The Tape Player

This Tape Just In: “Pisces – DEMOS” from Pisces

July 1, 2026July 1, 2026 Mike Seay Leave a comment

I am enjoying having this blog more and more; now I am even getting demo tapes.

Indie folk, bedroom pop, demo tape called “Pisces” that was sent to me from a cool dude in Southern California who goes by Pisces, in fact.

Sounds like some nice songs to me. I will be watching/listening for a finished album version in the future. But for now, there are only 50 copies of Pisces Demo, and I have one, so there are only 49 at the most. Get one for yourself.

Pisces is on the label, Hospital Soap.

Thank you for the tape, Casey!

This Tape Just In: Order Of The Wire Mother “Because Your Names Are Written In Heaven”

June 23, 2026June 23, 2026 Mike Seay Leave a comment

There is a little bit of Space Mountain Late Night feel happening. And I like it.

Plays at the edge of mysterious.

At times, it is what my brain sounds like after seven beers.

It may be only four tracks, but two of them are very long, so you’re good. Hauntingly good.

Order of the Wire Mother is an experimental, harsh, transcendental noise outfit out of Minneapolis. They are on the Bumpy Records label.

This Tape Just In: Sean Hendley “Let Peace Brood Over This Carcass”

June 16, 2026June 16, 2026 Mike Seay Leave a comment

Come along with Sean, exploring back alleys and vacant buildings, with his fingerstyle guitar playing. “Let Peace Brood Over This Carcass: Rust Belt Guitar Soli” is a collection recorded on a digital 8-track between 2022 and 2025, remastered for cassette. It is a limited run; only 100 tapes exist.

Some of my favorite tracks include:

Ballad of a Vacant Lot.
Bloodroot.
LuYu in Cloud Tower.

Sean Hendley is out of Milwaukee, WI.

Label: Gnostic Recordings.

This Tape Just In: Bonce “Perfect Possession”

May 30, 2026May 30, 2026 Mike Seay

Lo-Fi experimental bedroom pop from New York. Only 50 tapes exist, and I am lucky enough to have #33.

Favorite Tracks:

I’ll Die For You.
First Date.
Groundhog Day.

Let go, have some fun, let Bonce comfort you.

Bonus: I love that he has a neocites site.

This Tape Just In: alone-a “a veil, a prism”

May 20, 2026May 20, 2026 Mike Seay

The album “a veil, a prism” by alone-a

One line review:

Music that is shaped into care for something deep inside you.

Good tape to have on:

While gardening
Getting really high.

Favorite tracks:

Gasp
Six Of Cups
The Door

Currently, the cassette is available for only $5.

This tape was put out by Bumpy Records.

This Just In: Mickey O’Brien “Twin Flame – The Honey Bear Saga”

May 13, 2026May 16, 2026 Mike Seay

Great lines. Accessible but still edgy. A perfect mix of old and current hip-hop. I listened through, non-stop, twice.

Favorite Tracks:

Get My Girl Back Day.
Gabriel’s Horn.
11:11.

Get your mind right and check out The Honey Bear Saga from Mickey O’Brien.

This is off the label, Hand’Solo Records.

And I love the playing card-style box it comes in:

Tape Tuesday: Elder “Through Zero”

April 8, 2026April 8, 2026 Mike Seay

While wandering through the virtual cassette piles on Bandcamp I came across this tape from the band Elder. The album/cassette does not come out until May 29th, but you can pre-order it – tapes are limited, so it would be wise to order now if you’re interested:

Love the song, I am betting the rest of the album will be good.

Elder is from Berlin; more info on the band here.
Elder is represented by the label, Blues Funeral, in the States.