spiritual meditation, its organ hum glowing like embers.
Recorded over two years with Dap Kings alumni and Michael Leonhart’s trumpet flourishes, this LP’s lo-fi charm feels like a love letter to vinyl’s golden era. It laid the groundwork for Michels’ genre-bending legacy, catching Raekwon’s ear and sparking a Wu-Tang tour that flipped the script on soul’s revival. Michels has since gone on to produce and co-produce numerous records for powerhouse soul artists like Lee Fields. He shares songwriting credits with Adele, Jay-Z, Ghostface Killah, Aloe Blacc, and has played on records by Ray LaMontagne, Lana Del Rey, The Black Keys and Dr. John.
If you're into soul music, Sounding Out The City is a must-own, not just for its buttery grooves but for capturing a moment when a kid with a tape machine dreamed up a sound that still reverberates through the soul underground.
Note: All orders ship from France. VAT not charged (TVA non applicable, article 293 B du CGI). Worldwide shipping available. Images shown are mock-ups — actual vinyl may differ slightly.
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Shipping FAQ
Heads-up for our U.S. customers:
The new U.S. executive order effective August 29, 2025 ends the de minimis duty-free exemption (under $800) for most goods. But—good news—this does not apply to music and informational media like vinyl, CDs, tapes, cassettes, posters, and more, which remain exempt thanks to longstanding U.S. law (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3)).
So when you order from us, your favorite records and media stay tariff-safe, just as they always have.
For shipping rates and more details, scroll on down.
We ship all records with care using sturdy, reinforced cardboard mailers. Each order includes tracking, and delivery costs are based on your location and the number of records in your cart.
Shipping Rates & Delivery Options
Our shipping costs are calculated based on the weight of the package, which varies depending on the number of vinyl in your order. The number of vinyl listed in each shipping category below (e.g., 1-2 vinyl, 3-5 vinyl) is approximate, as the weight of each record can vary slightly. Rest assured, we strive to ensure that shipping costs are as accurate as possible based on your order's total weight.
You’ll receive tracking details as soon as your order ships. All delivery estimates are based on average transit times and may vary due to customs, holidays, staff vacation, or weather.
France
| Service | 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6+ vinyl |
| Pickup Point | €4.00 | €4.90 | Free* |
| Economy Home Delivery | €7.90 | €9.50 | Free* |
| Standard Home Delivery | €10.07 | €12.18 | €13.67 |
*Free shipping applies on orders over €150 (approximately 6+ vinyl)
Europe - Zone 1
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Spain
| Service | 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6+ vinyl |
| Pickup Point | €9.75 | €11.05 | Free* |
| Tracked Home Delivery | €11.00 | €12.40 | Free* |
*Free shipping applies on orders over €150 (approximately 6+ vinyl)
Europe - Zone 2
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 vinyl | 11+ vinyl |
| €11.00 | €13.20 | €15.40 | €17.05 | Free* |
*Free shipping applies on orders over €275 (approximately 11+ vinyl)
United Kingdom
| Service | 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6+ vinyl |
| Pickup Point | €13.00 | €13.00 | €17.00 |
| Tracked Home Delivery | €18.00 | €18.00 | €21.00 |
Extended Europe Area
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 vinyl | 11+ |
| €27.70 | €32.50 | €34.80 | €37.25 | €53.50 |
United States
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 vinyl | 11+ |
| €32.00 | €42.00 | €52.00 | €56.00 | €66.00 |
International
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 LPs | 11+ LPs |
| €29.90 | €44.00 | €55.00 | €66.80 |
Contact us for shipping rate
|
Extended International
Africa, Central America, South America (except Brazil), China, India, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, Vietnam, and the rest of Asia
| 1-2 vinyl | 3-5 vinyl | 6-8 vinyl | 9-10 LPs | 11+ LPs |
| €47.20 | €51.90 | €62.30 | €70.70 |
Contact us for shipping rate
|
Estimated Delivery Times
- France: 2–4 business days
- Europe/UK: 3–9 business days
- Rest of world: 5–15 business days depending on location
You’ll receive tracking details as soon as your order ships. All delivery estimates are based on average transit times and may vary due to customs, holidays, staff vacation, or weather.
Customs & Import Duties
For non-EU destinations, customs charges or import taxes may apply depending on your country’s regulations. These fees are the buyer’s responsibility and are not included in shipping costs.
If you have questions about shipping to your country or need a larger order quoted manually, feel free to contact us. We're happy to help.
Condition/Grading FAQ
We follow the Goldmine standard (S / M / NM / VG+ / VG / etc.) and grade both the vinyl and the sleeve separately when necessary. We visually inspect every record and play-grade whenever there’s doubt.
What do the grades mean?
- S (Sealed): The record is sealed and has never been played.
- M (Mint): The record is like new, with no visible light scratches or cracks. Sleeve is in pristine condition, like new.
- NM (Near Mint): Vinyl looks and plays almost like new. Cover is free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.
- VG+ (Very Good Plus: Vinyl has a few light marks, maybe some light background noise. Cover shows only very minor seam wear or a split.
- VG (Very Good); Vinyl has noticeable wear, but still plays through without skips. Cover shows signs of human handling (ring wear, creases, seam splitting, writing or markings from a price tag).
If necessary, more detailed condition notes are included on each product page.