It seemed the era of records had faded into oblivion about 30 years ago. At the beginning of the 2000s, hardly anyone could seriously assume that vinyl would see its revival. Nevertheless, on today's Berlin streets, it is more than noticeable. The reason is a relatively new youth movement. So-called hipsters, passionate about everything 'alternative,' 'vintage,' and 'old-school,' give reason to recall the old film cameras, typewriters, turntables, and records gathering dust in the depths of mezzanines and attics.
In trendy neighborhoods filled with hipster youth, such as 'Reuterkiez' located northeast of Hermannplatz, new vinyl record stores have even opened in recent years. The new exhibition at the Neukölln Museum is dedicated to them, to records, titled 'Mythical Vinyl. The Era of the Gramophone Record.'
The exhibition, as its organizers say, summarizes the 'musical collective subconscious' of the post-war years. On display, visitors can see old models of record players – from once ultra-fashionable portable ones to a jukebox – and, of course, many records – from classical and folk songs to the French chanson of Édith Piaf, the rock of The Beatles, the rock 'n' roll of The Rolling Stones, and the hits of Michael Jackson and ABBA.
The main idea of the exhibition, according to the curators, is to show that vinyl is alive and continues to unite hundreds and thousands of music lovers with its 'classic warm sound.' To this end, it was decided to make the exhibition truly folk – the exhibits were provided by ordinary Berlin families, in whose homes many relics of the vinyl era are still kept.
Each exhibit has its own story, which Berliners are happy to share with visitors in interviews recorded by the organizers. They can be read in a magazine issued specifically for the exhibition at the museum. By the way, did you know that the first German jukebox for playing gramophone records, called a 'juke box', was created in 1952 in Berlin, in the Neukölln district? A slightly time-worn apparatus from the company Wiegandt&Sоhne, having survived more than six decades, also ended up among the exhibits at the Neukölln Museum.
The exhibits evoke nostalgia, and for many emigrants from former USSR countries, outright envy. Of course, in the Soviet Union, any original vinyl of popular Western bands like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, ABBA, and Boney M was an unattainable object of desire. Even Soviet records from the 'Melodiya' label with fashionable songs were hard to buy; you had to 'get' them, let alone 'branded' ones, that is, original Western records, which for most remained an unrealized dream. To native Berliners, especially Western ones (and Neukölln was part of West Berlin), the sad story of Soviet music lovers is certainly not close, but that does not prevent us from perceiving the exhibition in our own nostalgic-dreamlike way.
In addition to the exhibition itself, the Neukölln Museum has prepared many various thematic events, including live concerts and discos in a 'warm vinyl atmosphere.' The program can be viewed on the museum's website: www.museum-neukoelln.de.
Faina ARTS,
'Russkaya Germaniya'.