The reel-to-reel

uyb-culture-reel-to-reel

While other kids played football, I was threading tape through an ancient reel-to-reel I found in a box and made my own. I spliced together nonsense, recorded myself, played it backwards, nearly electrocuted myself more than once. I loved the mechanics, the sounds, the mystery of it. Aged eight I bought a random tape at a car boot, deep gospel from the American South. No idea what it was, but it had weight, it felt different. It wasn't about music theory or fidelity, it was about texture, the crackle of voices from far away. I didn't realise it then, but I was already collecting.