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Tag Archives: house of tapes

New House Of Tapes: “Noise Attack”

Recently on Twitter, I saw someone write (and I paraphrase) that expecting dance music to be about anything more than dancing or fucking is ridiculous. Nagoya’s House Of Tapes envision another use on new song “Noise Attack” – sonic assault. True to its name, “Noise Attack” is an often unrelenting but always engaging listen, every detail of the song sounding interesting even if they also come off as a bit off-putting. Whereas House Of Tapes’ other new track “For Rainbow” is a pleasant bit of minimal house music that is also a bit unchallenging, “Noise Attack” definitely leaves an impression. It all opens with a crackling sound reminiscent of TV static, an initial endurance test that lurks in the background for most of the song. Some off-kilter synths come in and then the beat, and for a bit, this song doesn’t sound that abrasive. Then come another set of synths, these ones pricklier and more unsettling. From there, “Noise Attack” goes through a few more passages, all of which would feel at home soundtracking a Gaspar Noé film. Listen below.

New House Of Tapes: “Chaos Tape” And “Midnight Echo”

Nagoya’s House Of Tapes makes “house music,” but that’s simplifying the situation way too much. Up to now, his music has sounded claustrophobic, his rush of synths and beats practically sucking all traces of light from the music. House Of Tapes’ two latest songs continue the vacuum-like effect – despite both “Chaos Tape” and “Midnight Echo” featuring sunny bell chimes, these tracks are ultimately heavy affairs, even the laser-like electronics covered in shadows. I could picture both of these played in a club, but only late into the night, when everything starts spinning around a little too violently. Listen below.

Make Believe Mix June 2012

This might be the most Kansai-centric edition of the Make Believe Mix, a nice sampler of sounds from all around Japan just in time for the summer. It starts with Tokyo’s LLLL before shifting to Osaka’s Post Modern Team. From there, we stick around in the city to listen to the recently formed Foodie and Les Glass Glace. Our stay in the region ends with Stuck In Summer’s “You,” and then it is a short train ride to Nagoya to check in on House Of Tapes. Last, we jet all the way to the western edge of the country, to check out Fukuoka’s Breezesquad and his remix of a Little Boots song.

Below is a list of artists and songs appearing in this month’s mix, in chronological order. Click the links to read more about them and find out how to buy/get their music. All artists featured gave me permission to include their music in this mix.

LLLL “Spider Web” – From the “Spider Web/Drafting Still” digital single. Get it here.

Post Modern Team “Heartbreak” – Online release. Get it here.

Foodie “Red Flash” – Online release. Listen here.

Les Glass Glace “Sumorsaete Daydream” – Online release. Listen here.

Stuck In Summer “You” – From the Stuck In Summer EP. Get it here.

House Of Tapes “Another Space” – Online release. Listen here.

Breezesquad “Shake” (Remix of a Little Boots’ track) – Online release. Get here.

Headphones Please: House Of Tapes

Nagoya project House Of Tapes’ music can probably be enjoyed via speakers, whether they be high-end or of the laptop variety. I’d test it, but everyone in my apartment complex is probably sleeping right now. Regardless, House Of Tapes should be experienced on headphones because it sounds terrifying that way. I use “terrifying” in the best way possible – most house music aims to have the listener moving (an admirable goal, of course) but House Of Tapes wants to crush the listener with noise. “Another Space” opens with what at first brush seems like a safe enough four-on-the-floor beat, but then the electronic strokes soon glide across and become more and more compressing, some of the digital burbles in the mix sounding like something fit for a Stanley Kubrick movie. “Starting Point” continues House Of Tapes’ sonic crushing, the revving noises tightening around your ears before bursts of green light emerge. Imagine the walls closing in on you, but in an enjoyable sort of way.