The 10 Cassette Labels Keeping Tapes Alive in Germany
the-10-cassette-labels-keeping-tapes-alive-in-germany
May 14, 2015
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# The 10 Cassette Labels Keeping Tapes Alive in Germany
The cassette has played a significant role in international music and
culture since Germans invented the means to mass produce them in the
1960s. Although tape manufacturing scaled back as other mediums rose to
prominence, the cassette has remained an integral medium, especially for
independent artists and especially in Germany, where a scene of
cassette-only record labels has blossomed. Michael Aniser, founder of
the Berlin-based radio show, party series, tape imprint, and
"anti-curatorial" music kulturhaus [Noisekolln][1]{: target="_blank"},
compiled a short summary of some of the country's most exciting tape
outposts and artists.
## [SAMEHEADS TAPE COLLECTION][2]{: target="_blank"}
[SoundCloud Track (204019933)][3]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}
Sameheads is the current hotspot for Neukolln art types. It's a bar,
night-club, artist collective and studio space that local musicians like
Bintus of the hard techno crew Power Vacuum call home. Part of its
popularity derives from its prime location in Berlin's trend capital,
Richardstraße. After years of throwing parties in underground locations
around the city, Sameheads decided to mark their vibrant and volatile
endeavors with physical mementoes distributed by their own in-house
label. Its inaugural release comes courtesy of Andy Votel and, according
to label head Nathan Dukes, there are a lot more on the way.
## [MANSIONS & MILLIONS](www.mansionsandmillions.com){: target="_blank"}
[SoundCloud Track (163657505)][4]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}
Mansions & Millions honchoAnton Teichmann told me he chose to
release cassettes because he likes dubbing an outdated medium with new
content. CDs are pretty much irrelevant and vinyl is too complicated to
produce, so his label aims to capture the leftfield post-indie scene of
the Berlin-Montreal axis (yep, that's a thing) on cassette. The first
offerings come from dream rap outfit Magic Island and weirdo-pop artist
Antoine 93.
## [SICSIC TAPES][5]{: target="_blank"}
[SoundCloud Track (127116826)][6]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}
If you like super faded drones and chill experimental stuff, or if you
occasionally burn some incenses next to your Juno 60, then SicSic might
have just the soundtrack for you, friend. With a catalog that's cranked
out over 70 releases, the Frankfurt-based label has shaped the magnetic
German underground for quite some time. Check out the Alpár/S Olbricht
split as a starting point into its world.
## [CAMP MAGNETICS][7]{: target="_blank"}
[SoundCloud Track (99370727)][8]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}
Tapes are not just a cheap means of production; they're beautiful works
of art! Well, some of them are, like every release from Camp Magnetics.
The boutique label's carefully crafted packaging recalls the golden days
of Cologne minimal house and techno. Erdbeerschnitzel, Popnoname and the
label owners themselves helmed its first releases.
## [GRAFITI TAPES](www.klasserecordings.de/shop/grafiti-tapes-1/){: target="_blank"}
[https://soundcloud.com/lucalozano/grafiti-tapes-2-nug/s-6bTux][9]
Grafiti Tapes is "a new concept" from Berlin's Klasse Recordings crew
that's "primarily concerned with the real deal underground vandalisms"
by combining street art and heavy beats. The first cassette came from
Stilleben boss and wacked-out electro stalwart Luke Eargoggle, but I'm
especially into the second release, which features Swedish spraypainter
NUG, my favorite street artist ever.
## [MANNEQUIN RECORDS](www.mannequinrecords.com/){: target="_blank"}
[SoundCloud Track (171452994)][10]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}
Although Mannequin Records doesn't release cassettes, but its work is
integral to the tape scene. As the label head, Alessandro Adriani has
unearthed many forgotten Italian New Wave and minimal gems,
especially limited edition copies, demos and failed attempts to "make
it" and brought them back to life via re-releases.
## [SMALL BUT HARD][11]{: target="_blank"}
[SoundCloud Track (45057106)][12]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}
Breakcore fans worship at the alter of Berlin-via-Japan label Small But
Hard. Releases from Scotch Bonnet (AKA DJ Scotch Egg) and Walter Gross
push the limits of what you might perceive as "music." You have been
warned.
## [DAS ANDERE SELBST][13]{: target="_blank"}
[Non by Cancelled][14]
Elia Bulletti is probably the most DIY person I know, and I know a lot
of DIY people. His label Das Andere Selbst evokes that vibe you get when
you're hanging out in the park with some artists and someone dabs a beat
on a crate of beer while the fire crackles quietly, and then it starts
to rain so you go into someone's studio and listen to some hardcore
beats.
## [STAALTAPE][15]{: target="_blank"}
Berlin has a lot of high-profile record stores, like Hardwax, Spacehall,
the Record Loft, Bass Cadet, Audio In, Mitte Musik, and so on. Although
Staalplat isn't necessarily one of the most famous shops, there would be
no European noise or experimental underground without it. If you ever
wanted to know what's going on with harsh noise at the moment, or if you
thirst for some field recordings, then this is the place to look. In the
early days, when the retailer was based in the Netherlands, they
established a cassette label that went the way of the dodo as the medium
disappeared. But, as curator Rinus van Alebeek wrote in [this][16]{:
target="_blank"} introductory post, "they are both back again."
## [OYE RECORDS TAPES][17]{: target="_blank"}
One of my favorite Berlin record stores, OYE, launched a ten-part tape
series to "support the Cassette Tape as a great medium for Music still
in 2015" \[sic\] and give its knowledgeable employees a platform to
showcase their favorite records. Each tape is limited to 30 copies, and
if you collect them all, the pictures on the jewel cases make a picture,
which is pretty cute.
[1]: http://noisekoelln.bandcamp.com/
[2]: http://www.sameheads.com
[3]: https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/204019933
[4]: https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/163657505
[5]: https://www.sicsic.de
[6]: https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/127116826
[7]: https://campmagnetics.wordpress.com/
[8]: https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99370727
[9]: https://soundcloud.com/lucalozano/grafiti-tapes-2-nug/s-6bTux
[10]: https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/171452994
[11]: http://www.small-but-hard.com
[12]: https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/45057106
[13]: https://dasandereselbst.bandcamp.com
[14]: http://dasandereselbst.bandcamp.com/album/non
[15]: https://staaltape.wordpress.com
[16]: https://staaltape.wordpress.com/about/
[17]: http://oye-records.com/
---
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title: 'The 10 Cassette Labels Keeping Tapes Alive in Germany'
date: 2015-05-14T10:00:30+02:00
wp_id: '94523'
slug: the-10-cassette-labels-keeping-tapes-alive-in-germany
teaser_image: legacy/the-10-cassette-labels-keeping-tapes-alive-in-germany/greatest-love-story.png
contents:
-
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<p>The cassette has played a significant role in international music and culture since Germans invented the means to mass produce them in the 1960s. Although tape manufacturing scaled back as other mediums rose to prominence, the cassette has remained an integral medium, especially for independent artists and especially in Germany, where a scene of cassette-only record labels has blossomed. Michael Aniser, founder of the Berlin-based radio show, party series, tape imprint, and “anti-curatorial” music kulturhaus <a href="http://noisekoelln.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Noisekolln</a>, compiled a short summary of some of the country’s most exciting tape outposts and artists.</p><h2><a href="http://www.sameheads.com" target="_blank">SAMEHEADS TAPE COLLECTION</a></h2><p><a href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/204019933" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SoundCloud Track (204019933)</a></p><p>Sameheads is the current hotspot for Neukolln art types. It’s a bar, night-club, artist collective and studio space that local musicians like Bintus of the hard techno crew Power Vacuum call home. Part of its popularity derives from its prime location in Berlin’s trend capital, Richardstraße. After years of throwing parties in underground locations around the city, Sameheads decided to mark their vibrant and volatile endeavors with physical mementoes distributed by their own in-house label. Its inaugural release comes courtesy of Andy Votel and, according to label head Nathan Dukes, there are a lot more on the way.</p><h2><a href="www.mansionsandmillions.com" target="_blank">MANSIONS & MILLIONS</a></h2><p><a href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/163657505" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SoundCloud Track (163657505)</a></p><p>Mansions & Millions honchoAnton Teichmann told me he chose to release cassettes because he likes dubbing an outdated medium with new content. CDs are pretty much irrelevant and vinyl is too complicated to produce, so his label aims to capture the leftfield post-indie scene of the Berlin-Montreal axis (yep, that’s a thing) on cassette. The first offerings come from dream rap outfit Magic Island and weirdo-pop artist Antoine 93.</p><h2><a href="https://www.sicsic.de" target="_blank">SICSIC TAPES</a></h2><p><a href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/127116826" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SoundCloud Track (127116826)</a></p><p>If you like super faded drones and chill experimental stuff, or if you occasionally burn some incenses next to your Juno 60, then SicSic might have just the soundtrack for you, friend. With a catalog that’s cranked out over 70 releases, the Frankfurt-based label has shaped the magnetic German underground for quite some time. Check out the Alpár/S Olbricht split as a starting point into its world.</p><h2><a href="https://campmagnetics.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">CAMP MAGNETICS</a></h2><p><a href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99370727" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SoundCloud Track (99370727)</a></p><p>Tapes are not just a cheap means of production; they’re beautiful works of art! Well, some of them are, like every release from Camp Magnetics. The boutique label’s carefully crafted packaging recalls the golden days of Cologne minimal house and techno. Erdbeerschnitzel, Popnoname and the label owners themselves helmed its first releases.</p><h2><a href="www.klasserecordings.de/shop/grafiti-tapes-1/" target="_blank">GRAFITI TAPES</a></h2><p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/lucalozano/grafiti-tapes-2-nug/s-6bTux">https://soundcloud.com/lucalozano/grafiti-tapes-2-nug/s-6bTux</a></p><p>Grafiti Tapes is “a new concept” from Berlin’s Klasse Recordings crew that’s “primarily concerned with the real deal underground vandalisms” by combining street art and heavy beats. The first cassette came from Stilleben boss and wacked-out electro stalwart Luke Eargoggle, but I’m especially into the second release, which features Swedish spraypainter NUG, my favorite street artist ever.</p><h2><a href="www.mannequinrecords.com/" target="_blank">MANNEQUIN RECORDS</a></h2><p><a href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/171452994" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SoundCloud Track (171452994)</a></p><p>Although Mannequin Records doesn’t release cassettes, but its work is integral to the tape scene. As the label head, Alessandro Adriani has unearthed many forgotten Italian New Wave and minimal gems, especially limited edition copies, demos and failed attempts to “make it” and brought them back to life via re-releases.</p><h2><a href="http://www.small-but-hard.com" target="_blank">SMALL BUT HARD</a></h2><p><a href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/45057106" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SoundCloud Track (45057106)</a></p><p>Breakcore fans worship at the alter of Berlin-via-Japan label Small But Hard. Releases from Scotch Bonnet (AKA DJ Scotch Egg) and Walter Gross push the limits of what you might perceive as “music.” You have been warned.</p><h2><a href="https://dasandereselbst.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">DAS ANDERE SELBST</a></h2><p><a href="http://dasandereselbst.bandcamp.com/album/non">Non by Cancelled</a></p><p>Elia Bulletti is probably the most DIY person I know, and I know a lot of DIY people. His label Das Andere Selbst evokes that vibe you get when you’re hanging out in the park with some artists and someone dabs a beat on a crate of beer while the fire crackles quietly, and then it starts to rain so you go into someone’s studio and listen to some hardcore beats.</p><h2><a href="https://staaltape.wordpress.com" target="_blank">STAALTAPE</a></h2><p>Berlin has a lot of high-profile record stores, like Hardwax, Spacehall, the Record Loft, Bass Cadet, Audio In, Mitte Musik, and so on. Although Staalplat isn’t necessarily one of the most famous shops, there would be no European noise or experimental underground without it. If you ever wanted to know what’s going on with harsh noise at the moment, or if you thirst for some field recordings, then this is the place to look. In the early days, when the retailer was based in the Netherlands, they established a cassette label that went the way of the dodo as the medium disappeared. But, as curator Rinus van Alebeek wrote in <a href="https://staaltape.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">this</a> introductory post, “they are both back again.”</p><h2><a href="http://oye-records.com/" target="_blank">OYE RECORDS TAPES</a></h2><p><br>
One of my favorite Berlin record stores, OYE, launched a ten-part tape series to “support the Cassette Tape as a great medium for Music still in 2015” [sic] and give its knowledgeable employees a platform to showcase their favorite records. Each tape is limited to 30 copies, and if you collect them all, the pictures on the jewel cases make a picture, which is pretty cute.</p>
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# The 10 Cassette Labels Keeping Tapes Alive in Germany The cassette has played a significant role in international music and culture since Germans invented the means to mass produce them in the 1960s. Although tape manufacturing scaled back as other mediums rose to prominence, the cassette has ...
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Although tape manufacturing scaled back as other mediums rose to prominence, the cassette has remained an integral medium, especially for independent artists and especially in Germany, where a scene of cassette-only record labels has blossomed. Michael Aniser, founder of the Berlin-based radio sh...
Chunk #3 (Position: 2)
After years of throwing parties in underground locations around the city, Sameheads decided to mark their vibrant and volatile endeavors with physical mementoes distributed by their own in-house label. Its inaugural release comes courtesy of Andy Votel and, according to label head Nathan Dukes, t...
Chunk #4 (Position: 3)
CDs are pretty much irrelevant and vinyl is too complicated to produce, so his label aims to capture the leftfield post-indie scene of the Berlin-Montreal axis (yep, that's a thing) on cassette. The first offerings come from dream rap outfit Magic Island and weirdo-pop artist...
Chunk #5 (Position: 4)
With a catalog that's cranked out over 70 releases, the Frankfurt-based label has shaped the magnetic German underground for quite some time. Check out the Alpár/S Olbricht split as a starting point into its world. ## [CAMP MAGNETICS][7]{: target="_blank"} [SoundCloud Track (99370727)]...
Chunk #6 (Position: 5)
The boutique label's carefully crafted packaging recalls the golden days of Cologne minimal house and techno. Erdbeerschnitzel, Popnoname and the label owners themselves helmed its first releases. ## [GRAFITI TAPES](www.klasserecordings.de/shop/grafiti-tapes-1/){: target="_blank"} ...
Chunk #7 (Position: 6)
## [GRAFITI TAPES](www.klasserecordings.de/shop/grafiti-tapes-1/){: target="_blank"} [https://soundcloud.com/lucalozano/grafiti-tapes-2-nug/s-6bTux][9] Grafiti Tapes is "a new concept" from Berlin's Klasse Recordings crew that's "primarily concerned with the real deal underground vandalisms" by...
Chunk #8 (Position: 7)
## [MANNEQUIN RECORDS](www.mannequinrecords.com/){: target="_blank"} [SoundCloud Track (171452994)][10]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} Although Mannequin Records doesn't release cassettes, but its work is integral to the tape scene. As the label head, Alessandro Adriani has u...
Chunk #9 (Position: 8)
## [SMALL BUT HARD][11]{: target="_blank"} [SoundCloud Track (45057106)][12]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} Breakcore fans worship at the alter of Berlin-via-Japan label Small But Hard. Releases from Scotch Bonnet (AKA DJ Scotch Egg) and Walter Gross push the limits of what y...
Chunk #10 (Position: 9)
## [DAS ANDERE SELBST][13]{: target="_blank"} [Non by Cancelled][14] Elia Bulletti is probably the most DIY person I know, and I know a lot of DIY people. His label Das Andere Selbst evokes that vibe you get when you're hanging out in the park with some artists and someone dabs a beat on a crat...
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