Look At These Tapes is a monthly roundup of our favorites in recent cassette artwork and packaging, along with short, stream-of-thought blurbs. Whatever pops into our heads when we look at/hold them. Selections by Jesse DeRosa, Mike Haley, and Scott Scholz.
Moss Archive batch (Moss Archive)
Art by Joseph Bastardo
Not only are all three of these tapes (Gardener, Belarisk, Bastian Void) absolute slammers, the artwork is eye candy that's so sweet and sugary, my eyes now have cavities. I tried flossing and it only got worse. This is the past being warped into the future.
German Army - Fermin (NEN)
Art by Evgeniya Belyakova and Ivan Napreenko
With election day approaching quickly, HSBC has put the country on high alert of the possibility of a severe fall in the stock market, but have claimed that "the bulls still have a slight hope." Write-in candidates German Army are our only shepherds prepared to traverse this inevitable collapse, as the plague of locusts usher in a new age of fire and the evacuation of the bulls offer a clear sign that the bears have taken over and have begun to feast.
Mukqs / DJWWWW - split (Phinery)
Art by Max Allison
Back in my dial up internet days, I was known to dabble in a little chat room goofing. AOHell and the like provided some decent ASCII art to bomb, like a naked Bart Simpson skateboarding and shit like that. The Mukqs / DJWWWW split breaks out the heart warming nostalgia. (^._.^)
Prissy Whip - R.I.P. AF (self released)
Art by Gina Maune
TOO SCARY ALERT!! Don't mess with this man, or his son. Don't sweep the floor, and don't attempt to uncuff their jeans!! These actions will send this man (and his son) into fits of rage that will end with you being thrown out of that window. Who is this man (and his son)!?
LLQUID SD - Dolly Sods (Ehse)
Art by Jimmy Joe Roche
When the Psychic Wars finally arrive (just a matter of time now), the LLQUID SD militia will provide our best chance of survival. Seasoned veterans of isotope teleportation and undisputed authorities of the mirror universe, they were assembled together like an Ayahuasca Avengers, hidden away from humanity, miles below the earth's surface at the Shulgin Command Center, tinkering away at their Mind Machines, awaiting the call to civic duty.
Yves Malone - Today Is The Last Day Of The Rest Of Your Life (Field Hymns)
Art by Tiny Little Hammers
Tiny Little Hammers has a way of creating miniature alternate universes with their artwork. Future-zoned spacescapes so vivid you can feel the lack of gravity. The new Yves Malone cover continues that tradition with deep blue laser highways, teleportation stations, and kingdom silhouettes. It sends your brain into a sci-fi tailspin.
Art by Sunmoonstar
Remember that time the cat got into that bag of sequins then threw them all up on the carpet right after you started to come up on those boomers you found in the back of your sock drawer? That was a half hour ago you say? These things sure pack a wallop. Walk it off, cat. I'm going to go lay back down.
Stag Hare - Velvet And Bone (Inner Islands)
Art by Sean Conrad & Sanya Pijama
You wont believe how helpful this tape artwork is to me right now. The motorcycle gang that I started, which is called The Velvet And Bone Boys, has been debating over an emblem to put on the back of our leather jackets. Something that says we are smooth as velvet, but tough as bone. I don't know how we didn't think of a fucking skull over patterns and flowery textures. I mean, it works PERFECTLY on this Stag Hare tape. Vroom Vroom!!
Faster Detail - Phase Lock (No Rent)
Art by Jason Crumer
Up until today I have thought that aliens had built the pyramids. I now have doubts, because if aliens had a hand in design choices, wouldn't the pyramids look like this? Hard to argue those boring pyramids are cooler than these, right?. I mean, come on. Aliens or not, Faster Detail's "Phase Lock" cover is like John Wiese's "Soft Punk" cover, but TRIANGLES!!!
Plains Druid / Lost Trail / Leaaves / Linden Pomeroy - Outdoor Games (Third Kind)
Art by Karen Constance
Uh oh, I think we got a bad boy on our hands. Let me explain. The cover for this 4-way split may look like an innocent (and quite beautiful) collage, but there are some cheeky subliminal going on. Start with those pale legs wearing nada except for dress shoes/socks... AND butterfly panties? Hubba hubba, I'm not gonna say what is under those. And those hands! Look closely. That finger is being pulled. Someone, my friend, is about to rip a fart. It's game day, we're all having a good time.
Moss Archive batch (Moss Archive)
Art by Joseph Bastardo
Not only are all three of these tapes (Gardener, Belarisk, Bastian Void) absolute slammers, the artwork is eye candy that's so sweet and sugary, my eyes now have cavities. I tried flossing and it only got worse. This is the past being warped into the future.
German Army - Fermin (NEN)
Art by Evgeniya Belyakova and Ivan Napreenko
With election day approaching quickly, HSBC has put the country on high alert of the possibility of a severe fall in the stock market, but have claimed that "the bulls still have a slight hope." Write-in candidates German Army are our only shepherds prepared to traverse this inevitable collapse, as the plague of locusts usher in a new age of fire and the evacuation of the bulls offer a clear sign that the bears have taken over and have begun to feast.
Mukqs / DJWWWW - split (Phinery)
Art by Max Allison
Back in my dial up internet days, I was known to dabble in a little chat room goofing. AOHell and the like provided some decent ASCII art to bomb, like a naked Bart Simpson skateboarding and shit like that. The Mukqs / DJWWWW split breaks out the heart warming nostalgia. (^._.^)
Prissy Whip - R.I.P. AF (self released)
Art by Gina Maune
TOO SCARY ALERT!! Don't mess with this man, or his son. Don't sweep the floor, and don't attempt to uncuff their jeans!! These actions will send this man (and his son) into fits of rage that will end with you being thrown out of that window. Who is this man (and his son)!?
LLQUID SD - Dolly Sods (Ehse)
Art by Jimmy Joe Roche
When the Psychic Wars finally arrive (just a matter of time now), the LLQUID SD militia will provide our best chance of survival. Seasoned veterans of isotope teleportation and undisputed authorities of the mirror universe, they were assembled together like an Ayahuasca Avengers, hidden away from humanity, miles below the earth's surface at the Shulgin Command Center, tinkering away at their Mind Machines, awaiting the call to civic duty.
Yves Malone - Today Is The Last Day Of The Rest Of Your Life (Field Hymns)
Art by Tiny Little Hammers
Tiny Little Hammers has a way of creating miniature alternate universes with their artwork. Future-zoned spacescapes so vivid you can feel the lack of gravity. The new Yves Malone cover continues that tradition with deep blue laser highways, teleportation stations, and kingdom silhouettes. It sends your brain into a sci-fi tailspin.
Art by Sunmoonstar
Remember that time the cat got into that bag of sequins then threw them all up on the carpet right after you started to come up on those boomers you found in the back of your sock drawer? That was a half hour ago you say? These things sure pack a wallop. Walk it off, cat. I'm going to go lay back down.
Stag Hare - Velvet And Bone (Inner Islands)
Art by Sean Conrad & Sanya Pijama
You wont believe how helpful this tape artwork is to me right now. The motorcycle gang that I started, which is called The Velvet And Bone Boys, has been debating over an emblem to put on the back of our leather jackets. Something that says we are smooth as velvet, but tough as bone. I don't know how we didn't think of a fucking skull over patterns and flowery textures. I mean, it works PERFECTLY on this Stag Hare tape. Vroom Vroom!!
Faster Detail - Phase Lock (No Rent)
Art by Jason Crumer
Up until today I have thought that aliens had built the pyramids. I now have doubts, because if aliens had a hand in design choices, wouldn't the pyramids look like this? Hard to argue those boring pyramids are cooler than these, right?. I mean, come on. Aliens or not, Faster Detail's "Phase Lock" cover is like John Wiese's "Soft Punk" cover, but TRIANGLES!!!
Plains Druid / Lost Trail / Leaaves / Linden Pomeroy - Outdoor Games (Third Kind)
Art by Karen Constance
Uh oh, I think we got a bad boy on our hands. Let me explain. The cover for this 4-way split may look like an innocent (and quite beautiful) collage, but there are some cheeky subliminal going on. Start with those pale legs wearing nada except for dress shoes/socks... AND butterfly panties? Hubba hubba, I'm not gonna say what is under those. And those hands! Look closely. That finger is being pulled. Someone, my friend, is about to rip a fart. It's game day, we're all having a good time.