Tape Op No.27 Jan/Feb 2002 Under the Radar By: Matt Mair Lowery Various Artists Radio De-Construction Vol.3 (Cassette) This terrific compilation has something for everyone (textbook indie rock, layered pop, country heartbreak, retro surf, etc.). Just as diverse are the ways the bands on the tape recorded their various contributions. Dilute recorded their track "Bea" at the Annex in Menlo Park on a Studer A827 at "15 ips, +9 over185nW/m, no noise reduction". Though in the studio, it still was a DIY production. Jay Pellicci says "We don't have anyone running the tape machine, so it was a lot of running in and out of the control room cueing tape, fixing headphone levels." The song was recorded live (except for vocals) with the drums in a separate room, but with the door connecting the guitar room and the drum room left wide open. This and ambient mics on both of the guitars and the drums accentuate the live feel. Bow Roethke's "Case of Confectionery" was recorded on a Tascam Ports03 4-track in an empty, carpeted guest room "in a house when nobody was home, which was not often, and we had to finish it all within a month" said Bow Roethke's Dave. In addition to an SM58, some karaoke mics were employed, as well as an old pair of headphones that were used to mic the kick drum. Mics were run through a Samson Mix Pad for more inputs and Eqing options, and a Korg Pandora's Box (PX2) was used to add "any reverb, echo, chorus or whatever else was needed." The result: catchy. Intimate pop. And only once did an angry neighbor pound on the window with a rake and tell them to turn it down. The brief "Pee You Double Eff" by Transitor Killer employs only a computer text reader (by Simple Text) captured by a Sony TCM-359V recorder (masterful use of tape speed controls!) and a Panasonic Mini Cassette Recorder to relay a hilarious ode to Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page that you don't want to miss. $4 c/o: www.emptyview.com or email emptyview@hotmail.com back to press main page