Released under the Black Tape For A Blue Girl moniker, this music was actually recorded between January - May 1986. From careful study of the liner notes, one can conclude that Sam Rosenthal’s early electronic compositions were written as a catharsis for the relationships one must suffer through as a young adult. As Sam states, these songs were “recorded in my California dorm room on a 4-track cassette porta-studio using a Korg Poly-61 with Arpeggiator and a BOSS DSD-2 foot pedal delay.”
The repetitive nature of the songs brings about an immediate comparison to the early works of Philip Glass. Despite this album consisting of sorrowful songs of a depressed soul, this is not an album that darkens the world. Actually, I find this album refreshingly hopeful, for in sadness lies the beauty of the fragile human mind. This fragility, in conjunction with the weight and depth of the songs, is what makes this collection work.
Highlights on the album include ‘Kathryn,‘ where the repetitive texture of the song dissolves into the despair of wandering in a forgotten cellar. ‘Jane’ is the closest thing to an electronic love song ever recorded. ‘Leading To The Edge’ opens with a loop of a mocking laugh of a woman, thus the aptly named song title. ‘Before The Buildings Fell’ is the moment right before the permanent suddenly disappears before your eyes. ’Fragments Of Benediction’ was recorded as a soundtrack to the video.
The production level on the songs is not very high quality. As stated in the liner notes, “the analog master for this CD was a TDK cassette.” There certainly was a no frills approach to the original recording, but the mastering restores the intent and sincerity of the work.
For more specific information about this album, Black Tape For a Blue Girl, and Sam Rosenthal, visit the Projekt Records website at http://www.projekt.com.
RATING: 9
Artist Link: http://www.projeckt.com
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