This new release from Adrian Younge [Tape Op#119] is a modern day Afrobeat offering that has some modern sensibilities, but a foot firmly planted in...
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.
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Making Music: Conversations With Record Producers is Out Now
By John Baccigaluppi
September 13, 2026
Our new book, Making Music: Conversations With Record Producers, is out now and you can find it at your favorite book store and online!If you want to...
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New Track and Upcoming Album From Daniele Luppi
By John Baccigaluppi
September 2, 2026
We did an article on Daniele Luppi back in Tape Op#40, and since then he’s released quite a bit of music including the very cool...
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New Music From Floating Points and Turnstile
By John Baccigaluppi
August 31, 2026
In April of this year, Sam Shepherd, aka Floating Points, was in San Francisco for 11 performances of his piece for the San Francisco Ballet, Mere...
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Making Music: Our Tape Op Book Reviewed
August 25, 2026
Our book reviewed by James Barber on his Substack (subscribe!)Making Music: Conversations With Record ProducersLarry Crane established his underground...
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New Weezer: Gold Album
By Geoff Stanfield
August 25, 2026
Although the album title is listed as simply Weezer, it is being referred to as The Gold Album, due to its, well, gold cover. The record has big,...
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New Vinyl Reissues from Skip James and Jimmy Reed
By Geoff Stanfield
August 21, 2026
Vinyl records may not be the most convenient way to listen to music, but I am convinced they are the best way to listen to music. I am more...
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New Shearwater Album and Videos
By John Baccigaluppi
July 21, 2026
Jonathan Meiburg is busy person. He’s an author and musician who has written for Tape Op, and who we interviewed in issue #148 on his work with his...
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New Album and Video from Porcelain, Produced by Scott Evans
By John Baccigaluppi
July 24, 2026
Over the weekend, I stumbled on the new single and video “Apocalypse” by Porcelain and noticed that it was produced, recorded, and mixed by Tape Op...