Cassette Culture

East Coast Studio
Cassette Culture

For two decades during the 80's-90's, the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media. Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, our travel through the 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.   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.

  1. Post-Punk Publishing, with Attrition and Adventures In Reality

    2D AGO

    Post-Punk Publishing, with Attrition and Adventures In Reality

    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. 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. FEATURING - 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 1983Attrition “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 RecordingsAttrition “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 Maria” The Black Maria - Two Gods (2025) LINKS Attrition (https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/music) | (https://attrition.co.uk)Adventures In Reality (https://adventuresinreality.bigcartel.com/) "Adventures In Reality, The Complete Collection" book reprints all issues of the fanzine in a 500 page softbound book. Order directly from Alan Rider via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alan.rider.161) See the ARR ZX Spectrum program from "The Last Supper" on YouTube:https://www.journaldulapin.com/2023/01/12/last-supper-spectrum/ THANKS TO:Steve Cammack for the “The Elephant Table” vinyl.https://remuhmuration.blogspot.com/ Our old chums at SoundArt Radio 102.5FM for digitising services.https://soundartradio.org.uk/ AVAILABLE NOW"Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989 - 90" SoundImage Tapes cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com   *Cassette Culture* is produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio. (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au)     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min
  2. Wild Planet 1983: The World Gets Weirder

    APR 4

    Wild Planet 1983: The World Gets Weirder

    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. 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 HENDERSONA 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, Righteous Hosted by Martin FranklinTheme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen. VIDEOWe'll be publishing our 'Unboxing" of a vintage copy of Sounds from May 1983 - with the original Wild Planet feature, on our YouTube channel.https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast THANKS TO:Steve Cammack for the “The Elephant Table” vinyl.https://remuhmuration.blogspot.com/ Our old chums at SoundArt Radio 102.5FM for digitising services.https://soundartradio.org.uk/ MUSIC23 Skidoo, Hacienda Live (Remix)SPK “Despair” The Elephant Table, X Tract (1983)Hawkwind “Phone Home, Elliot” Live at UK Electronica Festival, bootleg tape (1983)Attrition “Dream Sleep” The Elephant TableKonstruktivits “Andropov 84, The Elephant TableCabaret Voltaire “Voice Of America”, Live Granada TV 1980Cabaret Voltaire “Seconds Too Late” Berkeley Keystone 25.10.80Einsturzende Neubauten, Live ICA unreleased cassette (1984)   "Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989 - 90" SoundImage Tapes cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com Podcast produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/)     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min
  3. Universe Of The Wyrd: The Cold Spring Story

    MAR 18

    Universe Of The Wyrd: The Cold Spring Story

    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. 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 FranklinTheme music: ”This Is Concrete” The Happy Citizen MUSIC 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 Spring Recordshttps://coldspring.co.uk/https://coldspring.bandcamp.com/ Rabbits Wear Bootshttps://rabbitswearboots.bandcamp.com/ Hybrydshttps://hybrydsmusic.bandcamp.com/   "Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989 - 90" SoundImage Tapes cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com Podcast produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  4. Contact-Exchange-Document: The Story of ND

    MAR 4

    Contact-Exchange-Document: The Story of ND

    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. 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=rIjpg9a1IuUDan 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 FranklinTheme music: ”This Is Concrete” The Happy Citizen Music 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 Spiegelman (Los Angeles, CA, USA) ND7 “Psychotic” Die Form (Cassette Issue) Maeror Tri “Desiderium” Myein ND CD008Now available from Infinite Fog Productions  Jeff Grienke - ND Fragment 01   Links End Of An Ear(https://endofanear.com/) Year Zero Records/Phillip Johnson(https://year-zero-records.blogspot.com/p/ohilip-johnson.html)Infinite Fog Productions(https://infinitefog.bandcamp.com/)"Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989​-​90" SoundImage Tapes cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com Podcast produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min
  5. Evolution of Noise: The 40 Year Journey of Satori

    FEB 18

    Evolution of Noise: The 40 Year Journey of Satori

    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. 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 sample library of road drill sounds. His early meeting with Justin Mitchell of Cold Spring Records led to his music finding a worldwide audience. Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham. Music: “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/) LinksCold Spring Recordshttps://coldspring.co.uk/ Satorihttps://satori-industrial.bandcamp.com/Mindscan Tapeshttps://www.discogs.com/label/18022-Mindscan-Tapes "Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989​-​90" cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com   Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (http://eastcoaststudio.com.au) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min
  6. Underground 'Zines And The Hunt For Lost Music

    JAN 9

    Underground 'Zines And The Hunt For Lost Music

    The Vital fanzine evolved from hand typed, xeroxed pages to pioneering online distribution, and connected artists from the USA and Europe. 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.Guests: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”, PuinhoopBlackhumour “Weeds in Barren Soil”, PoetryJohn Hudak “The Talk”, BrainboxArcane Device “Live at the Clocktower 27 04 1989” SixIos Smoulders “Composition Nr121”, Abstract ArtBig 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 LinksVital Weekly (https://www.vitalweekly.net/)Vital: The Complete Collection book (https://www.kormplastics.nl/vital-the-complete-collection-1987-1995/) "Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989​-​90" cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com     Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (http://eastcoaststudio.com.au)     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

For two decades during the 80's-90's, the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media. Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, our travel through the 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.   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.

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