1/4/18

Best of 2017: Cassettes



I did the math to figure out my favorite tapes of 2017. As it has been for the last few years, I listened to more cassettes than anything. There's something wonderful about having a physical object to listen to. In terms of sonics, I like music made with synthesizers, electronics, tapes, drones, and things that are either fake techno or what is probably real techno. Whatever makes up this weird little universe that is noise, I suppose.

I capped any label at two tapes, which made it tough when selecting from Constellation Tatsu, Hausu Mountain, No Rent, and Not Not Fun. I really like what Unifactor is making and I look forward to their future releases. For the tape labels that are only putting out stuff by dudes, you guys need to try harder next year to include some variety in your batches.

As always any tape had to be released in the calendar year and I had to listen to it a lot. And if you are one of those types who needs a definitive cassette of the year, then that honor goes to Transverse Presence by Zaïmph on No Rent Records.

The list goes band/album/label for those with questions of that nature.

01. Lea Bertucci - All That Is Solid Melts Into Air - NNA Tapes
02. Black Hat - Impossible World - Hausu Mountain
03. C. Lavender - Serpentine Fever Dream - Primitive Languages
04. Canada Effervescent - Ridin' America - Constellation Tatsu
05. Kate Carr - The Story Surrounds Us - Helen Scarsdale Agency
06. Filthy Huns - Forever Beast - Not Not Fun
07. Fin - Ice Pix - Hausu Mountain
08. Forest Management - The Elevated Quiet - Constellation Tatsu
09. Future DZ - Bongo Hymns - Unifactor
10. Gmackrr - La Dépendance Électrique - Spring Break Tapes!
11. Kevin Greenspon - Mood Recovery - Bridgetown Records
12. Hainbach - Violin Forms - Ultra Violet Light
13. Chris Libutti - Climbing Backward - Limited Resources
14. Missing Organs - Old Speakers - Umor Rex
15. Sylvia Monnier - Stock Shot & Addictive Sling - Sacred Phrases
16. Multa Nox - Living Pearl - NNA Tapes
17. Pool - Jim Day Upholsterer - No Rent Records
18. Radiator Greys - Life In The Blast Radius - Devine Records
19. Liz Roberts & Henry Ross - Death Knell - Unifactor
20. Jack Taylor - Somnii - Dinzu Artefacts
21. Tree Branch Twig - Beneath The - Full Spectrum Records
22. White Poppy - The Pink Haze Of Love - Lone Hand
23. Valise - Thistles & Covenants - Devine Records
24. Video Salon - s/t - Not Not Fun
25. Zaïmph - Transverse Presence - No Rent Records

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