RETAIL FOCUS: CARBON.

The success of acts such as Morcheeba, Groove Armada and Kruder & Dorfmeister is a source of satisfaction to Carbon, which has been championing them since the store started life three years ago. Its original remit to fill a market gap between the music multiples and specialist indies still holds good, with owner Justin Lee attributing its popularity to an unpretentious atmosphere and pioneering range.

"We believe good music sells itself once people have had the opportunity to hear it," says owner Justin Lee. "The best kind of music comes from small indie labels that don't have the big marketing budgets and it is these labels which we are committed to supporting."

Carbon operates as a concession within clothing store Urban Outfitters in Kensington, West London, and now occupies a second site in Dublin's Temple Bar. A third outlet is planned for Glasgow's Buchanan Street at the end of this year. With a full complement of vinyl and CD, the store has established a strong reputation for being the first with breakbeat.

"All the breakbeat DJs shop here and we have a very good understanding of what's happening on the club and DJ circuit and how the market is developing," says Lee. "At the same time we feel that part of our job is to help niche genres expand and cross over into other areas."

Carbon's own label, Carbon Recordings, is playing an important role in pushing back the barriers for the music style and Lee believes that its latest release, Lee Coombes' Thrust 2, will make its mark. "It's best described as a hybrid between techno, house and electro breakbeat and it is certainly something new for ...