There are a variety of jobs in this economy (in this economy?!). Some jobs have music playing over a speaker, which probably means you’re working at a restaurant (yummy!). Some jobs drag and demand you listen to music that’s as upbeat as possible (as coke-line stains on desks are no longer de rigueur). Some jobs allow you an opportunity to listen to a podcast, a fact that constantly amazes this writer (what could they possibly be doing all day? Filing? Is it really just eight hours of filing and “Radiolab” archives?). Some of us, who spend a lot of time with words for work, are forced to go instrumental (because you can’t be writing an obit and accidentally slip the word Tubthumping in there). Personally, as I find jazz too jazzy, this means minimal movie scores, like Arcade Fire’s one for Her or Explosions in the Sky’s one for Prince Avalanche. Until now!!!
As of today, I am adding Chris Walla’s Tape Loops to my rotation. The second solo album from the former Death Cab for Cutie instrumentalist is perfectly atmospheric, loosely packed with piano chords and faint textures. Made by using a tape machine to layer sliced analog tape together, the result sounds like Brian Eno walking through a snowy Scandinavian forest. I’m sorry if that last sentence almost put you to sleep, but it’s good to know that Tape Loops is a super-chill record, ideal if that’s the headspace you are looking for between the hours of nine and five. Take it from me: I listened to it while writing this post! You can stream the album (via NPR) below. The album is out October 16.
