Library Organization
American Tapes
John Olson's Detroit noise/drone cassette label, founded 1991, known for elaborate handmade packaging.
Founded in Detroit in 1991 by John Olson — a founding member of Universal Indians (1993) and later of Wolf Eyes — American Tapes began with unnumbered cassette releases before starting a formal numbered series in 1995. The label became known as much for its releases of noise, drone, and outsider music as for its packaging: early tapes were housed in cases hand-collaged from found media and cut into abstract shapes. By 2007 it had released more than 700 titles.