Episode 233: Marc Masters

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Episode 233 of the Look At My Records! podcast features an interview with Marc Masters, author of High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape. The cassette has a long, storied, and complex history, and in High Bias, Masters takes readers through some of its most notable moments. From the birth of magnetized sound to the proliferation of the game-changing Sony Walkman, and much of what happened in between and after, Masters dives into key technological advancements, tape subcultures, mixtapes, tape traders, and more. During the interview, Tom and Marc spoke about some of the book’s highlights, including the massive popularity of the cassette in Eastern cultures and Africa, and the format’s recent resurgence in underground circles. Marc also picked some awesome records from Times New Viking, Silver Jews, and more. You can follow along with Marc’s picks via the official playlist for Episode 233.

This episode also features music from the cassette accompaniment to High Bias. You can purchase the book and the cassette via Bandcamp.