Named only by track numbers, Tape I feels like a relic found in an abandoned building, hearkening back to a different time. The tape treatment gives the album a nostalgic warmth without being overbearing, like many of the digital effects of today, adding depth and color to the compositions within. What lies behind the tape effect is rather reserved ambient, moving subtly and softly, allowing the tapes and Walkman ample space to work their magic. Anything a bit more assertive would certainly be overpowering and the magic would be swallowed up, erased like putting scotch tape over the cassette holes. Again, these effects are subtle so there is often the question of, "is this the tape/Walkman effect or is this regular modulation?" It's that question that makes Tape I stand out for its restraint, and each of the eight pieces work so well together and as a whole. To further the feeling of nostalgia, Glim keeps the compositions in the higher tones, giving more of an ethereal quality that works with the modulation and helps to pull at the strings dangling memories just out of reach. Because in the end, is the memory important or the feeling? Can we be nostalgic for things that never happened to us/in our lives? Glim allows the listener to experience this, using the airy ambient to convey nostalgic emotions, distilling memories into the core components, and allowing us to soak in their sonic serenity.

 

Eighteen years is a long time for a follow-up album, but Glim's Tape I was worth the wait. Airy, ethereal ambient run through cassette tapes and an old walkman, there is a wam nostalgia captured that adds depth and character to calm compositions, working in tandem instead of being an abrasive effect. Subtle and cozy, Glim captures this sentimentality and gives it a sound that has wide appeal, as well as an all-encompassing quality that will speak to every listener. We all have our times and places where our minds go to seek solace and think back to less stressful times, and Tape I is just the vessel to bring us all back. And, as the winter starts to settle in in much of the Northern Hemisphere, this album is a great complement to staring out at the quiet cold, watching the snow fall, dreaming of days gone by. To find out more