Moving
This week I've taken it upon myself to try and move us next door. Despite the proximity of our new flat, this has still been a lot of work. Admittedly there has been a fair bit of DIY, but there's also the sifting through the detritus; trying to discard those objects that apparently provide shape and stability to my township.
It's taken time and did I really need to spend a full 20 minutes staring mournfully at a broken Spiderman figurine, debating it's usefulness, it's material and sentimental value? No, but I still did it and that was one of the easier decisions. Actually it got better and I have reduced my worldly possessions back down to a couple of boxes...sort of.
I spent an hour lecturing Gem on the merits of living without encumbrances. By the end of my lecture I felt light and free of excess baggage until she pointed at the eight or nine large boxes of mildew-coated, vinyl joy, clogging the living room. I don't know if I consider records as possessions. They may be a living organism, like coral. Sometimes I get the feeling that hundreds of black eyes are looking at me from under damp cardboard lids; that they wince when I disrobe them too quickly, or clean them too roughly.
However the cull must happen, sentient vinyl that it may be; there will be much blood (paper cuts) sweat (f’ing heavy boxes) and tears (I’ve known them for a long time), but at the end of the day I will emerge unencumbered and resolute… or maybe I'll just hide them somewhere else.
posted by Mark W at 9:23 am
2 Comments:
In a techo age of mass digital data storage where it is now possible to store a good 100 albums in a few square inches of space, it is understandable to think of vinyl as a materialistic anchor. However, it is a different listening experience, more organic, far more interactive and commands more of your attention making the listening experience more rewarding.
The way we listen to music has changed, its almost as if we don't have the time to listen to it properly, we are so busy doing "things" that music can just be streamed into our brains as a way of blocking out who is sitting opposite on the tube. It's a disposable way of interacting with music. Download the latest tune, listen to it constantly for a week then delete and download something else when sufficiently bored with the last.
Ok, it has its advantages and opens you up to a massive world of media stimulation that is both convenient to store and easily accessible. But if someone broke into your home they are far more likely to nick your conventent data storage console than a box of vinyl weighing many kilo's! z
I'm ashamed to say that I only read this after the record 'cull'. I only managed to part company with about 20 records (jackson 5s, Jr Walker - soul stuff). I just couldn't do it and now that I am armed with this insightful comment from Z, I shall stick to my vinyl knowing it to be safe from theft and better for my health. I always knew I was right! Thanks Z!
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