the return of the cassette tape.

It's like a ground swell. And it's getting bigger and bigger. Worldwide. The vinyl is no more the only old format that's gaining popularity among the younger generations. Now, it's the turn of the cassette tape, also/known/as the compact cassette. 

It started with die-hard fans of the tape. Then a Facebook group appeared. Then small labels and bands declared their love for the cassette. Today, beatmakers, among other music lovers, are praising their love for it. 

Those who grew up with these little plastic cases already know why the cassette is back on the market : more than the nostalgic and melancholic factor (but, let's be frank, it plays a big role), the tape is (was ?) cheap, convenient, quite small and solid, it allows easy copying (though analogic, that means not exact) and various lenghts according to your need. Remember the time when you were making mixtapes after mixtapes, compiling your favorite tracks for yourself, for your friends, or for your girlfriends. Well, this time could be on-going and not over. 

To the music industry, it was like a pocket book to the book industry, back when the most popular formats of music were the vinyl and the cassette tape (the 8-track tape and other cartridge-based formats never reached a high level of success worldwide). These two formats were sided, which doesn't seem convenient for some people but which favours thorough listeners.  

It's needless to say I'm very happy with this come-back, even though it forces me to search for a new player, or to simply go into the attic and undust a old one. Or I could just buy these new devices such as the Ion tape converter. Anyway, fortunately, I kept all my old tapes and inherited my parents', which comprise treasures of world music. 

But of course, one must be aware that the cassette tape is not a "perfect" format, in term of sound quality, the main drawback (some say it's a quality) being its classic hiss. It doesn't stand all the tribulations, as it can be affected by moisture, humidity, water, fire (of course), or simply time. 

But it provides a different feeling, reminding what analog was, when pushing the "play" button really meant something.

Edit : make your own cassette tapes stickers ! Kinda dope, there's a .pdf file to download. And a nice initiative, street art-oriented, the Mixtape sticker.