Black Tape For A Blue Girl : C or D / S and D

Classic, but most definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Sam is very open about charting his relationships via his songs, so if the idea of metaphors like "Across a Thousand Blades" and "This Lush Garden Within," to quote some songtitles, bugs the poo out of you, steer clear. What I find most interesting about Black Tape is that it's very much a balance between collaboration and Sam's focused vision -- there has never been a 'real' band line-up but a variety of singers and musicians around the core axis of Sam and Oscar Herrera, the lead male vocalist. The result is that there's a definite Black Tape style -- Sam mixes post-Tangerine Dream electronics and synth washes with hushed, echoed instruments ranging from yer guitar and drums to strings and flutes -- but you can't always tell what's coming next.

Search: A Teardrop Left Behind is a good compilation of the early years but only appeared in Europe and seems to be out of print. Ashes In the Brittle Air is my hands-down favorite of said early years -- the title song is just wonderful -- while This Lush Garden Within is a fine example of the band at its collaborative best, something like ten different performers throughout. Remnants of a Deeper Purity is my all-time fave, with a core group of five performers just nailing it -- the final song, "I Have No More Answers," is my all-time favorite Black Tape song. Destroy...well, As One Aflame Laid Bare By Desire isn't bad but isn't as stunning as it could have been.

You can find out more at Projekt or at the official band site -- links to mp3s, etc. And while I'm thinking about Projekt, I recommend Lycia, SoulWhirlingSomewhere, Lovesliescrushing, Love Spirals Downwards, Mira, Voltaire, Unto Ashes, Lowsunday...

(Darkwave = goth + 4AD + new age.)

You have to say it slowly and sort of whisper-y, or else it doesn't count. :)

I remember it being a bit... too much 'we are arty' over- reaching and over-serious. And crap.

This could have been a thread,, but I'll just put this question in here..... Who the hell is ROBIN RUSSELL??? I heard him in the AITBA album and I was floored, I looked him up and all I could find was some drummer guy called Robin Russell who is probably not the same person.
The guy sings like a motherfucker,, surely this could not be his only recorded work?? Is he a stage performer or something?

tear love from my mind.

"Through Sky Blue Rooms" is on infinite repeat, this morning!

Mr. Raggett, orange ya glad that Sam finally released Tanzmusik properly!? I cannot wait to hear that thing! I mean, I don't care about the vinyl or special edition or whatever, I just wanna hear it! I love "Before the Buildings Fell" to pieces! Old Sammy has some other ambient works I adore as well.

I'm not really into that last black tape album. I don't really care what S. Rosenthal says, black tape will be an ethereal band again someday, and i cannot wait.

never knowingly heard a note of this band's music but this rolling catalogue of their battles with a batshit European dude purporting to book them tour dates is a very entertaining read: http://www.projekt.com/store/bands-dont-be-scammed-by-pascal-alliot-daydream-booking-in-spain/

Hahah yeah Sam's been having a blast with this on FB. Every day a new weirdness.

SF band Enablers just had some disasterous booking thing in Europe too. I wonder if it was the same guy.

what was the issue w/ Enablers? the UK shows I'm aware of went well and were booked with trusted promoters. they appear to have had a guitar stolen in Dublin

New single...

https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/limitless-single