'Touch' compilation tape

Anyone know the story behind this? It's the compilation magazine/tape that featured the two original extracts of 'Video 586' back in 1982. Just received a copy I managd to track down.

The thing I find odd about it, is that the cassette, is just an unmarked, unlaballed Maxell C60, just as it is in the Discography photos at this site. Does anyone know if I have a dodgy copy (that sound quality seems fine, sounding like it's been duplicated from a master tape), or why they didn't print up proper cassettes for this release? Very strange.

Andy

Alright, Andy?

What you have sounds OK to me.

The original plastic wallet / booklet stock was destroyed by a flood at the Touch offices, and a new version with slightly less ambitious artwork was subsequently reissued in a plain cassette box. But as far as I know all varieties came on a normal Maxell C60 tape.

mine too is a maxell cassette - doesnt sound dodgy at all & the sleeve I have is the one old blue scanned in

I have the plastic cover and book, although that tracklisting on the tape box is clearer than the one in this book. It's basically 12 tracks, clipped together with some odd, avant garde/post-modern audio and dialogue montaged clips and effects in between.

What was this 'Touch' thing all about anyway? Some sort of art experiment? I don't know why, but I'm strangely drawn to its quirkiness. Why go to all that effort to make it, and print the book and artwork, but just put it on a blank C60? An artistic statement, or just cost-cutting?

I know there was a couple of CD compilations by Touch in the mid nineties, but does anyone know what these releses were all about? The early Simple Minds track on the tape is pretty good too.

Andy.

afair it was a magazine on tape - experimental fanzine or just quirky for the sake of it? you decide.

For those unfamiliar, the London based Touch label may be the finest progressive music label in the world. Their releases range from ethereal pop to abstract electronica, from field recordings to ambient drum 'n' bass. Each release is designed by inhouse photographer and artist jon Wozencroft, and has over the past two decades, quietly built a reputation as one of experimental music's strongest venues, check out the site at: http://www.touch.demon.co.uk

You can still order copies of Video 586 for a fiver!