TRACEY TRANCE "Pyper Kub" c32 (Self Released)

We've long been a fan of Tracey Trance here at Cassette Gods.  His concise fun machine dreamhouse tapes on Night People and Not Not Fun are highlights of both those label's catalogs and his Hangtown USA tour tapes have been some of my personal favorite tapes of recent memory.  I'm very pleased to announce that Pyper Kub, which was available on the recent tour from Florida to Maine, shows new and exciting development to the dude's songwriting.  Nearly all the tracks are composed for guitar, bass, drums and vocals.  Those amazing wah-wah swoops are still in full effect and sound not a bit diminished as they wrap themselves around six-string work whilst glides smoothly over the now trademark haltering dance beat.  The real shinning star here are the lyrics and melodies which are featured more prominently than on any other release in his discography.  A lovely and sincere collection of road songs from one of the USA's most singular sound-makers.

TRACEY TRANCE "Hangtown USA II" C60TRACEY TRANCE "S/T" C40 (Eggy Records)

Tracey Trance is just the best, okay? Super sunny, repetitive major pentatonic keyboard scale runs with falsetto vocals in harmony to a march beat. His releases on Night People and Not Not Fun have been nothing short of outstanding, but it's always been his tour only releases that have gotten the most play in my stereo. "Hangtown II" is the sequel to last tour's tape and I've already played it about 8 times. He's on tour right now with The Savage Young Taterbug, so maybe you'll get a chance to pick up one of these soon. This is the kind of music that gradually reveals itself on repeated listens. It's not that Tyler (as Tracey is known in the "real" "world") makes incredibly complex music, but more that he creates a sound-world where his becomes "the only music". I could go on to say that this might be the music of the little green elves that create our reality, but that might throw the authorities onto me. Plus, I think the swirling melodic runs contained herein paint a different picture in every listeners head, similar to the graphic work of Brion Gysin. Oh and this tape has a really great dancehall mix tape at the end of one of the sides.




For those of you who can't catch Tracey Trance on tour. You wouldn't be doing your self a disservice to order this currently available release from the fine Portland, OR imprint Eggy Records (http://eggyrecords.blogspot.com/). The pieces on this tape are shorter than on most of the past releases and have some cool vocals and that great organ work like always. There are also a decidedly larger number of slow jams and mood pieces on this one. Overall another fine outing with great printing by label maestro Raf Spielman

oh and definitely look for the OOP Tracey Trance releases on your finer blogs.

V/A - SUNSET GRILLERS COMPILATION C90 (CGI FRIDAY)

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As I mentioned in a previous CGI FRIDAY related post, this young Portland,OR tape label was birthed from the discovery of 420 used cassettes, each priced at $4.20.They continue to put out killer releases that are both major ear and eye candy, for 4.20..CGI number three comes in the form of a 90 minute compilation cassette.It contains new and unreleased tracks by the likes of Wooden Shjips, Grass Widow, Inca Ore, Run DMT, White Fence and a bunch more of psych's more recent household names.Although this is run on used tapes, there is only a small amount pops n' snaps throughout it.I think the recording's tiny inconsistencies really add to the diy aesthetic of this release.
A slick white cassette with 3D decals comes housed in plastic case with a 2 panel J-card with 3D artwork, with glasses for proper viewing.The 80's hunk in a speedo,grilling up burgers on a beach hotel balcony jumps right off the paper and into your home.An all around great looking/sounding cassette.Can't wait for this label's next batch of releases.

*Get a copy of Sunset Grillers from CGI FRIDAY.

TRACEY TRANCE "Hangtown USA" (Self Released)

First volume of tour tape instrumental bliss from this Oregon casio wonder. Highly recommended.

http://www.myspace.com/traceytrance
http://www.myspace.com/quincyquartz