BALTIMORE TAPE CLUB

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REWIND: Ken Seeno, Open Window

Open Window is a 2011 release from Ken Seeno (formerly of Ponytail, RIP), who began his solo endeavor around this time to many welcoming ears. The majority of the album's experimentals melodies feels as if to take place outside said window floating in the clouds — ripe with endless possibilities and open skies. This cassette has long since sold out, but you can still download it for free from Baltimore's WTR CLR.

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Zomes, Variations Vol. 1

A few weeks ago I shared a Daniel Higgs cassette, and this week we’ll take another Lungfish member’s project for a spin. Zomes’ Variations Vol. 1 was released by Imminent Frequencies, a c30 that is limited to 300 copies. These recordings were captured between 2010 and 2012, and opt to leave out the drum machine beats found on Asa Osborne’s LPs with Holy Mountain and Thrill Jockey. The resulting “astral melodic keyboard passages” are more minimalist journeys leads by one of the most peaceful and awe-inspiring artists your ears will have the pleasure to meet. Order the tape here.

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Baltimore Tape Club Vol. 3

This week we'll get cozy with new tapes from Sick Din, Zomes and Unspecified Services. Tune back for future volumes featuring Weekends, Vlonde, Kitsune Rad, Will Redman and many more. Gather 'round the rocking chair for Baltimore Tape Club Vol. 3.

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Unspecified Services, 00-00

A mysterious new cassette released by Friends originates from the offices of Unspecified Services, a project of Brian Goldstein who has played among the likes of Lands & Peoples and Salvia Plath. The offices forewarn, “The listener of this music is encouraged to participate in the music-listening ritual with receptive, cosmopolitan thought.” No matter how you choose to partake in the ritual, these folk-grunge guitar tales are delightful however receptive you may be. The project just played their first show as a three piece this past weekend, and you can get the debut cassette here.

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Sick Din, Sick Din

Bethany Dinsick caught my ears originally at the first Soft Fest, a once-annual affair at the Soft House that celebrated all things comforting within Baltimore. Then performing under her own name, Bethany performed looping folk atmospheres incorporating her own field recordings which included the sounds of her getting an MRI, vibrators, and keyboard gunshots. Bethany's newest venture is now filed under the Sick Din moniker, and is a journey deeper into the ideas found within Bottle Tree. The self-titled debut cassette is an eerie yet celebratory exploration into the cosmos, a magical dance party slowed-down and ideal for late night perusal. Get Sick Din here.

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REWIND: Dead Drums, Fashion Defense / Human Hair

Caleb Moore, one of two Mississippi-by-way-of-Baltimore dudes behind Lands & Peoples, also spearheads a project called Dead Drums. These ambient pop collages are a welcome foray into interstellar beats and cascading found sounds, and are sometimes back-boned by Caleb's slick vocal whirls. A few years ago Bathetic Records released two Dead Drums EPs, Fashion Defense and Human Hair, on one cassette. It appears to now be long gone, but you can get it digitally for free from Caleb here.

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PEN PAL: In A Crowded Station

It'd be weird if we listened to cassettes only from Baltimore. There are folks we write letters to or trade tapes with on the interwebs, and it'd be rude not to share some of those gems every now and again. Gather 'round for Baltimore Tape Club's first Pen Pal post.

I first visited Mississippi Records when on a brief stint with Future Islands out west through Portland, around the corner from where Jason Urick resided. Jason was opening the show and our host, and had nothing but amazing things to say about the shop and label.

Mississippi Records has a truly magical mixtape series spanning gospel to rocksteady to a collection of auto-tuned pop via Brazil and everything in between. In A Crowded Station is volume 30, a soul and R&B exploration named in honor of Mask Man & the Agents' song.

This tape purrs gently, with plenty of answers to midsummer's heat-induced cravings via deep cuts of cosmic soul. It may bring you to tears, or it may have you dancing wildly upon your front stoop, but either way snag it here or go visit Mississippi Records.

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Daniel Higgs, The Measure of Mystery

This piece of history from Baltimore’s esteemed vagabond just recently hit my decks, but it was recorded back in 2011 in Big Sur, California inside a circular redwood room perched above a waterfall. The cassette packaging indicates that the sounds of the Pacific ocean and river below may be heard on the tracks, adding another reason to savor the mysterious tape hiss when played loud. Included is an epic rendition of “Return”, and the B side boasts a nearly 20 minute extended a cappella version of “Say God”. Get it now from Gnome Life.

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Raindeer, Tattoo

Charlie Hughes, the luminous sound engineer behind the psych pop of Raindeer, has joined forces with Devin Byrnes, Liz Vayda and Nicky Smith to present us with their second full length. Tattoo is more of the hypnotically swirling vocals, shimmering synths, and captivating hooks we’ve quickly grown to expect. But, this time the band offers a kaleidoscope of glittery marshmallows, prog, and roller skates to soundtrack your late summer nights. Grip the cassette via Friends Records.

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Rod Hamilton, Teal

Back when Bmore Music was still on Blogger, Avocado Happy Hour (Rod Hamilton and Amanda Schmidt) were an often touted dream-tone duo. Rod Hamilton's solo work takes the tonal vibes to a more serene and introspective place, a place likely where mediation and sky-surfing meet in the middle. Teal is a continuation of this exploration, beautiful xylophone based compositions that are best served whilst basking in the sun. Grab the tape dubbed by Player Press from Rob.

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REWIND: Inflatable Mattress, "Blue Mattress"

Will Pesta is Inflatable Mattress. He is also the sly aural alchemist behind Happy Family, Wigflip Records and more. Will makes ambient beats that are meant to last, meaningful chunks of sonic bubble gum that are chewed to perfection. I once described these jams as an adventure that "rolls like heavy white clouds over a steel skyscraper on a windy day," so please do cool down July with these bangers at your leisure.

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Zachary Utz, Classic Rock

Zachary Utz is responsible for the guitar wizardry powering Dope Body, and one whose calculated onslaught certainly deserves a vacation from time to time. Classic Rock is a new cassette from Utz, a release that transcends modular tones to the wide open spaces of the cosmos, preferably a beach. Sit back and relax during this odyssey, but do check in with Player Press for any chance at gripping one of the cassettes.

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Smoke Bellow, Old Haunts

Smoke Bellow is a Baltimore by way of Australia trio that consists of Meredith McHugh, Alex Haworth and Christian J. Best. This is new age psychedelia at it’s damn near finest. Heavy but transcendent voyages guided by free form melodies that intertwine and billow, but still manage to keep some grit around the edges. This little slice of sonic bliss is available from the band here.

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Horse Lords, Mixtape Vol. 2

Last year Andrew Bernstein, Max Eilbacher, Owen Gardner and Sam Haberman introduced their debut long player on Ehse Records, one of the best aural mindfuck’s to come out of 2013. Horse Lords’ Mixtape Volume 1, the second installment in the band’s tape series, is a c30 that collages a breadth of sounds with the ensemble’s signature expansive polyrhythmic-kraut journeys. Grab the tape from Horse Lords here.

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Other Colors, Free Thoughts

Will Ryerson has been making space jams under the Other Colors moniker for several years now in Baltimore, an endeavor that curves and croons it’s way through psych-tinged melodies with hazy ease. Free Thoughts is the newest album from Other Colors, a beautiful trek through Ryerson’s insightfully brilliant songwriting recorded by Dan Frome. Grab a copy now from Ryerson’s label, Gen Pop.

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Welcome to Baltimore Tape Club, a new series that dives into cassettes dubbed within Baltimore, Maryland. In the coming weeks we’ll share sounds from Zomes, Rod Hamilton, Beyond Say, Weekends, Daniel Higgs, Will Redman, Vlonde, Holy Ghost Party, Raindeer, Wing Dam and many more, but in this volume we’ll take a listen to new tapes from Zachary Utz, Other Colors, Smoke Bellow and Horse Lords.

Gather round for Vol. 1 on Impose, or follow here for more.