Growing up with a hi-fi passionate dad made me sensitive enough to the quality of audio. Perhaps not enough to get me into the mastering and mixing of music, but something else that I got from him is my overly critical personality.
Following this hi-fi sensitivity, I recently acquired one of Muji’s wall-mounted CD players from eBay. Oh, how gorgeous. The speaker quality is obviously not really there, but rest assured that for its price point and Japanese design quality it is worth the 90 pounds. Vinyls have been out for some years now, and CDs are infinitely cheaper and, obviously, more compact and storage-friendly than their large-format counterparts. The Muji player is even more attractive with its small remote control and the string that you can pull to start playing the CD.
This beautiful new acquisition made me rediscover my parents’ safely kept CD collection. My most fervent memory of an album — as the physical object — is Miley Cyrus’ Can’t Be Tamed 2009 record. I remember listening to it on loop on our way for a long weekend in Ticino when I was 8. Luckily, it was still there, and I got to take it back, alongside much Rihanna and the Black Eyed Peas, to my new collection.
Going down memory lane is sweet, and it luckily brings me to one of my favourite questions, which is: “what’s your favourite album of the year?” With the monopole of streaming platforms, less people listen to a record from start to finish, or at least the ones I have asked weren’t really sure. Maybe I also love asking the question because I have my answer ready. Nostalgic of the times we would skip songs to reach our favourite ones or remember the exact transitions between songs, the CD player has been a blessing in truly enjoying an album as a whole project.
Finally, I want to end this brief article with two wish lists. In the first one, I share some higher-end beautiful hi-fi systems that I would happily buy if I had a ridiculous amount of disposable income. Precisely, I have been obsessed with the Beosound 9000 CD player by Bang & Olufsen, first released in 1996. Not only can you decide if you desire to mount it horizontally or vertically, you can also showcase your discs’ graphic design quality. It’s just so chic. You can have it set at different angles, have it on a stand, or up on your wall. There is an option for any taste.
The second notable mention was discovered when watching — in my opinion — one of the best TV series ever made: Nip/Tuck (2004–2010). A Coquetas article about the show is sure to follow, but the focus here is on the CD player the two protagonists have in their operation room: the Beosound 3000, released in 2000. Again, a Bang & Olufsen, I know. The good news is its cheaper price point than the Beosound 9000. In the show, each surgery begins after Liz, their anaesthetist, waves her hand in front of the system to close its clear panels, prompting the disc to start.
Ultimately, I am all about the wall-mounted ones.
Now, let’s finish with my CD wishlist. I absolutely need The Teenagers’ album Homecoming. There is nothing more terrifying than French men cosplaying as British ones, but that is what makes this 2008 album so good. It is an amazing example of a well-constructed project with a clear storyline. All of the tracks engage the listener in a fun storyline around ideas of the all-American prom, Scarlett Johansson or whether you’re “in love” (or not). Then, I would love to find iconic electroclash duo Fischerspooner’s 2005 Odyssey. I just know it was the hottest record of the year when it was released. On another note, I had PNL’s Dans la Légende (2016) at the top of my list, but I found it fast enough for 3 pounds on UK eBay (who would have thought?). It’s a classic, and probably now I will need to get Deux Frères.
And you, Coqueta? What’s your album of the year? Do you own a gorgeous CD player? Also, do let us know if you find any of the wishlist CDs at your local charity store.
Bisous L