“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:
Only 50 of the cassettes exist. I am happy to have one.
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.
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
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 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.
I filtered through some new albums and recent indie releases to give you some new tapes to listen to.
A punk and lo-fi garage band out of Los Angeles:
Hard rock with some Doom Metal influence, for sure. Heavy duty.
A New Jersey alt-rock/bedroom pop artist who is a registered nurse.
Hardcore punk from Ukraine. Yep, Ukraine. Seems like supporting anything coming out of Ukraine is the most punk thing to do right now.
Alternative love rock out of Brooklyn.
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.
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:
For those who like: field recordings, ambient electronic, experimental.
For those who like: experimental, ambient, spoken word.
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
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:
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.
Find it on Bandcamp. (It doesn’t ship until April 11th)
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.
New wave and post-punk from Germany, their debut album with cassette on Bandcamp.
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