Review Summary: Set your mind to tape...and your head will follow
One of the many, many,
oh so many releases from Oregon-based artist Knablinz, 2015’s
Mind Set Tape is a 30 minute, two track-long sample-ridden, beat-filled, record-scratching recording that seems straight out of the mind of Steven Ellison. Exhaustively using loops as the basis for both tracks, both a very digestible 15 minutes long, Knablinz uses a wide array of samples and loops them throughout both tracks. Movie samples, concerts, radio, video games, you name it and Knablinz probably will use it; even old, crackly kitsch easy listening records that you’d hear over the phone while on hold or on a local television station are not safe from the trip-hoppish beats that occupy Knablinz’ catalogue.
Mind Set Tape's material are one of the same, while not sound similar in any way.
Side A (MST) leans more toward more orchestral samples over a relatively languid beat, every now and then abruptly stopping, most notably on a rock concert/radio sample about 13 minutes in to the track.
Side B (MST)'s sound relies heavily on old jazz records, as well as a more fast-paced beat that wouldn’t sound out of place on
Cosmogramma or on an [adult swim] bump circa-2006. Both sides of
Mind Set Tape show a great deal of experimentation with how far the cassette format can be taken, as well as just how much of an impact sampling and loops can have on a damn good beat. You owe to yourself to hear
Mind Set Tape, or any of Knablinz’ other magnificient recordings. No kidding.
