Mission statement

The Living Archive was established on 1 August 2009 to document the underground music movement called "Cassette Culture".

Simply put, "Cassette Culture" was a group of individuals worldwide who recorded their own music at home and distributed it themselves. This all began at the beginning of the 1980’s when home recording devices became affordable and cassettes were plentiful and cheap. These were not "demos" but fully realized art projects primarily traded with other like minded artists around the world.

This was a decentralized scene although there were publications that addressed it at the time. In fact, because of these publications home tapers were able to get postal addresses to strike up friendships by. This was the first time home recording musicians could take control over every aspect of their art without having to bend to record company pressures or in the case of avant garde music, an ability to get their art out at all.

The Living Archive is not meant as a comprehensive history but more about my personal relationship with the people who participated in this home recorded music scene. That being said, there is a history to be gleaned from these memories and of the others who have helped me out here.

Although this site is about the narrow niche of home recording enthusiasts from approximately 1980 to 2000, I’d like to include information about current events and make it germane to the present.

I welcome your participation, all points of view, memories and related information. This is not about me but relating this personally is the only way I know to bring this into being . Not as an academic exercise, but as a breathing, Living Archive.