Memory Tapes : 'Bicycle'/'Plain Material'
Released: 17th August 2009
Label: Loog
Memory Tapes, a delightfully dreamy cross between to different acts, the duel aliases of one man with a heedful of ideas to large to be represented through one project. Here we have the combination of the dreamy psychedelia of Memory Cassette melded with the more driven electro stylings of Weird Tapes, leading to a strangely upbeat, lo-fi electronic recording.
Lead track “Bicycle” takes more of the Memory Cassette influence in it’s opening, a blissful lead with softly spoken vocals which descends into a curious chorus full of scuzzy electro bass lines with soaring, chanted, wordless vocals and weird loops, all the while mainting the delicacy and beauty of the verse. A bizarre and laudable achievement, and all underpinned by a faintly tribal influenced percussion section. Masterful.
Second track, “Plain Material” has a similar structure, though being a very different song. The opening is all lo-fi grungey guitars, with the potentially trademark reverb drenched vocals pitched over the top before a simple beat drops in, fades away and comes back hand in hand with a pulsating electronic loop, bringing in elements of Weird Tapes into the mix. A lovely breakdown in the middle leads seamlessly back into the main verse before a slight electro freakout leads us to a tantalising close.
Last up, of course, is The Horrors cosmic dub remix of “Bicycle” which does what it says on the tin really. Opening to a haunting keys melody against a backdrop of rain falling against a window with some subtle rumbles of a far off storm in the background which gently fades as the song builds around that melody for over two minutes before the beat drops in. The cosmic loops then start and the hi-hat snaps drop while effects and melodies weave their way around the main line, before falling back and allowing others to take their place. Another feather in the cap of the ever more brilliant Horrors, and a prize piece for Memory Tapes as well. Probaby one of the finer singles 2009 has produced.
Words: James Hoste
Write a comment
- Required fields are marked with *.
-->