Cassette Cultures

The Ultimate Guide to the "Tapenaissance"

From videos by Frank Ocean to the "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie, tapes have become increasingly prominent in cinema, advertising, and, of course, the music industry. And as tape sales in the US grew by 74 percent last year, there is no doubt that it is time to address past, present and future of the Compact Cassette as icon of popular culture.

New generations of individuals, record labels and DIY communities are rediscovering its unique characteristics, adapting them to a contemporary context. In the age of soulless MP3s and similar digital formats there is a real appreciation for the physical qualities of an item that can be collected, exchanged and individually designed. This volume covers themes such as recording and design, distro as distribution source, interviews, and provides a step-by-step manual to conducting own tape experiments.