This Tape Just In: Pancho And The Wizards “Residual”

Mike Seay


I went to a recent club show here in Fresno that had mostly local acts, except for the band Pancho And The Wizards (they are from the Central Coast of California – almost local). So I had not heard of them before, but I really enjoyed their set.

Somehow I didn’t catch that they had any tapes (even though I checked the merch table, I thought). One of the band members hit me up on TikTok and said they do, in fact, have tapes, and he was nice enough to send me one.

While the tape was released back in 2021, the music shows no signs of age. Psychedelic garage rock with accessible punk. Listening to the cassette made me think of things like:

  • Chunky and crunchy.
  • Playing with the switches on an old truck’s dashboard.
  • Eating a fresh bowl of Grape Nuts.
  • Sunday afternoon, just getting over a hangover and thinking about having a beer.

Tracks I Liked Best

  • Ghosts?
  • Smoke Stains.
  • Remorse (Residual)

Favorite side: B

Find more Pancho And The Wizards on Bandcamp.

This Tape Just In: Camo Meal “I Have to Be Part of It”

Mike Seay

“I Have to Be Part of It” by Camo Meal

This album, it’s like a good bowl of chili or menudo. You’re not exactly sure what everything in it is or where it comes from,  but it still manages to be good.

There are hooks and soulful softness that Camo seems to purposely take a hammer and crowbar to, in a good way.

He knows how to write songs, got bored with that, and made this. And I like it.

Favorite tracks:

  • Ugly
  • Outside
  • Don’t Drop Out

Only 50 of the cassettes exist. I am happy to have one.

This Tape Just In: Jason Trachtenburg “I Really Love You Tonight” / “Frankie It’s Me! Waiting In The Wings!”

Mike Seay
Left side is the jewel case with a cassette jcard and Jason on the cover. The right side is a yellow cassette of the album

I really didn’t know what to expect from Jason Trachtenburg’s tape, “I Really Love You Tonight”. Getting to listen to something in the literary folk genre might be a first for me. But holy crap, the talent here can’t be denied.

Honestly, I was expecting something experimental and was pleasantly surprised to find out it’s only a little bit. Very catchy but with some weight to it somehow.

I hear the fun side of the Beatles mixed with some Oingo Boingo, Dave Edmunds, and the Bakersfield sound.

Familiar, but with a flair I think only Trachtenburg can deliver.

Find it on Bandcamp.

Frankie It’s Me! Waiting in the Wings!

You’re not going to find many cassettes that have a piccolo trumpet, flutes, a conch shell, and a cow horn. A fun cassette to play for the tikes in your life.

Find it on Bandcamp.

-Mikey

This Tape Just In: Fat Concubine “Empire”

Mike Seay

I had a good time, having this tape on, as I did some writing and wandering around the Internet.

After reading the self description of this album by the band, I feel they sum this up better than I can:

EMPIRE isn’t just a record — it’s an arena. Rooted in friction — and dance. Raw, hard-hitting beats, trumpets, synths, melodic swing, guitar, — all driving forward with sharp precision and pure adrenaline. Each track pounds through power struggles, inner battles, submission, obsession, and resistance. Playing the fiddle while Rome burns — and being serious about it. It’s about the empire inside every one of us. Watch your fools. Your front door. Your tiny pills. Your peace. And take good care of your dogs.

There are only 50 copies of this tape to be had, so head over to their Bandcamp and pick up a cassette, quick.

This Tape Just In: Prewar Yardsale “Sylvia Plath”

Mike Seay 2 Comments

New York City anti-folk band, Prewar Yardsale, new album “Sylvia Plath”!

I was lucky enough to get sent this spiral staircase of hidden black cloud, folksy, dark fun.

Gotta say, I enjoyed the B side of this tape the best. It could be the fact that I was into my second beer while listening to side 2, but I dunno. Song highlights for me include “Sway”, “She Knows Her Place”, and “Where Did You Go”:

Prewar Yardsale’s girtty lo-fi is working for me today. Check out their Bandcamp for a copy.

New Tape Pulls: Minecraft, Ukrainian Hardcore, Castle Rats

Mike Seay

I filtered through some new albums and recent indie releases to give you some new tapes to listen to.

Flower by Dead Drugs

A punk and lo-fi garage band out of Los Angeles:

The Bestinary by Castle Rat

Hard rock with some Doom Metal influence, for sure. Heavy duty.

Big Feeling by PYNKIE

A New Jersey alt-rock/bedroom pop artist who is a registered nurse.

New Rules by Kakerlaken

Hardcore punk from Ukraine. Yep, Ukraine. Seems like supporting anything coming out of Ukraine is the most punk thing to do right now.

Incomprehensible by Double Infinity

Alternative love rock out of Brooklyn.

Minecraft – Volume Alpha by C418

Damn enjoyable and interesting ambient experimental stuff, even if you are not into Minecraft.

Okay. That’s a little taste of some new cassettes I thought you might like. I hope you enjoy one or two, and I’ll be back later with more.

New Tapes In: Alan Graves, Bound Unto Root, Turnstile

Mike Seay
Two cassette tapes displayed with their cases and j cards


If you are on this website then I know you like discovering new tapes. Here are some recently received and bought cassettes I’d like to share with you:

Alan Graves “A Possible Wind“

For those who like: field recordings, ambient electronic, experimental.

Bound Unto Root “In Good Faith“

For those who like: experimental, ambient, spoken word.

Turnstile “Never Enough”

The blue cassette case and cassette of Turnstile's "Never Enough" album

Nope. Turnstile’s label didn’t send me the cassette, I happily bought it on my own.

If you are a small label or just an independent band or musician that has a cassette out that you would like me to have and post about, send it here:

The Tape Player – co Mike Seay
2037 W. Bullard Ave #153
Fresno, CA 93711