Tommy Mandel - Music For Insomniacs (2020 Cassette)
“In today’s world, it’s harder than ever to let go & find sleep. So kick back and let this pastel soundscape from the NYC synth rocker, TM™ ♪ drift you off to dreamland like it was 1984...” -Tommy Mandel
"New York synth magician Tommy Mandel has an astonishing career as a composer, sideman, and electronic pop artist. Since the late 1970s, he has toured or recorded with a laundry list of talents including Todd Rundgren, The Clash, The B-52s, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, and countless others. Yet it is Mandel’s solo pioneering keyboard work that has captured the attention of Invisible City, first documented on the Mello Magic compilation of his largely unreleased new wave explorations. Now, the label follows it up with an even more scarcely heard project, working in cooperation with Mandel to reissue his 1984 private press cassette, Music For Insomniacs. Recorded on four-track, each of the album’s eight songs is inspired by a wave of sleep from Alpha to Theta. Its playfully psychedelic sound features shimmering synths, baked electronics, soft drum machines, and various vocal treatments guiding listeners into a peaceful slumber. Yet Mandel can’t resist adding traces of abstracted boogie-funk with propulsive rhythms that will keep you dancing through your dreams. Fans of Mort Garson, Woo, Brian Bennett, Angelo Badalamenti, Klaus Schonning and Bruce Haack will rejoice at their new sleepy time soundtrack." - Jesse Locke
We've repressed a limited run of brand new cassettes with newly remastered audio. The cassettes and cases are new, but with original deadstock artwork/j-cards Tommy had stored in his New York apartment. Artwork by Tommy Mandel. Both A and B sides have the same songs on it so flip it on Auto Reverse, dim the lights and fade out. Each cassette comes along with the prescription:
Rx: Play softly before retiring. More effective with continued use.
I. Alpha (Flutes)
II. Beta (First of All...)
III. Gamma (Life Goes On)
IV. Delta (Looking)
V. Epsilon (Sleeping)
VI. Zeta (Kin Tama)
VII. Eta (Pastel)
VIII. Theta (Butterfly)
©℗ Invisible City Editions
ICE 017