Cause And Effect Listening Station at Cassette Culture Node Linz

6/26/2018

Currently in progress in Linz, Austria, Cassette Culture Node Linz is a fantastic exhibition curated by Wolfgang Dorninger dedicated to the Cassette Culture of the 1980s and 1990s.

front of the Cassette Culture Node Linz exhibition space with 2.000 tapes and 700 empty tapes for the letters

One of the features of the exhibition are listening stations where visitors can listen to continuously-playing cassettes loaded with music from cassettes of the 1980s and 90s. Wolfgang asked me to create a 90-minute program of selections from cassettes that were distributed by the Cause And Effect Distribution Service, which was operated by Debbie Jaffe and me in the mid-1980s.

Cassette Culture Node Linz Listening Stations

In the 192 kbps MP3 players below you can listen to the program that I created, which includes short excerpts from the cassettes I chose plus narrations and commentaries by me in-between the tracks, very much in the style of a radio program or podcast. I selected cassettes that were listed in the first Cause And Effect Cassette Distribution Catalog in January 1985.

Here is the playlist of Side A of the tape (45 minutes):

– Schlafengarten: Memorandum
– Walls Of Genius: Before ...And After
– Viscera: A Whole Universe Of Horror Movies
– Dog As Master: Coffee Spleen & The Barking Dog
– Master/Slave Relationship: The Desire To Castrate Father
– Dega Ray: Clasp/Click
– John Wiggins: Anagenic
– Twa Digs Under Paris - i shin ohn
– Sue Ann Harkey: I tell you everything, just not out loud
– Let's Have Healthy Children: OSLWMMGIB?

After you click on the PLAY button it might take several seconds for the file to load, so please be patient.

ccnl-cae-sidea.mp3
File Size:	64475 kb
File Type:	mp3

Download File

Here is the playlist of Side B of the tape (45 minutes):

– Sadistic Gossip: Confessions Of A Shit Addict
– Bene Gesserit: Insane Music For Insane People Volume 1
– Magisch Theater: Magthea and Insanity
– DDAA: Prehistoric Rejet
– Architects Office: Memorial Issue
– Theatre Of Ice: The Haunting
– Grey Area: Anatomy Of Coincidence
– Paul Kelday: Worlds Apart
– Cleaners From Venus: Under Wartime Conditions

ccnl-cae-sideb.mp3
File Size:	64719 kb
File Type:	mp3

Download File

34 Comments

Electronic Cottage
Editor
Hal McGee

I have been making my own homemade experimental music since 1981.

I was an active participant in the 1980s Cassette Culture scene, and I operated the Cause And Effect Cassette Distribution Service and label, and recorded solo as Dog As Master, and in a duo as Viscera.

From 1989 to 1991 I published six issues of the original Electronic Cottage print magazine.

In the last 36 years I have recorded, produced and released more than 300 solo audio works, collaborations and compilations.

email
website

Neal D Retke

6/26/2018 08:48:08

That looks amazing ~!

Lord Litter link

6/26/2018 08:56:22

I just can't stop staring at the pictures! So GREAT! Wolfgang created a piece of Art! Have to admit I'm a bit speechless ..

... so I just keep listening to the Cause and Effect listening station which defines a statement of a certain culture of a certain time, which now - with activities like these - becomes part of earth's heritage...

Rafael González

6/26/2018 10:28:58

I LOVE IT! It’s wonderful!

Hal McGee

6/26/2018 16:37:57

I have added five new photos to the bottom of the page that Wolfgang sent to me this afternoon.

6/26/2018 17:58:00

A fantastic exhibition Everything looks great

Little Fyodor

6/26/2018 17:02:03

Holy freaking moly!!!

This is verily amazing.

Much to say -- and ask! But later, after work....

I'll just say now -- what an honor to be part of this!!

6/26/2018 21:04:35

Okay, listening now!

The front of the exhibit is the most amazing thing. 2000 tapes??? Wow. I know that's not the only large collection in the world, but still, wow. I guess Wolfgang collected these as part of his own cassette activities from the day? I believe I met Wolfgang in the late 80's when Monochrome Bleu came to Boulder and Joel H. and Charlie Verrette and myself showed them around. Anyway, wait. Are these actual tapes? I can see there's cassette boxes; are there tapes inside? It's very nice and nicely ironic that the boxes and spaces create a very digital look, with all those rectangular edges! Know what I mean, know what I mean? So are there really tapes inside the boxes? And is this facade indoors or outdoors? The steps make it look outdoors, but -- I'm not sure? I might be a little worried about the effects of the sun and various elements on cassette tapes especially and even empty boxes, presuming they contain artwork, if it's outdoors, not that I'm complaining as, hey, it's an awesome use of the stuff even if they suffer some wear. But what is this place? Where is it? We know the name of the exhibit, but what is the venue, the gallery? I can't locate any mention of that at the linked site, though it does say that Wolfgang lectures at the Art University of Linz -- is this at a gallery associated with the University?

About the audio part, so people are going to listen to actual cassette tapes, right? So Hal, what we hear on the linked MP3 files also exists on an actual cassette, that you either made and sent overseas to Wolfgang, or else Wolfgang made a tape himself of your digital files? It's all so mind boggling that I'm trying to get a grip on the logistics, even if they're none of my business! If this is privileged information, I understand. Speaking of privileged information, I also wonder what's going to be on the other 19 listening stations! Or who else was invited to provide material! It's all so wondrous yet still so mysterious!

Well well, I know, I ask a lot of questions for someone who grew up in New Jersey! Regardless of any of the answers or of even getting any, I am duly impressed and, as I said above, honored to be a part of it! Has it opened to the public yet, or is it still waiting for some of those 20 listening station cassettes??

Interesting that I'm familiar with 16 of the 19 artists you showcase (though that number is slightly padded by including three songs of your projects plus one of a band I was in!). I bet I don't know nearly as high a percentage of any of the other tapes that will be "on exhibit"!

Big thanks to you and to Wolfgang!!

6/27/2018 00:52:59

Fyodor, many of the answers to your questions can be found at the Cassette Culture Node.Linz Group on Facebook, of which you are a member! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/144094299622110/

C. Goff III link

6/27/2018 00:55:45

Looks very impressive. Wolfgang -- is there a genuine audience for your exhibit? Are people of all ages visiting and listening? Is there a curator onsite to answer questions?

I have yet to hear both full sides of the Cause & Effect virtual cassette presentation here, but my initial peruse suggests Mr. McGee did a good job in providing a wide variety of C&E material, fine curatory job, Hal !

Compliments all around, gents.

Wolfgang Dorninger link

6/27/2018 05:24:58

Dear friends!
thanks for your great feedback! makes me feel very good.

about the tapes on the glass front of the Foyer Ursulienenhof: about 1100 are from Frank Bull of Tape-Mag/Vinyl on Demand), 500 of mine, 400 of the SR-Archiv österreichischer Popularmusik (only Austrian tapes, about 100 of them are mine).

you see only the snapboxes and the cover. no tapes. this would be too dangerous. demagnetisation.
happily the glass is a special glass, so the tapes will not lose that much color. about 1pm the sun is over the building.

time: most of the tapes are from the 80ies and early 90ies. app. 200 are from the last decade from local tape labels and artists.
there is stuff from audiofileTapes, SoP, also Taped Rugs, CAE, ...... in the wall.
the caracters for Cassette Culture Node.Linz are empty snapboxes I bought so that we could write the title of the exhibition.

Half of the money come from the crowdfunding I did in December 2017, the rest from private sponsors, SKE Fond and I am very happy about by the OK - OÖ Kulturquartier who also gave me this beautiful space.

There will be a thankslist soon on my homepage. To many people to mention.

The content is from my archiv.

that's it for first. more soon.

thanks wolfgang

6/27/2018 22:13:19

Hi Wolfgang, good to talk to you again!

Thank you for your answers and I see a few other answers at the Facebook page, like I see that the exhibit started earlier this week, on June 21.

I still cannot figure out the nature of the venue? Am I right that it is a gallery or other type of space associated with the University? Interesting about the special glass. Is it like that because the space frequently uses it for displays?

Also I am still wondering about the nature of the other listening stations. Naturally, I would listen for myself if I lived anywhere near Linz!

Well a big thank you and congratulations for doing this!

Frank

6/28/2018 00:23:40

Wow, that looks like an amazing exhibition!
Still need to listen to Hal's radio program.(running way behind with everything)

6/29/2018 05:24:18

Hal, is it possible to put your program downloadable somewhere? If I try to listen, it gets interrupted very often and that's not a great listening experience. I know, it's my internet provider :(

Hal

6/29/2018 06:39:44

Frank, yes I will provide a download of the program in the future. At the moment I have no Internet service for my desktop computer due to the crazy lightning and thunder storms that we have here in a Florida. I hope to have Internet service again later today.

7/2/2018 00:37:16

Hello Frank! I just added downloadable MP3s to the page.

7/3/2018 22:03:51

Thanks Hal!

Lumen K

7/4/2018 14:03:43

What a wonderful tribute to Cause and Effect and the artists that participated. It is a lovely exhibition.

7/8/2018 05:17:15

Hallo,
thanks so much for your feedback!
my plan for the last week of the exhibition is a detailed documentation. maybe I'll publish parts of it on EC.

about the location: I am so glad that the OK - http://www.ok-centrum.at/ - open this space for me. and they supported me also financially, technically and with stuff.

later this year I will show CCNL on a smaller scale in Vienna at the company space of my former band member Thomas Resch (Monochrome Bleu).

you'll get informed.

if you wanna become member of the closed CCNL facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/144094299622110/ just send me a note.

best wolfgang

Hessel Veldman

12/21/2018 07:02:19

Hi cassette lovers,

It's wonderful to experience this renewed interest in the cassette culture of the eighties. Also it's amazing how much has been created during that period. In fact it's the first great explosion of the DIY movement. And it has archived the musical proces in creating new music. The directness of recording. The impulsive dynamic, not overproduced sounds, have become an audio-environment in itself. The character of those cassette recordings are these recognised as unique for that period. As listener we're part of the creation of sound and music.
The younger generation of sound hunters and musicians and producers love the creations from that early DIY period.
In 2017 I was asked to do a lecture during the famous Amsterdam Dance Event, both with Frans de Waard. The audience was very much interested, cause for new young DJ's looking for obscure and extreme music the 80's cassette culture is an adventure through early unknown dance and electro sounddesign.
A good thing to share archives, like in Linz, Austria.

Hope Electronic Cottage will be a new platform to give new ways to explore the MOVEMENT.

12/21/2018 08:32:40

Hello Hessel, thank you for your comment. For me here at EC one of my goals is to find ways to maintain the spirit of the cassette days of the 1980s and to translate that feeling to this online community. I feel that the cassette itself as a medium is no longer necessary or desirable. Our task here at EC — and it is a fun task! — is to create a virtual space where we can all gather in fellowship with our comrades, and feel safe — unlike the toxic environments of BIG social media! I think of EC as an online block-party or hang-out for experimental audio and mail artists who value their independence and the DIY spirit, and also value the connections, contacts, and exchanges of ideas of a community of like-minded artists.

12/22/2018 05:15:35

Dear Hal,

you speak out of my heart!
A perfect description of an important biotope for experimental art.
Thanks for doing this!

best Wolfgang

12/22/2018 05:12:19

Dear Hessel,

Thanks for keeping the thread alive!

Yes, especially the young visitors of the exhibition were very enthusiastic about the music I put together in the listening stations. One of the young ascending musicians from Linz could not believe that in some cases he could not believe that the music was from the eighties.

I would also like to emphasize the experience of three weeks exhibition in Linz that particularly young female musicians were impressed by the structure of the cassette network. Some are planning to build a label using similar methods.

On the 7th of february 2019 I will open in Vienna Cassette Culture Node.Linz with four weeks of exhibition. I'm curious how the communication will be in Vienna. The exhibition will take place in the premises of my Monochrome Bleu colleague Thomas Resch. Maybe we will play a concert again after all eternal times.

Thank you very much for your feedback and interest.
wolfgang

Cassette Culture Node.Linz: http://www.base.at/ccnl/

12/22/2018 10:38:26

Haha, boy I sure wish I knew why that young'un was so surprised this music emanated from the 80's! Possible reasons flow through my mind, but of course possible reasons are just that until you actually know! I guess the most obvious possibility is that he or she just associates the 80's with the big hits of that day. But of course, lesser known and more experimental music has been made at all times! To me, the experimental musics reflected in the cassette network are the very spirit of the 80's, just as psychedelic music, which may have made it onto vinyl but rarely sold as well Englebert Humperdinck, was the spirit of the 60's! Well, I guess that's just my view of it -- obviously! Anyway, so glad the young folk are taking an interest and that you're helping make that possible!! Hey, cultural history is interesting stuff!! There'll probably be *someone* to take an interest in this stuff for aeons....

12/21/2018 09:34:37

I love cassettes, they are also very useful to be manipulated and create sounds, but I think we should also create with the technology that we have available right now, especially to distribute music, words, sounds. But the original idea of those times, the spirit, must always continue. EC is a great and confortable place!

12/21/2018 10:27:07

But everything that is done to remember that time is very important and beautiful. Cassettes are pieces of art. I have not been able to see this exhibition physically ... but I think it has been fabulous! It is another of the good things that EC has, we can be in contact and we can share our projects, ideas and has allowed me to approach this exhibition.

12/21/2018 12:10:35

Great all these reactions ont his topic.

In the Netherlands, where the musicassette scène in the eighties was great, in the last few years collections has been regonised because of their amazing quality of weird sounds. Some collectors sold their archive to people Who started to conserve the issues and digitise them. A few months ago I did meet somebody, Who is archiving only Dutch issues.

Noticing that these people take time and put energy in this cassette world is wonderful.
Keep this Guy and website in focus: http://archaicinventions.blogspot.com/

12/21/2018 15:58:40

That's true, the scene in the Netherlands was amazing. Thanks for info/link!

12/21/2018 17:20:44

And check No Longer Forgotten Music by Frans de Waard. He started in 2007 with writing and giving permission for downloads on his blog with the first years loads of cassette releases. Among them also Exart cassettes.
A great archive for cassette lovers.
http://433rpm.blogspot.com/

12/21/2018 19:01:30

Latest tweet Archaic Inventions:
https://twitter.com/formatoryapp/status/1076180911782350851?s=12

12/21/2018 19:40:40

Yes, I know No Longer Forgotten Music! So great!

12/26/2018 18:16:21

For Concertzender I will start January 10 with a 2019 series of Electronic Cottage content.
I will try to give attention to the contributors, every month.
For this series I will give reactions on the EC website. But I will also get in touch with the contributors for more material for the series. Also using downloads from the EC webste itself.

With this series I hope that sharing info, mailart and music will give an extra boost to your community goals.

https://www.concertzender.nl/programma/pakrammel_480253/

If you have Unique early cassette Music from the Eighties or contemporary recordings you like to share @concertzender mail to me: Y.create.noise@gmail.com

12/26/2018 18:26:50

Honestly, this is great!

12/26/2018 18:39:19

And iT is! Mainly because it’s up to us, Who were the creaters of this eighties cassette madness, to conserve the beauty of an era that shaped the DIY attitude and gave attention to the creation in progress. By recording in action.

12/26/2018 18:56:59

It is a great inspiration to continue forward, with the same attitude for the 21st Century