17 April 2026

Musick that Needed Work: T - The Tapes

 

The Tapes (one of the T bands making the The cut cut) are a late 70s/ early 80s band from Amsterdam, Netherlands.



I bought this record when it first came out on Passport in 1980. At the time I knew nothing about the band, but picked up the LP at the suggestion of a good friend. Over time I accumulated all three of their releases but this one is still my favorite. The band has been called  "the Dutch Talking Heads" but I don't really think that is very accurate. To me they have a sound all their own. Listen & decide for yourself. 

 

The Tapes - Party, Passport Records PB9842, 1980.
decryption code in comments


Side 1 -
(I Fall) Head First    
The Mating Season    
Blue Thighs    
Point Eighty-eight    
Into Action

Side 2 -
To Assemble    
LG/DG    
In the Crocodile's Mouth    
Lonesome Max
Party    
Inside Out

  

Enjoy,
NØ

at

17 comments:

  1. NØ4/17/26, 1:24 PM

    Party
    9zGQW4vSlCLjR7u9KJ3pPfamiyRgfXr8m3huPb1zWVA

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tonegent4/17/26, 1:58 PM

    You had me at "Dutch Talking Heads"...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hawksmort4/17/26, 11:48 PM

    It's a little too uptempo for Talking Heads, but some of the vocal inflections and the general herky jerky nature of it makes TH an easy one to compare to. Not convinced either. Glad to hear it though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ4/18/26, 12:00 PM

      Thanks, Hawksmort. Richard explains the whole thing, putting it in a more plausible perspective.

      Delete
  4. Richard4/18/26, 3:01 AM

    https://pixeldrain.com/u/ec8CmJ5A
    Here is the first Tapes album You Just Can't Sleep on Plurex records. A year earlier and more to my taste. The Dutch Talking Heads branding was only for their tour with TH as support-act and the media hype did them more harm than good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ4/18/26, 12:01 PM

      Thanks Richard, for the link & for the explanation. It seemed to me more harm than good. Now I get it.

      Delete
  5. Wolfi4/18/26, 6:15 AM

    The way he's singing has something of David Byrne, but they remember me also a bit of Pere Ubu. Thanks anyway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ4/18/26, 12:03 PM

      Thanks, Wolfi. I thought it was just me that got a Pere Ubu vibe.

      Delete
  6. jonder4/18/26, 12:04 PM

    I used to see ads for the "Party" LP in music magazines (I guess Passport had some money), but never pursued my curiosity. Thank you Nathan and Richard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ4/18/26, 12:13 PM

      Jem & Sire dumped a bunch of cash into Passport to get a US label. Passport was going strong, but when Jem tanked, they took Passport with them.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous4/18/26, 3:15 PM

    Reminds me of Stump more than anything.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous4/23/26, 5:37 PM

    Damn it this is a fantastic quirky discovery for this listener. The band is tight and groove laiden(esp that bass player) but not in the American soul way just a superb ensemble of musicians who play VERY well. They do not sound like the Talking Heads whatsoever well maybe a little on the vox..Thank you for such a tops blog.

    ReplyDelete
  9. NØ4/23/26, 11:16 PM

    Thanks for your opinion on the whole Talking Heads thing. You are too kind.

    ReplyDelete