Various Artists

"Zip-Locked & Loaded Vol. 1" cassette

Popgun Recordings

Genres: lo-fi, indie pop, diy

Popgun Recordings
PO Box 7774
Riverside CA 92513
USA

Sep 22 - 28 2003

There's something magical about Popgun's Zip-Locked & Loaded compilations and volume one, the original, is no different.  Six songs by six different bands and artists are present on this delicious tape, and the lo-fi DIY style is on display brilliantly.  Fireflies' instrumental guitar tune "Road Trip" starts off the cassette adorably and Casino Ashtrays' cover of Herman's Hermits tune "I'm Into Something Good" is pure pop goodness.  Finishing off side A is Your Suitcase's blissed-out, laidback version of big band standard "Brazil".

Side B starts with Casino Ashtrays member Laura Watling's "Same," a soft yet boppy pop tune with endearing vocals and a cute twee sound not far off from happier Softies and Huon work.  Cha Cha Cha's lo-fi funk insturmental "Riot 119 (M.M.M.M.C. Mix)" (the M.M.M.M.C stands for "Might make my moog cry") is a nice artifact that was originally on Dead Turtle Recordings' legendary Breakout comp - it's reminiscent of the tunes on Money Mark's solo Mark's Keyboard Repair album.  The comp finishes off with a short lo-fi pop tune by high school teacher Curly Girl.

Zip-Locked & Loaded Vol. 1 is a must-buy for fans of lo-fi, DIY pop and cassette culture.

80%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 6 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2000]