The Cassettes
Encyclopedia
The Cassettes are a Washington, DC based "Mystic Country"/Steampunk
band formed in 1999.
’s four-track recordings
: odd pop nuggets that diverged from the teeth-gritting angst of his previous project, Frodus
. The son of Romania
n refugees who fled from the Iron Curtain
in search of the America
of Jazz Era music and films, Cinca was indelibly influenced by both his pianist father, who played in clubs off the coast of the Black Sea
in the 1960s, and his mother, an author, film critic and Elvis fan. The songs of the Cassettes undoubtedly reflect this heritage and themselves had served as a sort of sonic refuge from the hectic touring schedule of the punk rock
lifestyle. The band members have described the band's sound as "steampunk", and also as "synth-infused country stomp".
As originally formed, the troupe consisted of members of Dead Meadow
(Steve Killie, Stephen McCarty) and Weird War
, and remained together long enough to produce two albums which pulled from classic rock n' roll influences of such bands as Badfinger
, Wings
, Big Star
, and T. Rex
. The albums were released both in the United States and abroad. However, this initial group of collaborators members were unexpectedly called onto other travels and they parted ways with good wishes upon the eve of their debut album's release. In the months after the release of the eponymous first album and just before the release of the already completed second album, The Cassettes' line-up began to evolve.
In late 2002, Shelby contacted D.C.-area musician Saadat Awan
, who had years before pledged his percussion skills to the band, should he ever be needed. Having spent periods of his childhood with his parents in Pakistan
, Awan had begun delving into the art of tabla, a percussion instrument used for centuries in the music of the South Asian subcontinent. He was quickly put to work learning the drum lines from the earlier music and before long had augmented the band's sound with his own vocals and tabla
playing. At this time Shelby made a decision to steer the future of the band's sound towards a more experimental sound influenced by The Beatles
' White Album
. In an attempt to approach things differently he switched to playing a Resonator Guitar
and focused on fingerpicking to compensate for lack of bass guitar and to augment Saadat's unique rhythmic stylings. The band's 2006 album was described by Allmusic writer Margaret Reges as "a rollicking air-balloon ride over a landscape dotted with greasy resonator guitars, screaming accordions, and trippy theremins".
Having moved to Washington D.C. from the depths of Louisiana
sometime in 1998, close friend and kindred soul Stephen Guidry was recruited to record on some demo songs being produced in the Norwegian Cabin (a studio locale in Arlington, Virginia). His journey away from the swampy flatlands had originally been for the sake of university scholarship, but it was the music that kept him in the District (though his mind often wandered back to his family farm at Pointe Blue). Within a few months, he had joined the band as an official member on analogue synthesizer and Cajun-style accordion. The trio would be in Europe
within the year, touring in support of O'er the Mountain (2003).
In the meantime, however, even before their trip to Europe, at their second show in the states as a trio, there had been a moment of prescience as an indirect result of Stephen having forgotten his power supply somewhere in Virginia
. Arthur Harrison (who also played with Stephen in the DC based cabaret
troupe, The Parlor Scouts) was in the vicinity of the show and happened to have one of his theremins in his car, was recruited on the spot to fill in for Stephen's missing keyboard sounds. Although his exact history is shrouded in mystery, Harrison had been making electronic music in the DC area since at least the 1980s and had spent years perfecting his oscillators and theremins. He was performing with just these instruments at a planetarium
when he was met by Stephen and later, Shelby. As proved by his impromptu performance, the affinity between the group was unmistakable and Arthur would end up officially joining the band at the end of 2003.
The Cassettes continued to hone their sound, diligently recording new material, refining previously recorded works, and consistently playing on the eastern seaboard of the United States. In 2006 they signed to Buddyhead Records
after completion of their 3-years in making the album entitled "'Neath The Pale Moon" which brought long-time Frodus producer Jonathan Kreinik
(Conglomerate International) back into the fold to refine The Cassettes' synth-infused country stomp.
In 2008, after earlier albums had been released only on CD, the band released their first cassette, Countach, packaged with a toy car and horse. Cinca said of the release: "The artwork and even the music I would say is inspired by connecting to our 'inner children' to kind of make the album we would have wanted to make when we were 12."
2010 saw the release of a rarities album entitled "Writing Analog Letters" on the band's own label Chapeau Records as well as the purchase of their "'Neath The Pale Moon" from their previous label Buddyhead. An updated re-release of said album appeared on the band's Bandcamp page and the band began playing again in 2011 as well as announced plans to record a new album at Guidry's family farm in November 2011. In April 2011, the band released a 7" EP and digital download entitled "I've Been Gone Far Too Long..." on Flannel Gurl Records.
Previous Members:
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
band formed in 1999.
History
The Cassettes were originally formed as an outgrowth of front-man Shelby CincaShelby Cinca
Shelby Serban-Alex Cinca is a Romania-born musician, one of the founding members of the DC post-punk band Frodus and the vaudevillian steampunk band, The Cassettes. He has also been a part of such bands as Frantic Mantis and Decahedron...
’s four-track recordings
Portastudio
The TASCAM Portastudio was the world's first four track recorder based on a standard compact audio cassette tape.When the original Portastudio 144 made its debut in 1979 it was a revolutionary creative tool...
: odd pop nuggets that diverged from the teeth-gritting angst of his previous project, Frodus
Frodus
Frodus was a 1990s Washington, D.C.-based post-hardcore band, described by critics as a mixture of math rock, hardcore punk, and alternative rock. Their songs were frequently dark and dissonant...
. The son of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n refugees who fled from the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
in search of the America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of Jazz Era music and films, Cinca was indelibly influenced by both his pianist father, who played in clubs off the coast of the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
in the 1960s, and his mother, an author, film critic and Elvis fan. The songs of the Cassettes undoubtedly reflect this heritage and themselves had served as a sort of sonic refuge from the hectic touring schedule of the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
lifestyle. The band members have described the band's sound as "steampunk", and also as "synth-infused country stomp".
As originally formed, the troupe consisted of members of Dead Meadow
Dead Meadow
Dead Meadow is an American hard rock band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1998. Currently comprising vocalist and guitarist Jason Simon, bassist Steve Kille and drummer Mark Laughlin, the band has released five studio albums and one live album.-Biography:...
(Steve Killie, Stephen McCarty) and Weird War
Weird War (band)
Weird War, briefly known as Scene Creamers, is an eclectic funk punk band based out of Washington, D.C.. The current lineup consists of Ian Svenonius on vocals, Michelle Mae on bass guitar, Alex Minoff on guitar, and Sebastian Thomson on drums....
, and remained together long enough to produce two albums which pulled from classic rock n' roll influences of such bands as Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
, Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
, Big Star
Big Star
Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. The group broke up in 1974, but reorganized with a new line-up nearly 20 years later...
, and T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
. The albums were released both in the United States and abroad. However, this initial group of collaborators members were unexpectedly called onto other travels and they parted ways with good wishes upon the eve of their debut album's release. In the months after the release of the eponymous first album and just before the release of the already completed second album, The Cassettes' line-up began to evolve.
In late 2002, Shelby contacted D.C.-area musician Saadat Awan
Saadat Awan
Saadat Awan is a Washington DC native, by way of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is a member of The Cassettes, Metropolitan band, and Thievery Corporation side projects International Velvet and I.C.U...
, who had years before pledged his percussion skills to the band, should he ever be needed. Having spent periods of his childhood with his parents in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Awan had begun delving into the art of tabla, a percussion instrument used for centuries in the music of the South Asian subcontinent. He was quickly put to work learning the drum lines from the earlier music and before long had augmented the band's sound with his own vocals and tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
playing. At this time Shelby made a decision to steer the future of the band's sound towards a more experimental sound influenced by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' White Album
The Beatles (album)
The Beatles is the ninth official album by the English rock group The Beatles, a double album released in 1968. It is also commonly known as "The White Album" as it has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed on its plain white sleeve.The album was written and recorded during a...
. In an attempt to approach things differently he switched to playing a Resonator Guitar
Resonator guitar
A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones instead of the wooden sound board . Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than conventional acoustic guitars which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion...
and focused on fingerpicking to compensate for lack of bass guitar and to augment Saadat's unique rhythmic stylings. The band's 2006 album was described by Allmusic writer Margaret Reges as "a rollicking air-balloon ride over a landscape dotted with greasy resonator guitars, screaming accordions, and trippy theremins".
Having moved to Washington D.C. from the depths of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
sometime in 1998, close friend and kindred soul Stephen Guidry was recruited to record on some demo songs being produced in the Norwegian Cabin (a studio locale in Arlington, Virginia). His journey away from the swampy flatlands had originally been for the sake of university scholarship, but it was the music that kept him in the District (though his mind often wandered back to his family farm at Pointe Blue). Within a few months, he had joined the band as an official member on analogue synthesizer and Cajun-style accordion. The trio would be in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
within the year, touring in support of O'er the Mountain (2003).
In the meantime, however, even before their trip to Europe, at their second show in the states as a trio, there had been a moment of prescience as an indirect result of Stephen having forgotten his power supply somewhere in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Arthur Harrison (who also played with Stephen in the DC based cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
troupe, The Parlor Scouts) was in the vicinity of the show and happened to have one of his theremins in his car, was recruited on the spot to fill in for Stephen's missing keyboard sounds. Although his exact history is shrouded in mystery, Harrison had been making electronic music in the DC area since at least the 1980s and had spent years perfecting his oscillators and theremins. He was performing with just these instruments at a planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
when he was met by Stephen and later, Shelby. As proved by his impromptu performance, the affinity between the group was unmistakable and Arthur would end up officially joining the band at the end of 2003.
The Cassettes continued to hone their sound, diligently recording new material, refining previously recorded works, and consistently playing on the eastern seaboard of the United States. In 2006 they signed to Buddyhead Records
Buddyhead Records
Buddyhead is a music "webzine" and independent record label formed by Travis Keller in the summer of 1997 in Hollywood, California. Keller is notorious for outspoken criticism of popular culture and the music industry...
after completion of their 3-years in making the album entitled "'Neath The Pale Moon" which brought long-time Frodus producer Jonathan Kreinik
Jonathan Kreinik
Originally from Washington D.C., Jonathan Kreinik has produced numerous records from his Boombox Magnetica Studio as well as in different studio locations around the globe. He is most notably known for his work with bands such as !!!, Trans Am, The Make-Up, and Frodus...
(Conglomerate International) back into the fold to refine The Cassettes' synth-infused country stomp.
In 2008, after earlier albums had been released only on CD, the band released their first cassette, Countach, packaged with a toy car and horse. Cinca said of the release: "The artwork and even the music I would say is inspired by connecting to our 'inner children' to kind of make the album we would have wanted to make when we were 12."
2010 saw the release of a rarities album entitled "Writing Analog Letters" on the band's own label Chapeau Records as well as the purchase of their "'Neath The Pale Moon" from their previous label Buddyhead. An updated re-release of said album appeared on the band's Bandcamp page and the band began playing again in 2011 as well as announced plans to record a new album at Guidry's family farm in November 2011. In April 2011, the band released a 7" EP and digital download entitled "I've Been Gone Far Too Long..." on Flannel Gurl Records.
Members
- Shelby CincaShelby CincaShelby Serban-Alex Cinca is a Romania-born musician, one of the founding members of the DC post-punk band Frodus and the vaudevillian steampunk band, The Cassettes. He has also been a part of such bands as Frantic Mantis and Decahedron...
- Electric Guitar, Resonator GuitarResonator guitarA resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones instead of the wooden sound board . Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than conventional acoustic guitars which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion...
, Vocals, Bass, Keyboard - Saadat AwanSaadat AwanSaadat Awan is a Washington DC native, by way of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is a member of The Cassettes, Metropolitan band, and Thievery Corporation side projects International Velvet and I.C.U...
- Drums, TablaTablaThe tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
, Vocals - Stephen Guidry - Moog SynthesizerMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
, Piano, Accordion, Jews harp, Vocals - Nick Kraly - Bass GuitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Vocals
Previous Members:
- Arthur Harrison - ThereminThereminThe theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, Vocals - Jason Hutto - Guitar, Vocals
- Steve Kille - Bass, Vocals
- Stephen McCarty - Drums, Vocals
- Jennifer Potter - Guitar, Vocals
- Thomas Bernath - Bass
Full Lengths
- "Neath The Pale Moon" CD/Compact CassetteCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
/MP3 (2006 Buddyhead RecordsBuddyhead RecordsBuddyhead is a music "webzine" and independent record label formed by Travis Keller in the summer of 1997 in Hollywood, California. Keller is notorious for outspoken criticism of popular culture and the music industry...
, 2008 Rogue Records, 2010, 2011 Chapeau) - "Writing Analog Letters (A Collection)" MP3 (2010 Chapeau) Self-released
- "Countach" Compact CassetteCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
/MP3 (2008, 2011 Chapeau) Self-released - "Neath The Pale Moon" Double Pack (2008 Rogue Records) Australian Release (ISBN 9332727012105)
- "O'er The Mountain" CD (2003 Alice Records, Italy / 2006 iTunes release Buddyhead RecordsBuddyhead RecordsBuddyhead is a music "webzine" and independent record label formed by Travis Keller in the summer of 1997 in Hollywood, California. Keller is notorious for outspoken criticism of popular culture and the music industry...
) - "s/t" CD/LP (2002 Lovitt RecordsLovitt RecordsLovitt Records is an independent record label that was founded in 1995 by Brian Lowit who was a student at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina at the time...
)
Singles/EPs
- "I've Been Gone Far Too Long..." 7" vinyl single/Digital EP (2011 Flannel Gurl Records)
- "Snö" digital-single (2010 Chapeau Records)
- "Countach: The Remixes" digital-EP (2008 Swedish Columbia)
- The Cassettes/Disco Drive split 7" vinyl (2003 Bachelor Records, Germany)
- "Lights" 7" vinyl single (2000 Carcrash Records, Sweden)
- "Alright With The Days" 7" vinyl single (2000 Jetglue Records)
Compilations
- "Play" Children's Music Compilation (2007 Desoto RecordsDeSoto RecordsDeSoto Records is an American record label based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1989, it is run by Bill Barbot and Kim Coletta, both formerly of the band Jawbox. It was first founded by members of the band Edsel to release their first single. Jawbox next used the name DeSoto for their first EP. It...
) - Track: "Truck On (Truck)" - "Wedding Compilation" (2006 Lujo RecordsLujo RecordsLujo Records is a United States independent record label that was founded in 2001 by Erik Aucoin who was a student at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana at the time. In 2004, Lujo Records relocated to Washington, DC, and Jocelyn Toews bought 50% of the label. In 2006 Aucoin and...
) - Track: "Pioneer Love Song" - "Love And Loathing" (2006 Lujo RecordsLujo RecordsLujo Records is a United States independent record label that was founded in 2001 by Erik Aucoin who was a student at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana at the time. In 2004, Lujo Records relocated to Washington, DC, and Jocelyn Toews bought 50% of the label. In 2006 Aucoin and...
) - Track: "Hey Good Lookin" (originally by Hank Williams Sr.) - "All I Want For Christmas" (2004 Lujo RecordsLujo RecordsLujo Records is a United States independent record label that was founded in 2001 by Erik Aucoin who was a student at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana at the time. In 2004, Lujo Records relocated to Washington, DC, and Jocelyn Toews bought 50% of the label. In 2006 Aucoin and...
) - Track: "Christmas Wolf"
External links
- thecassettes.com Official website
- myspace.com/thecassettes MySpace Page
- www.buddyhead.com/recordings/ Buddyhead Records
- http://flannelgurl.bandcamp.com/ Flannel Gurl Records