Momus on Vinyl's Analog Crackle

Snap, Crackle and Pop: Momus explores our evolving feelings about the way vinyl actually sounds. He admits to adding "analog crackle quite a lot on [his] recordings," and explains why:

• As a reaction against the clean, cold sound of digital perfection.
• To mark an affiliation with the burgeoning "lo-fi" movement.
• Because I'd been influenced by hip hop music, with its emphasis on manipulating vinyl.
• To summon an idea of authenticity (and yet underline, ironically, the fakeness of all such summonings).
• Because crackle sounded -- suddenly -- warm, emotional and nostalgic.
• Because crackle was a way of getting straight to the postmodern idea of "retro" -- pop music had by now become a medium self-consciously aware of its own history.
• Because -- like MSG -- snap, crackle and pop just seemed to make whatever they touched that little bit more tasty.

Hear a Momus song that employs the crackle: "Tape Recorder Man" (hosted on sendspace but approved by Momus). Lots more Momus MP3s.

Previously: A Fond Farewell to a Friend, a story about letting go of your vinyl collection.