As a lot as these infinite ‘Greatest Records of All Time’ listicles attempt to subvert the longstanding consensus on the rating of sure artists’ albums, when pushed, we’re fairly conservative with our preferences.
Sgt Pepper? – higher than Revolver. In Rainbows? – not a patch on OK Computer in our e-book. Wish You Were Here? Nah, for us, it’s The Dark Side of the Moon all the way in which.
We had been giddy with nerdy glee then, when at this yr’s Great Escape competition, we got a particular sneak peek at Pink Floyd’s new Dark Side of the Moon-branded cassette player/album bundle, the most recent main artist co-brand from French cassette revivalist We Are Rewind, an organization that we spoke to at size final yr.
On the heels of its restricted version Elvis, Duran Duran and Chromeo co-branded editions of its distinctive WE-001 cassette participant, this new totally Pink Floyd-endorsed launch sees an unique cassette model of the band’s 2023 fiftieth anniversary mixture of their 1973 basic come to the format for the primary time.
But, for the discharge, the document has been specifically remastered to sound pretty much as good as it could actually on top quality cassette, and it is unique to this restricted version box-set.
Back within the day, after all, in that unusual wilderness interval when the heyday of the vinyl document was waning, and previous to the CD taking maintain, The Dark Side of the Moon was one of the crucial widespread cassette albums of all time.
“To call The Dark Side of the Moon a classic album is an understatement,” says We Are Rewind’s CEO and Founder Romain Boudruche. “In some ways, it set the tone for what an album expertise needs to be as a steady piece of sonic artwork but additionally used state-of-the-art manufacturing strategies and sounds which make it a real musical expertise. We’re pleased that We Are Rewind can play an element in serving to protect the bodily album expertise”
The sturdy aluminium-built, Dark Side-artwork emblazoned special edition cassette player is a gorgeous Floyd-fan-artefact.
The underlying player itself is the WE-001 which sports true hi-fi sound and a tailor-made headphone amplifier designed for cassette playback specifically. It features metal buttons and full Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to connect to wireless headphones and standalone speakers. A rechargeable battery lasts upwards of 12 hours.
The company even sells a belt-clip, if you didn’t quite feel old-school enough.
Nick Mason and David Gilmour have been concerned on this particular launch, and Mason presents some characteristically sardonic perception; “I still have enormous affection for the cassette. It really was a major breakthrough – not only with the Sony Walkman but with some of the more up-market recorders,” Mason says. “I nonetheless have my Nakamichi on the shelf and sit up for testing it with the brand new The Dark Side of the Moon cassette. Am I right in assuming that the following main subject can be The Dark Side of the Moon in a big bundle consisting of the album divided up into 78 RPM discs?”
The bundle is available now for £159/$199/€179 from We Are Rewind. This collector-angled launch is a restricted version, and each field features a numbered card certifying its authenticity. So, if you need it, you’d greatest not miss the beginning gun…