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Tape - Revelationes

Recommended by us on 18th March 2011

Revelationes by Tape

5...according to our on Tue 12 Jul, 2011.

It's very late and I'm finding it hard to concentrate. Should be an ideal time to put my feet up, relax and enjoy the lushness of 'Revelationes', the new album from Swedish trio Tape. Hard to summon words though, I just wanna listen... not evaluate. You may be familiar with Tape's previous outings - but not me, I steer clear of the neo-classical tag as it just sounds wrong to me. That and I'm a firm believer in blissful ignorance over the growing sense of being overwhelmed by genre types. Fortunately Tape aren't really a neo-classical group. They embrace too many forms to reach their musical destination to be tarred with that dirty neo-classical brush. Basically, they're too good for that. Tape are certainly into architectural minimalism, abstract experimentalism, elements of jazz, soul, R&B, post-rock, folk and country and, of course, they have a fine ear for melody which explains the neo-class biz. For me, 'Revelationes' mainly brings to mind the spacious, jazz informed post-rock (for want of better genre term) coming out of north America and Canada in the mid-nineties. Bands like Town & Country, The Sea And Cake, Tortoise, Ariel M, Chicago Underground Duo, Isotope 217 (only the mellow bits though) Pullman, Euphone and many more. Also, their taste in organ tone brings to mind The American Analogue Set, especially on the incredibly tranquil 'The Wild Palms'. This music is designed to be enjoyed and it's roomy enough for you and your friends to rest snuggly within. Every sound is deliberate and accommodates the others around it. It's contemplative, hopeful and most likely content with it's surroundings. Tape will never bother trying to get all up your face. No need. You'll eventually get with the program and they'll wait, however long it takes. In my case that's about 11 years. Sorry lads. Great record.

Register. A. Obstinate. Pyramid-shaped body. A scent of camphor around him. Prefers mashed food to firmer consistencies. Thrives in the evenings. B. Past occupation as deckhand. Odd first look. Rests during daytime if given the opportunity. Kind but has high demands concerning one’s friendship even in to him less flattering circumstances. C. Tubby and lively, gleeful – but with sad false bottoms. Carries untreated ballast that rolls when the light is put out, screamed wildly in sleep once. Unexplainable interest in fruit cultivation.

Applied working method. Information is written to the environment. Stimuli, atmosphere, delicate movements. A few channels are recorded, these trigger reactions, semi-automatic overdubs, complementary actions from others. Carried-out work seems to define new building structures. Instincts, learned patterns and responses, spontaneous additions and supplements. Two chords are played, then two again, four, they are lust-permuted, four, a metal whistle, a faint howl is cut in, the elements are permuted, permuted, lust-permuted.

Bio:

Swedish trio Tape was set up in 2000 by brothers Andreas and Johan Berthling with Tomas Hallonsten. Taking cues both from pop, experimentalism, and minimalism their sound has become recognized internationally and is clearly something of its own.

Their first album Opera was released on the Häpna imprint (which Johan is a co-owner of) in 2002. Working intuitive, all by themselves, they created mini symphonies out of electronic sounds paired with a stunning melodic lyricism. With an array of electronic and acoustic instruments at hand they recorded at a small stone barn on the island of Öland, east of Sweden. 2003 saw the release of Milieu, recorded at the very same barn. These recordings had a more arranged feeling and a clear pop sensibility in some parts.

In 2005 they went to Cologne to have Marcus Schmickler produce and record their third album Rideau. This was done in his Piethopraxis studio in Cologne and his involvement left traces; an almost architectonical approach was taken and some of the intimacy that characterized the first two albums were replaced by a harder edge.

In 2006 they collaborated with Japanese duo Tenniscoats on their album Tan–Tan Therapy. The same year they recorded in Tokyo with Japanese quartet Minamo, which resulted in the record Birds of a feather. In the years, their touring has taken them to places like Japan, Taiwan, USA and most parts of Europe. Since Luminarium (2008) they are working out of their own Summa studio in Stockholm and during the last two years they´ve recorded what has become Revelationes, their 5th album.

Tracks:

1. Dust And Light, 2. Companions, 3. Hotels, 4. Byhalia, 5. In Valleys, 6. The Wild Palms, 7. Gone Gone

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