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African Ghost Valley – Iberville

I know we’re a bunch of lily-livered cowards around here, shrinking from anything perceived to be too “dangerous,” or “spooky,” or “full of effort,” but I think in order for us to evolve, as Tabs Out contributors and fans and as human beings in general, we have to face our fears and conquer them. Case in point: we have a new tape here from African Ghost Valley, and if you looked at this thing and thought, “Ghosts? Nope, I’m out,” you’d be doing yourself a complete disservice, not to mention pigeonholing yourself as a “Shaggy” on the spine-o-meter. Because even though this tape does have some creepy vibes to it, there’s no reason that you should buy in to any mass hysteria whipped up certain cassette tape podcasts.

So while “Iberville” from African Ghost Valley is a little spooky, it doesn’t do the whole jump-scare thing at all to make you rethink your involvement. No, African Ghost Valley is instead all about mood, winking samples and synths at us as mystery builds, secrets churn and strive to get out in the open, and mists fall as evening descends. Walking through the woods on the cover illustration is a lone figure, and the seclusion of it all recalls pre-industrial Europe or America, whose untamed wilds were imprinted with the stories the imaginations of those in civilized areas and towns came up with, usually under a trance of religious fervor. What the heck is out there, and why is it constantly stealing our kids?

There I go, freaking you all out again with this thing. Truth is, no matter what’s out there is still out there, and if anybody claims to have authority about it better back it up with some actual evidence. Like, let’s go out wandering in the woods and find out for ourselves, shall we? If African Ghost Valley is a soundtrack to anything, it’s a soundtrack to that, and maybe “Iberville” is simply a jumping-off point. I can’t wait to let the slow-burn sonics of this EP sear into my ear canals as they imply danger and adventure in equal measure. I guess I, unlike many of my colleagues here (and you), have a little bit of backbone about this whole thing after all.

Oh, wait, nope – there is what looks like a witch on the inside of the j-card, and that’s probably the front-cover walker. That’s gonna mess me up for weeks.

“Iberville” out now on Jollies!

Tabs Out | New Batch – Unifactor

New Batch – Unifactor

1.4.21 by Matty McPherson

In between going through some 2020 tapes, I guess it was time to ring 2021 in with something.. NEW!

Unifactor Tapes, the wildly successful barnburning Bandcamp label, has announced yet another trio of delicious tapes (with art by Nathan Bowers-who may have also done the art for a Christmas Emeralds tape…) slated for later this month. Though I guess Jason Gercyz didn’t get the memo about numbering his batches. As far as I know, it goes 11, 12, 14 – NOT 11, 12, [REDACTED, number Too Scary]*.

This trio is stacked with those BPMs and at least two players connected to Unifactor already:

Machine Listener is Matthew Gallagher (whose art you may recall from Unifactor’s Batch #11) and their Machine Listener Project is about to go further into 90’s Warp IDM with Headfooter (available at 90% off non-Warp 90’s tape prices!). If you’ve loved Machine Listener’s HausMo zones, then the self-titled single already plays like a demented game of capture the flag from the Jet Set Radio Future sequel that never was.

Spednar is Kevin Bednar (the mastering person for {arsonist}’s Batch #11 release as well) and his Coniunctio promises a “union between amelodic percussion experiments and time-averse harmonic landscapes”. Leading single “eh o el” approaches a drum n’ bass deconstruction for those who like to chill at the rave.

Finally, local Cleveland, OH legend, Noah Anthony, joins the Unifactor Tapes team with his Deuce Avenue moniker for Perennial Fire and Life. Could his “synth disintegration” and “bass rushes” might be the tape that wins a new fandom from 100% Silk? Regardless, “Jealously” is a delicious slice of light dancery.

In fact, I’m realizing this is maybe Unifactor Tape’s danciest batch in ages! I guess in between bringing free jazz to the Carpark roster, Jason Gercyz wants to dance. Just don’t number it after a bad number next time Jason, okay?!

Pick from yr faves or pre-order in a batch! Either way, do it soon before they make one of those gosh darned lists and sell out!

*batch numbering 11, 12, 12a, 14 are also accepted