35 Tapes (for those who appreciate reto-tinged prog)

Prog Head

Member
Many newcomers are inspired by their musical heroes, when cutting the very first album. And 35 TAPES is yet another unit confirming this principle. That being said, their CD 'Lost & Found' sounds like a refined blend rather than a blatant copy. This Norwegian group is made up of: Morten Lund (electric and acoustic guitars, lapsteel, sitar, keyboards, vocals, Mellotron M 400), Jarle Wangen (bass, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals), and Bjorn Stokkeland (drums). In April 2019, the core members - assisted by guest percussionist Andreas Eriksen - unveil a solid record featuring admirable soundscapes in abundance. From the structural point of view, the material gives us a throwback to the golden age of prog-rock, though it was written in a present tense. This debut offer is composed by four songs which make a total time of 43 minutes. Please, never mind its duration - just value the high quality of a teamwork that's featuring impeccable musicianship combined with heartfelt vocals. The opener 'Travel', starts off with a tremendous guitar soloing that resembles Nick Barrett (Pendragon). To illuminate things further, the band use two basic influences then. Particularly. A short intro gently fades out into the enticing beauty of trademark Camel style, where emotive singing starts to roam. Morten Lund has a fine voice, and can get additional marks for that. Meanwhile, the musical themes continue to change, whilst keeping a grand appeal. After one and a half minutes, the vibe of this piece evolves into the trademark Genesis signature. Accents are absolutely obvious, evoking memories of ‘A Trick of The Tail’ era. As the song moves along, it continuies to sport perfectly-crafted pairing of Genesis and Camel. Both lhe lead vocals and harmonies are impeccable, therefore I like the swapping lines between Morten Lund and Jarle Wangen too. As a whole, it's a fabulous beginning of the album.The next plot titled ‘Circles’ unveils quite original combination of George Harrison and Camel. Actually, this approach works well since it allows the soft contrast in the music to give some changes. The song progresses at a sedate pace, well suited for the sliding guitar performance. Here, the special atmosphere is build up. The voices of Jarle Wangen and Morten Lund revolve around each other. And as before, the interaction of all instruments and singing provides the completeness. The following ‘Wasteland’ is certain to attract with its well placed changeovers. While Yes would be a good point of reference, Spock's Beard is another comparison. Noteworthy are excellent instrumental meanderings complemented by sensitive vocals. I also noticed some jazzy snippets and quirky sound effects. Possessing a sophisticated construction, the epic track ‘Mushrooms’ lasts more than 19 minutes with lots of excitement going on. Though I can't pinpoint all the influences, but The Fab Four, Genesis, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, IQ and Marillion (to name a few) should be there. The fact that two different members contribute vocals and harmonies, give this song an extra sense of diversity which helps to keep it interesting over the long haul… To conclude: 35 TAPES have done a great job here, and their CD 'Lost & Found' offers a lot for a listener to digest and enjoy. RECOMMENDED!

https://www.apollonrecords.no/product-page/35-tapes-lost-found-cd?fbclid


35 Tapes 2019.jpg
 

Prog Head

Member
Prog Head said:
[FONT=&quot] The opener 'Travel', starts off with a tremendous guitar soloing that resembles Nick Barrett (Pendragon). To illuminate things further, the band use two basic influences then. Particularly. A short intro gently fades out into the enticing beauty of trademark Camel style, where emotive singing starts to roam. Morten Lund has a fine voice, and can get additional marks for that. Meanwhile, the musical themes continue to change, whilst keeping a grand appeal. After one and a half minutes, the vibe of this piece evolves into the trademark Genesis signature. Accents are absolutely obvious, evoking memories of ‘A Trick of The Tail’ era. As the song moves along, it continuies to sport perfectly-crafted pairing of Genesis and Camel. Both lhe lead vocals and harmonies are impeccable, therefore I like the swapping lines between Morten Lund and Jarle Wangen too. As a whole, it's a fabulous beginning of the album. [/FONT]
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Just give a listen and then decide for yourselves. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVfxrho33WU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=
 

Prog Head

Member
The coming months of this year, 35 TAPES should start to work on the material for their second studio album with intended release date somewhere in 2020. :cool:
 

Prog Head

Member
Prog Head said:
A follow-up studio release titled 'Home' is slated for Fall 2020. There'll be six tracks in the set.
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Just want to give you a short update as 35 Tapes have got most everything done. The guys are excited about their new record. Alas, the virus situation is ruining the logistics and release schedule. :(
 

Prog Head

Member
Prog Head said:
Just want to give you a short update as 35 Tapes have got most everything done. The guys are excited about their new record. Alas, the virus situation is ruining the logistics and release schedule. :(
Click to expand...

As far as I can figure, the band has opted to unveil CD 'Home' in February 2021.
 
John Watt

John Watt

Member
Prog Head: John Watt here, after two years.
I had two new members provoking me and without any questioning or warning here,
my posts became invisible for other members and my posts stopped getting seen for other members.
The one member who I suspect of complaining about me,
six months after I stopped visiting here, began to send me email to my personal account.
He wanted me to send him recordings of me playing along with his recordings.
After explaining what he needed to do so his recording were worth playing along to,
he stopped, starting up again six months later with the same thing happening.

I'm here to experiment as much as post about the music you describe,
sending a message to Krummhorn to ask about what I can be doing here now.

I found rareware, an English online company that has interesting product.
I finally found McCoy Tyners' "Echoes of a Friend" on CD, ordering that as my first online debit card purchase.
If that arrives I'll be ordering some more.
I've been listening to Frederik Magle on You Tube, commenting there, and that's okay.
I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.

as always, John Watt
 

Prog Head

Member
Prog Head said:
Reviews are starting to show up.
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Let's embarking on the brief description. :)

Two years on the heels of their excellent debut release, 35 TAPES crank out a sophomore album 'Home'. As was to be expected, it's a quality teamwork, where the instrumental prowness and heartfelt singing communicate very well. In terms of musical approach, Norwegian band recreate the vibe of the early-to-mid 1970's, that stands in stark contrast to the 'fury' of modern prog-rock scene. Imagine a melange of Camel and Genesis - this can give you a flavour of what to expect here. It is all about details, construction and embodiment. I also hear aesthetics of Yes to some extent. The other influences or references are less notable. Actually, 35 Tapes represent a delicate hybrid, rather than a blatant copy. Based on the old-school ingredients, the eight original compositions use a sonic palette that fits in mellow symphonesque prog, packed with goodness. Everything is underpinned by a sense of melody, while the music moves through different areas for comfortable feel. To conclude, one minor remark about new album. My own personal wish would be for the band to reveal a mult-part epic here, giving the set an extra dimension. That said, this is a pleasant album and well worth a try.

 
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