The tape amateurs – a piece of forgotten Danish music history. The Institute for Danish Sound Archaeoloy is releasing a collection of tape works and electronic compositions, created by people who had reel-to-reel tape recorders as their hobby. The vinyl release Danish Tape Amateurs 1959-1976 brings to light a completely overlooked and unheard chapter of Danish music and sound history, making these amazing works available for the first time.
A swarm of tape hobbyists.
When the reel-to-reel tape recorder became commercially available in Denmark in the 1950s, having the tape recorder as a hobby became a widespread phenomenon and in the following decades thousands of people recorded sounds and music, and experimented with cutting and splicing tape, both at home and together in so-called tape amateur clubs. Some also made sound collages and experimental music, exploring the tape recorder as a musical instrument in itself.
On June 26th the Institute for Danish Sound Archaeology is releasing the compilation Danish Tape Amateurs 1959-1976. The release uncovers the history of the tape amateurs with a selection of tape works, as well as an extensive essay by Danish composer Jonas Olesen, who through a comprehensive work of ‘sonic excavation’ and countless phone calls has assembled the history of the tape amateur clubs and the sonic and musical experiments.
With Jesper Hendze, Mads-Erik Michaelsen, Ole Steen Petersen, Benny Jensen, Kaj Ellermann Christensen, Carsten Elbro, Arne Juul Jacobsen, Peter Henriksen & Carsten Elbro, Anders Møller, Poul Otto Udsen, Holger Sindbæk, Arne Juul Jacobsen.