When WH Smith is stocking vinyls for the first time in 30 years, you know the revival is more than just a fad. When an album exists only in digital form, it doesn’t possess much in the way of transporting power or allure. You can lie down on the sofa, stare at the cover, read the lyric sheet and go into a trance. In our age of constant digital distraction this is an appealing prospect, not just for listeners but for artists too. Streaming payouts are minuscule, CD sales are in freefall, and who doesn’t want their creative efforts captured on what might one day be a classic
