Hi there!
Marc Master’s newest Best Experimental Music list on Bandcamp features a few with nice tapes - always an interesting list Marc puts together. This is one of the tapes on there:
Don’t forget Marc’s book about the history of cassette tapes, High Bias, it’s a good read.
Speaking of Bandcamp lists, Matthew Blackwell has his “Best Field Recordings” list out for last May and there are a few with tapes - including
It’s a big bummer when you hear the story behind “Lost - For Annie” because what was once woods filled with the sound of birds, is now silent:
What begins with lush electronics and familiar chirping descends into an extended recording of Beylis walking through the recently clear-felled forest notable for the absence of any sound except that of her feet trudging through soil and detritus. When the birdsong reappears, it’s been electronically manipulated, thrown into reverse, sounding warbled and uneasy. As Beylis writes in the liner notes, “When the birds on this list are gone, it will only be through these types of recordings that we will remember their voices. For now, we eagerly await the imminent return of the birds to the young woodland at Drumnadubber.”
This week’s browse of Reveb’s cassette players uncovered a large tape collection in storage. It looks like the seller wants someone to have their collection before their kids inherit it and trash it (or maybe they can’t afford to keep the storage unit anymore) - my brain needs to go do these rabbit holes it seems.
I almost find the cases more interesting than the collection. It’s a bit overpriced, it would seem - especially if you’re trying to find it a good home (which I love they are doing).
The disturbing thing is the collection is mostly 80s and 90s and is being called “vintage” and now I am super old…. or maybe I should be calling myself “vintage” as it somehow sounds better than oldass.
Welp. Thanks for opening. I fixed a little signup issue on the new (but really old-school) Forum on the blog, if you want to check it out. Otherwise, thank you for reading and enjoy your tapes this week.
-Mikey The Tape Player