Sounds from the past

(Baonghean) - In an era where music is enjoyed mainly through mobile phones, computers, mp3 players, etc., finding vinyl records to enjoy the sound is considered rare and luxurious. However, right now, right in Vinh City, there is still a group of people who share the same passion for vinyl records, tirelessly collecting and passionately enjoying the sounds of the past...

The hobby of playing vinyl records has long been considered an aristocratic hobby, because the sound characteristics are very "choosy" about listeners and the investment for this hobby is quite expensive. The golden age of vinyl records was in the early 1970s and 1980s of the last century. At that time, vinyl records were mainly sought out by the rich, or artists, to immerse themselves in the delicate, primitive sound, without any influence of modern electronic technology. Later, over time, this hobby gradually narrowed, partly because the fluctuations of history and society affected the community's taste before the massive invasion of electronic music; partly because the hobby of playing vinyl records is very sophisticated, laborious and requires a lot of investment. Mr. Phan Huy, an employee of Techcombank - a vinyl player in the city. Vinh shared: “Buying a turntable for the system means having to buy up to 5 items: platter, tonearm, turntable, a phono pre-amplifier, and a set of connecting cables. As for records, if you are “addicted”, there is always an urge to collect a variety of them…”.

Mr. Phan Huy adjusts the sound of the record player.

The hobby has been with Phan Huy for many years, and he has never once thought of giving it up, despite the ups and downs of life. He said that the rustic sound has permeated his blood and flesh, and he can sit and listen to it all day without getting bored. He showed me the special record player - a member of his family for four generations. His eyes lit up with passion, Phan Huy gently placed a vinyl record down, lightly turned the lever, and the narrow space of the winter room was filled with the bustling sound of "Persian Market" - a work by the British composer, conductor, and pianist Albert William Ketèlbey (1875 - 1959). Even though he had heard this famous piece of music many times, the sound quality through the vinyl still exuded its own charm and allure, both rustic and sophisticated, and the sound field spread out as if to envelop and immerse the listener in the world of magical musical notes.

After a period of use, records will be scratched, creating grooves on the surface, sometimes making the sound mixed with a crackling sound, but for long-time players, they love that noise - the noise that makes the difference between vinyl records and other types of electronic music available. Preserving records is also a lot of work. Record players have to buy many accessories such as carbon brushes to brush dust on the record, anti-static spray bottles, compressed air dust guns, brushes and special solutions to clean the record needle tip. Records are often carefully stored in glass cabinets to avoid dust, humidity and high temperatures that cause warping and cracks on the surface.

Although it is expensive and laborious, this hobby is making a comeback among young people. In addition to Mr. Phan Huy, a few young people aged 18-25 have also "fallen in love" with this hobby. Mr. Nguyen Sy Truong (75- Hoang Xuan Han - Vinh City) shared: "I have just started playing vinyl records for nearly a year now. At first, I tried it out because of my friend's invitation, then I became "addicted". Many times, when I went on business trips far away, I just wanted to come home early to immerse myself in the sound of the record player. At those times, I felt like I really had a private space." According to Truong, for new players, the biggest difficulty is the playing technique. How to properly install and adjust the machine and the record so that it runs smoothly, the sound does not vibrate and distort is very complicated. The record player must be placed on a solid surface, usually a stone table or a hard wooden cabinet, then insert the disc, wait for the disc to run for about 5 - 10 minutes until it is stable before enjoying it. That is why the vinyl record player creates a world of rich musical sound, with a strong vitality through the centuries...

Currently, the number of people playing gramophones and vinyl records in Vinh City is not large enough to form a club or a club model, but that does not mean that this hobby is “inferior” to electronic music. Because in each gramophone and record itself, there is a profound humanistic value, not only bringing healthy, pure aesthetics at a high level but also helping players relieve stress in life, which is a product of industrial society.

Article and photos:Hoang Vu(Vinh City)