The Lost Cassette Tape

Published August 23, 2012 '80s Music , Records (LPs) and Cassettes 4 Comments

I have this recurring dream that I’ve lost a blank cassette tape featuring a recording of the best album in the world. I can remember the music, a collection of transcendent post-punk masterpieces, but I can’t remember the name of the band or the names of any of the songs or any of the lyrics. Sometimes I’m rifling through the records in my high school collection, desperate to find the original album. Sometimes I’m rifling through the import section of Tower Records. I don’t even know what the album looks like, because I’ve only ever had the tape, and only listened to it once or twice before losing it, but I have the feeling that I’ll know it when I see it. And I really want to hear it again. So I keep looking.

4 Responses to “The Lost Cassette Tape”

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1 J December 5, 2013 at 4:34 pm

I don’t know if you ever found the album your looking for, but I’ve been there. I have some possible leads; From the Lions Mouth by The Sound, Script of the Bridge by The Chameleons, …undone by The Lucy Show, Kilimanjaro by The Teardrop Explodes, or maybe Echelons by For Against. Even if it’s not one of those, they are some pretty classic records anyways.

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2 2W2N December 5, 2013 at 5:38 pm

You have great taste in music. The Chameleons are my all-time favorite band (saw Chameleons Vox 2 years ago: Mark was amazing). The Church are a close second. I love all of the albums you mention.

I think the dream is about missing the epiphany of discovering music at a young age–the music that you will call “yours” forever. I still find cool music from the era that I haven’t heard before, but it’s nothing like listening to Script of the Bridge for the first time, after I special ordered it from Music Plus. Or listening to JD’s Closer for the first time at a friend’s house. Or London Calling, or Psychocandy, or Doolittle, and on and on.

All of that music changed my life, and I want to feel that feeling again. But we’re only young once, right?

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- 3 J December 5, 2013 at 6:57 pm
  
  I discovered alot of that music while buying cheap used CDs, cassettes & vinyl as a teen in the 90’s. I got Kilimanjaro on CD for 99¢ at a Strawberries music store in Connecticut. My guiding light was Jack Rabid’s The Big Takeover magazine (still publishing) and WCNI in New London, CT (listening to Punk Rock Juke Box as I type this).
  
  As for new bands that capture that lost blue 80’s heaven for me. The opening synth of Never Known Love on Thieves Like Us’ Again and Again LP is a door to another world (wonderful atmosphere on that album). Black Marble’s A Different Arrangement LP is another stunner (especially the songs A Great Design, UK and Last). The Soft Moon’s Parallels sounds like a gothic Neu! apocalypse. And Grimes’ Sagrad is like a Joe Smooth produced Liz Frasier/ spaced out Lisa Gerard/ Jarboe 12″ for a cosmic Hacienda club.
  
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  - 4 J December 6, 2013 at 8:47 pm
    
    One last comment here, I thought I’d shout about The Big Takeover again and how, if you’re not aware of it, is a must for any punk/ post-punk fan. They still sell print copies of their back issues from the last 30+ years! There’s like four different Mark Burgess/ Chameleons interviews from 1986, 1989 and 2000 that are lengthy and insightful! The first issue I bought nearly 20 years ago had Kitchens of Distinction on the cover (Johnny Marr is on the cover of the newest one)! Anyways, I highly recommend checking out their website.
    
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