Living as we do in an age of instantly available, streaming, on-demand everything, it’s no wonder we crave the tactile, interactive qualities of one of the most awkward, inconvenient and destructible audio formats ever — the cassette tape. Local Denver labels like , and (moving to Chicago next month) have been putting out high-quality Colorado music on the inelegant medium for a while, and now Speaker Snacks Records joins the ranks. It’s first release — shipping in July — is a Denver-centric split cassette, with one side dominated by and the other ruled by . You can steal a sneak preview right here.
Speaker Snacks Records — brainchild of and the folks at Denver-based music blog — plans to release digital singles, EPs and albums, as well as 7″ vinyl and limited-run cassettes, and if is any indication, they’ll all be worth tracking down.
The Pina Chulada side of the cassette is a spare, atmospheric affair, with all the haunting beauty we raved about when we first urged Reverb readers to check out Jen Villalobos and Brent Smith over a year ago. In contrast, the King Mob side is intoxicatingly brazen and bewildering. Comprising Jake Martin’s brothers (also of ) and (also of , as well as the band’s newest member, Charlie Kern (also of , King Mob makes experimental electronic cyber-soul with the head of an android and the heart of a romantic. Steal “Body Mod” and hear for yourself. And when you want to hear it again, you won’t even have to rewind.
If you like Steal This Track, you’re gonna love Steal This Track: a Reverb Dance Party at the Hi-Dive. We’re taking over the South Broadway indie rock institution on the last Thursday of every month with special guests, giveaways, drink specials and more. This month, it’s the special UMS edition, celebrating the 11th annual Denver Post Underground Music Showcase. DJ Savior Breath (a.k.a. Reverb’s own Eryc Eyl) turns the shindig into a pants-dropping, local-centric dance party. And just like Steal This Track, itap absolutely free. More details are coming soon, but trust us — you won’t want to miss it.
Please note that downloads offered via Steal This Track are intended to whet your appetite, and are NOT CD-quality recordings. If you want those, please support the artists by buying their music and/or seeing them live.
If you’re a band or musician ready to expose your fresh sounds to the readers of Reverb, email your tracks — along with any interesting facts about them, as well as a photo or album art — to Eryc Eyl for consideration.
Eryc Eyl is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years. Check out for local music you can HEAR, and the for stories about Denver musicians doing extraordinary things. Against his mother’s advice, Eryc has also been known to . You can also follow Sorry, Mom.
