From 1978-1980, Throbbing Gristle’s Industrial Records published a newsletter called Industrial News. With a philosophy of exchange and transparency, they listed attendance numbers at their concerts, future label plans, and a list of contacts who had mailed them tapes of their own music: the “Tapes Received” list.

Capturing a cultural watershed moment where the bedroom bands of the DIY Punk scene gave way to something new: ambitious, experimental, abstract, industrial. Making music using the newly available technology of synthesisers, with tape media and looping as part of the creative process.

In this episode of Cassette Culture we begin to unravel the story of those tapes sent to Industrial Records – what was on them, and what became of the artists who sent them?

At the centre of this episode is Val Denham – painter, singer and tape experimentalist. We hear how a deliberately provocative letter to Genesis P. Orridge loaded with insider references, led to a invitation to London and the beginning of a friendship that would influence her creative life.

Her early tape recordings won fans in Genesis and Peter Christopherson and almost became a release on Industrial Records. Val walks us through the London of the late 70’s, studying at the Royal College Of Art while creating striking artwork for TG gig flyers, attracting Some Bizarre Records’ Stevo and Marc Almond to her Degree Show. Then later creating album artwork for Marc & The Mambas, Psychic TV, and Throbbing Gristle.

Philip Sanderson of Storm Bugs and Richard Rupenus of Funeral Dance Party offer their own stories of corresponding with TG, sending in tapes, and finding themselves part of a growing international network of like-minded artists. Richard received an encouraging letter from Genesis himself; Philip developed his own music as Vote Police, Storm Bugs and launched his label, Snatch Tapes.

Years later, after the death of Genesis P. Orridge both contributed to a search for the original “tapes received” cassettes. A search that ended at the Tate Gallery archive and, ultimately, led nowhere.

Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen.

DISCOVER THE VIDEO
You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast

IN THIS EPISODE

THANKS
We have benefited from the extensive knowledge of Richard Rupenus for the theme and many factual ingredients in this episode. Jerry Kranitz co-hosts all interviews recorded for the series.

VOICES
Martin Franklin
Richard Rupenus
Philip Sanderson
Val Denham

Genesis P Orridge and Cosey Fanni Tutti recording from the “Other, Link Me” COUM Transmissions documentary, (BBC Television)

Richard Rupenus, read by Tim Nice.

MUSIC
“Untitled” Funeral Danceparty, Quertyuiop (self released cassette)
BBC Newsbeat Radio Special, 1976, 23 Drifts To Guestling, (Iham Productions)“Swimming” Val Denham,
“Solely From” Storm Bugs, A Safe Substitute
“Untitled” Funeral Danceparty, Quertyuiop (self released cassette)
“Time Is Money” Val Denham
“Blue Red Sky” Death And Beauty Foundation (Vinyl On Demand)
“Make customers Matter” Storm bugs, Table Matters
“Untitled” Funeral Danceparty, A Celebration of iDeath (Vinyl On Demand)

LINKS

Industrial Records: http://www.throbbing-gristle.com/industrialrecords/
Snatch Tapes/Philip Sanderson: https://snatchtapes.bandcamp.com/

Available from Vinyl On Demand:
Funeral Danceparty ‘A Celebration of iDEATH’ Recordings 1979-82 (2Lp/7inch)
https://vod-records.com/-1-18-500.htm

Val Denham Box Set incl Silverstar Amoeba, Counterdance and Death & Beauty Foundation
https://vod-records.com/-1-18-749.htm

FIND US
https://cassetteculturepodcast.com

SUPPORTERS
Help us keep Cassette Culture alive! This podcast is enabled by generous supporters who contribute toward the costs of researching, producing and publishing each episode. You can become one of them at: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe

Help keep Cassette Culture alive – Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe