The Music Tapes

The Music Tapes started life as a creative outlet for the 16 year old Julian Koster (later of Neutral Milk Hotel), who would create tapes of songs and stories as means of escapism, which he would share with his friends, culminating in 'The American Phoam Rubber Co. Symphony Orchestra Proudly Presents the 2nd Silly Putty Symphony for Edison Wax Cylander', which was essentially tape collage. In 1989, Koster formed the band Chocolate USA, a more conventional indie-pop band...

In 1999 Julian released the album First Imaginary Symphony For Nomad, featuring a slew of musicians helping him, most notably Robbie Cucchiaro and Eric Harris. Ten years later Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes was released, featuring the usual bevy of artists, most notably an eight foot tall metronome.