Quality Quirky Indie
Tapes 'N Tapes came to the attention of the majority of music fans after SXSW a couple of years back, when their debut album went on to impress critics, however they soon became one of those bands that were praised and then forgotten, so it's great to see them back with a new crop of fresh, dreamy indie. While Tapes 'N Tapes were away last year their crown of rough round the edges American rock was filled by Cold War Kids, another one of those bands that instantly impress but are quite quickly misplaced in our minds as soon as they leave the scene, however with Tapes 'N Tapes comes a little quirkiness that may just bode well for longevity.
There are glorious fuzz rock anthems like the careering, 'Headshock', while real gem 'Hang Them All' has an insistent shuddering indie beat with frantic, scrabbling guitar riffs and impassioned vocals keeping it clean above waves of scuzzy guitars and fuzzed up writhing riffs. 'Demon Apple' sports a rollicking 60's swagger in its chunky bassline, crunching guitarwork and shimmering sections of soft shoegazing.
With titles like, 'George Michael' there are plenty of times when you wish you could make out the flood of lyrics from amidst the sweeping synths and jangly beats, but they're just that little bit too elusive and bedded into the overall sunny, shimmering tone. 'Anvil' has a country swing to its cowbell-embellished rhythm, twinkling with searing slide guitar over a sparse regular guitar melody, while 'Lines' shows off a military drumbeat pulsing beneath its shoegazing indie meanderings.
If quirky indie with jangly beats, fuzzy fury and shimmering shoegazing is your thing, then Tapes 'N Tapes will quickly find their way into your heart. This new album is perhaps a little less immediate than their debut, but full of tunes that you will grow to love.