Cassette Review: Logan Archer "Charts/Memories" (4! records + tapes)

[$5 // Edition of 30 // https://4fctrl.bandcamp.com/album/4-006-charts-memories]

My interest in Logan Archer began with his song on the 4! records + tapes compilation Perilous Holiday.   I visited his own Bandcamp page, which took me to his Facebook page, which then informed me that his past releases would be on cassette and here we are.   I was about to download them all to listen to when I saw the cassette part, and of course I would rather listen to cassettes than digital music.

The music found on "Charts/Memories" is instrumental and at its core reminds me of the first time I heard The Cancer Conspiracy.   There are acoustic guitars and pianos but usually not together.   There is a classical feeling to it and not in the sense of Bach but in the sense that you get the impression that Logan Archer is a classically trained musician and knows his way around both of these instruments in a music school type of way.

Acoustic guitar notes can bring out anything from the Smashing Pumpkins to just an overall ambient sound.    Much like the aforementioned Cancer Conspiracy, this is something I would certainly enjoy listening to on full volume while swimming.    There is a dignified beauty in the way that the guitar can rattle ever so slightly.

A harmonica does come out before all is said and done, so as not to think of this as only a two instrument show, and yet the pianos can just grow so quiet and full of so much sadness.    It's not so much something that you would play at a funeral, but perhaps rather at home while thinking about the deceased.    This gives it that much more personal sense where you wouldn't necessarily play it for your friends but have them listen to it on their own.

Granted, musicians play shows and people go to them so it must then be something magical to see Logan Archer as you would want to feel like you were the only person in the room with him, trying your best to ignore everyone else around you.   I guess that's the thing with "Charts/Memories" though: It doesn't just transport you to some other place, but it takes you to a place that is seemingly built just for you.   How cool is that?