It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, pioneer in electronica, and owner of Electron Farm Records, Maurice Oliver. A master of many musical idioms, including fusion jazz, electronica, and world music, his legacy includes being a founding member...

Robert Plant has managed to not necessarily reinvent himself, but to continue to surround himself with great musicians and songs that suit his aging but unmistakable voice. His latest offering, Saving Grace, is a collection of cover songs rooted in the American folk and blues traditions, but also dips into indie rock and modern...

I recently interviewed James Krivchenia from Big Thief about his production work on the last Westerman album, An Inbuilt Fault. Look for that interview in a future issue of Tape Op. I really liked An Inbuilt Fault, and it reminded me a bit of later Talk Talk albums like Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock. On his newest LP,...

Anyone who feels that contemporary pop music is formulaic, shallow, or not as good as some other era gone by, should give Rosalía’s new album, Lux, a listen. This is a very ambitious and challenging album with many moments of amazing beautiful music. It will take me quite a few listens before I think I will fully “get” this...

When I'm fixing things in my studio or cleaning house, I prefer listening to radio broadcasts instead of podcasts or auto-generated playlists. As a fan of commercial-free independent radio, I appreciate charismatic announcers who introduce me to new music and raise my awareness of local happenings. I can stream my favorite...

There’s a basic disconnect in how most people view learning the art and process of music recording and mixing. Say you get a new job, and they need you to place a widget in a bag, seal the bag, and place it in a container. On day one, someone will teach you how to do this task. There’s not a whole lot of room for variation...

We recently interviewed Stella Mozgawa in Tape Op #169, and she talked about working on new music with Courtney Barnett. Here’s the super fun and catchy track, "Stay In Your Lane", from those sessions with Stella on drums, and John Congleton producing and mixing. Mastered by Heba Kadry. Let’s hope for more music...

I first stumbled upon Juana Molina's music in 2007. Her album Un Dia was a revelation, and I am not sure I had ever heard anything like it.  Unique voice, undulating trance inducing loops, beautiful Argentinian folk tinged melodies, and a swirl of acoustic instruments and percussion married to an electronic...

We interviewed Khruangbin's Mark Speer and their engineer Steve Christensen for the Tape Op Podcast, and that interview also appeared in Tape Op#162. The new release from Khruangbin is a reimagining and rerecording of their 2015 debut album, The Universe Smiles Upon You ii. The versions are more intimate and...

West Virginia Snake Handler Revival “They Shall Take Up Serpents” marks the arrival of a landmark record, documenting the last snake handling church in Appalachia. Featuring hillbilly rock guitars, trance-like rhythms, and howling vocals, this album was recorded 100% live and without overdubs during Sunday service by Grammy-award...

I love that the opening track, "My Old Ways", on Tame Impala's [Tape Op#95] new album, Deadbeat, starts with what appears to be a rough iPhone demo. There are slight pauses before section changes, giving the impression that the track is still in its infancy. Moments like this, and others, like hearing a mic...

It's always a treat when an album brings you right into its world from the moment you hit play. Such is the case with Madison Cunningham's new album, Ace, co-produced by Robbie Lackritz [Tape Op#96, Tape Op Podcast#49], who has also helmed albums for Feist, The Weather Station, and Bahamas.

Ace follows the fantastic...