Music
Long Live Vinyl:
The Resurgence of Records Why has vinyl remained at the centre of music while the desire for tapes and CDs has withered away? Because they are substantial yet incredibly delicate.
There’s just something about vinyl that’s so sleek and sexy.
It’s a classy way to play music. I imagine myself as a brown leather jacket and sunglasses-wearing, slightly detached feminist from the ‘70s when I whip out the turntable. When Lana Del Rey sang: “And my jazz collection’s rare, I can play most anything, I’m a Brooklyn baby, I’m a Brooklyn baby” I felt that. When I’m playing a record from my substantial Miles Davis collection, I feel like I am one with Jazz. I think to myself (from my humble abode in the lush meadows of Kildare): “I really am a Brooklyn baby”. I am the jazz and the jazz is me. Playing the ‘Smooth Jazz’ playlist on Spotify isn’t cool enough anymore. Back to basics is in, people want to get back to their roots, and since many are not comfortable abandoning the luxuries they have become accustomed to, buying and playing vinyl is a simple and relatively affordable way to produce a similar feeling to “finding yourself ” in Bali. It takes one back to the dark ages when all was unknown and distant. People crave freedom from being constantly aware of everything happening in the online world, and playing vinyl is the absolute minimum effort with a relatively good return. Why has vinyl remained at the centre of music while the desire for tapes and CDs has withered away? Because they are substantial yet incredibly delicate. They must be cared for and thus you must cherish them. CDs and tapes are much more durable but why spend upwards of €30 on a piece of plastic that arguably gives you the same reward as listening to it for free online? There is something sacred about putting on a record. It is an experience in and of itself. The care and delicacy that must be practiced whilst placing a record down to play is a soothing and meditative practice. The processes of selecting a record from your collection. Slipping it out of its sleeve, glossy and mouth-wateringly beautiful. Delicately holding it and placing it gently on the record player. Switching the player on and watching, mesmerised, as the record begins slowly spinning. Then, concentrating intently, releasing the needle and watching as it lowers itself gently onto the record with a soft thump and it begins. Eyes closed, mind clear, rotating slowly to the beautiful music ebbing and flowing through the room.
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