Electric Tape Recorder
Sheffield, England, United Kingdom | SELF
Music
Press
All I could think of while I listened to this was gnomes dancing around a large mushroom, but believe me, I mean that as a compliment. This guy (no name given) takes himself very seriously, listing weighty literary, musical and artistic influences to his music, but Mr Electric Tape Recorder is accomplished enough at this whole psychedelic freak folk sea shanty Wicker Man 7 Dwarves thing that any pretension can be forgiven, and underpinning this oddness is a strong and tuneful folk blues pedigree. From beginning to end, this EP delights. Numbskull is a great little hoedown and Johnny Cash would have sounded fine singing it, while Black is Blonde is a bit of dark Leadbelly blues filtered through Tom Waits weirdness. Sons of Steele is so gloriously fey and goofy that you can be guaranteed only the most political correct (and most fun) steel worker would adopt it as an anthem. The entire thing is chock full of well-used instrumentation, ranging from gently fuzzy blues guitar to flute. This is atmospheric music, maybe best played as a soundtrack to the weirdest damn tea party you've ever attended, and definitely worth a listen.
- Sandman Magazine
“A stark, constant drumming paired with a chunky guitar playing proper psychedelic riffs and topped with a vocal delivery that sounds like a frightened soul ready for departure to the next plane of existence. All that and some interesting lyrics that sound somewhere between a sea shanty and a bar-hopping death trip in Bukowski’s LA. (check ‘Cinnamon statue’ on their Myspace). A band that delivers both on album and live.” – Sam Sloucher - Sloucher Zine
Discography
A Circus By The Sea - EP
Cryptic Clue - EP - Released through iTunes. Collected generous airplay through local and national radio.
Photos
Bio
ETR was originally a bedroom project for Phil McDonald. The offer of playing a festival with the likes of Mercury Rev / British Sea Power / Bob Log III really appealed to the young mind. So, just one problem then... Start a band.
After a few cigarettes, a few too many coffee's and a wee while on the phone, Electric Tape Recorder was a band.
With influences such as the Pixies / Johnny Cash / Kurt Vonnegut / Dante Alighieri / Black Keys it happens that ETR's sound is made up of stark, constant drumming paired with a chunky guitar playing proper psychedelic riffs and topped with a vocal delivery that sounds like a frightened soul ready for departure to the next plane of existence.
All that and some interesting lyrics that sound somewhere between a sea shanty and a bar-hopping death trip in Bukowskis LA.
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