LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER’s Tape Loop Madness

Now, here’s where things get deliciously chaotic. They embarked on creating a 16-channel multi-track tape loop using thick, inch-wide RTM911 tape. Starting with normal instrument recordings, the duo pitched them down and layered keyboard parts to create a bedrock. This was no ordinary splice job. After approximating length with their ‘vague maths’, they dove into a splicing session that would be a nightmare for the uninitiated. Ten meters of hefty tape later, marked and ready, they set about creating synchronicity around the guiding pulleys. The beauty? Each tweak of the mixing desk opened up new dimensions. As they discovered, “if you press edit it will ignore the tension here,” showing off their tech wizardry with a dash of punk audacity. It’s not as long and fraught with disaster as it could be, which is about as triumphant as it gets.

With the multi-track tape loop finally operational, LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER showed the magical interplay between the mixing desk and the tape. Each of the 16 channels had its lane on the tape, controllable independently—like audio Tetris locking into place. This creative freedom means post-recording adjustments galore: change volume, tweak the equaliser settings, and even send signals to external effects like the Powertran digital delay. The entire process is a showcase of how a reel-to-reel can serve as both instrument and performer, conjuring a melange of sounds at the turn of a dial.

Taking tape manipulation to the next level, LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER and Hainbach played live while streaming the session to their Patreon patrons. They went beyond just laying tracks; Hainbach handled live mixing, tweaking channel effects and sending them through a hodgepodge of delays. Meanwhile, LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER layered live synthesiser parts, making the loop feel more alive. The jam session blurred the lines between careful engineering and punk rock spontaneity. Each loop cycle was an opportunity to reinterpret sounds in real-time, proving that an experimental spirit can yield surprising sonic landscapes. This was a proper studio gig with cables, knobs, and no safety net. Talk about putting your sound where your mouth is.

Not every mix fit the bill, prompting the duo to record over some segments, even flipping parts backwards. Aided by their funky techniques, these backward rolls infused the loop with an unexpected dimension—it was like turning a synth on its head for a new perspective. As the session came to a close, the result was an entirely fresh track that defied the traditional loop form. While we might not know when new tape loops will surface, their patreon promises more sneak peeks. It’s clear that LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER isn’t afraid to explore the uncharted territories of tape manipulation, leaving us eager for their next leap into audio oddity.