Cassette Gods: HIGGINS - "Stereo" 2xcs (Words+Dreams)

HIGGINS - "Stereo" 2xcs (Words+Dreams)

Mesmerizing new album from the fairly new Zs member Patrick Higgins, and his debut solo outing for Words + Dreams. Stereo is a sporadic three part affair for electric guitar and laptop. Stretched out over two tapes to be played simultaneously on separate players, this album really can't be experienced the same way twice. Try it.

Side A is an aural attack straight from the get go. Higgins doesn't seem to drench his tools in many effects, and there is little to no software trickery whatsoever. "Stereo" starts off with a bit of tame noodling, staggering somewhere between hypnotic psych and free jazz modes. Before long, you are being tapped on both shoulders by the intertwining and sometimes disorienting chords, harsh and heady jabs, and he's just getting started.

Side B is where things get real interesting, Higgins' unique style really comes to life on Pointillist, and a bigger picture starts to unravel. Clusters of harmonics bounce from side to side and the short bursts of notes become more sustained and haunting. A few harsh drones make their way into the mix on Estancia before things drop out into silence. Pure ear candy. Recommended.

Get yours from http://www.wordsplusdrea.ms

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How to put out a tape, how to become a Cassette God, show reviews, other musings: EDITORIALS

It should be obvious, this is a webzine we created to put cassette releases and the format of cassette itself on a pedestal. We are not doing this to be some sort of cassette snob, more-DIY-than-thou elitists or anything. We are doing it because all the formats that sound can be presented on are exciting and provide unique ways of shaping the listeners experience... so it is a shame that any one of these formats would fall by the wayside. Cassettes provide a listening experience that is similar to vinyl because of the intermission/moment of pause created by changing sides of the tape, but can be of almost any length between 30 seconds a side to an hour. Tapes can also be listened to in a car or while jogging.
While today this format helps keep the home label alive, its almost a dream to remember that once every musician from Michael Jackson to REM had their releases on cassette. Cassettes were a legitimate format, not just for the DIY underground. Maybe we (thats you too) are the last guardians of this format. Maybe someone, someday will popularize cassettes again. In the meantime we keep the reels turning. A little offering because at least there are a few of you that know there is more than one god of this land.

-- first CG post by Brian Miller April 2007