WHILE VINYL CONTINUES TO SURF THE GROOVE OF RESURRECTION AND REACH OUT TO A NEW GENERATION OF MUSIC HEADS, SPARE A THOUGHT FOR POOR OLD TAPE CASSETTE. COULD IT EVER PROVOKE THE SAME LOVE?
For Cloud (aka multi-instrumentalist New Yorker Tyler Taormina), cassette’s retro appeal is perfect for the second pressing of debut COMFORT SONGS, issued by label Audio Antihero. Joining the same stable as Ben Parker’s Nosferatu D2 and Superman Revenge Squad, the album quickly sold out its initial CD run, and the label has made a new edition available on cassette for those looking to experience the quirk of great music through a nostalgic format.
While, in some respects, the album lives up to its name, offering succour with luscious soundscapes and a dreamy undercurrent, there is also uncomfortably raw emotion exposed, too. Using sweeping pianos and catchy melodies, Taormina is not scared by the prospect of exposing his feelings. Recent UK airplay by BBC 6Music has brought healthy comparison to Polyphonic Spree (and its several million members). For Taormina and his solo project (though a couple of friends assist on COMFORT SONGS) the compliment is testament to his expansive sound…

COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF, AND YOUR SOUND, FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH YOUR WORK?
Hello! My name is Tyler Taormina. Iʼm 23 years, and I recently migrated to Los Angeles. My two favorite things to do are make music and make movies. My solo project is called Cloud and it documents my life in a very honest and sometimes raw fashion.

WHICH BANDS HAVE YOU DRAWN INFLUENCE FROM?
Itʼs a conglomerate of years of musical influence… Sounds like Red House Painters, Ibrahim Ferrer, Yo La Tengo, Appleseed Cast, Joan of Arc, Thee Oh Sees and more can all probably be detected.

CARS & IT’S AUTUMN -THE OPENING TRACK ON YOUR NEW ALBUM COMFORT SONGS – FEATURES THE LINE “IT’S FUNNY HOW I’M HAPPY NOW, SINGING ABOUT MY SADNESS”… IS EVERYTHING OKAY? DO YOU WANT A HUG?
Ha ha! I do appreciate a good hug… Everything is great – Iʼm very happy, actually. The lows are inescapable with the way we live – and they should be embraced head on.

HOW DOES THE ALBUM COMPARE TO A LIVE PERFORMANCE?
When Cloud gets the band together (consisting loosely of Jon Davies and Samira Winter) shit gets real… We have a ton of energy live – possibly because we donʼt play shows often. When we do itʼs usually for a room of our friends, screaming along. Also, my drumming skills donʼt match the drummers that appear on the album.

HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE SUCH HUGE SOUNDS – WHICH ARE OFTEN DRAWN OUT FOR LONG PERIODS WITH NO SINGING (SUCH AS ON DESPERATION CLUB, A TRACK WITH ALMOST SEVEN MINUTES OF INSTRUMENTAL)…
We love playing that one live… Jon and I actually commandeer a drone project called Fjords as well. Since I moved, not so much anymore (but luckily Jon is moving to LA meaning that the entire Cloud / Fjords band will be back together). Anyway, the point is that repetition is in our blood.

HOW DID A MUSICIAN FROM NEW YORK END UP SIGNED TO AN INDEPENDENT RECORD LABEL IN SOUTH LONDON?
A friend of mine loves Nosferatu D2 and had interviewed Jamie about the release for PRI. They exchanged music, Cloud being one of the albums. Months and months later, Jamie emailed me. I remember opening the e-mail half asleep, the morning after my first anxiety attack, and being like “what the fuck is this?”

NOT MANY ARTISTS IN THIS DAY AND AGE CAN SAY THAT THEIR ALBUMS HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON CASSETTE. WHAT’S THE THINKING BEHIND THE RETRO APPROACH?
Well, we sold out of the CDs pretty much, and cassettes are a little cheaper. People love to  collect ‘em, they have a nice washy sound that compliments the album. I actually listened solely to cassettes during the past two summers, driving an ʼ88 Coup DeVille. Man, I got so sick of those albums…

ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE WHO HAS HEARD THE ALBUM OVER HERE, WHEN MIGHT YOU PLAY THE UK?
If it were up to me, ASAP. Unfortunately, I donʼt have the means. Someday though…

WHAT’S NEXT FROM CLOUD? DO YOU HAVE MORE SONGS IN THE PIPELINE, AND WILL THE NEXT ALBUM BE AN EVOLUTION FROM THIS ONE?
Cloud shall continue. The next album, ZEN SUMMER, is more or less finished. Maybe it will be released into the wild this Spring, but as of now Iʼm unsure where. The sound is much much different. This wasnʼt a conscious decision – itʼs just where I was at. Itʼs philosophically and sonically, what came after COMFORT SONGS. Other than that, Iʼd like to mention my full efforts are involved in a kidʼs comedic web series Iʼm producing called SUBURBAN LEGENDS. I havenʼt written a (good) song since ZEN SUMMER. All of my creative work lately has been for television, and itʼs been wholly satisfying. I’ll keep you posted…

WHAT’S THE LONG-TERM GOAL FOR CLOUD? 
Iʼd like for people to hear the record, really. I think that it proposes things that arenʼt usually spoken of… exploring a depression, seeing whatʼs really going on…

{ interview by DW }

For those who don’t own a cassette player, COMFORT SONGS is also available digitally, at Bandcamp, here.