I Wish I'd Known - Tape 13
by @wehappyfew · @zecoopMod · @fourtracktape · @fairplay · @paulbenham
Liner Notes
A day after the deadline, but in our defence this tape has travelled a long way (2 stops in the US, then onto Germany and the UK).
It's one of a handful of FAWM songs recorded on 8 track cassette recorders this year, which opens up a few more options, as each participant gets two tape tracks to play with.
It was great fun recording a part for, and mixing this song, and it was really interesting to work in a different genre to normal. I'll let the other guys chip in, but this sounds like a blend of electro, indie and experimental ambient music to me?
Here's the track order 1&2 - @zecoop (drums & bass) 3&4 - @paulbenham (electric guitars) 5&6 - @fairplay (synths) 7&8 - @wehappyfew (vocals)
#analog #8track #electronic #indierock #80s #experimental #synthwave #laidback #lofi #cassette
Lyrics
I Wish I’d Known
(Verse 1) Woke up too late, but it’s all in the past, Tried to hold on, but the moments don’t last. I hear the voices, I see the signs, But I was too blind to read between the lines.
(Chorus) I wish I’d known What I needed to see, The truth in the silence, The answers were free. If I’d looked closer, I’d of seen what was there, Maybe I’d have found what I should repair
(Verse 2) (spoken) Took a long road, never thought it would end, Thought I could change it, thought I could mend. But the steps I took, led me far from the start, Now I see the pieces, but I’m still falling apart.
(Chorus) I wish I’d known, What I needed to see, The truth in the silence, The answers are free If I’d looked closer, If I’d seen what was there, And Maybe then, I’d have found what I should repair
(Bridge) And the nights are so quiet, the time moves too slow, I look at the past, but it’s all just a show. The lessons were waiting, but I couldn’t hear, Now I’m chasing them down, but they’re slipping in fear.
(Verse 3) All those chances I let pass me by, I was chasing a dream, but I didn’t ask why. Now the moment’s over, but I still feel the burn, Wishing I’d known, what I needed to see
(ad-lib vox until the end)
Comments
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/d8113ee0-dd07-4972-837e-dca15495d2c8.png){kind=avatar}
Very cool, I love that punchy drum machine sound and the other instruments create a perfectly shimmery soundscape over it - something a bit Stone Roses-y about the end result maybe? Mix of sung and spoken vocals is the icing on the cake, great stuff!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/a4525633-f64d-4936-b793-d9290159a8bf.png){kind=avatar}
All the warmth and bits of flutter add to the period feel of this synth-inflected indie rock. Excellent playing by all, and everything fits so well. I like how the lyrics can be read as self-reflection but also as a comment on the feeling of waiting for a tape to arrive in the mail!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/7390310a-1238-4311-84a5-054137a3f89c.png){kind=avatar}
Really cool warm tune. The spoken word is the cherry on top!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2024/2891e832-4480-4d90-89c5-0b89076adbd1.png){kind=avatar}
This sounds amazing! You all did such a great job with all of your parts, it's hard to imagine that there wasn't a plan for how this came together. I would totally buy this album.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2024/e0cb5d99-fae3-4833-a688-0217f210afe9.png){kind=avatar}
another 8 track! this is straight out of 80s "college radio" (here in the US, dunno what it might be called in the UK/Germany). amazing that you pulled all this together within a month (the trans-atlantic tape i was on never arrived 🙁 )... the sparse spoken middle-8 or whatever was a nice touch, too...
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2026/b23894a9-78c3-44e9-8aff-b88e60fd465a.png){kind=avatar}
So cool! Really solid mix, this sounds great. Intriguing lyrics, awesome foundation with the drum and bass, awesome guitar and synths, everything is top notch!
(/me starts looking again for an 8-track recorder)
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/2015.png){kind=avatar}
Cool vibe. Great use of the extra tracks to provide interesting colors and textures. Great performances and nice mix. Well done everyone!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/4682.png){kind=avatar}
I simply adore the path this song took. Absolutely retro but with some modern touches. I had totally forgotten about this one but a grooving to everything you all added! This is a legit song and everything fits perfectly. really cool lyric and delivered with the perfect laid back attitude. Loved this!!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/7006.png){kind=avatar}
Whoa! This is fantastic! Unbelievable how songs like this came through the mail on cassette! The arrangement is wonderful—so many different sections with different instrumentation and the fit seamlessly. The synth has that vibe, as does the spoken parts that contrast the singing, the harmonies….wow very well done!
![[FAWM]](/static/img/demoduck.svg)
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oh funky like The Clash and New Order or something like that. Total 80s vibe. Clearly, you all know what you're doing because it doesn't sound like a tape cassette.