Saturday, May 16, 2015

why make tapes?

So I posted this on a form topic about different types of releases....mostly an anti-tape thread.... I like my response so I decided to post it because I believe this is an important issue. I would love to dialog with any thoughtful person on this...

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good cassettes are like life. if there is deterioration from use. that to me is a good thing. (it shows love and a tape worth investing yourself in for hours/days)  plus the degrading may have been started by the artist who never 'wanted' it to sound digital (more perfect lets say...) at all....

 I like the sounds that are crumbling apart just like this world and life as you get older. So sometimes you buy 2 copies and don't open one? (just an option to preserve a tape for many years with no deterioration??)

 I will die and my son will most likely get my collection of music which is a gigantically variations of records, tapes and cds. I want to get the music and I do prefer tapes now a days, I will get whatever is available. Music is the only thing I have spent money on since grade school *25 or so years??...

And as a producer of tapes only and as I run a zine that only has cassette tape reviews currently, I am allowed access to such more music based on a low income. Also, I get to hear lo-fi music from around the world on very small runs. Somehow a cd or cdr never gives any great feelings like they do.

And running a cassette tape only label is fun. I can do it without massive debt. I can also have creative control over everything. And some recordings you would never want to hear 'digitally,' they massively loose their charm.

Sure it would be rad to only put out vinyl. But that is not economically feasible and would just make it hard to get a tiny labels music 'out there' both for label and artist. I used to be a huge vinyl guy. But has become so hard for someone on a 'musicians' budget, or someone who does not make enough to spent $200- $300 on records every paycheck....

 But there is so much music I only want to hear from the artist by ordering their tape, rather than listening to on bandcamp. or any other digital option. (and I give away all the digital copies for this reason, I only charge for a tape because I spend a lot of time producing the whole release, music, art, what kind of packaging etc...

Just some thoughts. I admire your passion. that is great sometimes it just comes down to economics......again.

take care passing on your treasures to your children. It is really a beautiful process. I am sitting here blasting obscure BM while my 11 year old son sits next to me and loves it with me.,,,

for me that is amazing to feel. regardless of how produced physically. The more important matter is the love for this music!!!

love and passion for the music= beautiful no matter the format.