Cassette Cultures. Past and Present of a Musical Icon
Text(s) by Joihn Z. Komurki
21.6 x 16.5 cm
Language: English
Softcover
Publisher: Benteli
2019
The Ultimate Guide to the “Tapenaissance”
All over the world, new generations are rediscovering tape’s unique power and potential – Kylie Minogue’s latest album and Guardians of the Galaxy are just the tip of the iceberg. Covering the past, present and future of the compact cassette as an icon of popular culture, this book is about more than hipster nostalgia or analogue fetishism – it is a celebration of how the cassette holds a special place in the contemporary media sphere, an antidote to soulless digital formats.
It covers topics ranging from the cassette’s invention, its components and design, to recording, bootlegging, and revolutionary devices such as the boombox and the Walkman. Additionally, interviews with international tape labels and pioneers explore the resurgence of the cassette tape as a means of sonic experimentation and social experience away from the mainstream.