Written by Jon van Wyk
One particular autumn sticks out in my childhood memory. My father got a job repairing a grand old historical home up the coast from where we lived. I thought it would be a good place to explore, so I accompanied him for some adventure. Arriving at the house, somewhat faded but still showing signs of its former glory, I raced inside, wide eyed and expecting to find a pirate hidden behind every door. After several hours exploring musty old hallways, I stumbled upon a large bookshelf in one of the rooms on the top floor. Its wooden slats were heavy with age, layered with the scent of mothballs and forgotten lives.
Nestled amongst the fading leather bindings were several classic novels: the works of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Taking a seat in front of a large picture window, I opened Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and devoured it. Hours passed unnoticed as I was whisked away into the depths of the ocean, where Captain Nemo navigated the depths in his magnificent submarine, the Nautilus. I was captivated by the clever gadgetry and daring adventures, each a mark of innovation that, in Verne’s time, would have been truly avant garde. To me, halfway around the world, a hundred or so years later, the tale was a glimpse into a time when the world was still largely unexplored, and the possibility of new discoveries by brave, rugged individuals fascinated society.
I chose ‘The Time Machine’ next. Wells’s vision of time travel fascinated me as my ten year old self considered the implications of moving through time and space in a fragile machine. Each chapter brought with it a sense of longing for a bygone era—a vintage time when life seemed less complicated, yet filled with wonder. The novel painted a stark contrast between the distant future and the age of the Victorian gentrification, where men paraded about in top hats and elegant frock coats, accompanied by ladies wearing delicate lace and flowing skirts.
Over the next two weeks, while my father laboured away on crumbling cornices and damp ceilings, my imagination exploded with images of vintage clothing, flimsy old airplanes and classic machinery that I had only seen in dusty old photographs full of long dead people, stuck forever in a sepia haze. I envisioned couples gliding along sunlit streets in shiny, vintage automobiles – the sound of their wheels whispering stories of elegance and adventure as they went by. In those moments, I began to understand the power that vintage items have, evoking simpler times that seemed far more refined than the modern world just outside my window.
In the evening, before bed, I would sit by the oversized window, and imagine myself as the lead character in an old school adventure where I’d don a tailored suit, matched with a girl bedecked in a vintage dress. I would step into a lovingly preserved old car, windows down, arm draped around the femme fatale next to me, and find my next perilous mission.
I had just begun Wells’s ‘War of the Worlds’ and suddenly Dad was finished. I cast a last glimpse up at the picture window as we left, and returned home with a new appreciation of things that speak of days gone by. I understood that it was in their imperfections, the stories they held, and the nostalgia they evoked, that their magic was to be found. Not long afterward, I found myself often visiting the museum, starting to collect old postcards, hats and clothing – each piece an echo of a world once vibrant, kept alive by its portrayal from authors like Verne, Wells and PL Travers—an invitation to dream and remember the vintage trappings of a truly golden age.
Album of the month
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
“Rumours,” released in 1977, is nothing less than vintage musical gold. An album defined by its harmonious blend of late 70’s rock, pop, and emotional depth. Despite bitter, relationship breakdowns experienced by several of its members, the band, recently bolstered by the arrival of Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, channelled personal strife into a masterpiece that resonates with universal themes of love, heartbreak, and endurance.
The album opens with “Second Hand News,” setting a buoyant tone that almost dismisses the turmoil behind the scenes. Tracks like “Dreams” and “Go Your Own Way” showcase Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks’s masterful songwriting, combining introspective lyrics with infectious melodies. Buckingham’s guitar work borders on ‘otherworldly,’ while Nicks’s haunting vocals evoke a sense of forgotten pain and repressed emotions.
“Rumours” stands out not only for its musical prowess but also for its staggering sound quality, thanks mainly to the brilliant work of engineers Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut. Each track flows seamlessly into the next, creating an almost operatic listening experience. The album is full of classic hits, including the timeless “Don’t Stop” and “Never going back”
Ultimately, “Rumours” is more than just an album; it’s a powerful reflection on human relationships. Its enduring appeal continues to captivate listeners, making it a pivotal landmark in rock history -both nostalgic and essential.
Headphone rating 9.5/10