Category: GAJOOB

  • In Memory of Ian C. Stewart

    In Memory of Ian C. Stewart

    by Bryan Baker, GAJOOB / Tapegerm

    I first got to know Ian Stewart through his AutoReverse zine. The music reviews were insightful, sharp, and full of deep, genuine passion for the strange and beautiful sounds emerging from the cassette underground and experimental edges of indie music. Ian had a way of zeroing in on the intent behind a recording, no matter how raw or obscure, and giving it the attention it deserved. It was clear he wasn’t just writing about music—he was in love with it. He didn’t hesitate to skewer sensitive artists either.

    Like me, he worked at a PrintShop which helped by way of having access to printing tools. That connection might seem small, but if you’ve ever spent late nights in a self-service print shop surrounded by zines, flyers, and early CD artwork, you know what kind of community that work nurtured. It wasn’t just about pushing buttons—it was about enabling other artists, sharing tools, and living creatively, even in the middle of a corporate chain store.

    Ian was the person who pulled me into the world of loops.

    Sometime around the early 2000s, he put out a call for remixers. I answered, and in the mail came a CD filled with loop material from one of his projects. The idea was simple: take the loops, make your own thing. It felt raw and open, a sort of experimental gift.

    I created a track called “Fuck Television”—a personal rebellion through sound collage—and something clicked. This wasn’t just about remixing. It was about shared vocabulary and transformation.

    That moment became a seed.

    Inspired by Ian’s approach, I put out my own open call for remixers on HomemadeMusic.com. This time I gathered loops from a few cassette albums like Linda Smith, Baneemy and others. People responded with loops of their own. Artists started remixing each other. A community formed, and that project eventually grew into Tapegerm, a collective built around collaborative loop exchange and perpetual audio evolution.

    That’s the kind of impact Ian had. Quiet, direct, and powerful. He gave people a reason to try something new and a way to belong in the ever-morphing ecosystem of DIY music.

    His loss, as noted beautifully on the Vuzh Music blog, is felt deeply. He was a connector—someone who made space for others to make noise, and for that noise to mean something.

    In memory of Ian C Stewart

    https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/iancstewart

    https://autoreversetoinfinity.wordpress.com

    qqqhttps://samarkandohio.bandcamp.com/music

    https://bizarredepiction.bandcamp.com

    https://droneforest.bandcamp.com/music

    https://devilcake.bandcamp.com/album/i-cant-believe-its-not-satan

  • Magic Moments at Twilight Time – The MMaTTrix #5, Summer 1992 (Zine, 1992)

    Magic Moments at Twilight Time – The MMaTTrix #5, Summer 1992 (Zine, 1992)

    Download Album HERE

    ARTIST/LABEL NOTES:

    From 1987 to 2003, I had the privilege and pleasure to become and be an integral part of a unique global underground network, one that I still regard as amongst the most important social phenomena of its day. Many years before modern digital technology made communication and the dissemination of music simplicity itself; this network built up across national, continental, cultural and ethnic boundaries. We worked together on the basis of what we had in common, seldom stopping to be concerned about the ways in which we differed. The music always came before the money; mutual help, promotion and co-operation came before competition. We did what we could to erase the word “exploitation” from the dictionary, and the greatest profits we sought were banked in the friendships we forged. The Magic Net continues to work in that spirit. If you are commercially orientated, begone from this place! This is an underground website for underground people, there’s nothing for you here…

    Media: Zine.

  • Rediscovering Incite!: A Fanzine’s Journey Through Independent Music and Pop CultureIncite! Zine (1985-1998)

    Rediscovering Incite!: A Fanzine’s Journey Through Independent Music and Pop CultureIncite! Zine (1985-1998)

    Incite! is a fanzine that holds a special place in the world of independent music and pop culture. Originally published by Timothy Alborn from 1985 to 1998, Incite! was more than just a periodical zine; it was a vibrant reflection of its era, capturing the essence of underground music scenes, personal reflections, and various aspects of popular culture.

    The Origins and Evolution

    Timothy Alborn, who started the fanzine during his student years at Harvard University and continued it into his tenure as a professor, used Incite! as a platform to explore and share his passion for independent music. Over the thirteen years of its publication, the fanzine evolved but consistently maintained its core focus on indie music. Each issue featured reviews, articles, and insights into lesser-known bands and records, often accompanied by Alborn’s personal anecdotes and reflections on the broader cultural milieu.

    Digital Revival

    In 2012, recognizing the enduring value of Incite!, Alborn digitized all thirty issues and made them available online through his home page at Lehman College. However, these digital copies were lost during a platform migration. In a bid to preserve this cultural artifact, Alborn has replanted the fanzine on the CUNY Academic Commons website, now enhanced with additional features. This new digital version includes links to songs from the records reviewed and bands discussed, providing readers with a richer, more interactive experience.

    Content and Contributions

    Each issue of Incite! starts with a short description that provides context, helping readers understand the environment and influences behind its creation. The fanzine covers a diverse range of topics beyond music, delving into various realms of pop culture and offering a personal lens on the events and trends of the time.

    One notable feature of the revived Incite! is an index of all thirty issues, complete with links and short descriptions of their contents. This index serves as a handy guide for both new readers and long-time fans, making it easier to navigate through the wealth of information and nostalgia contained within the fanzine’s pages.

    Alborn’s friend, Stephanie Burt, also contributed a thoughtful overview of the fanzine in an article for the London Review of Books when it was first digitized in 2012, highlighting its significance and impact.

    Engaging with Incite!

    For those interested in exploring Incite!, each issue is now readily accessible online. The fanzine offers a unique window into the independent music scene of the late 20th century and remains a testament to the DIY ethos that fueled much of the creativity during that period. Whether you are a music aficionado, a pop culture enthusiast, or simply curious about zine culture, Incite! promises an engaging and insightful journey.

    Explore Incite! and its rich history on the CUNY Academic Commons and dive into a world where independent music and personal reflections intertwine to create a lasting legacy.