Gift Tapes delivers its fifth batch: three new cassettes containing carefully-crafted analog recordings.  High-bias, pro-dubbed, imprinted tapes with hand-numbered, full-color, double-sided cardstock sleeves, packaged in standard clear plastic cases, editions of 100.

J. Hanson blood orange :: GT017 C37 audio cassette, edition of 100 Description: Synthesized chanting; ethnic electronics bathed in crimson light Music by J. Hanson $6 USD

On Blood Orange, Portland-based J. Hanson creates ethnic-tinged compositions with modular synth and spring reverb.  These pieces take influence from ritualistic gamelan music, shamanic drumming, and early electronic music.

Knit Prism orbs :: GT018 C31 audio cassette, edition of 100 Description: Multidimensional perception; inverted flotation awareness Music by MWP $6 USD

Ontario’s Knit Prism uses synths, guitar, electronics and tape to bring supernatural phenomena to light.   The spacious assemblages of hovering drones and complex textures on this new release, Orbs, will stand out as some of KP’s finest work to date.

Studio SS sickness :: GT019 C45 audio cassette, edition of 100 Description: Sensory disruption process; panic-attack boomerang synthesis Music by JS $6 USD

Studio SS is the solo project of the man behind Börft, an obscure, experimental Swedish label putting out tapes and LPs since 1987.  Sickness is a meditation on various modes of delirium through the use of synths, effects, mics and speakers: LFO-modulated delusions and granular washes of hysteria… the perfect panic attack.

We’ll be selling what stock we have left of this batch, but you can also pick them up from Mimarolgu, Tomentosa, Discriminate & Colour Ride.

Also, I noticed that Mimaroglu still has copies of the Father Sound/HPV split from the last batch & Tomentosa has a few copies of various Gift releases : Pulse Emitter &  Matt Carlson from last fall AND Stella Haze & Million Mists from the first batch!  Get your hands on them while you still can.

Last night I found a pretty ruley package on my doorstep from fellow NW underground JAMMER Pete Swanson that included a new cassette of his solo work. Blasting the tape on the way to work this morning – I felt inspired to write a little nuglet about the experience.

Mr. Entertainment opens with a super crunchy, cracking loop that lays the rough and porous volcanic foundation for Pete’s signature sound: HEAVY & BLOWN-OUT. Monstrous fields of sound roll in like thunder, while fragmented text, seemingly jumbled and masked, works towards subliminal manipulation of the listener. Melodic undertones hint at the emotive spirit buried beneath this nuclear assault of tape and electronics. Self-released in October of 2009, this tape is a fine example of Pete’s recent efforts. I noticed this tape was just made available on Mimaroglu’s site – grab it while it lasts!

Pax Titania, the solo electronic project of Christopher Cprek (currently residing in Louisville), incorporates homemade electronics, sequencers and drum machines to create sweeping textures and bumping rhythms.  Orphan Daughter of an Orphan Daughter, released on Catholic Tapes, is like a high-speed chase scene on Light Cycles, as colliding drones outwardly flex their energies just above the speedy oscillations of a 2-dimensional plane.  It’s musical accompaniment to an action scene, a unique vision that is bound to cause some head wear.