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The National Tapes : Toys for Elliot 1993​-​96 (Restored + Revisted 2022)

by Toys for Elliot

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1.
Deliciousist 02:38
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2.
Song for Elliot 02:28
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3.
This Is Not About You 01:07
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4.
Come Away 02:53
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5.
Imperial (Unrest) 04:56
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6.
Sleepguitar 04:11
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7.
Mushrooms and Olives 01:44
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8.
Mr Somewhere (The Apartments) 03:09
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9.
Abandoned Instrumental, 1996 02:33
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10.
Excerpts from The National Tapes I 10:56
info
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11.
Excerpts from The National Tapes II 11:46
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12.
Excerpts from The National Tapes III 10:41
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about

"We have too much coughing on our tape"

Kymbliss was 23 when she died September 15, 1999. She had cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Kym died following a successful lung transplant that was hijacked by an ironically weak heart.

Kym and I (Five) were living in different cities by then and were in different bands, but Toys for Elliot had never broken up. Toys for Elliot, our first and only cassette was released on May 31st, 1995. We sold a few at zine fairs and shows, but most went to friends. "The National Tapes" was an inside joke. It was what we would call the tapes that we would record with two microphones plugged into Kym's stereo, dub copies of and take home to remember the songs we wrote. The National Tapes, was first released as a flawed hodge-podge of digital transfers that included an alternate mis-pitched mix of the first cassette, incomplete takes, and excruciating banter. What was a short and fun 20-minute cassette instead was a cumbersome 100-minute slog ... I kept all of it in.

For this 2022 revisit, almost 30 years after making our first recordings, I revisited The National Tapes to see if I could make something more representative of the afternoons we'd spend sitting cross-legged in front of Kym's stereo, messing about, writing songs as her bird chirpped in the background. As I carved away at the recordings, clipping away the bum notes, extended bouts of coughing, and half-completed tracks, there were moments when I was in that room again, capturing glances.

credits

released October 12, 2022

Tracks 1–7 are from Toys for Elliot (1995)
Tracks 8–12 are from The National Tapes (1999, 2001)
all been messed with

Kymbliss: piano, recorder, flute, acoustic guitar and vox
Five: guitars, bass, noises, vox and edits

Recorded on Tascam Porta05 and several portable recorders using one Radio Shack PZM, mismatched Kenmore and Radio Shack microphones, or whatever was built in. Many were taken from second- or third-generation copies and have been salvaged as best as possible. Noise reduction and equalization have been used to enhance the recordings where possible. Tape hiss, dropouts, electrical hum, clicks and pops are characteristic of the original recordings.

All tracks were written by Kymbliss (Kymberly Drake) and Five Seventeen, 1993–1996, except: "Imperial" written by Unrest and "Mr. Somewhere" written by The Apartments. "Excerpts from The National Tapes I" includes a version of "Sarcastic Stephen," written by The Tidbits, and "New Jersey," written by Red House Painters; and "Excerpts from The National Tapes II" includes a version of "Michael," written by Red House Painters.

The artwork depicts two positions in postural drainage and percussion. Kym can be heard self-administering chest physio in "Michael" ("Excerpts from The National Tapes II").

In memory of Kymberly Drake (1976-1999)

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My Mean Magpie Toronto, Ontario

Founded in 1995, and steeped in the influences and traditions of Shrimper, Simple Machines, and Teen-Beat, My Mean Magpie released the cassette and CDR recordings of friends and like-minded acquaintances.

My Mean Magpie, is largely inactive these days, but will occasionally issue new releases and re-issues as time and interest allow. ... more

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