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Jim Leatherman
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Tape Studies at the In-Between Series
THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND
Tape Studies, CityArts, May 13
The
In-Between Series has such an established tradition of avant-garde music that
Tape Studies – who were the featured act at this most recent edition of the monthly event – seem almost square by comparison. Not to give anyone an unnecessary complex or anything, but I’ve seen performers use things like
potted plants and
water as instruments here. That’s not to say, however, that the relatively new Orlando band are unworthy. On the contrary, they were a nice balance to the series’ usually
unflinching esotericism.
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Jim Leatherman
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Tape Studies at the In-Between Series
Tape Studies may be conventional next to some of the performers that have played the In-Between Series but their instrumental music is not dumb commercial stuff. Rendered with rock instruments, electronics and electric cello, it’s a sound that comes from the beautiful side of
post-rock.
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Jim Leatherman
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Tape Studies at the In-Between Series
Though they started on a tranquil wavelength of suspended shimmer, the arc of their set became increasingly panoramic from there, flashing alternating passages of ignition and near-shoegaze thrust. And even though it was exciting to see a gallery get rocked like this, they showed enough
charged tectonics in their sound that a proper rock club is probably the best milieu in which to experience their sonic range.
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Jim Leatherman
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Tape Studies at the In-Between Series
In the post-rock spectrum, Tape Studies play more on the dramatic end with
clear melodic and dynamic intent. Where other fellow travelers may weave a more ambient vibe, this Orlando trio instead paint with definition and make their point with sharpness.
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Jim Leatherman
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In-Between Series curator Christopher Belt
The
open audience Q&A after the performance is a somewhat regular feature of the In-Between Series and is always illuminating. But, as a direct glimpse into the performers’ artistic DNA and background, having one for a startup local band like this is especially worthwhile.
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Jim Leatherman
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Tape Studies at the In-Between Series
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Email Bao: baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com