The Music Tapes

The Music Tapes is an indie pop project of Elephant 6 member Julian Koster, also of Neutral Milk Hotel, and the earlier Chocolate U.S.A.. Music Tapes releases are characterised by their unusual orchestration (the singing saw and banjo are matched with sounds recorded in Julian's environment, for example the sound of a bouncing ball as percussion), which produces an effect which is part musique concrete, part 1960s pop. The band also includes such musical inventions as the 7-foot-tall metronome, Static the television, the Clapping Hands Machine, and many other creations.

History

Origins and the 1st Imaginary Symphony for Nomad

The Music Tapes started life as a creative outlet for the 16 year old Koster, who would create tapes of songs and stories, as means of escapism, which he would share with his friends, culminating in 'The American Phoam Rubber Co. Symphony Orchestra Proudly Presents the 2nd Silly Putty Symphony for Edison Wax Cylinder', which was essentially tape collage. In 1989, Koster formed the band Chocolate U.S.A., a more conventional indie pop band, which also included Bill Doss and Eric Harris, later (along with Koster, though somewhat unofficially) members of the The Olivia Tremor Control. The band released two full albums, All Jets Are Gonna Fall Today and Smoke Machine, before splitting in 1994, after which Koster chose to focus his creative efforts on the Music Tapes once more.

To date, the Music Tapes have released two full albums. The first, 1st Imaginary Symphony For Nomad, a partial concept record, among its themes the power of television, and the death of 1950's actor George Reeves, who played the hero Superman, who Koster was entranced with as a child. The album took many years to assemble, being recorded in closets and cupboards, and mixing straightforward pop songs with collage and storytelling. Its release was followed by the "House Capsule Tour" in which Julian was joined by fellow Music Tapes Robbie Cucchiaro and Eric Harris.

The Music Tapes have also released three 7" records - Please Hear Mr. Flight Control, The Television Tells Us and a split 7" entitled The Music Tapes and Dad, with Dennis Koster, Julian's father and renowned flamenco guitarist.

Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes and The Singing Saw at Christmastime

Music Tapes For Clouds and Tornadoes was released on August 19, 2008 via Merge Records. It contains 14 songs, two with videos by Music Tapes friend Nesey Gallons. Some of these songs existed back around the time of 1st Imaginary Symphony for Nomad.

Merge also released The Singing Saw at Christmastime on October 7. The album features 12 Christmas songs performed on singing saw and was released under Julian Koster, not The Music Tapes.

Future Projects

Coming soon is the 2nd Imaginary Symphony For Cloudmaking, a story album, consisting of the story of a boy named Nigh, who lives with his blind grandmother. The album also features instrumentation by Koster to back the spoken word recording by Brian Dewan. It is yet to be mass released [1] but has actually been finished and put through two CD-R circulations and played on WNYC's Spinning on Air. Julian States: "An official release shall be arranged for, but it's not yet as, in truth, I've been too wrapped up in making new things." Another record is the as yet untitled 'singing saw symphony', complete with Julian's father, again on flamenco guitar, though this has yet to see the light of day, and is under slow progress. Lastly, though certainly not least, is a film project, for which Julian is working with director John Cameron Mitchell, known for his film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The film is set to be an animation, with music by Koster, which is also about the boy named Nigh, although not many other details are known.

The Music Tapes played Athens Popfest 2008 and participated in the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour that fall. In the winter, Julian Koster performed some Music Tapes songs on a caroling tour (see Julian Koster for more information). A new record is reportedly being recorded in Athens, GA for release in fall of 2009 along with the 2nd Imaginary Symphony For Cloudmaking.

Discography

Albums

• 1st Imaginary Symphony For Nomad (Merge; CD/LP; 1999)
• 2nd Imaginary Symphony For Cloudmaking (CD; 2002)
• Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes (Merge; CD/LP; 2008)
• The Singing Saw at Christmastime (as Julian Koster) (Merge; CD/LP; 2008)

Singles

• Please Hear Mr. Flight Control (Elephant Six; 7"; 1997)
• The Television Tells Us (Elephant Six; 7"; 1998)
• The Music Tapes and Dad (Given free with 'Stop Smiling Magazine' #8; 7"; 2000)

Compilation appearances

The band also submitted a version of "All Tomorrow's Parties" to the Victor compilation album Rabid Chords 002: Tribute to the Velvet Underground, released in 2000

External links

• Official Website of the Music Tapes
• Official Merge Records Page on the Music Tapes
• The Music Tapes' page at the Elephant 6 website
• Music Tapes discussion board
• The Second Imaginary Symphony For Cloudmaking - streams half of the CD.