Music & Memories

If there's one thing that takes me out of the current world and transports me back in time to relive distant locked-away memories, it's a music compilation. I stumbled across such a compilation only the other day - a folder full of MP3 files, most dated from the mid to late 90's. A lot of it is 'techno', a type of music I was oddly enough quite into. Some is electronic trance and the rest can't really be adequately described. One or two are in German and date back to my visit to Germany in 1995. The fact that they are in German is no handicap to their enjoyment. It's the tune that brings back the memories and unlocks the images of fondly remembered times. For anyone who knows me, it would be hard to imagine that I once hankered after the latest downloads of Torley Wong, Blumchen, Das Modul and Scatman John to name just a few, but I did.
A lot of the music I collected I heard for the first time on MTV's Most Wanted - a programme hosted by Ray Cokes from 1993-1995 gaining cult status among its loyal fans throughout Europe on what was then the first pan-European satellite network. I was pleased to see that Ray Cokes is still broadcasting at 55 and can be found on a small radio station in Belgium.
Each track carries with it its own set of memories, whether sat at my desk in the IT department of Churchill Insurance trying to look busy whilst secretly downloading masses of MP3 files over their super-fast Internet connection, driving my Volvo 760 Estate with newly installed CD auto-changer or hurtling down an autobahn in Germany or touring Berlin in my pen-pal's Volkswagon Golf MKI. These are cherished memories of good times and each MP3 tells its own story with it's own unique set of feelings, images and events from a time gone by.
I imagine there are many who can relate to this and have records, tapes, CD's and MP3's that when played unlock fond memories or perhaps still have the power to produce feelings deep inside - the butterflies, the tingling sensation and the heart-skipping elation. Of course this is all very personal and entirely unique to the person concerned and their own mental libraries of memories and images, images that the camera missed.
Maybe one day we'll be able to retrieve these memories... or perhaps they should stay where they are and remain forever personal.

Wonderful vinyl

It's true that MP3's have made music more accessible and portable. I use this format all the time. Most of my music is now in MP3 format and I have a vast collection of radio drama and audio books. I use these to help me sleep and I use a WIFI MP3 player to access my collection from the comfort of my bed each night. Today, I rediscovered something - vinyl. I found my record deck, buried under some books and other assorted junk. I dusted it and put on a record. It was one of the many Top of the Pops records I have - released on the Pickwick label and very popular during the 70's and early 80's. They 'recreated' the hits of the day - actually quite well. As the first track began to play, I was reminded of how warm and soft the tones are from vinyl. I'll never be able to recreate the sound of my Nan's radiogram, but this was close. Although most of my records are in pretty good condition, there was still the occasional noice made by the odd dust particle - but this was right, it sounded more perfect, if you see what I mean. The pop and crackle are all part of the experience. Vinyl isn't perfect. I don't think it ever professed to be perfect. But it does sound right. In comparison, my MP3's sound harsh and too sharp. They are convenient and that's all.
I love hunting for these vinyl discs of audible pleasure. High street charity shops are ideal places to find them, often tucked away in the corner or under shelves in an old cardboard box. Amongst the Max Bygraves and sing-along Christmas albums, there will occasionally be lurking the odd gem - a Disney original or soundtrack to some blockbuster film. From time to time, it's also possible to stumble across a Betjeman or Tony Hancock radio show. These are moments of excitement - the thrill of the hunt - knowing you've found something quite exceptional. I love these moments. And for this pleasure, you are seldom asked for more than 25 or 50p. I would happily pay more and often do if I find something exceptional. Some vinyl is worth it.
To me, vinyl is very much alive. It never actually went away. It was simply languishing in pokey little shops and attics waiting to be found once more. Only this time, it is loved and cherished like never before... certainly by me.