A decade before the widespread adoption of the internet, a group of artists and musicians established an underground network to share their work with kindred spirits via the mail system.

Starting our story from a dark, isolated UK in the late 1980’s, with mass youth unemployment. We take a journey with some key figures from the Cassette Scene, who provide a firsthand account of the collaborative spirit and sense of discovery that permeated the cassette culture scene.

Guests:

Martin Franklin/SoundImage Tapes
Don Campau/No Pidgeonholes
Sandy Nys/Hybryds
Richard Talbot/Marconi Union
Rob Maycock/Mindscan Tapes

Featured Music:

“This is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen (A Tender Tension, Pharoah Chromium Sound, 1990)
“Untitled” by Vitamin B12 (Premonitions, SoundImage Tapes, 1990)
“Piece 6” by The Omega Ensemble (Omega Ensemble)
“Sahara” by Richard Talbot (Devices & Desires, SoundImage Tapes 1991)

“Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989​-​90” cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse 2024
https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com

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Chance Connections – He Got Talking To This Guy In The Record Store Steve Gears, Richard Talbot of Marconi Union, and Tom Gibbs of Infinite Expanse continue the story of how the cassette underground connected kindred spirits across the world.

Underground Zines and the Hunt for Lost Music Tom Gibbs finally tracks down the former members of Omega Ensemble. We speak with Frans de Waard on the history of the Vital fanzine and his Korm Plastics label.

Cassettes On The Radio: Underground Broadcasting How the cassette network expanded into independent radio, live gigs, and physical meetups. Sandy Nys of Antwerp’s Radio Centraal and his 3RioArt label.

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