New GIFT TAPES coming January 12, 2010.  Reserve your copies here. Also, check out the new Digitalis batch. Gift Tapes artists Million Mists & Spare Death Icon can be found on the new Air Rings: Volume 1; a 4-way double-cassette synth split! 2010 will be a good year…

	BROTHER RAVEN ITCZ :: GT013 C30 audio cassette, edition of 100 Description: Radient jungle experience; colossal modulationZ Music by Brother Raven $6 USD
	FATHER SOUND/HARPOON POLE VAULT SPLIT :: GT014 C30 audio cassette, edition of 100 Description: A. Autistic cave man sampler opus | B. Vulnerable new age lacerations Music by JRP & JEA $6 USD
	GOLDEN RETRIEVER static rain :: GT015 C20 audio cassette, edition of 100 Description: Joyous future prog; modular synth & processed bass clarinet Music by Matt Carlson & Jonathan Sielaff $6 USD

As promised, our 3rd micro cassette released this past FALL, limited edition 50.  This completes the first series of micros, secretly known as the T&D Trilogy.  New Father Sound jams will be available in Gift Tapes’ WINTER batch, coming in early January.  Our new tapes will include a Father Sound/Harpoon Pole Vault SPLIT (C30), Brother Raven (C30) & Golden Retriever’s first tape (C20).  Keep posted for more info… Happy Holidays!!!

Father Sound, elastic underwater cave diver
Download: GT012 63MB ZIP file, includes 320 kbps MP3s

MICRO CASSETTES… The wave of the future.
Inexpensive.  Miniature.  Mono.  Limited Frequency Response.

As promised, here is the 3rd GIFT available for download.  This was our second micro cassette release that came out last June with the summer batch, limited edition 50.  If you dig this stuff, keep your eyes out for the new 2 Hands on Knobs release space bath transformation, coming out soon on DSQ (c85, edition of 22).

We’ll post 2 new reviews soon and the 4th GIFT before the end of the year.  Also, the new Gift batch is in the works and due out in January.  Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.

2 Hands on Knobs, cylon garden
Download: GT008 62MB ZIP file, includes 320 kbps MP3s

MICRO CASSETTES… The wave of the future.
Inexpensive.  Miniature.  Mono.  Limited Frequency Response.

For those of you that might have missed this one (or you don’t have a player), we sent this miniature tape out with one of first releases last Spring – our first micro cassette!  So adorable, so cute.  We like to make our GIFTS available to everyone, so be sure to stay tuned in for our future gift posts!  We should have a couple more in the coming weeks.

Harpoon Pole Vault, whispering crystal babies
Download: GT004 64MB ZIP file, includes 320 kbps MP3s
*We hope you enjoy the distinctive qualities of this low fidelity music recording!

MICRO CASSETTES… The wave of the future.
Inexpensive.  Miniature.  Mono.  Limited Frequency Response.

Freshly returning from the mountain forests of Eastern Oregon…I wanted to put the word out there that the new Gift Tapes releases are out now.  I couldn’t be more happy about this new batch of cassettes from Pulse Emitter, Matt Carlson and The North Sea.  This time around the tapes have been pro-dubbed in editions of 100.  These tapes will go super fast, so be sure to order soon.

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Pulse Emitter - grass - C30

Fellow NW-based Pulse Emitter, the solo project of modular synth mastermind Daryl Groetsch, has created a beautiful work, half of which is reminiscent of his self-released Meditative Music series, while the other half delves into the weirdo world of sub-earth root structures crawling with insects.  Grass is one of my favorites from his recent discography and Gift Tapes is extremely honored to present one of his works.

Matt Carlson - stereo face - C40

Matt Carlson’s recent solo efforts venture into the sounds of early electronics pioneers.  As a member of the minimal noise drone trio Bonus & former member of the Parenthetical Girls, Carlson’s efforts have included pop music, noise, free improv and performance art.  His new work, Stereo Face, is modular synth wizardry all over the stereo field and steeped in science fiction themes that nod at the 1960’s while simultaneously hyper-driving towards the future.

The North Sea - daytona - C30

Daytona is an epic drone work formed of textured synthesizer and layered electronics.  The North Sea’s (Brad Rose) high-density sound projects degraded memories that lead to abandoned tunnels and empty into sunset skies.  Both noisy and meditative, this gorgeous piece is the perfect compliment to lone autumn walks.  Definitely another exciting addition to the North Sea catalog.

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Tapes available here: Gift Tapes.

For the next few Autumn days, I’ll be overlooking the sunsets & sunrises from this fire lookout in Oregon.  When I get back next Tuesday, we’ll release the new batch of  GIFT TAPES !  Mark it on your calenders – September 29th, 2009 – as these tapes will be flying off shelves: Pulse Emitter, The North Sea, & Matt Carlson (of Bonus).  Extreme synthesizer radness.

I just put our second batch of tapes up for sale here: http://gifttapes.com/tapes/.  All c20 tapes by Brother Raven, Million Mists, & Jeremiah Walker.  Summertime goodness…

Brother Raven, A Sound Like Wailing Winter Winds Is Heard, GT005
Peace pipe in one hand, synthesizer in the other, Brother Raven (Jason E Anderson & Jamie Potter) descends from the heavens, exhaling thick analog fog and wispy digital vapors. A Sound Like Wailing Winter Winds Is Heard is the Seattle synth duo’s second release.  These improvised jams recorded live to tape recall the playful, positive-vibe, electronic music of the late 1970’s.

Jeremiah Walker, Early to Rise, GT006
Jeremiah Walker’s debut cassette release Early to Rise is an expansive journey through solar skies.  Lush synthesizers are wound together, forming serene  meditations that seem to draw the listener towards a heightened spiritual awareness.  These minimalist dronescapes open portals to ancient civilizations where mystics guided their followers from dark to light.

Million Mists, Spaeship, GT007
Weaving an inter-galactic tale of otherworldly explorations, Million Mists (Jamie Potter) bends the barriers of reality, unveiling new drone territories via ethereal loops and elusive melodies.  Beaming metallic light formations envelop the hovering sub bass frequencies of Spaeship, as they swirl and morph into a stunning journey through alien landscapes.

I took a little time to write up some detailed descriptions of the first batch of Gift Tapes releases. We’ve got a few left here at Gift Tapes, and in a few days Tomentosa should have some available as well (thanks for your support Josh!).  Also, I should to mention that we’ve got some killer projects in the works for our next GT batch – I can’t say when yet, but it looks like it could be as early as May.  Stay tuned for that.  In the meantime, enjoy these descriptions of our first tapes.  (I’ll be back to reviewing tapes with the next post.)

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Spare Death Icon, Northwind, C30, Gift Tapes (GT001), 2009, ltd 50

Multiplexed visions: A starship draped in eagle feathers. Pedal to the metal in a 1970 Chevelle on a desert highway. The unidentified bird whose song is only heard once a year. All of this, blowing in a winter wind… Northwind is Jason E Anderson’s first release as Spare Death Icon. Layered synthesizers make up this work, nearly half of which was recorded in a fire lookout in NE Oregon. The wind and the natural landscape as inspiration, offset by an urban-dreamscape subconscious drenched in sci-fi/action film realities.

Stella Haze, Thaw, C30, Gift Tapes (GT002), 2009, ltd 50

The transition of cold, cracked earth to a soil fit for promoting life energy, Stella Haze traverses seasons and dimensions. Weaving thick fields of synthesizer, Wurlitzer, and voice, the formation of a weightless aura that sifts through the air molecules like an eel through dark waters. This is Cristin Miller’s first as Stella Haze, a digression from her former work with avant folk-rock duo Emma Zunz. Thaw is a magical minimalist affair that leads it’s followers into eternal light, like the spirits of newly formed clouds awaiting their entrance into the evening skies.

Million Mists, Haleakala, C30, Gift Tapes (GT003), 2009, ltd 50

Jamie Potter’s new side project, Million Mists, is an acid Christmas covered in a blanket of thick smoke. Haleakala emits odd atmospheres of thrift store keyboards etched into tape. FM synthesis becomes helium balloons, nestling into a freshly burrowed cavern of magnetic detritus. Out of the long form minimalist improvisations of Bonus and the positive islander synth jams of Brother Raven, Potter’s current solo work slowly rises like morning dew in a sea breeze, painting new age dreamscapes for the hearing impaired.

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Buy tapes from Gift Tapes here: http://gifttapes.com/tapes/

OR

Check with Tomentosa here: http://www.tomentosarecords.com/

Back in mid-January, I started sending out the first Gift Tapes cassette: Brother Raven’s diving into the pineapple portal.  I had convinced Jamie that we should release this tape as a gift.  So… we mailed out our first gift to the people who inspire us most – both friends and artists currently making work we admire.   Now we want to share it with you.

Download: GT000 62 MB ZIP file, includes 320 kbps MP3s

Brother Raven is currently working on 3 new tapes and is planning shows in NYC from May 7-14th.

I just put our first batch of tapes up for sale here: http://gifttapes.com/tapes/ I’ll post more info soon, but I wanted to give you the heads up (all 3 releases are limited to 50 copies).