[Viewpoint] The return of the Compact Cassette, again and again!

Two years ago, I dedicated an editorial to the compact cassette fad and the resurgence of playback devices, Walkmans included. In that piece, I detailed several different models coming from new companies. What initially seemed like a fleeting trend has, incredibly, continued to endure - and even thrive. On that occasion, I also wrote about We Are Rewind, a French company producing both portable cassette players and ghetto blasters - those oversized portable radios of yesteryear.

I am returning to the scene of the crime to report that major names in the music industry are now taking a keen interest in the phenomenon. Indeed, We Are Rewind (whose quirky motto is “Tape It or Leave It!”) has partnered with Duran Duran and Discogs to market limited editions of their WM-001 player. These limited runs feature custom graphics and come bundled with a cassette: a 60-minute blank tape in the Discogs package, and a copy of Pop Trash - Duran Duran's tenth studio album (June 2000) - in the band's package. There is even an edition dedicated to Elvis Presley, paired with the Elvis Christmas Album, on cassette of course. These sets retail for approximately $200 each. Various other special editions born from different musical partnerships also exist - all of them are, naturally, limited editions (what else?).

Should you find yourself particularly inspired, you can always pair your Walkman with the GB-001 boombox for a modest $579. It features woofers, tweeters, and even a guitar input. To round it out, it includes two handsome VU meters - a feature audiophiles find simply irresistible.

What more is there to say? If it sells, they must be doing something right. It is clear that sound quality is of marginal importance here; what truly matters is the nostalgia hit combined with the collectability factor.

I would quietly observe that we are living through a bizarre historical moment: it seems that convenience and audio fidelity are less attractive than they once were. While technological progress has given us tiny devices capable of holding millions of high-resolution tracks, what do we do? We lug around a Walkman or a boombox (weighing nearly 7 kg!) to play back (poorly) a few cassettes! 😆

Perhaps we are tired of optimal solutions and wish to return to the past with cumbersome, bulky alternatives that actually sound worse. At this point, I want my carbureted cars back - no electronic controls, uncomfortable, noisy, and smelling of gasoline. I already own mine (an Alfa Romeo Spider “The Graduate“ and an A112 Abarth 70HP, both dreams of my youth), but were it not for strict environmental regulations, I am certain some marketing genius would have already redesigned and sold them to the masses. Instead, we are forced to buy “electronic appliances on wheels.” If this isn't a schizophrenic world, I don't know what is.

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May 2026 Editorial

The return of the Compact Cassette, again and again! We Are Rewind strikes back!