The Rise of Listening Bars: Brilliant Corners | Resident Advisor x Asahi Super Dry

Story Time
Published on Oct 4, 2019
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In the past few years, listening bars have cropped up in cities across Europe. Taking inspiration from Japan's culture of audiophile venues, these spots put a unique twist on a long-standing tradition, creating an environment for discovering music that appeals to hi-fi obsessives and casual listeners alike.

Step inside Brilliant Corners and you may at first believe yourself to be in a bar and sushi restaurant. But look closely—at the wooden Klipsch speakers, the one-of-a-kind DJ mixer and the glowing McIntosh amps—and you'll realize this East London spot is dedicated to a presenting music as pristinely as possible. In fact, it's one of the city's best listening bars.

Produced by Resident Advisor in partnership with Asahi Super Dry Beer.

Visit the series home on RA: ra.co/listeningbars

[Series] Japan's hidden listening bars
We are exploring Japan's rich culture of listening bars and audiophile venues. It's a culture rooted in the joy of discovering music, and listening to that music in the best possible environment—that means precision-made speakers, amps, turntables and mixers. Tucked away in basements, back-alleys and high-rise buildings, these bars come in different shapes and sizes, but they are united by their pursuit of quality, with owners endlessly fine-tuning their audio setups to create an enriching experience for anyone who visits. These are wonderful settings for people to share their love of music, serving as a "third place"—somewhere to unwind in between their time at work and home. Though they're the result of long-standing traditions, listening bars offer a glimpse into progressive Japan, one of the world's most vibrant places for music discovery.

Music in order of appearance /
The Balek Band - Tometsi [Beauty & The Beat] 2019
Me And The Gang - Asozan - Unreleased
Jack Jacobs - I Believe It’s Alright [Melodies International] 2019

Production credits /
Director & Editor - Patrick Nation
Additional Camera - Silvia Gin
Colourist - Adam Clarke
Executive Producers - Kate Mullins, Laura Akam, Aaron Coultate