Tape Hiss and Speed

Listening to the Pixies' Gigantic on my ipod recently reminded me of specially ordering Surfer Rosa from Valentine Music at Paradiz Centre in 1988. I heard John Peel playing it and I just had to get this record. It was sold to me 'under the counter' because the cover was a topless woman. Ah, the dark ages of the 1980s. Valentine charged a premium for this 'underground' music.



I taped it on to a cassette to listen to it on my walkman. And when the batteries are dying, the speed of the music slows down. It's like some blackmasking being done. But I kind of like it. Just like Butthole Surfers' Locust Abortion Technician (1987). One of the tracks required you to switch from 33 1/3 to 45 and back.



You can't do that when you listen to music on the ipod.
I miss the hiss.