Category: Tape Collecting

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.

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 (and old) Cassette Releases: Lightsabres, Bon Iver, LAGS!

Mike Seay

None of the new albums (that I could see) out today (Friday, Feb 14th) had cassettes available. So I sorted through some fresh cassette releases, future album releases, and re-issues, that you (a fellow cassette nerd) might want to have a look at:

Lightsabres “Beheaded”

The album was originally released way back in October of 2015, but has been given new life with new physical media to buy. See on Bandcamp if you dig it.

Bon Iver “Sable,fAble”

Find it on Bandcamp. (It doesn’t ship until April 11th)

LAGS “Soon”

This is another release of an older album. I don’t know that this would be considered a reissue but more like a new physical release. Italian post-hardcore band, pretty nice stuff. On Bandcamp.

Caput Medusae’s “You Can’t Negotiate With Zombies”

New wave and post-punk from Germany, their debut album with cassette on Bandcamp.

Zachary Reid “My Return To The Ground Will Be Lonely”

I had to find something Ambient to get in here. Another old one but new one tape, this is from Tucson’s, Zachary Reid and can be bought through (you guessed it), Bandcamp.

Hope you discovered something worthy enough to buy or it sent you down a rabbit hole of new-to-you music, at least. Don’t forget your blank tapes.

-Mikey The Tape Player

I Got a New Tape: Tele-Electrica Superbas Vol 1.

Mike Seay
tele electrica cassette tape superbas

Big thanks to Chris for sending me his new cassette Tele-Electrica Superbas Vol 1.

I listened to it, sides a & b, in one sitting while scrolling the internets and writing blog posts.

I have to say that it is excellent music to scroll and write to. I especially liked “Praying”, “Pothole Musique” and “I’m All of What I Can’t Be”. Chris felt this music would sound best on tape and I agree.

Sounds, shades, and tone wonders, it truly is, in the best way.

Remeber, I love getting free cassettes to listen to. If you are a musician or label and want to send me a tape because you are super cool, send to:

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