Sam from BlackTape here, asking for your pledge at Kickstarter to help create a special 40th anniversary edition of our debut, The Rope!
Back in the spring of 1986 I moved to California for college. I was 20 years old, feeling isolated, lonely, missing friends in Florida. In my dorm room I started recording music with lyrics and melodies. Writing words for Oscar Herrera to sing within my ethereal and ambient music helped me explore those angsty and tangled feelings.
It was 40 years ago this summer that I released The Rope. Now I need your help to make this special edition possible!
Pledge at Kickstarter
If we reach the $12,000 goal the release will contain two complete versions of the album. There’s the 1986 mix remastered, and I did a 2026 mix using modern studio technology to make The Rope sound the way I’ve always wanted to hear it. I know many people love the charm of the original while I have a desire to remix to make the tracks sound “better” — this limited collector edition satisfies both of those aims.
On their debut, Sam’s subtle electronics and introspective lyrics establish black tape for a blue girl’s stature beyond the realm of the traditional “gothic” sound, creating a timeless blend of Oscar’s emotional vocals intertwined with warm ambient soundscapes.
After just 24 hours, we’re already 25% to the goal. This campaign is all or nothing, every pledge at Kickstarter gets us closer to making this reissue possible. Thanks so much,
Sam