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.

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).

All Gift Tapes releases will be recorded to tape.  We believe that the analog recording process preserves the integrity and soul of the sound.  This method provides specific limitations to the creator which promote a more hand-crafted music, simplifying the relationship between human and machine.  The nature of analog recording encourages careful forethought for each creative decision and frees the artist from the false digital infinite.  Additionally, the method of production and distribution in the midst of a consumer-based economy requires artful consideration.  We aim not to create commodities, but to enliven a folk mentality… where art is circulated as gift.

Welcome to Gift Tapes of Seattle, WA. On this blog you’ll be able to find out what’s new with Gift Tapes, in addition to posts focused on both old & new new age, noise, & experimental music.  Designing the blog will take us a bit of time, so please bare with us.

NEWS:

Our first limited-edition cassettes will be released in January 2009!
2 releases are for-sure, but we hope to have 3.  Spare Death Icon, Jason E Anderson‘s new age project and Jamie Potter’s (of Bonus) currently unnamed project.  Both Anderson & Potter are also working on an electronics duo project, so we hope to see some material from that soon.  In the meantime, we’ll leave you with our first bit of sound from the Spare Death Icon cassette!

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