Didn’t Mix tapes rule?

I’m not trying to re-write history - as a technology tapes is clearly awful - as an experience however, and as an icon, the cassette has a cachet that beats a CD all to hell.

The 80’s had it’s own distinctive style, but in amongst the angst and the excess, the shades and the shoulder pads, audio tape stands out as a significant part of that whole look and feel. Forgive the hype, but cassettes are a landmark moment in personal and musical liberation. The first pirate threat (remember “Home Taping Is Killing Music“?) and the chosen method of propagating Punk behind the Iron curtain, this simple hunk o plastic is the granddaddy of mp-freeness.

While today’s mix generation is super slick and happily convenient, some of the personality has gone out of it. You couldn’t make a mix tape without getting your fingers dirty, if only by holding down play & record, and it was an organic experience. Anyone who made one will remember slanted stickers, smudged writing and chunks of analogue ghosting. Each tape was unique and a work of planning, precision and no little pride. Which is something that the peeps at SUCK UK clearly remember. This super hot, retro/now crossover combines throwback style and modern technology so well that it might just revive the mix tape as a significant romantic gesture. Just no Freebird, OK?

USB Mix Tape by SUCK UK

I destroyed my tape collection somewhere around ‘97, unwisely gambling that mini disc would be a long term alternative. When I think of all those pirate radio mash-ups…… But for those of you who were not so rash, Ion have knocked up the deliciously retro styled Tape 2 PC. Not only does it convert your tapes to mp3 via USB, but it works as a traditional double deck as well, so if you want to stay defiantly old school - you can. Nice to have the option though, before it’s all too late.

{The header image created at says-it.com. Hit the jump to create your own….}