We ended up with a few hundred extra copies from our old distributor of our first self-published book, Creative Music Recording Volume 2. This book...
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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New Video and Single “T-Shirt” from David Byrne and Brian Eno
By John Baccigaluppi
November 25, 2025
David Byrne and Brian Eno famously collaborated on 1981’s seminal My Life in the Bush of Ghosts LP, which was recorded before Eno produced the Talking...
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New Single and Video from Logan Farmer: “Manhattan”
By John Baccigaluppi
November 22, 2025
I interviewed Logan Farmer for Tape Op back in issue #139 and his debut album, Still No Mother, was one of my top ten LPs for 2020. Logan just...
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Books on Music and Recording Part 2
By Geoff Stanfield
November 22, 2025
I was recently in the incredible Elliott Bay Books here in Seattle, and as always, I found myself in the music section, (after the cooking section). I...
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Maurice Oliver Remembered
By Larry Crane
November 19, 2025
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, pioneer in electronica, and...
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Robert Plant: Saving Grace
By Geoff Stanfield
November 18, 2025
Robert Plant has managed to not necessarily reinvent himself, but to continue to surround himself with great musicians and songs that suit his aging...
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Rosalía: Lux
By John Baccigaluppi
November 18, 2025
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...
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Westerman: A Jackal’s Wedding
By John Baccigaluppi
November 18, 2025
I recently interviewed James Krivchenia from Big Thief about his production work on the last Westerman album, An Inbuilt Fault. Look for that...
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Juana Molina: DOGA
November 14, 2025
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...