The Music Tapes
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The Music Tapes, an indie pop/experimental outfit from the U.S.A., are effectively the project of Elephant Six member Julian Koster, also of Neutral Milk Hotel, and the earlier Chocolate U.S.A.. Music Tapes releases are characterised by their unusual orchestration (the singing saw and banjo are matched with sounds recorded in Julian's environment, for example the sound of a bouncing ball as percussion), which produces an effect which is part musique concrete, part 1960s pop.
History
Origins and the 1st Imaginary Symphony for Nomad
The Music Tapes started life as a creative outlet for the 16 year old Koster, who would create tapes of songs and stories, as means of escapism, which he would share with his friends, culminating in 'The American Phoam Rubber Co. Symphony Orchestra Proudly Presents the 2nd Silly Putty Symphony for Edison Wax Cylander', which was essentially tape collage. In 1989, Koster formed the band Chocolate U.S.A., a more conventional indie pop band, which also included Bill Doss and Eric Harris, later (along with Koster, though somewhat unofficially) members of the Olivia Tremor Control. The band released two full albums, All Jets Are Gonna Fall Today and Smoke Machine, before splitting in 1994, after which Koster chose to focus his creative efforts on the Music Tapes once more.To date, the Music Tapes have released one full album, 1st Imaginary Symphony For Nomad, a partial concept record, among its themes the power of television, and the death of 1950's actor George Reeves, who played the hero Superman, who Koster was entranced with as a child. The album took many years to assemble, being recorded in closets and cupboards, and mixing straightforward pop songs with collage and storytelling. The Music Tapes have also released three 7" records - Please Hear Mr. Flight Control, The Television Tells Us and a split 7" entitled The Music Tapes And Dad, with [Dennis Koster], Julian's father and renowned flamenco guitarist.
Future Projects
There are a slew of projects awaiting to be released. Music Tapes For Clouds and Tornadoes, the most music based of them all, containing 14 songs, has been recorded, but is "trapped in the strange universe known as Mastering" [link]. There is also the 2nd Imaginary Symphony For Cloudmaking, a story album, consisting of the story of a boy named Nigh, who lives with his blind grandmother. The album also features instrumentation by Koster to back the spoken word recording by Brian Dewan. It is yet to be mass released [link] but has actually been finished and put through two CD-R circulations and played on WNYC's Spinning on Air. Julian States: "An official release shall be arranged for, but it's not yet as, in truth, I've been too wrapped up in making new things." Another record is the as yet untitled 'singing saw symphony', complete with Julian's father, again on flamenco guitar, though this has yet to see the light of day, and is under slow progress. Lastly, though certainly not least, is a film project, for which Julian is working with director John Cameron Mitchell, known for his film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The film is set to be an animation, with music by Koster, which is also about the boy named Nigh, although not many other details are known.Discography
Albums
- 1st Imaginary Symphony For Nomad (Merge; CD/LP; 1999)
- 2nd Imaginary Symphony For Cloudmaking (CD; 2002)
Singles
- Please Hear Mr. Flight Control (Elephant Six; 7"; 1997)
- The Television Tells Us (Elephant Six; 7"; 1998)
- The Music Tapes and Dad (Given free with 'Stop Smiling Magazine' #8; 7"; 2000)
Compilation appearances
The band also submitted a version of "All Tomorrow's Parties" to the Victor compilation album , released in 2000External links
- [Official Merge Records Page on the Music Tapes]
- [The Music Tapes' page at the Elephant 6 website]
- [Music Tapes discussion board]
- [The Second Imaginary Symphony For Cloudmaking] - streams half of the CD.
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