From 1981 to 1983, Taped Rugs’ sonic activities were focused on recordings and performances which involved Frippertronics-style tape loop compositions. Nearly every one of those compositions were credited to the Taped Rugs project called –ING (see The History Of –ING podcast series for specifics). Killr Mark Kaswan took part in some of those –ING recording sessions. In 1984, Kaswan embarked on a recording project of his own, entitled: “Reflections on a Toaster.”

Kaswan created six different pieces for this self-produced cassette release. In these pieces, his cello and guitar playing are combined in a variety of ways with animal sounds, conversations, radio broadcasts, improvised musical performances, tape manipulations, and other sonic elements. The final compositions for the project were sculpted using three stereo tape players and a simple analog mixer. Kaswan debuted Reflections on a Toaster at a party which was held just prior to his departure for Europe, where he and his wife stayed for several months in late 1984/early 1985.

-ING members Charles Goff III and Steve Schaer contributed some elements to Kaswan’s production. While creating those elements, Kaswan and Goff developed a musical bond which eventually led to their decision to form the Taped Rugs project “Disism” when Kaswan returned to the USA in 1985 (see: http://geocities.com/padukem/Disism.html for more information about Disism). Reflections on a Toaster was added to the Taped Rugs catalog in 1989 on a tape entitled “Predisism.”

Here Taped Rugs presents the entire recording of Reflections on a Toaster. In addition to his own recorded performances, Kaswan weaves the following elements (among many others) into the compositions listed below:

Piece One: Bozie and Bumbi (Goff’s pet finches): tweatings.

Piece Two: Goff , James Jacobs, Christina Ratcliffe, Steve Schaer, Barbara Stack: live improvised performances.

Piece Four: Two separate duets notated by Kaswan. The first, performed with Goff and the Taped Rugs tape loop system, later became the basic theme for the Disism piece, “What You Call Jesus Christ.” The second, performed with Adrian Gormley, later was slightly modified to become the theme for the Disism piece "2+2." Tom Burden, Julie Armstrong, and their infant son Tim contributed the vocal bits.

Piece Five: Mao and Natasha (Kaswan’s cats): purrings.

Piece Six: Music from “Beat Street”: soundtrack bits. Glen Turner: typing. Elizabeth MacDowell: singing.

The next (and rather short) Early Experiments of Taped Rugs presentation will feature a bit of music created for an Aquatic Ballet. Get ready for a splash of nepotism.