I'm super sick of the retro NYC new wave/punk revival trend and would rather just listen to Television, et. al. But dammed if this Elefant CD, which kinda fits that genre, doesn't just completely rise above most of it's peers with some way above average songwriting. But this is Tape Op, not Songwriter magazine, and the recording by Tom Clapp at Dangerous Music is pretty stellar as well. Lots of cool, unique sounds on each song, and not at all too retro or lo-fi. Mastering was by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound. (Kemado Records)
Music Reviews | No. 35
Copying Machine Music
by Larry Crane
Dr. Stefan Helmreich recorded the rhythmic sounds of photocopy machines on a Realistic Minisette-20, manipulating the sounds in an Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus. The songs have titles like "Xerox 5828". This...