Three Of My Favourite Retro Items...

Of all the blogs I write on, this is the most personal. It's also the least viewed and commented on. The two things are very obviously connected! However, that's OK because on this one I can write about anything I like, and tonight I get to put up a post about three of my favourite retro items. Mine, all mine.

At the time each one was thought of as cutting edge technology, a glimpse of the future if you will. Now they look a little clumsy, a little dated, a little naieve. To me they look beautiful.

One of these has been unearthed from a forgotten cupboard in my parent's house this very evening. At the time of it's purchase and presentation to myself, my elder brother and sister, it was a thing of wonder.

Friends from our street came round just to look at it in action. If they were lucky we'd let them have a go (against on of us of course.)

And here it is... A mid 1970's first generation home video game. The "Videomaster Colourscore", made by the good folks at Videomaster Ltd. 36-44 Tabernacle St. London.
Featuring "football, tennis and squash, for one or two players. 3 bat sizes. Automatic acceleration. Pause facility. Realistic hit sounds. On screen scoring."

Superb really. Still in it's box (although a little battered.) Still with it's instructions (never read).
Still in perfect working order (though never used.) The ancestor of The Saturn, The Dreamcast, the Wii. Wow!

The next is this from the early 1980s. It's the Casio VL Tone. A mini synthesiser requiring four AA batteries. it's claim to fame is it's two signiature tunes. Two bands utilised it's charms. Trio used it's rhythm settings for their Euro-smash "Da, Da, Da". Something of a novelty record at the time, I heard it recently and it sounded really good. Funny how time and nostalgia can enhance something's qualities.

The second (and frankly excellent) tune that utilised the VL-Tone (the Flute option) was the wonderful "Open Your Heart" by The Human League. Their LP "Dare" from which the single came, was overdubbed, twisted and mashed up to become "The League Unlimited Orchestra".

It remains one of the most quintessential sounds of the eighties, a big influence on the retro flavoured "Exceeder" by Mason. Genius. Buy it as soon as you can.

Lastly comes the Nokia 7650. The first camera phone from Nokia. It looks like a brick these days, but in the early days of this new Millenium it was the dog's bollocks. Iwas tickled pink that it could take photos. Then a technologically gifted friend of mine hooked it up to a computer via elecktrickery and "Shazam!" It was a VIDEOPHONE!!! No shit!

It's claim to fame is that it was touted as a piece of spyware in the Tombraider movies. And it is my phone of choice to this day. So there you go people. Three pieces of treasure, and mine all mine!

Peace to y'all!