FFFavorite Tapes of 2013

As we've done during previous years, we compiled a list of some of our favorite tape releases that we played on our podcast show during 2013. In the weeks ahead, we will be doing the same for our other favorite LPs, CDs, reissues, etc. Even though we listened to literally hundreds of tapes throughout the year, we decided to keep this limited to twenty releases total. There are plenty of artists and labels whose work we fully appreciated and whole-heartedly endorse that are not represented herein, and we strongly encourage you to look back through our podcast playlists to check them out. For now, though, these were the tape releases, listed here simply in alphabetical order, that we found ourselves returning to most frequently. Please follow the label links to find out more information about each release and for ordering purposes. As always, thanks for looking and listening. 

Adderall Canyonly - Between the Rays Lies Fear But Also Joy (Jehu & Chinaman)

AdCan's releases on Tranquility Tapes and Rubber City Noise were 

also exceptional. This one, though, struck me as his most concise 

statement with its strong song-like elements. Along with his other

project, Oxykitten, and his label, Field Hymns, Dylan McConnell is

unleashing some of the most consistently interesting electronic music

in the cassette underground.

Brute Heart - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Moon Glyph)

Brute Heart's original score, which was commissioned by the Walker Art 

Center, perfectly captures the eerie and ominous feel of this 1920 German 

silent horror film with its melancholic strings, ethereal vocals, and twinkling 

keys. There is a magical quality to this recording that connects, whether 

you have seen the film or not.

Cream Juice - Man Feelings (Orange Milk)

Both Keith Rankin (aka Giant Claw) and Seth Graham released some 

insanely good solo tapes this year too, not to mention the excellent work 

they do with their Orange Milk imprint, but there is something so

mind-bogglingly great about their work together as Cream Juice. 

Their barrage of electronic sounds are, on the surface, complex, 

yet their material is infused with a sense of pure fun and exuberance 

that is downright irresistible. 

Cyclops - The First Year (Goaty Tapes)

Murky basement pop from this collaboration between Russian Tsarlag

and SHV. Goaty had us sold at "a gruesome twosome of leathery 

grooves and toilet rock." 2014: The Year of Toilet Rock

Ecstatic Cosmic Union - XCU (Eiderdown)

Top-shelf psych drift and kraut groove from this transcendent Seattle

husband-wife duo, not to mention that Eiderdown has some of the 

most eye-popping artwork around. 

German Army - Holland Village (Dub Ditch Picnic)

German Army is hands-down one of the best groups to have emerged from 

the cassette underground over the past couple of years. This tape, along with 

their recent LP output, show them continuing to refine their brand of  

woozy industrial noir to more precise and emotionally resonant results. 

Headboggle - Hillboggle (Sicsic Tapes)

This tape features two of the most fascinating sidelong pieces we had 

heard all year. It has just the strangest arrangement of sounds that melds

classic musique concréte strategies with piano minimalism and hillbilly 

banjo plunk - like a hoedown at GRM studios - yet incredibly fresh 

and forward-thinking. 

Idea Fire Company & BRRR - The Terrible Comet Salt (Recital)

Mysterious soundtrack work to a short film by Anti-Natural member, 

Timothy Shortell, based on a 1902 German science fiction short story, 

here narrated on the A-side by The Shadow Ring's Darren Harris. We know 

it has been stated elsewhere that Harris could read from a damn telephone book 

and make it sound utterly arresting with his stark, baritone delivery, and that is 

most definitely the case here. The accompanying sounds are equally as compelling: 

warm electronic pulsations, mutant machine music, and crackling piano loops. 

(*Note: Legit tape photo forthcoming)   

Inez Lightfoot - Three Weaving At The Well (No Kings)

A much-needed reissue of the beautiful and otherworldly dream-folk 

transmissions of Jackie McDowell, who has now sadly put this project

to rest. Comes housed in No Kings always fetching risograph artwork.

Innercity - A Minor Princess (Goldtimers)

Expansive and fully immersive alien electronic sound worlds from

this Belgian artist who has released music on countless reputable

tape labels from around the globe. A massive blank-out trip.

Nathan McLaughlin - Karen Studies (Scissor Tail Editions)

McLaughlin's meditation on the work of Karen Dalton, specifically

her renditions of the traditional song "Katie Cruel" and Tim Hardin's

"Don't Make Promises." He completely deconstructs these songs, yet 

somehow captures the gritty texture of Dalton's voice and the timeless 

melodies of her playing with his reel-to-reel machine and banjo. One

of McLaughlin's most moving works to date.

Nite Lite - Pepper People (Tape Drift)

Phil and Myste French, formerly of Stunned Records, a label that was 

massively influential for us here at FFF, have been crafting some of 

of the most mesmerizing sounds under their Nite Lite moniker over the 

past few years. This tape picks up where their exquisite LP, Megrez, on 

Desire Path Recordings left off, blending found sounds with various

percussive elements and droning textures and an amusing wtf family folk 

closer in "Froggy". Comes packaged in the classic Stunned collage style 

replete with those memorable rounded edges and all.      

Piper Spray - Epigraph to the Bright Star Catalogue (Singapore Sling Tapes)

Hazy, retro-futuristic collage pop from the heart of Russia. Singapore Sling 

as been cultivating a distinctive aesthetic that is closely aligned with the 

excellent Orange Milk imprint.

Righteous Acid - Righteous Acid (Space Slave Editions)

These infectious, spiraling afro-funk-inspired jams came just in 

time to brighten the now long and frigid (soon to be) winter days. 

Another winner from Space Slave Editions, who put out a number of 

stellar releases throughout 2013. And Phil French artwork to boot!!

Sheldon Siegel - Three Euro Breakfast (House of Alchemy)

This tape features a handful of lengthy live tracks recorded during 

Sheldon Siegel's 2010 tour with Ignatz and U.S. Girls. This Belgian

trio moves between explosive free jazz ramp-ups and droning ethnic

folk scrabble with enough finesse and restraint to make those peak

moments sound like they're going to tear open the goddamn sky.

Powerful stuff!

V/A - Duets II (Tranquility Tapes)

Aside from the focus on duo aktion, the second installment of Duets,

much like the first, feels more like an annual report on the state of the 

experimental tape scene, bringing together a notable group of 

actively involved musicians, artists, and label heads that travel

in similar circles. If you are looking to get up-to-speed quickly,

these compilations are a great place to start.

V/A - Workers Comp. (All Gone)

A collection of blasted, no-fi pop & rock nuggets that'll leave you wondering

if the International Pop Underground has been reactivated and gone
and relocated to Detroit.

V/A - Taxidermy of Unicorns (Watery Starve)

Beautiful handcrafted double cassette edition, with zine and all, that

brings together four of the leading female voices in the international

cassette underground - all delivering their unique take on homespun 

dream-pop songcraft to form a cohesive whole. Best packaging

and overall presentation of a cassette release of the year. 

Weakwick - Neophyte (self-released)

Bad-ass noise rock pummel interlaced with squelching electronics 

from this dynamic under-the-radar Minneapolis duo.   

John Zuma St. Pelvyn - Lost Masters of the Shortwave Choir (Lighten Up Sounds) 

Prior to his show here in Mankato a few months back, we wrote something to the 

effect that John Zuma St. Pelvyn was a blues guitarist in some respects, 

but he was also someone hellbent on destroying the form. One of the more

original and completely underrated solo guitarist out there right now, 

Lost Masters showcases both the beautiful delicacy and hard-edged 

dissonance inherent St. P's playing style.