Beechwoods
01-05-2012, 20:29
One of the things I like about tapes is the way they were integral to the 80's underground, the DIY Punk scene and Indie fanzines. Many a band released self-produced tapes, sold at gigs and via their fanclubs before they got a proper deal. These early tape versions sometimes ended up on bootlegs but often in awful quality... They were cheap, easy to distribute and everyone had a player.
In 1986 The NME produced a mail-order only compilation of the best Indie bands at that time. They called it C86, and that term came to define a scene and a sound that is still recognised today. Twee, jangly guitar pop for the most-part, though the tape itself had broader appeal. What is for sure if that the bands featured on that tape all became massively influential on the later 80's, early 90's indie bands that followed them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C86_(album)
In recent years, this influence has continued, and in 2006 Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne curated a double CD homage to the original called CD86.
I have a copy of CD86. It's a fantastic compilation. But I'm a tape-head. Tracking down a copy of the original cassette became a bit of a mission.
The other day I snagged one. For £7. Pretty good seeing as copies can go for a lot more (http://www.discogs.com/sell/list?release_id=813390&ev=rb). It was advertised as 'New - Still Sealed'. Yeah yeah yeah I thought...
It arrived today. Still sealed!
http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss49/aos_images/beechwoods/file-4.jpghttp://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss49/aos_images/beechwoods/file-5.jpg
Now my conundrum is whether I open it or not. I bought it to play it, but I have all the tracks anyway... it might be worth more sealed though... but this tape defined an era, playing it is the whole point :scratch: :scratch:
Seal or unseal. Stroke it or listen to it?
In 1986 The NME produced a mail-order only compilation of the best Indie bands at that time. They called it C86, and that term came to define a scene and a sound that is still recognised today. Twee, jangly guitar pop for the most-part, though the tape itself had broader appeal. What is for sure if that the bands featured on that tape all became massively influential on the later 80's, early 90's indie bands that followed them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C86_(album)
In recent years, this influence has continued, and in 2006 Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne curated a double CD homage to the original called CD86.
I have a copy of CD86. It's a fantastic compilation. But I'm a tape-head. Tracking down a copy of the original cassette became a bit of a mission.
The other day I snagged one. For £7. Pretty good seeing as copies can go for a lot more (http://www.discogs.com/sell/list?release_id=813390&ev=rb). It was advertised as 'New - Still Sealed'. Yeah yeah yeah I thought...
It arrived today. Still sealed!
http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss49/aos_images/beechwoods/file-4.jpghttp://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss49/aos_images/beechwoods/file-5.jpg
Now my conundrum is whether I open it or not. I bought it to play it, but I have all the tracks anyway... it might be worth more sealed though... but this tape defined an era, playing it is the whole point :scratch: :scratch:
Seal or unseal. Stroke it or listen to it?