Cassette in my ways

WHAT with my high-flying journalism job at the Loughborough Echo and my evident love of music, you would probably guess that I drive around in a flashy car with an even flashier stereo.

Sadly this is not true - I in fact am driving a car that would have been mediocre in the 1990s that is equipped with a soundsystem that would have been even more mediocre in the 1980s.

That's right, I still rock cassette tapes in the Ashemobile.

Now you can't just stroll into Zavvi and pick up the latest sensation's new chart-busting album on cassette.

Instead I am forced to mostly tape my own stuff, or beg, borrow and buy cassette tapes from every available source - Matt Jarram, that includes that big bag of tapes you promised me...

For the best part that means charity shops, car boots and table top sales, and the stuff you pick up is either brilliant or just plain ridiculous.

For example, recent acquisitions include Rollins Band - Weight, Alanis Morrisette - Jagged Little Pill, Reef - Glow and The Simpsons - Sing The Blues.

I'll leave you to decide what is what...

However it's not all bad - this strange black market of music has fulfilled one of my longest-standing musical ambitions, one that as a small child I never thought I would achieve.

That's right, I am now the proud owner a copy of the soundtrack to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.