Parker Tapes review
August 04, 2005
CassetteBoy
The Parker Tapes
(Spymania)
Hmmm, this is dangerous...
Cassette Boy are Mark and Simon... that's it, Mark and Simon. And yet we have no proof that these are their real names. Having listened to this record it is easy to understand the anonymity surrounding its producers. Not only is this album rich in highly slanderous spurts, there is also enough copyright violation here to send any record company lawyer in to a flat spin. Compiled between 1995 and 2002, The Parker Tapes is perhaps the most anarchic example of plunderphonics so far.
The Cassette Boy attitude pays homage to the likes of Chris Morris and Bill Hicks as well as John Oswald, the original plunderphonics pioneer. The motivation behind this record appears to fall evenly between creating something that is genuinely hilarious and perhaps downright offensive, well, to the fainthearted at least. In addition, the record serves as a catharsis of all the accumulated media fear mongering that surrounds us and permeates our consciousness us day after day.
Comprised of 98 tracks The Parker Tapes is built from thousands upon thousands of samples, sound bites and music clips that have been hacked, slashed, looped and rearranged to skew meaning and entice parody. Entertained by this exercise or not, you can't help but marvel at the execution. The amount of work that has gone in to harvesting the raw material for this record is breathtaking and as a result there is little that escapes Cassette Boy's cut and paste satire.
Consequently, we are subjected to Jamie Oliver confessing he has very few friends, Jeremy Paxman proclaiming Bill Gates to be part of the forces of darkness and Tony Blair assuring us the Labour Party will wage war on all eleven year olds.
Even though much of this record is spoken word the musical interludes that intersperse these bizarre ramblings are often hip hop breaks. That said cut ups of The Smiths, S Club 7, Frank Sinatra, Cypress Hill, RAM Trilogy and David Bowie are all present in one form or another. However, the essence is still very much that of hip hop hence it is feature in this section.
Most people will find the material on this album deeply disturbing yet to those who are familiar with the edgiest media satire (and up to speed on their history of contemporary music) will find this quite exhilarating. Search and deploy.
Reviewer: Christian Hopwood
Read other people's comments then Tell us what you think: Having heard a few tracks from this album I've got to say that I hold this guy in high esteem. Not only is this album very cleverly made, but really funny! I recommend it to anyone who isn't particularly keen on (among others) the Government, Bill Gates, or Jamie Oliver. So it suits me fine!
Matthew Mahabadi, Great Malvern, England
It took me a long time to recover from listening to this album. My side hurt so much from laughing. I thought that its quite clever and can see how it took seven years to produce. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a wicked sense of humour. I only wish I could get a hold of this album and stop borrowing my friend's copy.
Rob Wakefield, Edinburgh
A work of genius. The best, and most essential political album of the year. And the funniest...
Nik, Cambridge
cut and paste at its rawest and most hilarious. media political correctness and the growing push button democracy are hijacking our imaginations, it's about time someone stole them back!
mr. p, exeter
Id love to see the leftover samples!! It seems that everything you never imagined is in here including the MC Hammer 'You Can't Touch This' speech!! If you don't get a copy of this, then you deserve to be slashed by the labour government!!
Ian, Scunthorpe
genius is an over used word but this elpee is the contents of someone's warped genius brain. the queen is actually extremely good looking when her husband's not there...
ad>>skip, south east london
Just saw Cassette Boy yesterday...they were both dressed as father christmas + sporting Blair + Bush masks. THey started the show by handing out loads of wrapped pressies which turned out to be about 100 replica guns (I got a lovely Ouzie 9mm and my mate got a cool AK47). Needless to say the audience vented some global frustrations by shooting Blair and Bush whilst listening to Casstete Boy awsome toones. Most enjoyable stuff!
Rollack, Brighton
If you dont lay your ears on anything else for the rest of your life, lay them on this. Unmissable.
Laura, Kingston
Brilliant!! pure brilliance, anyone who loaves popular culture will embrace this, these guys are geniuses. hearing jamie oliver say hes gona whack his old man right up his alley enduces fits of laughter everytime. get this!!
neil, England
A totally mad album, bringing back fond memories of trying to do much the same when I was a kid - recording the top40 off the radio and trying to chop it up (& failing miserably). If you like this, then you really should take the time to check out his Christmas single which came out a few years back on 'Barrys Bootlegs'. Very amusing indeed.
Dj Hombre, Hampshire
My mate (who's an Irish girl from Essex) said that she once went drinking in Sydney with one of the members of Cassetteboy and lost nearly 8 whole days of her life. Awesome stuff really when you think about it. I didn't know wether to beleive her or not but then she showed me the scars from all the laughing she did. She said it was like watching a Tommy Cooper show on laughing gas.
sophie, Sydney
Years of work, for months n months of amusement and entertainment! Truely oustanding (check the mix of The Doors n Billy Jean). The sharp satirical ordering of these fella's work will make listening history for everyone that hears it. "Isn't this fun the things men n women get up to in the darkness - FOXES ARSES, FOXES ARSES!"
BOBKAT, LONDON
Some friend made me a copy of the cd 4 days ago, and I thing I'v already played it 20 times or more. I think it's absolutely brilliant, very inspirering, sarcastic and funny at the same time. I realy want to thank the creators of this masterpiece, people like theme make a difference in the world.
element, Quebec, Canada
This collection of tracks should be cleaned up and put on the secondary school musical curriculum. It's like scratching brought forward 20 years! Most original (and unusual) works I've heard since Aphex Twin. THIS MUST BE HEARD BY ALL!
Neal, Cork, Ireland
their other tracks such as 'di and dodi do die' really do challenge the hearts of the emotionals, very satirical and exceptionally cleverly done... good work/controversial topics! love 'em
Benz, Spalding
Fantabulous, the most original piece I've ever heard and so well put together. Its a new form.
Pauly *C, edinburgh
Geniuine genius!
Stuart, London
'we ain't got nufink to eat!' eat this it'll do you good.
Alan, Above the corner shop
Genius, political message and audio anarchy all rolled into one.
duck, s. of ==
I heard this inbetween Christmas and New Year 2002. Speechless. Oh, apart from, play track 94. That is all I can possibly say.
Bryan, Stourbridge, West Midlands
I seen the crazy muthers at Dedbeat, and geared. I even got a toy machine gun!!The tunes are mad, but they can get a serious and ocassionally a funny point across. Go see when live. There costumes are rad.
Kitty, Portrush, N. Ireland
I think this has to be the most creative album ever. Where else would you get David Bowie singing "Here I am shitting in a tin-can". Try listening to Jamie Oliver and not wetting yourself. As one of the previous reviewers said "FOXES ARSES, FOXES BLOOMERS"
Paul Davidson, Carlisle
I'm serious, this is a real life-changer. 7 years well spent. Wow.
Marko Boyo, Wales
Damn this album is great! I play it to people, consider it 'education', responses vary between shocked silence and apoplexy. It could change your life.
Ro, London
crikey, this is good. get this if at all possible.
simon, somerset
why does it hurt, when i pee... ?? -theres-not-enough-Zappa-
MMBB, Manchester
I got a copy of this album for my birthday. Funniest thing i've heard since Bluejam!
Richard, Bristol
This album is pure class, it takes the piss on another level. The ideas of pastiche here are ingenious, i love it
Mark J, Harpenden
Satire of the highest order! Chris Morris the musical!!
Dave Underwood, Leeds
I THINK THAT CASSETTE BOY ARE/IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR EVERYONE, ITS SO FUNNY AND REALLY WELL MADE AND THOUGHT OUT ITS UNBELIEVABLE
KRIS, NOTTINGHAM
I can quote Bill Gates now as saying: "Alot of my close friends are numbers" The September 11 track is awesome, the chopped up Frank Sinatra is so god damn funny. Also the S Club party!
Dave, Brisbane, Australia
Absolutely brilliant! Some "plunderphonics", eg John Oswald, is actually very poor. This is how it should be done. Reminds me of the best of Adbusters.
Guy, London
A work of utter genius...
Simon, Hull
Saw these guys perform live at Big Chill Festival a couple of days ago. Absolutely mind bending, just ordered the album can't wait for posty to deliver this.
Paul - Bordon - Hants
PURE GENIUS
matty LEEDS
brilliant record one of the funniest records ever committed to disc. their christmas single was dead good as well. its got cut-ups of nat king cole, cliff richard, slade, and all the other annoying christmas records you're forced to listen to every year everywhere you go. apparently they wont release another album until 2009!!! you can get a few other tracks elsewhere though, like on the fujiya nad miyagi remixes album, the warpmart cd and the spymania compilation. proper bo i tell thee.
jonny cambridge
Absolutely revolving. I'd rather stew my own liver.
Val Doonican, Tidmouth
If you love the album then see them live. How many times have you been at a gig and openly wept with laughter.I want another album NOW!
Ian, Winchester
cassette boy is a post-modernist fantasy and the sooner people realise this the sooner we can all just get on with our lives
bob, catalonia
my mate ceri told me about cassette boy & i have took it upon myself to spread cassette boys gospel to the people of dublin
john p
very amusing... VERY VERY VERY AMUSING!
fred, my pants
Just go and find it. The best, funniest, most musical "plunderphonics" record you'll ever hear. A work, as many above have said, of genius.
Sean, London
The most inspiring CD I've ever heard. Please put something new out SOON!
Wayne Butane, Mecham AZ, USA
Absolutely excellent!!! But check out Wayne Butane if you're into this sorta thing - you will not be disappointed.
James
Absolutely amazing. Magic.
jon London
Love these guys. Mad styly these two are. Jamie Oliver is a tosser, isn't he? Anyone know the name of the tune they sample on track 86? Sounds frightenly familiar.
Roy
Just plain flawless. Every single track is a classic, and the way the album flows is just as memorable. Definitely the best release of 2002.
Gwilym, NZ
Brilliant! worth checking out.
Gordon Exeter
hi i likd it
Goolancer, PFS
Not track 86. 87, the 10 $ sting
Roy
What we have here is a musical liberators perspective on sound. I once read that nobody can own a sound but in this instance these guys should be forgiven for the references they imply. A realistic approach to plaigiarism that goes with a tongue in cheek method of thinking.A+
M.Ward-Sussex
Roy, the tune sampled on 10$ sting is Serge Gainsbourg's "Bonnie and Clyde" This album is a masterpiece of the modern age, no more, no less.
unit
This is the only artist really worth listening to at the moment. Everyone else is just weak, complicit and dull. Let it rip Cassette Boyee. Lovely lovely lovely Fantastic Superb Mate.
Tommy F, Norwich
well, what to say??? One of the only origonal things to be created in any media form in any genre over the last few years.
bob
All I can say is, we're just trying be monkeys.
Dave, London
Saw these guys "play" the other night. They reminded me a little of Negativland, only without a single ounce of creativity or wit. Nothing new here, although it was nice proof of how easy it is to entertain a room full of idiots.
Johnny from Texas
WAH! ive been infected by the cassette boy fever, i think that the satire is juicy and lovely to taste, and the obscenity is rather sweet. and its goddam right America only have themselves to blame
joachim Barnstaple
mashup of football results and shipping forecast will not be forgotten
biggsy, brighton
riding me donkey .every one loves this album,its just cut straight through all the crap best live act at Deadbeat festival.blair and bush sex show
daveey crow reading
Excuse me, do you have an ironing service?
Jeff, Wallington
if you like this stuff then buy some rubbish - dj rubbish or find people like us too for girlie style cassetteboyness
*headcleaner. - london town
Very entertaining. Painstakingly constructed by people lucky enough to be living in a poor climate.
Ahab, Coonamble Australia
I just saw these guys (having never heard them before) at the Glastonbury Festival - I was in stitches, and I'm most certainly buying the album. And so are you.
Ben, London
they just played at Glastonbury and I slept through it in my van. It was brilliant!
bLOKE -PFS
I've heard cassette boy a few times but was subjected to the full hilarity of their work at Glastonbury this year. The Harry Potter stories will live in infamy! Cassette boy rule!
Gary, Kent
Just saw Cassette Boy in the Glade at Glastonbury (2004). I laughed until I literally had a tear coming down my face.
Dan Smith, London
I own this CD and i thought the idea was brilliant. These guys are obviously dedicated but they are also very sophmoric. I tried many times to do what they have done and let me tell you, this was more work than anyone i know has ever done.
Ed from VA
technically well crafted, and in some places absolutely hilarious. especially moments like hearing the national health service was consulting harold shipman in a drive to cut waiting lists. they promise him an extra
tom bombadil, in the shire
Saw them at Glastonbury and nearly wet my pants. i will echo the above: absolute genius!!! Hope they plunder and screw the Streets soon!
Jez Nottingham
there shud be a religion placed behind these guys, a big one. my favourite must be the twin tower one. im open to slander now...........
sy leeds n about
Bill Hicks will be able to rest easy knowing that the torch has been passed to these two.More of an audio chronicle of our time than an album of the moment, plus its hilarious.
Dj Infidel, Brighton
This album is shear bloody pottery.Kudos and genuflections to the mastery of post industrial tape editing and sound sampling. Listenable and entertaining. Should be on any thinking persons Desert Island Disc collection.
Prof Clem Clam: Whitehorse Yukon canada
YOU'RE DEAD! GOD TOLD ME! Buy this album. Now. go on. shut down the computer. Run out to a record shop. Hand over money. It will be the best ?10 you ever spent. :o) Or just copy it from a friend until record companies stop charging >?10 for something that costs 20p to make!
JonCOF
This whole album is astonishing. I wish I had made it. Cassette Boy is truely amazing.
Nish, London
I think these guys are incredible; hugely talented, intelligent and most importantly, hilarious!! I have seen them twice now and have spent the night laughing my head off and applauding their slander! Excellent stuff, Dj Rubbish compliments them well. i look forward to more of their gigs!
Caroline, Hampshire.
Come fly with me... / Once I get you up there... / I've got my knife... / deep in the heart of you...Let's fly.. let's fly... into / buildings. I love it. Very very harsh, and very good. Not recommended for sensitive yanks.
Joe, London
the disc was reccomended to me while visiting england. i thaught '14pounds!!!! thats like 30bucks for a frikkin disk'... so glad im not a cheap bastard cause its my favorite album of all thousand records/cd's i own.. im sure they wouldnt mind but ive copied it nearly a hundred times and sent it out to nearly all my friends, even those who dislike techno say its one of the most played disks in their collection.. i'd love to find out who they are for real, but you know the solicitors will never let it happen... for fun, add it to your random playlist in winamp etc.. between regular tracks youll get short laughs.. try it!! cassetteboy rules
padra on earth (for now)
anyone who can make a jimmy nail song sound fresh AND original has to be a genius.
Owen Liverpool
where can i buy this ? i can't find this Anywhere! can someone post a link, thanks
bob johnson
yeah, this is funny shit. i was over in london and heard a new collection, that itv news lady linking every piece of news to al qaida. fucking classic.
bruce, dublin
A shining example of what all Coldplay fans will hate!! Stunning, a must have!?* Check out: DJ Rubbish &C,boy - Inside a whales **** also Negativeland - Helter stupid (if you can find it 1989) The modern day Zappa
Simon, Surrey
greatest thing since sliced bread this dude has put alot of effort into this ane he deserves a round of applause
chris somerset
This is truly a masterpiece. Comical and Political satire for a new generation! His collaberation with DJ Rubbish is also worth an ear as it is more upto date and has a bit more variety than the Parker tapes.
Joe, Plymouth
It shines out like a good deed in a naughty world.
Martin, Edinburgh
Having exchanged my house, wife, clothes and cow for the cassette boy CD, I was pleasntly surprised though i wish i had a cd player
Bill, Teletubby Land
Absolutly amazin', I loved the album, everytime I hear it I hear something new. Its very harsh and very funny.
Jamie, Newmarket
When i first heard the name "Cassttte boy" I thought r i g h t.. this will probably be shyte, just smile and say it was ok, just not my cup of tea. Boy was i mistaken! I loved every minute of it, so i got the album.. I cant remember the last time i rolled on the floor laughing?. Cassette boy is Total class, utter genius, the whole album is astonishingly brilliant and hilarious fun to listen to!:)
shakhira, Angel islington london
Excellent. In the admittedly unlikely event that Cassette Boy reads this, here are some ideas for future targets: Ellen McArthur/Julie Walters/ Johnny Vaughan/Jim 'Vic Reeves' Moir/Jonathan Ross/ Mark Lamarr/Natasha Kaplinsky/ those hilarious LITTLE BRITAIN oafs/Jamie Oliver (again)... etc etc
Richard, Herts.
how could you possibley not find this funny?! I LOVE ET!!!
flossyjo, WALES
w00t, best album EVER, listened to it non-stop for 2 years =D (All 3 albums :D)
n_K, yeh
It says something that the only negative comment left was by a Texan. Great British humour.
Dom, Norwich
johnny? from texas? what a vacuous person you must be for you to think so little of this masterpiece. the fact you dislike it is a credit to your cretinous lack of irony and sarcasm. suppose you could be right. but probably not. everyone should own this album.
christo, london
Is there a Cassette Boy Website?
iaN, London
brilliant, one of the greatest bits of editing ever!!!!!!!!!!
ryanl , aberdare
This album is the boom! I love it!
Alex, Kent
Permalink | August 04, 2005
