West Virginia Snake Handler Revival “They Shall Take Up Serpents” marks the arrival of a landmark record, documenting the last snake handling church...
I thought I'd seen it all until I heard about collectors that pass around bootlegged copies of the test tones and bias pads from all genres of artists and albums. From an article in MOJO this month: "Sorting their collections by "tones at head" or "tones on tail", these fanatics derive pleasure from being able to identify different studios via the quality of the oscillators. Some collectors even listen for "rocks" in bias pads and point to faulty tape alignment as an indicator of an album's flawed sound." Wow. What's next? Collecting tape "silence" between tracks? -LC
Tape Op is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the art of record making.
Or Learn More
MORE ENTRIES
BLOG
Tame Impala: Deadbeat
October 17, 2025
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...
BLOG
New Music From Madison Cunningham: Ace
October 13, 2025
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...
BLOG
New Music From Neko Case: Neon Grey Midnight Green
September 30, 2025
The new album from Neko Case [Tape Op #127], Neon Grey Midnight Green, is an adventurous listen that grew on me like fungus in a Florida swamp. It is...
BLOG
New Fruit Bats Album: Baby Man
By Geoff Stanfield
September 16, 2025
Fruit Bats, the moniker of Eric D. Johnson's musical endeavors, has just released Baby Man. The album is follows the 2023 release, A River Runs...
BLOG
New video from Yeemz on recording her track “No Trace”
By John Baccigallupi
September 14, 2025
Yi-Mei Templeman is friend of Tape Op who records under the name Yeemz. She’s a songwriter and composer who plays cello, piano, banjo, guitar, and...
BLOG
Larry Crane on the Revolutions Per Movie Podcast
By Geoff Stanfield
September 4, 2025
Larry Crane and the Revolutions Per Movie podcast host Chris Slusarenko chat about Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii!They discuss the genesis and all the...
BLOG
Justin Gray: Immersed
By Matt Anderson
August 31, 2025
Justin Gray’s new album, Immersed, was created specifically for immersive surround formats, such as Dolby Atmos, with considerations beginning from...
BLOG
About The Cover Art for Issue #167
By John Baccigallupi
August 31, 2025
When we published issue #167, we, of course, credited Hazel Morishige for the cover art, but I forgot to credit the individual pieces of art that...