It might seem odd to read about digital detoxing on a website mostly concerned with tech, but the trend has really caught my attention. I'm into it all – film cameras, record players, analogue watches – anything which can get me away from a screen.
Recently, I've been testing the Gadhouse Miko – an affordable cassette player in an old-school plastic case. Unlike my We Are Rewind player, which is made of metal with relatively sharp edges, this one felt perfect for taking on my travels.
So, I did. For the last few weeks, I've taken this with me everywhere – on planes, trains and automobiles – in a bid to remove dependence on streaming services.
Despite a couple of pitfalls, the result has been liberating.
Instead of doom-scrolling through algorithmic offerings on streaming apps or trying desperately to remember the name of an album I liked, I simply pop a cassette in and press play. There's no need need to search, and that takes away a rather unnecessary mental strain, much like having a wardrobe filled only with seven identical white t-shirts.
Of course, it's not perfect. My collection of cassettes is rather limited, and as such, I don't always have the option I'd really like. It also means you have to carry more around with you – so far, I've limited myself to three tapes wherever I go, slipping neatly into the inner pockets of my trusty Bennett Winch Backpack – but anything longer would obviously require a different solution.
Then, of course, there's the cost. Rather than paying a flat monthly fee to stream pretty much everything ever recorded, you'll have to pay per album, which can quickly stack up if you've got eclectic tastes!
But despite all of that, I still wouldn't trade it for the world. In the past fortnight, I've had a series of moments where I've sat in my seat and travelled with nothing but a slightly noisy tape for company, and found myself completely relaxed.
I can't say with 100% certainty that it's all down to my newfound, analogue travel companion, but I'm confident it's a big part of it. For now at least, I'm hooked.
