Revival technology: A welcome reminder... Or time to grow up?

Whilst looking through one of my drawers the other day – one of those drawers we all have that’s filled with junk we probably don’t need – I came across an item that took me by surprise. It was a small rectangular device about the size of a cigarette lighter, wrapped in wires. I let out a small chuckle as I realised what it was – my first ever mp3 player.

Words: William Ashworth / @WillAshworth34

“What’s happened here?” I thought to myself. “Is this progress?”

Glancing back at my old mp3 player, I felt a bit sorry for laughing at its outdatedness. You see, it’s a device in limbo. It’s caught in a technological purgatory, neither advanced enough to compete with modern gadgetry, nor old enough to gain the retro-cool that my vinyl record has acquired.

It’s fair to say in the last couple of years revival technology, led by vinyl, has experienced an incredible boom. 4.1 million vinyl albums were sold in the UK last year – a 25-year high. This growth shows no sign of slowing, with the format poised to overtake digital music sales in the near future, with the popularity of music streaming also having an effect.

I must admit, I can understand the appeal of a vinyl record. They have a unique, warm sound and they’re just nice objects to own. The latter is probably the main reason for their resurgence as well as this wider technological snap back. Human beings like to own physical things – tangible objects that they can touch. A computer file containing your most loved songs somehow just doesn’t cut it.

But is there a limit? Last year also saw an unexpected rise of another music format that was assumed dead – the cassette tape. Sales in 2017 almost hit the 20,000 mark, up 112% from the previous year. This I’m afraid, is where I may have to press eject.

Who’s buying these? And why? Do people still own tape players? I’ve seen one for sale in Urban Outfitters, no doubt for a ridiculous price, so surely it’s more bother than it’s worth? Well, they’re certainly selling. You might think that cassette album releases are the preserve of the übercool indie/hipster bands, desperate to cultivate an unconventional and contrarian image.

Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life is out on cassette

A MODERN TAKE FOR THE TAPE...

The Elbow concept cassette player brings the Walkman into the 21st Century. Listen to any cassette simply by clipping onto the outside! It’s already won two design awards, but sadly won’t be coming to market... maybe its for the best.

You’d be wrong. Last year, releases on this old format were made by some of the most mainstream acts around, including Jay-Z, Kasabian, The Script, Arcade Fire and Lana Del Rey. Even Kylie Minogue is set to get in on the act and lead the charge up the cassette charts when her album drops this year.

Although I have sympathy for desiring a physical copy when buying music, I just don’t see the advantage that a cassette has over vinyl, or even CD for that matter. The sound is inferior, tape decks are few and far between, and you’ll find it pretty hard to appreciate any album artwork on the meagre surface area the front of a case provides. It may just to be down to simple hipster posturing. A sense that vinyl may have strayed too far into the mainstream and that cassettes represent new, old ground up for grabs to the cool kids.

Another answer for their re-entry into the marketplace will be good old nostalgia. Despite their shortcomings, cassettes will certainly have a special place in the hearts of many “of-acertain-age” consumers keen to relive a small part of their youth.

Indeed, there is a whole narrative of clichés associated with them: using a pencil to wind up the ribbon, recording the charts from a radio using stop and record to edit out the talking, compiling a mix of songs for your crush with a Biro-written synopsis on the label – all this is wrapped up in their mythology.

SALES IN 2017 ALMOST HIT THE 20,000 MARK, UP 112% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

Originally launched in 1985, the NES was re-released last year in a miniturised version.

But music technology isn’t the only thing having a nostalgic renaissance. The trend has branched out in all manner of ways. The video games market for example has seen a big shift towards retro gaming. Last year Nintendo released shrunken down versions of their eighties and nineties consoles, the NES and the SNES with great success. So much so, later this year there are also plans to re-release the N64.

2017 was the year that the fabled Nokia 3310 was rereleased in order to satisfy those who wish to eschew the all-singing, all-dancing phones of re-released in May today in favour of longer battery 2017 and only costs life, simpler functionality and increased durability.

However, I do have a degree of sympathy for people who yearn for this simpler recent past. The trance-like state people have let their smartphones impose on them is an obvious and growing problem – one that needs a solution. But should that solution involve taking backward steps?

I think it’s maybe time to grow up a bit and admit to ourselves a few home truths. Polaroid photos are quaint but your iPhone takes better ones, playing an 8-bit version of Mario may be fun for a while but will soon wear thin, and for all the charm a vinyl (and cassette?) album has, for everyday life, sourcing music digitally is just the easier and more practical option. So what’s the answer?

“You may find that your average millennial would baulk at purchasing the latest Alt-J cassette if you told him or her that the ribbon would likely be choking a turtle in a couple of years’ time.”

LONG LIVE POLAROID:

The classic SX70, famously used by Andy Warhol is the original instant camera. £379.99, polaroid.com

I think we should bear in mind that the digital age is still really only in its infancy. Remember when you would switch channel on the TV and it would instantaneously change? That half a second delay of modern digital systems can be frustrating, but it will improve eventually.

With regards to revival technology, my philosophy is to try and stick to vintage. Particularly with music, it seems more authentic to me to own a vinyl record with provenance rather than a reissued version of a modern album that was never recorded for the format. And then there’s the environmental issue to consider. It’s a total incongruity that the obsession for these technologies, most of which are made from plastic, should come at a time when we’re all being told we must cut down on our consumption of the material. You may find that your average millennial would baulk at purchasing the latest Alt-J cassette if you told him or her that the ribbon would likely be choking a turtle in a couple of years’ time.

And as for my old mp3 player? I think I’m going to hold on to it for now. I can see at some point down the line a hipster of the future will be willing to pay me a pretty penny for it on eBay…