Analogue processes, vinyl, and whisky

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the fact that I am analogue. As a human being I perceive information, experiences, and emotions through physical objects. Holding a book in my hands and reading is still a more memorable experience than reading a pdf file on my computer. Being in the same room as someone makes more of an impact than a Skype call, video or not.

As my everyday life and work changes according to new technology, I sometimes need to remind myself of the slower and more analogue experiences of putting on a record, CD, or vinyl, and sitting down, listening carefully - allowing myself to be in the room with the sound. Which is a totally different event than pressing play on Spotify or whatever preferred streaming service you like to use.

Don’t get me wrong, I have been surfing around since MySpace, and it certainly has opened up a new world of access with so much to choose from. I like that as well, but it is a very different way of listening. The streaming is, well yes - a stream of sound, the services are designed to play and play, an endless soundtrack to your life, no resistance, no bumps in the road, just smooth music to your delight. Music is in the background, music is not suppose to disturb you, just make you feel good, but not too good either. Overall intention is PLEASE DON’T STOP/SKIP. The services present everything the same way, you are not supposed to stop and wonder, dig out more information, spend time with an album or artist, find out about the story behind musicians, studios, producers. YOU SHALL CONSUME. It should be easy to digest.

I don’t mean to romanticise the physical release; every cd or vinyl made is not at all an in depth experience to look at or listen to, but we have the variation. We have the good ones, the fabulous ones, the bad ones, the poor ones, the average ones. I really like to have variation.

Walking around in a record store is a totally different way of looking for something than browsing the web. Finding a record I find interesting, buying it without listening first, and then putting it on at home is an adventure of its own. A slow, non-efficient process with various chances of success. Still, a very enjoyable process, regardless of the outcome.

Analogue processes can come in different shapes and forms, and it may also be changing during our lives. The record-store browsing, and then listening, has led me to many favourite albums and songs, some of which I have recorded and played live in my most recent project ‘Go Dig My Grave’. The excitement over the wrapping, appearance, cover art, music, but also the stories of the songs, or the artists, is adding an extra dimension in my life.

On one of my trips to LA a few years ago, I was sniffing around liquor stores which is another analogue process I find resembling a nice vinyl hunt. There was a very interesting store on Sunset blvd called Bar Keeper, hopefully it’s still there. They have all sorts of liquor from around the world, and vintage glasses, coasters, bitters - and what is particularly intriguing is finding something new, maybe a small batch from somewhere I have never heard of.

A new world opens up when a Scandinavian travels to the US, there’s a lot of brands I don’t know. I usually stick to Scottish whisky. Or I used to. I like my liquor brown and with a hint of smoke. Kentucky-bound people introduced me to Woodford Reserve on a tour once, which was essential in awakening my curiosity towards American whiskeys and bourbons. Oh, and rye whiskeys. The personnel at the excellent Bar Keeper store was the one presenting a favourite of mine, Willett Rye. Willett holds layers I find comparable with the experience of a vinyl listening session.

So “If the ocean was whiskey, and I was a duck. I’d dive to the bottom and drink my way up”. No… it’s not that bad, but it may be one of the reasons why I am singing that song. Anyway, there is not much that beats the analogue experience of a glass in my hand and the turntable spinning. Cheers!