Various - Tape Fear

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

4...according to our Dave on Thu 21 Jul, 2011.

A tape for all seasons...this compilation has amassed some of the most awesome cuts ever to grace this blue planet we call, ermmm...Earth. Well mebbe not but it's a pretty interesting listen (it would be the greatest thing ever if Supertramp graced it). It has some great bands doing great stuff (Grass Widow, Fang Island who totally slay), some other bands doing not so ace stuff (Tennis can fuck off back onto the boat from whence they came). It's a varied offering that does have some ace moments, but with such a compilation you're bound to have some weaker moments too. But as a whole this tape is a interesting glimpse into one of the more interesting labels. The tape has sweet cuts from acts such as Idiot Glee, Beach Fossils, the fucking ace Grass Widow, and other acts that any discerning listener might find some joy within. If this review is a bit vague, then it is because it's not exactly the most consistent thing you would wish to hear. It flits about the quality light like a musical moth, dabbling in greatness one minute and then singeing its wings with musical guff the next. A nice offering though nonetheless. Comes with a map of Basingstoke and its surrounding areas...

Here are 17 tracks of…

…cassette-loving,

C86-adoring,

Spector-referencing,

seven-inch-single-hugging,

major-worrying,

gruff trade-grabbing,

fuzzpedal-kicking funbags…

…for fierce panda's seventeenth birthday.

In the interests of public relations-related authenticity we should give you, the listener, some rudimentary information about all of the American underground acts featuring on this here limited edition cassette and non-limited edition download 'Tape Fear' release. We could tell you which Colorado band has put out two albums on Two Syllables. We could tell you who comes from New Jersey and has had releases on the Underwater People, Half Machine and Mexican Summer labels. We could go on to describe precisely who is from Kentucky, Cleveland and California and then list the clusterbomb of bands straight outta Brooklyn. We could reveal which band is a Vivian Girls spin-off, which track features guest vocals from a Crocodile and which of these acts have been on Transparent or Captured Tracks or Hardly Art. We could even tell you that in the true spirit of 'Loud & Quiet' one side of 'Tape Fear' is quite loud and the other side is quite quiet. But that would be boring, And that is what the worldwide interweb is for. So let's do this instead:

Tracklisting:

Side One

1. WEEKENDS 'Raingirls'

2. HERZOG 'Silence'

3. FANG ISLAND 'Daisy'

4. SAVOIR ADORE 'Bodies'

5. COLLEEN GREEN 'Just Like I Do'

6. BEACH FOSSILS 'Twelve Roses'

7. TENNIS 'Seafarer'

8. GRASS WIDOW 'Tattoo'

Side Two

1. IDIOT GLEE 'All Packed Up'

2. HEAVY HAWAII 'Teen Angel'

3. DUM DUM GIRLS 'Blank Girl'

4. LA SERA 'Never Come Around'

5. CARNIVORES 'Darker Days'

6. TWIN SISTER 'Phenomenons'

7. CANDY CLAWS 'Warm Forest Floor'

8. REAL ESTATE 'Blue Lebanon'

9. FOOLS GOLD 'Poseidon'

10. TOTAL SLACKER 'Crystal Necklace' (special digital-only track)