Tape Music

Originating from the musique concrète experiments of post-war Paris, tape music is an electroacoustic form where the magnetic tape itself serves as both the medium and a primary instrument. Composers like *Pierre Schaeffer* pioneered techniques such as splicing, speed manipulation, and looping to assemble sonic collages from recorded sounds, divorcing them from their original context. The resulting texture is often characterized by the physical artifacts of the medium—hiss, wow and flutter, and signal degradation—which are embraced as core timbral components. While its roots are academic, the practice influenced minimalist composers like *Steve Reich* and infiltrated popular music, shaping sound design and experimental rock before its digital resurgence in hauntology and ambient forms.