In relation to analog items, David Hurley’s enthusiasm borders on mania.

Not solely does the New York transplant (from Cork, Eire) function deputy chief government of the Watches of Switzerland Group, the most important retailer of mechanical timepieces in the USA and Britain, he is also a vinyl devotee with greater than 10,000 information in his assortment.

“I’ve CDs on high of it and I’m nonetheless gathering cassettes,” Mr. Hurley mentioned on a video name final month from his residence in Nyack, N.Y. “It’s a problem. Anytime I converse to my mum, it’s like, ‘Extra? Why do you want it?’”

However as any mechanical watch collector is aware of, want is inappropriate. “Whenever you placed on a document, it evokes so many reminiscences,” Mr. Hurley mentioned. “I like having the bodily artifact.”

Regardless of the big variety of albums — about 20 p.c of that are stored in bookcases at residence, with the remaining in storage — Mr. Hurley mentioned he didn’t alphabetize them. So he typically finally ends up shopping for two or three copies of the identical document.

“Typically I can’t discover them, however I’ve sure areas,” he mentioned. “Norwegian home music — I’ve bought a bit for that.”

Mr. Hurley talked in regards to the highlights of his eclectic assortment, the place he retailers for information and what his ardour has taught him in regards to the collector mentality. (By the best way, he was sporting a black Kind 5 watch by the unbiased Belgian model Ressence throughout the interview.) The next dialog has been edited for size and readability.

When did you begin gathering information, and why?

I had a gaggle of associates that I hung round with in Cork round 1988, ’89, earlier than going to varsity. All we have been concerned with was music, films, books, going to see bands, being in bands, clubbing. Bands like New Order and the Treatment — we grew to become fanatical. And from there, you begin listening to about their influences. As with timepieces, you begin happening a rabbit gap and I’m nonetheless in that rabbit gap.

Is your assortment centered on any style?

A variety of it ended up being something that was related to sure artists. There was a man who died not too long ago referred to as Andrew Weatherall. He produced an album for Primal Scream when the entire dance factor exploded within the U.Ok., within the ’90s. It was groundbreaking. He was the visionary behind that album and I’ve adopted him ever since.

I noticed him perhaps six or seven months earlier than he died. I used to be the one particular person within the membership. For about half-hour, it was simply him enjoying music and me there, texting my associates, saying, “You’d higher get right here, that is actually embarrassing.” And I by no means went up and informed him simply how a lot he’d meant to me.

However usually, my assortment goes throughout each style of music, from rap to reggae throughout numerous genres of African music, German rock, horror soundtracks.

Horror soundtracks — actually?

Something and every part. There was an album I purchased a pair years in the past and I solely listened to not too long ago. It’s referred to as the “Sleeping Tapes.” It was made along side Squarespace, the website-building web site.

Have you ever seen the film “The Massive Lebowksi”? Think about an album speaking about sleep the entire time and it’s Jeff Bridges talking, with music within the background. Actually, I used to be simply laughing a lot and it’s actually stunning on the similar time. That was in all probability the most recent discover I used to be actually proud of. However typically, it does get fairly nerdy. There are particular document labels the place I simply accumulate each album they produce.

What’s an instance of a document label you want?

Soul Jazz Information. They’ve bought a document retailer in Soho in London referred to as Sounds of the Universe, which might be among the best document shops on the planet, if not the most effective. They launch an enormous quantity of their very own compilations, a number of reggae and dub music, from a particular document label from Jamaica. Something they launch I accumulate.

Is there any style you don’t like?

Perhaps among the actual hair steel stuff from again within the day I wouldn’t like. However then you definately simply by no means know. Watches of Switzerland has been concerned with the Prince’s Belief, Prince Charles’s charity, and Lionel Richie was enjoying at a profit. He in all probability wouldn’t be the particular person I’d go see, however really, it was a blast.

It’s similar to the watch world. Folks might be very judgmental: “That is good, that is garbage.” It’s a part of the fervour. However now and again you get a shock.

How do you discover information?

There’s a web-based useful resource referred to as Discogs. And you’ll go on there and click on on a specific artist — say, Prince. You possibly can see all of the information he’s ever launched. Then you may click on on different issues, like what he’s produced. As an archive, it’s unimaginable. From there you may go on completely different tangents.

What are the best lengths you’ve gone to to get a document?

I’ll actually journey to get information. Or I’ll know that after I’m in Amsterdam, I’ll go to Rush Hour Information, or after I’m in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the place our U.S. headquarters is situated, there’s an ideal document retailer referred to as Radio-Energetic Information. Even in Nyack, there’s a retailer referred to as Major Road Beat. I’ll attempt to make it to at least one or two after I’m touring.

And each every so often, you’ll must pay a ridiculous sum of money for a document — perhaps $1,000 or $1,500. For instance, this document by Moodymann, from Detroit. He pressed up a document however by no means launched it. Most likely made 40 or 50 that he gave to associates and I managed to get a replica of it. I paid via the nostril for it, however that’s OK.

You sound like a watch lover justifying an enormous buy.

I actually don’t have as many timepieces as information, however I perceive the fervour individuals have for this stuff. You need to get pleasure out of what you will have. I’m not shopping for these things for funding, given the obscurity of a few of my information. And I attempt to hearken to as a lot as I can. On weekends, if I’m on my own, I’m typically simply flipping information.