Alle afleveringen
30 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Post-Punk’s High-Water Mark: Four Nights in London, 1979
4 november 2026 · 31 min
The high-water mark of post-punk. Looking at the bill of the four nights at the YMCA in Central London during August 1979, its hard to deny that assertion. Final Solution’s bill brought together Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes, Scritti Politti, Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle and Rema Rema. Lees meer
For Cassette Culture the particular night on 3rd August with TG, Cabaret Voltaire and Rema Rema is a nexus in our story: where paths met, bands were formed, tapes were exchanged.
Linking back to our catalogue of artists in the “tapes received” listings of TG’s Industrial News, we speak with Kevin Thorne of Third Door From The Left and We Be Echo, and Dorothy Max Prior, drummer with Rema Rema and Psychic TV.
Matt Johnson continues in the second part of our conversation, covering his later releases in the mid-80s and a notable big budget video project with Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson in the Amazon.
Hinging on that night where they all met in Central London, we follow the Rema Rema story with Dorothy Max. Max had known Gen and Cosey Fanni Tutti since 1976, when she was working at the ICA during COUM Transmissions' Prostitution show. The friendship carried on after Throbbing Gristle split, through a brief stint in the mail room for Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth and a tour as drummer for Psychic TV.
The touchstone compilation “The Men With The Deadly Dreams”, curated by Geoff Rushton and released on White Stains, returns as another nexus, with two live Rema Rema tracks (recorded at Acklam Hall in April 1979). Martyn Bates (Eyeless In Gaza) tells more of this story in our previous episode, Mind Bomb. https://cassetteculturepodcast.com/mind-bomb-the-the-eyeless-in-gaza/
Rema Rema continued to pick up attention and just as they were about to implode, Ivo Watts-Russell seized on the band as “one of the best things he had ever heard” - The debut recordings The Wheel In The Roses EP (BAD 5, 1980), came out as the first release of his new 4AD labe…
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Mind Bomb: The The & Eyeless In Gaza
23 september 2026 · 28 min
Our Industrial News "tapes received" trail reaches into the early 80s, and attention turns to quality. Robert H. King leads us into this episode, where we speak with Matt Johnson (The The) and Martyn Bates (Eyeless In Gaza). Lees meer
Martyn Bates of Eyeless In Gaza picks up the thread. As Migraine Inducers he sent the Dissonance tape into the network and landed in Industrial News issue four. Name check for an early Portobello Rd label ID Cassettes, by Mark Perry (Alternative TV/Deptford Fun City). Ambivalent Scale, Martyn’s own label with Pete Becker, was a container for all of their early solo releases plus outputs from a cohort including Bron Area, The Stick Insects and Kevin Harrison.
Matt Johnson of The The details his early attendance at Throbbing Gristle shows and connection with the group members. The tape he passed on to Genesis led to his own mention in Industrial News in the September 79 issue. But then, he drops another mind bomb: The promoter behind many of Throbbing Gristle's London gigs was Colin Faver, later a major DJ in the acid house scene of 1988 and pirate broadcaster on London’s Kiss FM. With Kevin Millins he ran Final Solution, promoting many TG gigs including Butler’s Wharf and the legendary show at the YMCA with TG, Cabaret Voltaire and Rema Rema.
Geoff Rushton’s Stabmental zine is referenced once again as the print which contained all of the most progressive music in the emerging Industrial scene. The compilation cassette intended to be issue 6 of the zine, “The Men with The Deadly Dreams” gathers a seminal set of recordings, including tracks by Eyeless In Gaza, Rema Rema, Chris Carter, Richard H Kirk and Chris Watson. Watson himself produced and mastered the tape at Cabaret Voltaire’s Western Works studio in 1981.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen.DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of some of the amazing artefacts, fanzines and cassette releases that drop through our letterbox on our YouTube ch… -
Let The Tribe Grow: Chris Connelly Receives The Gospel Of DIY
30 juli 2026 · 29 min
Searching for connection and community; we track the story of Chris Connelly (Fini Tribe, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Pigface) discovering Throbbing Gristle via the John Peel Radio show and getting in touch. Meanwhile, Joe Strummer of The Clash spreads the DIY gospel to a young Robert H. King after a gig at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, resulting in formation of the Pleasantly Surprised cassette label. Lees meer
When the two come together a few years later, the Fini Tribe contribution to "You Bet We've Got Something Against You" on King's new Cathexis Recordings label, followed by the "Let The Tribe Grow" EP, propels both the label and the band on to greater things.
Chris Connelly is another of the artists featured in the "Tapes Received" listing of TG's Industrial News zine. This resulted in local underground musicians showing up at his door and handmade cassettes from the likes of Nurse With Wound arriving in the mail.
Geoff Rushton (later John Balance of Coil) compiled "Endzeit," a hand-numbered edition of 230 copies on Datenverarbeitung carrying Virgin Prunes, Section 25 and four tracks by a young Cultural Amnesia. Geoff’s own slim White Stains Tapes imprint released “The Men With The Deadly Dreams”. Both releases appearing as inspirational touchstones, connecting back into our wider story.
King’s Pleasantly Surprised label ran from 1982 to 1984, its artfully packaged cassette compilations opening with The Birthday Party and carrying early tracks from Cocteau Twins, Primal Scream, The Wake, Marine Girls, Billy MacKenzie, Bauhaus, The Wolfgang Press, Test Dept, and Cultural Amnesia. By 1986, the saturation of the cassette market created a tipping point when the label morphed into vinyl releases on Cathexis Recordings.
Chris Connelly and Fini Tribe burst onto the wider music scene after being picked up for a John Peel Session, releasing on their own Finiflex label and beginning to collaborate with the US Wax Trax! label. Ultimately Chris moved to Chicago, joined Minis…
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Tapes Received: The Factory Connection
25 juni 2026 · 30 min
Some of the most surprising and revealing connections surface in this episode. Two worlds that rarely get mentioned in the same breath: Throbbing Gristle's Industrial Records, and Manchester's Factory Records. At the centre are two more names from the Industrial News “tapes received" list; Paul Wiggin of Section 25 and Robbie MacDonald of Crawling Chaos offshoot, Zyklon B Zombies. Both aspiring musicians who connected with TG's Industrial News zine by sending cassettes of their music. Lees meer
Paul describes experiencing the crushing, low-frequency weight of the early Throbbing Gristle gigs which stunned a generation of post-punk audiences with the “sonic warfare” that the band were waging.
Later, a direct-to-tape demo sent to Industrial Records came back with an invitation from Genesis P-Orridge to London, and a glimpse of TG’s world via a Cosey Fanni Tutti performance.
Section 25’s support slot for Joy Division, followed with Ian Curtis's word was enough to secure a deal with Factory Records. Setting them off on recordings sessions with Martin Hannett at Cargo, and Pink Floyd's old Britannia Row studio.
Over in Newcastle, Robbie MacDonald was working behind the scenes for The Crawling Chaos, creating sleeves, booking gigs, and supporting their own label, Foetus Products. Ahead of a gig at Whitley Bay's Rex Hotel, word went round that Throbbing Gristle themselves might turn up under an alias: Zyklon B Zombies. The backing tape built for the hoax made its way to Industrial Records as something of a joke at the band's own expense and, whatever became of any reply, it landed the Zyklon B Zombies in the "Tapes Received" list regardless.
Two Factory scouts in that night's crowd left far more taken with The Crawling Chaos than with the prank, leading to a clandestine meet up with Tony Wilson, and the eventual release on Factory Benelux of FAC 17.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music "This Is Concrete" by The Happy Citizen.DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of casse… -
Tapes Received: Industrial Music for Industrial People
28 mei 2026 · 26 min
From 1978-1980, Throbbing Gristle's Industrial Records published a newsletter called Industrial News. With a philosophy of exchange and transparency, they listed attendance numbers at their concerts, future label plans, and a list of contacts who had mailed them tapes of their own music: the “Tapes Received” list. Lees meer
Capturing a cultural watershed moment where the bedroom bands of the DIY Punk scene gave way to something new: ambitious, experimental, abstract, industrial. Making music using the newly available technology of synthesisers, with tape media and looping as part of the creative process.
In this episode of Cassette Culture we begin to unravel the story of those tapes sent to Industrial Records - what was on them, and what became of the artists who sent them?
At the centre of this episode is Val Denham - painter, singer and tape experimentalist. We hear how a deliberately provocative letter to Genesis P-Orridge loaded with insider references, led to a invitation to London and the beginning of a friendship that would influence her creative life.
Her early tape recordings won fans in Genesis and Peter Christopherson and almost became a release on Industrial Records. Val walks us through the London of the late 70’s, studying at the Royal College Of Art while creating striking artwork for TG gig flyers, attracting Some Bizarre Records’ Stevo and Marc Almond to her Degree Show. Then later creating album artwork for Marc & The Mambas, Psychic TV, and Throbbing Gristle.
Philip Sanderson of Storm Bugs and Richard Rupenus of Funeraldance Party offer their own stories of corresponding with TG, sending in tapes, and finding themselves part of a growing international network of like-minded artists. Richard received an encouraging letter from Genesis himself; Philip developed his own music as Vote Police, Storm Bugs and launched his label, Snatch Tapes.
Years later, after the death of Genesis P-Orridge both contributed to a search for the original “tapes received” c…
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No Words, No Titles, No Meaning - The World Of Alien Brains
5 april 2026 · 29 min
The strange, uncompromising world of Alien Brains, the project led by Nigel Jacklin that helped define the outer edges of the early 1980s DIY cassette underground. Emerging from a school science lab, inspired by John Cage and nurtured by the fledgling cassette network, Alien Brains rejected conventional song structures in favour of pure spontaneity, raw improvisation and a deliberate embrace of failure as an artistic possibility. Lees meer
The DIY cassette scene of 1979, with its “it's easy, cheap, go and do it” ethos, provided the perfect outlet for these early recordings. Mark Lancaster of The Instant Automatons and Deleted Records recalls encountering Nigel, playing an early gig with him at his school, and releasing the first Alien Brains cassette “Menial Disorders”.
The story takes a notorious turn into the heart of the British public school system. As head of the Rock Society at Oundle School, Nigel invites Throbbing Gristle and Monte Cazazza to perform in the main hall, a collision of avant-garde industrial noise and traditional boarding school culture. We find a recording of Cosey Fanni Tutti sharing her memories of the shock induced by the performance - to teachers and pupils alike. For some it was an outrage; for others, a transformative experience. The concert recordings were released by Industrial Records on VHS and cassette tape.
Richard Rupenus of the New Blockaders recalls finding Deleted Records via an advert in the DIY Corner column of the music paper Sounds, ordering the first Alien Brains release and eventually joining the group. He describes the strange, semi-chaotic Alien Brains performance at The Basement in Newcastle in 1982, where the band added another layer to the experience by introducing pungent smells into the venue’s heating system.
Nigel picks up the thread to talk about working with non-musicians such as Neil Purvis, echoing John Cage’s belief that people without formal training can be freer of inherited constraints. He describes recordings…
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Evolution of Snatch Tapes & The Storm Bugs
6 maart 2026 · 30 min
A hard to imagine London of derelict warehouses and ruined public buildings birthed the short, intense life of Snatch Tapes, the late-70s cassette label founded by Philip Sanderson of Storm Bugs. Launched in 1979, Snatch Tapes became a focal point for electronic and experimental musicians pushing beyond conventional song structures and embracing the possibilities of electronics, tape loops and DIY distribution. Lees meer
Sanderson reflects on his early experiments with circuit-bent cassette recorders and transistor radios, the handmade oscillations that powered his duo Storm Bugs, and his time at Goldsmiths University’s Electronic Music Studio
Central to the story is Sanderson’s playful subversion of identity. Through the invented electronic duo Claire Thomas and Susan Vesey, he provoked an overwhelmingly male scene and inadvertently attracted the attention of Cherry Red Records. When Cherry Red, via A&R figure Mike Alway, sought to develop the duo into a full vinyl release, the elaborate fiction began to unravel in a farcical chain of meetings and the eventual confessions.
As Snatch Tapes gathered momentum, a loose but vibrant network formed around it. Contributors included Lemon Kittens, David Jackman, Nigel Jacklin, The New Blockaders, Cultural Amnesia, Beach Surgeon, N4’s, Alien Brains and more.
Yet by 1981, after three intense years, Sanderson chose to step back. The label passed briefly to David Jackman before dissolving into the wider flow of 1980's cassette activity.
Looking back, Sanderson identifies 1980 as both the peak of Snatch Tapes and a high-water mark for the cassette underground’s visibility. For a fleeting moment, it seemed possible that DIY cassettes might become a genuine alternative channel for direct music distribution.
Featuring recollections from Philip Sanderson, Gerard Greenway and Nigel Jacklin, this episode documents a formative chapter in UK cassette culture.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen…
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Under the Westway: 1979 Portobello Punks
26 januari 2026 · 27 min
Emerging from the squats, free gigs and improvised studios of late-70’s Portobello Road, F*ck Off Records operated at the volatile intersection of hippie idealism and punk DIY. Active between 1979 and 1982, the label released copied-to-order cassettes alongside a small number of vinyl EPs and LPs with music by Alternative TV, The 012, Danny & The Dressmakers, Here & Now, The Instant Automatons, The Androids Of Mu and their many collaborators. Lees meer
Founded by Kif Kif Le Batteur and Jonathan Barnett in a period when Portobello was dense with creative possibility: vacant houses, squatted venues, free festivals and heaps of talent.
We join Jonathan Barnett to trace the roots of the label through the influences of Sniffin’ Glue and Mark Perry to Here & Now’s free-music ethos and open minded approach to supporting others. Central to the label’s emergence was Street Level Studios, a low-cost recording space that allowed bands to record without compromise, and the cassette as a format that made duplication, circulation and autonomy possible.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy CitizenKIF KIF
We would like to dedicate this episode to the memory of Keith Dobson aka Kif Kif Le Batteur, who passed away in July 2025. His influence runs through the whole scene that we document in Cassette Culture, and joins many dots in my own life. We are proud to be able to tell at least a small part of his story and so sorry that we just missed him.(https://www.eatsdrinksandleaves.com/rip-keith-dobson-1956-2025/)
DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastLINKS
Portobello Film Festival (https://www.portobellofilmfestival.com/)“Floating Anarchy” Here & Now documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsg8cMdYtuM)
Good article on the late-70’s Punk/DIY scene by Bob Stanley:
Birth Of The Uncool (https://www.theguardian.com/musi… -
Deleted Funtime Rewind
28 december 2025 · 1 uur
After we spoke with Mark Automaton for our episode on Deleted Records and the Instant Automatons, he kindly shared his recollections of the music and bands presented on the legendary “Deleted Funtime” compilation, released by Deleted Records in 1980. Lees meer
Originally compiled by Martin “Protag” Naish of the Automatons, and featuring 34 tracks by various outsider musicians and misfits from across the booming cassette network in the UK.
Filling a c90 cassette and in 1980, available for 60p and a self-addressed envelope direct from the band - we’ve omitted a few tracks where they were by the same band or sometimes where we had no recollections to share.
The tape hiss you’ll hear on the music tracks is original, mostly due to the sometimes third generation tape copies that were the sources for the compilation.
DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassettes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastIN THIS EPISODE
VOICES
Martin Franklin
Mark LancasterMUSIC
Missing Persons "Chemical Solutions"
Colin Potter "Power"
Stabmental "Thin Veil Of Blood"
The Midnight Circus "Obsession"
391 "Prisoner Of The Living Room"
The Door And The Window "Habits"
The Digital Dinosaurs "Fingers And Thumbs"
Lurch "Single Symphony Excerpt"
The Mystic Umbrellas "Journey To The West"
The Digital Dinosaurs "Walking Out"
Merz "Spud-Dream"
Duo Elettronica "Duo Elettronica Tape Excerpt"
Mic Woods "Little Girl"
The Instant Automatons "Disillusion"
Alien Brains "Alien Brains Excerpts"
Heddon Street W1 "We Wanna Pogo"LINKS
https://www.waterden.net/
https://markautomaton.bandcamp.com/
The Luxury Of Dreams: An Autobiography, by Mark Automaton
https://amzn.asia/d/bS6PSxtFIND US
https://cassetteculturepodcast.comSUPPORTERS
Help us keep Cassette Culture alive! This podcast is enabled by generous supporters who gift a small monthly contribution toward the costs of researching, producing and publishing each episode. You can b… -
Integrated Circuits: Colin Potter, ICR and the Cassette Network
23 december 2025 · 28 min
Emerging from the same late-1970s underground that fuelled punk, DIY cassette culture, and European electronic experimentation, we explore the influence of Colin Potter - sound artist, producer, and founder of Integrated Circuit Records (ICR) Lees meer
From beginnings building crude oscillators and fuzz boxes to university access to an EMS Synthi A, his path reflects a generation discovering sound through curiosity rather than convention.
We track the growth of ICR from a mail-order cassette operation into one of the UK’s most important underground labels of the early 1980s. Starting with cooperative compilation LPs and cassettes, Potter helped connect artists working across abstract electronics, industrial, cosmic music, and experimental sound - including The Instant Automatons, The Legendary Pink Dots, Carl Matthews, The Door and The Window, and many others.
We hear how Potter’s cassette duplication service became a crucial infrastructure for labels such as Third Mind Tapes. That practical role also led to deeper artistic collaborations, most notably with Nurse With Wound, Current 93, and Steven Stapleton, where Potter’s studio became a space that hosted creative risk, sonic transformation, and unconventional production.
Featuring contributions from Colin Potter, Jonathan Colclough, Gary Levermore, Mark Lancaster, this episode examines how technical generosity, and openness to experimentation helped shape the 45 years of underground electronic music released on ICR.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy CitizenDISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastLINKS
Colin Potter/ICR:
https://icrdistribution.com/
https://icrdistribution.bandcamp.com/IN THIS EPISODE
VOICES
Martin Franklin
Jerry Kranitz
Colin Potter
Jonathan Coleclough
Mark Lancaster
Gary LevermoreMUSIC
“Off The Graph” Colin Potter, The Ghost O…
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Deleted Records & The Instant Automatons
27 november 2025 · 28 min
Underneath the safety pins, television expletives and bondage trousers that came with Punk in 1977, there was a coded message for those ready to hear it. Resolutely independent, the Instant Automatons and their label Deleted Records tuned in from the North of England and got that message of DIY independence, creativity and confidence that followed "Here's Three Chords, Now Form A Band". Lees meer
We trace the birth of the UK cassette underground - from isolated bedrooms to West London squats, from hand-dubbed tapes to Rough Trade shelves. It’s the story of how a handful of young people, with almost no resources, built a national community through shared idealism, cheap technology, and an unstoppable desire to create.
Finding their tribe with the Labroke Grove hippie-punks circulating around the Here & Now/Frestonia/free festival scene and building their community under the Westway.
Here & Now drummer, Kif Kif Le Batteur made his sentiment about the established record industry clear when he named his cassette label F.O. Records. Recognising that the Instant Automatons and their label Deleted Records got it too, they connected to collaborate on cassette and vinyl releases, gigs and tours. And in doing, forged a template that was adopted and amplified from there on.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack HertzDISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastIN THIS EPISODE
VOICES
Martin Franklin
Jerry Kranitz
Mark Lancaster
Colin Potter
Jonathan Barnett
…and John PeelMUSIC
Duo Electronica (except), Deleted Funtime (Deleted 009)
The Instant Automatons “ Routine Habit” We Couldn’t Agree On A Title (Integrated Circuit Records ICR 001)
Colin Potter “The Last Train” The Scythe (ICR)
The Instant Automatons “Scared To Be Alone” Peter Paints His Fence EP (Deleted)
Instant Automatons “Too Big” Not S… -
Season 2 - DIY Revolution: Owning The Means Of Production
9 november 2025 · 5 min
The artists who made the template - In Season 2 we’re delving into the very origins of the underground cassette music scene from the late 70s and early 80s, featuring insights from key musicians who revolutionised independent music production. Lees meer
"We didn't think much of the establishment and capitalism, instead of demonstrating against it, we thought we'd create another world which existed outside of it." Jonathan Barnett of Fuck Off Records encapsulates the revolutionary mindset of the post-Punk movement.
Mark Lancaster, Phillip Sanderson, Jonathan Barnett, Colin Potter and others share their experiences of challenging the mainstream music industry through a low key yet radical DIY approach. Snatch Tapes, Fuck Off Records, Deleted Records, Integrated Circuit Records were all part of the wave that shaped a template for what was to come.
The narrative explores how musicians rejected traditional music production methods, creating an alternative world of sound and creativity. Cassettes emerged as a powerful medium of expression, offering an affordable and accessible way for artists to record and distribute their music. The episode highlights the punk-inspired ethos of independent music creation, emphasising a spirit of rebellion against established structures and the building of a community.
Listeners will discover a fascinating network of musicians who connected through fanzines, music papers, and tape exchanges. The collaborative culture transcended traditional genre boundaries, with artists supporting each other's experimental sounds and independent productions. Phillip Sanderson's innovative approach of dismantling radios to create electronic noises exemplifies the creative spirit of the cassette culture.
The documentary provides a deep dive into a pivotal moment in music history, showcasing how independent artists used technology and collaboration to challenge the traditional music industry. It's a testament to creativity, DIY spirit, and the power of grassroo…
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Checkpoint Staalplaat: Revisiting Radical Sound, with Geert-jan Hobijn
28 augustus 2025 · 24 min
From vinyl to cassettes and the occasional... flexi-postcard! Geert-Jan Hobijn reflects on Staalplaat’s origins as a cassette label, and some current releases. Lees meer
In this special interim episode of Cassette Culture, Martin Franklin and Jerry Kranitz speak with Geert-Jan Hobijn, the legendary founder of Staalplaat - the experimental music label that began in an Amsterdam squat in 1982 and went on to define an era of radical sound and design.
We focus on some current activities publishing unreleased Muslimgauze recordings, reissuing classics from the Korm Plastics label - and dreaming up outlandish packaging ideas (including a cassette release that came with a pair of custom-designed socks).
The conversation also touches on the challenges and joys of running a label across decades, the crossover between Staalplaat’s releases and Geert-Jan’s own Staalplaat Sound System installation work, and the philosophy of making music and art available in ways that resist the digital mainstream.
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Jerry Kranitz.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack HertzDISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassettes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastMUSIC
"Headphonics (VPRO Version)" Ryoji Ikeda, Mort Aux Vaches (Staalplaat, 2020)
"Zealot" Muslimgauze (flexi-postcard 2025)
"A1" Muslimgauze, Tape 13 (cassette 2025)
"Live At The Clocktower, New York City (27 April 89)" Arcane Device, SIX (Korm Plastics D, cassette 2025)LINKS
Staalplaat Label
https://staalplaatlabel.bandcamp.com/Muslimgauze
https://muslimgauze.bandcamp.com/Korm Plastics D
https://kormplasticsd.bandcamp.com/Cassette Culture is produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Copy This Mix
8 augustus 2025 · 26 min
Music mix by Joshua James Amberson drawing on cassette releases reviewed in issue #3 of the Copy This Cassette zine. Lees meer
Joshua is publisher of the Basic Paper Airplane zine, and curator of the Antiquated Future store/distro and label. He is based in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Theme music "Hesatative" Jack Hertz
DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassettes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastLINKS
Joshua James Amberson/Antiquated Future (https://www.antiquatedfuture.com/)
Copy This Cassette (https://copythis.bandcamp.com/)MUSIC
Other Worlders "Hidden Energy Positive Light" Aural Canyon
https://auralcanyonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/hidden-energy-positive-lightMachine Go Boom "When We're Ghosts" Just Because Records
https://justbecauserecords.bandcamp.com/album/when-were-ghostsZeiss Ikon "Cybernetic Anarchy" 2025 Reissue, Magrit Records
https://zeissikon.bandcamp.com/album/cybernetic-anarchyBig Fat Head "BoBo Rising" Clean Demon Records
https://cleandemonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bobo-risingCharles Rice Goff III "Language For Unstated Thoughts" Taped Rugs
https://archive.org/details/LanguageForUnstatedThoughts/Cody Brant - Carl Kruger "Smoke Detail" Copy This 2025
https://codybrantcarlkruger.bandcamp.com/album/smoke-detailYaara Valey "our liberation is" Antiquated Futures
https://antiquatedfuture.bandcamp.com/album/our-liberation-isGuidon Bear "Internal Systems" Antiquated Future
https://antiquatedfuture.bandcamp.com/album/internal-systemsTHANKS
Immense thanks to Joshua James Amberson for curating this mix,
(https://www.antiquatedfuture.com/) and to the artists for use of their tracks.Produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Inside the Zine: Copy This Cassette with Blake Werts
24 juli 2025 · 29 min
From the worlds of mini-comix to independent music, D. Blake Werts is the creative force behind the fanzine, Copy This Cassette. Lees meer
Martin Franklin and co-host Jerry Kranitz sit down with Blake to share the surprising story of how he discovered cassette culture only a few years ago, and how that discovery inspired him to launch a new publication devoted entirely to underground cassette releases.
He explains the philosophy behind Copy This Cassette, including its tactile, analogue-first ethos and the importance of short, descriptive "snapshot reviews."
We also learn about Blake's deep roots in the world of mini comics, how he taps into regional cassette scenes from the Pacific Northwest to Europe, and the editorial decisions that keep the zine focused and accessible.
You can find Copy This on Bandcamp at copythis.bandcamp.com and catch our unboxing video of issue 3 on the Cassette Culture Podcast YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast
Keep updated on the Second Edition of "Cassette Culture: Homemade Music and the Creative Spirit in the Pre-Internet Age" by contacting Jerry. jerrykranitzwriter.com/
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Jerry Kranitz.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack HertzDISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassettes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastMUSIC
”Step On Me” Hydrone - Live at Nelsonville 2022 (Clean Demon Records)
“n-0”, Kozo Inada, Kozo Inada & Frans de Waard (temporary mountain)
“Post Surgical Blues” Versioning, Cloud Plateau (Ingrown Records)
“Alamogordo” FUZZ UNLIMITED, Journey To The Seventh Planet (Illuminated Paths)
“Hippie” Versioning, Cloud Plateau (Ingrown Records)
“Under Garbage” Cody Brant - Carl Kruger, Smoke Detail (Copy This)LINKS
Copy This
https://copythis.bandcamp.com/Clean Demon Records
https://cleandemonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-nelsonville-2022temporary mountain
temporar… -
Underground Goes Overground: Freakbeat, & Planet Dog
13 juni 2025 · 27 min
3D glasses at the ready, we speak with Richard Allen, editor of psychedelic magazine Freakbeat, founder of Delerium Records, and Michael Dog of Club Dog, Megadog and Planet Dog Records. Lees meer
Together, they helped define an era of fanzines, home-recorded cassettes, underground parties, and independent music distribution.
This episode, we’re hearing the inside story of a telephone call to Timothy Leary, the artists behind Freakbeat’s unique 3d page design, Club Dog’s rare live cassette releases and the birth of Planet Dog Record’s legendary electronic compilations like Feed Your Head.
This episode closes Season One of Cassette Culture—but don’t worry, Season Two is already in production. We’re working on a Bandcamp subscription offer that will give you some exclusive custom cassettes and provide a means to donate to help us keep the reels turning with the podcast.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music: “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack Hertz.DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastFEATURING:
Richard Allen
Michael DogMUSIC
“Operation Apricot” Ring, O De Dun Dun (Self released cassette)
“What Do You Turn On When You Turn On” Timothy Leary, You Can Be Anyone This Time AroundFrom Psychedelic Psauna (Delerium Records):
“Black Ferris Wheel” The Coloured Plank,
“Mind Train Jam” Sun Dial,
“Erp Riff ’83” Ozric Tentacles“Nothing Can Stop Us Now” Webcore, The Great Unfolding (A Real Kavoom)“
Nodens Ictus, Live At Club Dog (Woof Distribution)
“Medicine Wheel” Eat Static, Prepare Your Spirit (self released cassette)
“Nightmare” Treatment, Psychedelic Psauna (Delerium Records)LINKS
Planet Dog Records http://www.planetdogrecords.com/
Club Dog Memories https://www.pooterland.com/looking_glass_dead_dog.htmlDelerium: https://www.discogs.com/label/3338-Delerium-Records
AVAILABLE NOW
Premonitions: Underground Cassett… -
Third Mind, Fourth Dimension
29 mei 2025 · 33 min
Armed with fanzines, cassette tapes, and a fierce DIY spirit - two teenagers from Herne Bay helped shape the UK’s underground music scene. Lees meer
In this episode, host Martin Franklin traces the journey of Gary Levermore, founder of Third Mind Records, and Richard “Richo” Johnson, the force behind Grim Humour fanzine and Fourth Dimension Records. From their early days frequenting a local record shop to trading zines and music through the post, their story captures the energy of a grassroots movement that gave voice to some of the most experimental and influential acts of the 1980s.
We explore how fanzines like Tone Death and Grim Humour connected a sprawling network of artists and fans, and how this evolved into Third Mind’s legendary cassette compilation “Rising from the Red Sand”—a defining moment for underground electronic and post-industrial music. The episode offers inside perspectives on artists such as Nurse With Wound, Test Dept, Attrition, and Legendary Pink Dots, while also shedding light on the support they received from key tastemakers like Rough Trade, John Peel, and Dave Henderson of Sounds.
Along the way, Gary reveals the moment he turned down the newly formed Skinny Puppy, and how that decision—and others—shaped the future of Third Mind and its eventual partnership with Roadrunner Records.
Richo discusses the evolving mission of Fourth Dimension and his enduring dedication to artists with a distinct sensibility, both sonically and personally.
Passion, persistence, and a love of experimental sound helped two independent labels make their mark on music history—one photocopied zine and dubbed cassette at a time.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack HertzDISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastVOICES
Richard “Richo” Johnson
Gary Levermore
Dave Henderson
Martin Bo… -
Post-Punk Publishing, with Attrition and Adventures In Reality
21 april 2025 · 27 min
Tales of handmade 'zines and the cassette underground with two key figures: Martin Bowes of the electronic-industrial band Attrition, and Alan Rider of the Adventures In Reality label and fanzine. Lees meer
We trace their trajectory from the early days, as local Coventry fanzines "Alternative Sounds" and “Adventures In Reality” evolve into bands and cassette labels and build grassroots distribution networks that span the World.
Bowes and Rider reflect on how out-of-hours Art College facilities, post-punk energy, and the rise of affordable recording technology like the Tascam 4-track empowered musicians to bypass the mainstream and do it themselves.
Connecting with our previous episode (EP09 Wild Planet 1983: The World Gets Weirder) with Dave Henderson, writer of the Wild Planet column in Sounds, there’s more about how *The Elephant Table" LP came together. Plus, the usual tales of copying tapes in real-time, mailing music around the globe, and even embedding ZX Spectrum programs onto music cassettes.
Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen.DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastFEATURING
- Martin Bowes (Attrition)
- Alan Rider (Adventures in Reality)
- Dave Henderson (Sounds/Wild Planet )MUSIC
Attrition “Dead Of Night” Death House - Adventures In Reality Recordings (1981)
Hawkwind “Jam 2” UK Electronica 1983
Attrition “Mariannes Dream” In The Realm Of The Hungry Ghost - Third Mind Recordings (1986)
Attrition/Audio Leter “Talkback” Action And Reaction - CNLF (1983)
Nurse With Wound “Someone Others Garden” Rising From The Red Sand Vol #1- Third Mind (1983)
Muslimgauze “Trans Time” The Last Supper - Adventures In Reality Recordings
Attrition “Monkey In A Bin” John Peel Show - BBC Radio 1 (24 April 1984)
Legendary Pink Dots “Surprise Surprise” The Elephant Table - X Tract (1984)
Attrition “The Black… -
Wild Planet 1983: The World Gets Weirder
4 april 2025 · 25 min
From the provocative performances of Throbbing Gristle at the Lyceum to Einstürzende Neubauten's infamous stage-demolishing concert at the ICA, this episode captures the moment when musical boundaries were not just pushed, but completely obliterated. Lees meer
The Wild Planet column, written by Dave Henderson started as a cut-out-and-keep centre feature in Sounds, the UK’s biggest music weekly, but soon became a focus for the new breed of cassette artists and labels across Europe.
Guitars were OUT, Synths were IN, sunglasses got darker, and the music became.… weirder.
Music journalist, curator and label runner, Dave Henderson takes us out on the streets of London in the days when you could bump in to a leather clad Cabaret Voltaire, or find Test Dept. in full force playing an underground station.
More than just a music column, Wild Planet became a cultural conduit for artists working outside traditional music industry constraints. Henderson's narrative reveals a vibrant ecosystem of bedroom musicians, experimental performers, and avant-garde creators who were reimagining what music could be.
A must-listen for music historians, cultural enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the raw, uncompromising spirit of artistic innovation.
DAVE HENDERSON
A UK based music journalist, editor, curator and label runner, Dave has a rich variety of roles within the UK music industry. These include running the New Talent stage at Glastonbury Festival, Managing director for Q, Mojo and Kerrang!, creating labels Dead Mans Curve, X Tract and currently running Cherry Red sub-label, RighteousHosted by Martin Franklin
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen.DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastTHANKS TO:
Steve Cammack for the “The Elephant Table” vinyl.
https://remuhmuration.blogspot.com/Our old chums at SoundArt Radio 102.5FM for digitising s…
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Erotic Art, CDr's and a Mystery Device from Hybryds
27 maart 2025 · 15 min
Amazing artworks, CDr's and a mystery device. The full unboxing experience of the package sent to us from Belgium by Sandy from the Hybryds. Lees meer
This is the Bonus version of the recordings which opened Episode 8 "Universe Of The Wyrd: The Cold Spring Story" - just for our curious listeners who want to hear more.
Episode contains these tracks from CD:
"Euthanasia" Rabbits Wear Boots, No Style No Rules
"Why Are you Hear?" Rabbits Wear Boots, Trans Human Distopia (USB key)
"Once I Dreamed" In The Wake Of The Witch, Hybryds
"From The Papyrus Of Nu" I Am The Eye Of Horus, Hybyrds
"Be Mine" Mythtopia, The 7" Remix Album, Hybyrds
"Wanderers Without Destinations" Mythtopia, Hybryds (USB key)After the recording session we asked Sandy what the mysterious object was and he let us know that it was indeed a cool mini USB bank card-style device, with a fold out connection to put in a USB port. Like this:
https://www.imprintnow.com.au/product/custom-usbs/credit-card-usbMore from Hybryds:
https://hybrydsmusic.bandcamp.com/More from Rabbits Wear Boots:
https://rabbitswearboots.bandcamp.com/Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Universe Of The Wyrd: The Cold Spring Story
18 maart 2025 · 28 min
At the forefront of Industrial and dark electronic music since the 1980s, Cold Spring Records emerged from the cassette underground to become a significant independent record label. Lees meer
We unpack the story of label founder Justin Mitchell, an underground music dot connector who started in the UK tape trading and mail art networks, and working within the influential Temple Of Psychic Youth.
Cold Spring stayed close to it’s underground ethos to become a respected purveyor of the strange and the obscure, championing artists like Genesis P.Orridge, Psychic TV, Coil, Satori, and taking in releases by giant talents like William Burroughs, Lull, Merzbow, Mark Almond, British Electronic Foundation along the way.
Along the way, we explore the label's transition from cassettes to vinyl and CD, the importance of context and curation in their releases, and the organic way in which Cold Spring has connected the dots to create a universe of the wyrd.
Episode hosted by Martin Franklin
Theme music: ”This Is Concrete” The Happy CitizenDISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastMUSIC
Rabbits Wear Boots “Why are you here?” Trans-Human Dystopia, 3Rio Art
Hybryds “Wanderers without destinations” Mythopia, 3Rio Art
Psychic TV “Unclean” Live, INRI, Cold Spring cassette (CS 001)
Angels Ov Light and Thee Angry Love Orchestra "VI” (CS002)
William Burroughs, Brian Gysin, Genesis P. Orridge, extract from “Interview & Readings” Cold Spring (CS006) cassette
The Hafler Trio & Willem de Ridder “Report”, ...And The Wolf Shall Lick The Jewels From Your Belly… Cold Spring (CSR 1LP)
Sandor Kalios “Northern Tale” ANS Electronic Music, Cold Spring
Sleep Research Facility “B Deck” Nostromo, Cold Spring
The Horses Of The Gods “John Barleycorn”, John Barleycorn Reborn, Cold Spring
The Sea Of Wires “The Nightmare continues”, The Sea Of Wires, Cold Spring
LINKS
Cold…
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Contact-Exchange-Document: The Story of ND
4 maart 2025 · 21 min
DIY passion, artistic discovery, and the power of community. This is a story of the kind friendly networking that typified the cassette scene and it shines through in this episode. Lees meer
We dive into the fascinating history of the ND fanzine and influential label, founded by Daniel Plunkett in Austin, Texas.
ND became a hub for the international mail art and cassette culture scenes, connecting artists from around the world through its fanzine, events, cassette, vinyl and CD releases.
Through his early correspondence with artist, Phillip Johnson in the UK, Dan got backstage to hang out with Mark E. Smith and The Fall. Moving on to becoming a stop over for European artists looking for a local Texas gig, he promoted performances by artists like Bee Queen/Frans de Waard and staged “Undercurrents” a Mail Art exhibition at the Mexi-Arte Museum (https://mexic-artemuseum.org/).
The ND label published releases by Jeff Greinke, PBK, Vidna Obmana, Maeror Tri, Alio Die among others.
N D 11 was a project which featured work filmed and submitted from 1986 to 1991. Michael Northam mastered and edited the material in Bloomington IN Sept 1991. Included material originally sent and shown at Mexic-Arte Museum in October 1988. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIjpg9a1IuU
Dan now runs the End Of An Ear record store in Austin, Texas and goes out of his way to stock significant obscure recordings even if he knows they won't sell in large numbers.
Episode hosted by Martin Franklin
Theme music: ”This Is Concrete” The Happy CitizenVIDEO
You can find video of some of the fanzines and cassette releases we discuss in this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastMusic
Phillip Johnson “Helmetpoofy” 0714, Year Zero Records
Phillip Johnson Tracks from “Heartache’s Worst Assistants Versus the Genius With the Secret of Making Gold Into Dynamite!”. Year Zero Records
ND 7 “Performance In A Staircase” Haupunkt Fix (Cassette Issue)
ND11 Lon Speigelman, Lon …
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Evolution of Noise: The 40 Year Journey of Satori
18 februari 2025 · 20 min
With a pile of scrap metal and a disused railway tunnel nearby, unemployed youths Dave Kirby and Rob Maycock began recording sounds that they’d use as material for their Throbbing Gristle-inspired noise project, Psychopath. Lees meer
His early meeting with Justin Mitchell of Cold Spring Records led to his music finding a worldwide audience.
Forty years later, on the eve of his international tour we speak with Dave about his early cassette scene releases and continued artistic evolution in Satori. Touching on his motivations, artistic confidence… and his extensive sample library of road drill sounds.
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham.
VIDEO
You can find video of some of the fanzines and cassette releases we discuss in this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastMusic:
“Pressing Down” Satori, The Woods (Cold Spring Records)
‘The Kill”
“Post Mortem”
“Heavy Sadist” Psychopath, The Final Bow“The Entity” Satori, Kanishibari (Cold Spring Records)
”This Is Concrete” The Happy Citizen
The recording "How things used to be in Margate" at 0:51 used by kind permission of Stuart Fowkes/Cities And Memory. (https://citiesandmemory.com/)
Links
Cold Spring Records
https://coldspring.co.uk/Satori
https://satori-industrial.bandcamp.com/Mindscan Tapes
https://www.discogs.com/label/18022-Mindscan-TapesAVAILABLE NOW:
Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90
14 nocturnal tracks of ambient, tape collage, industrial and improv, now on Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (http://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The British Library Sound Archive Calls
9 februari 2025 · 11 min
We share the news of the preservation of the Cassette Culture podcast by the British Library Sound Archive and talk about some upcoming interviews. Lees meer
Coming Next: Psychedelia in the Home Counties with Richard Allen of Delerium Records, and Texas' ND fanzine and label with Daniel Plunkett, plus the evolution of experimental/Industrial music with Davie Kirby of Satori.
Our new "Cassette Culture" stickers get unboxed ready for distribution to anywhere we can get them.
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham
Links
Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90
14 nocturnal tracks of ambient, tape collage, industrial and improv, now on Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (http://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Underground 'Zines And The Hunt For Lost Music
9 januari 2025 · 25 min
The Vital fanzine evolved from hand typed, xeroxed pages to pioneering online distribution, and connected artists from the USA and Europe. Lees meer
We dive into an interview with Frans de Waard, creator of the Dutch fanzine Vital and the Korm Plastics label to talk about his journey of collaboration in the underground cassette scene. Covering his early zine projects like Nul Nul, growing his label network, work with renowned record store and experimental music label, Staalplaat, and steps into authoring books about experimental music and zines.
Our final segment follows the next steps of Discogs Detective, Tom Gibbs as he travels the UK South Coast to track down members of enigmatic ’80’s improvisors, Omega Ensemble.
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham.
VIDEO
You can find video of some of the fanzines and cassette releases we discuss in this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastGuests:
Frans de Waard (Vital/Korm Plastics)
Tom Gibbs (Infinite Expanse)Theme Music: "This Is Concrete" The Happy Citizen
Featured Music:
The Haters, “Performance 12 01 1989”, Puinhoop
Blackhumour “Weeds in Barren Soil”, Poetry
John Hudak “The Talk”, Brainbox
Arcane Device “Live at the Clocktower 27 04 1989” Six
Ios Smoulders “Composition Nr121”, Abstract Art
Big City Orchestra “The Smart Thing”, Everyman is a Volume.All music released on cassette by Korm Plastics (https://www.kormplastics.nl/)
“Piece 2” by the Omega Ensemble, Sil Lim Tao
Links
Vital Weekly (https://www.vitalweekly.net/)
Vital: The Complete Collection book (https://www.kormplastics.nl/vital-the-complete-collection-1987-1995/)AVAILABLE NOW
Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90
14 nocturnal tracks of ambient, tape collage, industrial and improv, now on Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (http://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Ca…
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The Package From Steve Arrives
28 december 2024 · 27 min
Unboxing a Cassette Time Capsule sent to us from Steve Gears in the UK. Lees meer
We find a treasure trove of rare cassette culture artifacts from the 1980s and 90s. From handmade fanzines and photocopied flyers to quirky cassette releases, this episode transports you back to the DIY underground music scene of the pre-digital era.
Martin and Hudson unpack the goodies sent from The Happy Citizen's Steve Gears in Manchester UK and talk through the flyers, tapes and letters inside this amazing time capsule. This is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by music history and the evolution of independent music distribution.
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham.
Featured Music:
"Incision" Sirius B, (Steve's compilation cassette)
"Track name" Remarimba, (Cordelia Records)
"Church Of Pain" Media: Premonitions, Bad News Bible, (Premonitions Tapes)AVAILABLE NOW: The project that started it all. "Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90" is now home on our own Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90
Podcast produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Cassettes On The Radio: Underground Broadcasting
23 december 2024 · 25 min
1980’s cassette networking branched out into independent radio shows, physical meet ups and gigs. For 14 years Sandy Nys ran his radio show on Antwerp's Radio Centraal, amplifying and connecting the scene. Through these connections, he ran his 3RioArt label, launched Belgian EBM influencers, The Klinik and later, electronic ritual collective, Hybryds. Lees meer
Mindscan Tapes label owner Rob Maycock talks about quickly building international networks and collaborations with Treble King in the USA and Nostalgia Eternelle in France, plus his connection to a 1988 release on the fledgling Cold Spring label.
Discogs stalker, Internet Detective and Infinite Expanse founder, Tom Gibbs makes progress in his contemporary search for the elusive Omega Ensemble members.
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham.
Guests:
Sandy Nys/Hybryds
Rob Maycock/Mindscan Tapes
Tom Gibbs/Infinite ExpanseFeatured Music:
Remarimba "B Bag" (Cordelia Records Sampler 4th Ed.) 1989
Omega Ensemble "Piece 1" (Demo) 1988
"Intro" (Aural Augasm #7)
Attrition "Beast Of Burden" (International Audio Communication Vol#1) 1983
Satori "23 Voodoo" (Mindscan Tapes) 1988AVAILABLE NOW: Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90
14 nocturnal tracks of ambient, tape collage, industrial and improv, now on Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (http://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Chance Connections - He Got Talking To This Guy In The Record Store
9 december 2024 · 22 min
Steve Gears (Pharoah Chromium Sound/The Happy Citizen), Richard Talbot (Marconi Union) and Tom Gibbs, (Infinite Expanse) take us further down the rabbit hole in this episode. We even got hold of some archive radio recording from “On The Wire” on BBC Radio Lancashire in 1989. Lees meer
Cassette-era music comes from:
Sirius B, Basie V. Webster, Marconi Union, Richter Band and Omega Ensemble
First, we talk to Steve Gears, the founder of the Pharoah Chromium Sound label, who shares how he stumbled upon this vibrant community and the thrill of receiving contributions from like-minded artists through the mail. Gears recounts the collaborative spirit that fuelled the creation of his own projects, like Happy Citizen,
Richard Talbot, one half of the acclaimed group Marconi Union, reveals how his chance connections in the cassette network ultimately led to the formation of the band, demonstrating the serendipitous nature of these underground musical relationships.
Infinite Expanse label founder Tom Gibbs, takes us on his journey from beginning his label as a YouTube channel. Gibbs' passion for unearthing these forgotten gems leads to his quest to find the remaining members of lo-fi improvisors, the Omega Ensemble.
Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham.
Guests:
Steve Gears/Pharoah Chromium Sound
Richard Talbot/Marconi Union
Tom Gibbs/Infinite Expanse
Featured Music:
Sirius B "Incision" A Tender Tension (Pharoah Chrome Sound) 1989
Basie V. Webster "Untitled" A Tender Tension (Pharoah Chrome Sound) 1989
Marconi Union "The Contact" Under Wires And Searchlights (Self Released) 2003
Richter Band "Čínský Potůček / Poloviční Chytání" Smetana (Infinite Expanse) 2024
Omega Ensemble "Piece 6" Sil Lim Tao (Self Released) 1988
Available Now: The compilation tape that started it all:
Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90
14 nocturnal tracks of ambient, tape collage, industrial and improv, now on Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitio… -
Find The Others
25 november 2024 · 19 min
A decade before the widespread adoption of the internet, a group of artists and musicians established an underground network to share their work with kindred spirits via the mail system. Lees meer
Starting our story from a dark, isolated UK in the late 1980's, with mass youth unemployment. We take a journey with some key figures from the Cassette Scene, who provide a firsthand account of the collaborative spirit and sense of discovery that permeated the cassette culture scene.
Guests:
Martin Franklin/SoundImage Tapes
Don Campau/No Pidgeonholes
Sandy Nys/Hybryds
Richard Talbot/Marconi Union
Rob Maycock/Mindscan TapesFeatured Music:
"This is Concrete" by The Happy Citizen (A Tender Tension, Pharoah Chromium Sound, 1990)
"Untitled" by Vitamin B12 (Premonitions, SoundImage Tapes, 1990)
"Piece 6" by The Omega Ensemble (Omega Ensemble)
"Sahara" by Richard Talbot (Devices & Desires, SoundImage Tapes 1991)AVAILABLE NOW: The project that started it all.
"Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90" is now home on our own Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Analog Connections - Join The Cassette Network
16 november 2024 · 2 min
Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, our travel through the underground cassette network departs from the bleak 1980's Thatcher-era UK, community radio and fanzines, and all points in a journey to a thriving self sustaining culture. Communication was valued over commerce. Lees meer
For two decades the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork under the radar of main stream media.
We track down some key figures in the cassette scene, and follow the web of connections outward from the UK around the world, mapping the impacts and their ongoing effects.
We speak with musicians, label runners, and fanzine writers, who share their experiences of connecting through the mail system and its ongoing effects on their lives.
Notes:
In this episode you hear the voices of Don Campau, Rob Maycock, Sandy Nys.
Presented by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham.
Music by: The Happy Citizen, The Vitamin B12, Omega Ensemble, Attrition, Richter Band.VIDEO
You can find video of some of the fanzines and cassette releases we discuss in this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcastAVAILABLE NOW: The project that started it all
Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989-90
14 nocturnal tracks of ambient, tape collage, industrial and improv, now on Bandcamp. https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90Podcast produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au)
Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.