The Vital fanzine evolved from hand typed, xeroxed pages to pioneering online distribution, and connected artists from the USA and Europe.

We dive into an interview with Franz de Waard, creator of the Dutch fanzine Vital and the Korm Plastics label to talk about his journey of collaboration in the underground cassette scene. Covering his early zine projects like Nul Nul, growing his label network, work with renowned record store and experimental music label, Staalplaat, and steps into authoring books about experimental music and zines.

Our final segment follows the next steps of Discogs Detective, Tom Gibbs as he travels the UK South Coast to track down members of enigmatic ’80’s improvisors, Omega Ensemble.

Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham.

Guests:
Frans de Waard (Vital/Korm Plastics)
Tom Gibbs (Infinite Expanse)

Featured Music:

The Haters, “Performance 12 01 1989”, Puinhoop
Blackhumour “Weeds in Barren Soil”, Poetry
John Hudak “The Talk”, Brainbox
Arcane Device “Live at the Clocktower 27 04 1989” Six
Ios Smoulders “Composition Nr121”, Abstract Art
Big City Orchestra “The Smart Thing”, Everyman is a Volume.

All music released on cassette by Korm Plastics (https://www.kormplastics.nl/)

“Piece 2” by the Omega Ensemble, Sil Lim Tao

Links
Vital Weekly (https://www.vitalweekly.net/)
Vital: The Complete Collection book (https://www.kormplastics.nl/vital-the-complete-collection-1987-1995/)

"Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989​-​90" cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024
https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com

Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (http://eastcoaststudio.com.au)

 

 

The Vital fanzine evolved from hand typed, xeroxed pages to pioneering online distribution, and connected artists from the USA and Europe.
We dive into an interview with Franz de Waard, creator of the Dutch fanzine Vital and the Korm Plastics label to talk about his journey of collaboration in the underground cassette scene. Covering his early zine projects like Nul Nul, growing his label network, work with renowned record store and experimental music label, Staalplaat, and steps into authoring books about experimental music and zines.
Our final segment follows the next steps of Discogs Detective, Tom Gibbs as he travels the UK South Coast to track down members of enigmatic &rsquo;80&rsquo;s improvisors, Omega Ensemble.
Hosted by Martin Franklin &amp; Hudson Graham. Guests: Frans de Waard (Vital/Korm Plastics) Tom Gibbs (Infinite Expanse)
Featured Music:
The Haters, &ldquo;Performance 12 01 1989&rdquo;, Puinhoop Blackhumour &ldquo;Weeds in Barren Soil&rdquo;, Poetry John Hudak &ldquo;The Talk&rdquo;, Brainbox Arcane Device &ldquo;Live at the Clocktower 27 04 1989&rdquo; Six Ios Smoulders &ldquo;Composition Nr121&rdquo;, Abstract Art Big City Orchestra &ldquo;The Smart Thing&rdquo;, Everyman is a Volume.
All music released on cassette by Korm Plastics (<a href="https://www.kormplastics.nl/">https://www.kormplastics.nl/</a>)
&ldquo;Piece 2&rdquo; by the Omega Ensemble, Sil Lim Tao
Links Vital Weekly (<a href="https://www.vitalweekly.net/">https://www.vitalweekly.net/</a>) Vital: The Complete Collection book (<a href="https://www.kormplastics.nl/vital-the-complete-collection-1987-1995/">https://www.kormplastics.nl/vital-the-complete-collection-1987-1995/</a>)
"Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989​-​90" cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024 <a href="https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90">https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com</a>
Podcast Produced by Martin Franklin/East Coast Studio (<a href="http://eastcoaststudio.com.au">http://eastcoaststudio.com.au</a>)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

For two decades during the 80's-90's, the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media.

Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, our travel through the network departs from the bleak 1980's Thatcher-era UK, community radio and fanzines and all points in a journey to a thriving self sustaining culture.  

We track down some key figures in the cassette scene, and follow the web of connections outward from the UK around the world, mapping the impacts and their ongoing effects.

We speak with musicians, label runners, and fanzine writers, who share their experiences of connecting through the mail system and its ongoing effects on their lives.

For two decades during the 80's-90's, the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media.
Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, our travel through the network departs from the bleak 1980's Thatcher-era UK, community radio and fanzines and all points in a journey to a thriving self sustaining culture.  
We track down some key figures in the cassette scene, and follow the web of connections outward from the UK around the world, mapping the impacts and their ongoing effects.
We speak with musicians, label runners, and fanzine writers, who share their experiences of connecting through the mail system and its ongoing effects on their lives.

Cassette Culture

For two decades the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media.

We track down some key figures in the cassette scene, and follow the web of connections outward from the UK around the world, mapping the impacts and their ongoing effects.

We speak with musicians, label runners, and fanzine writers, who share their experiences of connecting through the mail system and its ongoing effects on their lives.

Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham | Podcast produced by East Coast Studio

Find us on www.cassetteculture.com

For two decades the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media.
We track down some key figures in the cassette scene, and follow the web of connections outward from the UK around the world, mapping the impacts and their ongoing effects.
We speak with musicians, label runners, and fanzine writers, who share their experiences of connecting through the mail system and its ongoing effects on their lives.
Hosted by Martin Franklin &amp; Hudson Graham | Podcast produced by <a href="https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/">East Coast Studio</a>
Find us on <a href="https://www.cassetteculture.com">www.cassetteculture.com</a>

Advertisement