Five Cassettes That We LOVED In 2020
In addition to buying a ton of records in 2020, I also got my paws on my fair share of great cassette-only releases. I had the chance to write about several of them over the course of the year, but here are five notable ones that I wanted to shout out before 2021 releases start ramping up:
Mo Dotti - Blurring: If shoegaze and dream pop didn’t originate in the glum, dense fog of the United Kingdom, I think the sunny, temperate climate of California would have been a more suitable fit for its origin story. On Blurring, Los Angeles’ Mo Dotti provides some solid support for this opinion, as they totally nail a great washed out sound that’ll remind you of a hazy, and very laid back, summer afternoon. I’m instantly at ease once the first few notes of “Glow In The Dark” hit, and front person Gina Negrini’s lush and dreamy voice commands space amongst towering synths and mesmerizing guitars. Other standout tracks include the heavenly sounding “Inverted Skies” and "Gravity Well,” a song that wouldn’t sound out of place on Lush’s Spooky.
Trying - This Is Not A Disco: Cameron Carr was an early guest on the Look At My Records! podcast, so his band Trying is near and dear to my heart. After a stint here in New York, he returned to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, where he's been putting out great albums with Trying, including this year’s This Is Not A Disco. That possible Talking Heads reference isn’t lost on either of us, as this 15 track epic explores some similar rhythmic inspirations and serves up a hearty helping of guitar jangle. Put it on and shake your booty.
Dummy - EP 2: I should have listed this one right after Mo Dotti, as both groups are from L.A. and they feel like real kindred spirits. They’re probably homies, too. Anyway, this is one of two excellent experimental noise-pop EPs that the Southern California band released this year. Their sound takes cues from bands like Stereolab and Broadcast with rhythmic songs that center on infectious drone loops, fluttering electronic beats, and haunting, immersive vocals. Check out EP 1, too, but if I had to choose one, EP 2 has my vote!
Caitlin Pasko - Greenhouse: You really need to be a good songwriter to pull off what Caitlin Pasko pulled off on her latest release, Greenhouse. She’s an incredible one and a captivating wordsmith as well, so her elegant, minimalist piano compositions cut quite deep. The entire album is heavy, as Pasko trudges through the aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship, translating her thoughts and feelings into nine songs that feel like the musical equivalent of exhaling in relief upon reaching the safety of higher ground. If you enjoy the stylings of Adrienne Lenker, Elliot Smith, and Jessica Pratt, then you’ll easily fall head over heels for Pasko’s captivating tunes.
Dan Francia, Devin McKnight, Adam Reich & The House of Oranges - Dust: Dan Francia had to juggle a ton of moving parts during the process of putting together his excellent 2019 debut Come Back To Life. Check out his 2019 appearance on the Look At My Records! radio program to hear all about that! For Dust, it seems like he wanted to avoid all of that, so he got everyone together for a single recording session. It’s a fascinating listen and the whole album is entirely improvised, so be prepared for a few (wonderful) twists and turns along the way.
