Tape - Revelationes (CD, Vinyl LP)

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.