Concentrick is the baby of Tim Green of the Fucking Champs, ex-Nation of Ulysses, and proud owner/engineer of Louder Studios in San Francisco. If you know the Champs for their abrasive, loud guitars be aware that this is spacey music to zone out to. It ain't new age, but it's not rock and...
Here's the record that Tony Visconti was talking about in issue #29. Is it good? Certainly the best I've heard since Outside and my favorite since Scary Monsters, Tony's last previous co-production with Bowie. There's a more musical and adventurous spirit than many (any?) of his...
John Roderick is an introspective songwriter who is lucky enough to have friends like Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie) and Sean Nelson (Harvey Danger) help him record and play on his record. Not to mention getting John Goodmanson to mix half of the tunes (no, he doesn't make them sound like...
Rafter Roberts, who was featured in issue #28, helped record this record in various places and mixed it at his Singing Serpent studio. A great example of an arty rock band making a record on a tight budget, getting some cool sounds, and succeeding wildly. (www.goldstandardlabs.com)
Is there anyone out there that can carefully craft samples, loops and noises as well as Josh Davis? I doubt it. A lesson in what can be done in a home studio given talent and what must have been a lot of time! (www.djshadow.com)
Mary Lorson and Saint Low Tricks for Dawn Mary Lorson, once the voice of Madder Rose, steps out with this haunting collection of songs on her second "solo" record. She and partner Billy Coté produced, with mixes by them and Will Russell (of Electric Wilburland) and a couple by Paul Q....
On a recent vist to LA, I visited with Jim Putnam and saw his small home/garage studio where all the Radar Brothers albums have been recorded. Even though I've now seen where the magic is made I'm still quietly in awe of the Radar Bros beautifully quiet songs and recordings. Jim by the...
The Buzzcocks unleashed these three amazing albums in the span of a couple of years, with Martin Rushent producing. These remain the standard to me by which guitar-driven punk-pop records must be judged. There's just enough arty-ness, great songs and energy - plus you can hear the band's...
Bill Doss must have been the poppier, less experimental, part of the Olivia Tremor Control. That's a good thing here. Wild psych-pop recorded in his home-based A World As Myth Sound. Fun sonics. (www.kindercore.com)
Hey look, another Tape Op contributor! Eric Tischler fronts and records this band, tracking in his basement. It's good indie rock band action, a bit basement-sounding at times, but poppy and rocking. Mastered by our pal Wharton Tiers, plus there's a thank you to me for advice! Thanks!...
The fact that one of the greatest living songwriters lives in a modest home in NJ making records on an old Tascam 388 escapes most people. Fred Cornog is ERP, was featured in the first issue of Tape Op, and this is a reissue of a collection of early singles and EPs. Essential. (www.mergerecords.com)
CDs (or vinyl) of well-recorded drum beats, and that's all. You can dump these on your multitrack and write songs around them, cut them up in your computer and build new beats, or spin them at clubs in-between tunes and under scratching or samples. At only $20 each (including delivery...