Top Music Picks of January 2024

A true joy of working at a music plant is having a top-down view of what’s going on in underground music all across the world. Everyday I give myself a moment to grab a random cassette or CD and check out what’s on it, learn a bit about the band, maybe get a sense of what the punk scene is like in Winnipeg or club culture in Minneapolis. Here are a few choice albums I had the pleasure of being introduced to this past month!

Reaper's Gong - Bloodrot

Reaper’s Gong – “Blood Rot” c8

For an EP on the shorter side, Blood Rot moves slowly. Riffs hit heavy and hard, but the impact lingers like a bruised arm. Brainbombs guitar with Ukiah Drag monotone vocals, an absolute must for the noise rock fist-pumpers. The compact but hefty “rave case” packaging is a good metaphor for how much destruction you’ll get from a small package.

Listen or purchase on Bandcamp

Local Housing Crisis – “L.H.C.” c18

An electronic EP that hides all the beats and rhythms, burying the sound under dense atmosphere in the same vein as Gas. Muted piano melodies seem to land as if by chance, fingers hitting keys with nonchalance but instinctively creating haunting melodies.

Listen and purchase on Bandcamp

Maria Chavez & Sandy Ewen – “All the Duos”

One for the true avant-gardists, those who think that Keiji Haino may be a little too middle-of-the-road for their tastes. A double-disc set with over 90 minutes of sound art compositions, All the Duos is a heavily textured battle between collaborators. The two aren’t performing with each other as much as they are against one another, with every scratch of a string met with a hand smacking the body of a guitar.

Listen and purchase on Bandcamp

SpaceGhostPurrp – “NASA the Mixtape” c28

Hard to believe it’s been over a decade since this mixtape appeared seemingly out of nowhere. SpaceGhostPurrp and the Raider Klan breathed new life into underground hip hop— trillwave production, oddball reference points, lo-fi aesthetics and the blogosphere distribution were completely game-changing, but the music hasn’t aged a day. Still odd, still dope.

Listen and purchase on Bandcamp

Castlesiege – “The Council of the Trees” c42

An instrumental story of a healer and his fox companion as they travel through mystical terrains, meeting unique and perhaps untrustworthy characters along the way. An album immersed in the atmospheric essence of point-and-click Sierra adventures, unfolding a narrative where the deeper you venture into the woods, the more ominous the shadows within the forest grow.

Listen and purchase on Bandcamp

We turn the spotlight on underground music releases manufactured at Duplication.ca several times a week over on our social media channels, including TikTok and now Bluesky. Give us a follow using the links below, and if you have an album that you ordered through us that you’d like to bring to our attention, just send us a DM!

Best Cassettes of 2019: Duplication.ca Staff Picks

Best audio cassette tapes of 2019 from Duplication.ca

2019 has been wall to wall audio cassettes for the Duplication.ca team. We’re non-stop duplicating, printing, and packaging audio cassettes, to the point that we’ve been dreaming in high-bias. With so many jammers on high-rotation at the production facilities and Toronto’s Dupe Shop, to pick an absolute favourite of the thousands of cassettes we’ve duplicated in the past 12 months is an impossibility. But man did we try. Here’s our staff picks of just some of our favourite cassettes of the year.


Equip - Cursebreaker X duplication by Duplication.ca

Josh’s pick (Production, Toronto)
Equip – “Cursebreaker X” c32

Cursebreaker X is the latest album from Chicago synth/vaporwave artist Equip (Kevin Hein). This album is the full realization of the performance and musical aesthetics, culminating in a new stage costume including a Unicorn horn, cape and glowing Cursed Sword. It takes you for an immediate ride into a fictional RPG bringing in inspiration from Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy and Secret of Mana, fleshing out castles, valleys and skies with styles of Progressive rock, synthwave and Ambience compositions. Available exclusively at the legendary 100% Electronicon 2 festival, now just a myth. Break the Curse!


Sacred Bones Record Society - Robert Eggers mixtape, manufactured by Duplication.ca

Ashly’s pick (sales, Montreal)
Robert Eggers – “Sacred Bones Record Society mixtape” c60

Working as a companion piece to Eggers’ truly incredible horror film The Lighthouse (one of the best films of the year), this mixtape is a lobster trap of sea shanties, tales of shipwrecks, and isolation induced madness. May cause nautical hallucinations, siren calls, and flooding.


Oppression - Le coeur plein de rage, manufactured by Duplication.ca

Samm’s pick (Pad Print, Montreal)
Oppression – “Le coeur plein de rage” c33

Lo-fi, tough, and scummy black metal from the basements of Montreal’s east end, blending into post-punk and oi territory seamlessly. No real internet presence, email directly for a copy.


DJ Speedsick - Nothing Lasts, manufactured by Duplication.ca

Fae’s pick (Production, Montreal)
DJ Speedsick – “Nothing Lasts” c48

Harsh as Hell techno, heavy and soaking in mixer feedback. Imagine if the blood rave scene from Blade set up a residency in the midwest, and then make it a bit grimier.


Odd Person - The Flowers of Arcadia, manufactured by Duplication.ca

Ryan’s pick (Dupe Shop, Toronto)
Odd Person – “The Flowers of Arcadia” c30

The sounds of the rainforest dropped in the middle of electronic compositions. Mallets and percussions emphasize your surroundings as living, breathing ecosystems. These deeply engrossing new age arrangements serve as a healing potion for the cold edges of city life. Recommended if you dig Spencer Clark!


Robert Glasper, Fuck Yo Feelings, manufactured by Duplication.ca

Denise’s pick (Manager, Montreal)
Robert Glasper – “Fuck Yo Feelings” c84

Nearly filling up a c90 tape, the Fuck Yo Feelings mixtape is STACKED with guest appearances with legends like Herbie Hancock and new school maestros such as Denzel Curry. Robert Glasper delivers on his unique style of jazz and hip hop fusion, exactly what you’d expect after his work on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly.


CFCF - Liquid Colours cassette

Rob’s pick (Marketing Coordinator, Montreal)
CFCF – “Liquid Colours” c44

A revisionist look at corporate y2k-era IDM and jungle music, tailor made to soundtrack your Calvin Klein purchases, or day at the relaxation spa, or even choosing your souped-up car in a Sega Dreamcast game. Conceptually fascinating, sonically amazing. Somewhere between KLF’s ideological use of sampling and vaporwave’s critique of capitalism in the music industry lands Liquid Colours, a guide through consumerism in a pre-9/11 world.


Real World - The Language of My Life is Written in Blood, manufactured by Duplication.ca

Garret’s pick (Dupe Shop, Toronto)
Real World – “The Language of My Life is Written in Blood” c8

Viscous death metal, not for the faint of heart. Brutal riffs that will pummel your eardrums like a heavy weight to a punching bag.

Available at the Dupe Shop


The amount of talent that comes through the Duplication.ca production line is simply incredible. From hip-hop to black metal, from new wave to no wave, and from vapor to the occasional field recordings of glacier movements, we’re happy to boast that we’ve treated each tape with the attention and care it deserved. Can’t wait to hear what you all have in store for 2020! We hope you get to use your holiday break as an opportunity to cram your friends into a jam space and churn out a killer c20.

In the meantime take a look at our cassette duplication calculator for tons of packaging options, and cassette shell colours!

Happy holidays, tape heads!

August 2019 Cassette Round-Up

Up in Canada there are only so many months that are optimal for picnics in the park, long hikes, and hanging out on balconies. Fortunately we’re in the thick of it now, and our outdoorsy activities have been soundtrack by some truly stellar music we discovered through cassette duplication orders and stocked at Toronto’s Dupe Shop. Here are a few standouts from the past month!

Veach - Quiet People Other Places

Veach – “Quiet People Other Places” c46

This is a choice cassette to pluck off the shelf during a rainy day. Side-length longform tracks consisting of guitar strums and pads rotating in and out via modular synthesis. Relaxing and meditative, it’ll make you feel pretty good about being cooped up for the afternoon.


Various Artists - VLSC Vol. 1 cassette

Various Artists – “VLSC Vol. 1” c76 

A wide-ranging look at Atlanta’s club scene. Features some heavy hitting deconstructed techno, juke, Balearic house, and even some acid. All good compilations act as a gateway, VLSC Vol. 1 serves as a worthy introduction to the electronic south.


French Vanilla - How Am I Not Myself? cassette

French Vanilla – “How Am I Not Myself?” c32 

Upbeat contemporary post-punk with some killer squeaky no wave saxophone to drive it over the edge. In the same ballpark as the self-titled B-52s LP and Girls At Our Best without the UK falsetto. Great tape if you like feeling funky and tough at the same time!


Nighttime - Hand in the Dark cassette

Nighttime – “Hand in the Dark” c42

Soft but powerful vocals that reverberate along lakes and marshes. Haunting like UK folk horror productions, and reminiscent of the 60s psychedelic folk movement. If you liked Midsommar (and how could you not!?) you’ll like the vibe of this cassette.


CFCF - Liquid Colours cassette

CFCF – “Liquid Colours” c44 

A revisionist look at corporate y2k-era IDM and jungle music, tailor made to soundtrack your Calvin Klein purchases, or day at the relaxation spa, or even choosing your souped-up car in a Sega Dreamcast game. Conceptually fascinating, sonically amazing. Serious album of the year contender.


Want to see what other awesome albums make their way through Duplication.ca? Follow us on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook, we’re posting amazing looking cassettes everyday!

There are a ton of cassette shell colour and packaging options over at our cassette duplication calculator. We duplicate in high-speed or HiFi real-time with superb quality assurance to make sure your tapes sound great.

Check out our cassette duplication calculator for an instant quote!

The Duplication.ca Guide to Cassette Box Sets and Double Cassettes

Double cassette cases at Duplication.ca

Do you have an album so big that one cassette alone could not possibly handle it? Double cassette releases are always exciting, but how do you go about packaging them? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

Wet Tuna, released by Baked Tapes

Triple cassette box available from Duplication.ca

Multi-Cassette Box

This sleek design works like a Norelco case with the two cassettes sitting side-by-side. Its longer length makes it size comparable to that of a CD case, making it easy to store and easy on the eyes. An extra large double-sided J-card allows you to go nuts with the artwork, pack in as much detail and information as possible!

View the double cassette boxes on the online store

Our triple cassette boxes are even longer in length but keep the same width. Unlike the double cassette boxes they do not have posts.

Click here for triple cassette boxes

"MTL Tapes" released by La Cohu and packaged in a Triple Cassette Album from Duplication.ca

Cassette Albums

If you’re a fan of the classic audio book packaging style, look no further than our cassette albums. These packages contain a transparent wraparound film for you to slip in a larger trapsheet in lieu of a J-card. We even have albums that hold up to EIGHT CASSETTES, if you can believe it.

View our wide selection of cassette albums here

Disso Vol. One

Double Norelcos

Double Norelcos are exactly as they sound– two Norelcos joined at the hip! They open on both sides “butterfly style,” meaning it facilitates two J-cards. This is perfect for releasing two separate albums that require different artwork in one package.

Click here to order Double Norelcos

If you’re planning a run of 100 units or more, take advantage of our special offer. 100pcs for $60 CAD / $45.50 USD!

Double cassette slipcase by Duplication.ca

Printed Slipcases

Last, but certainly not least, we have our cardboard slipcases. These 15pt boxes can hold up to four cassettes with Norelco cases, which make them ideal for career retrospectives. They’re printed and assembled in-house, so not only do they go under our rigorous quality control, but we pass the manufacturer-direct savings on to you.

Take a look at our Printed Slipcases options

At Duplication.ca, no cassette release is too big or too small for us to handle! Don’t forget that in addition to great packaging and printing solutions, we offer high-quality cassette duplication services so your cassettes sound amazing on any stereo.

Hot Cassette Shell Colors for Summer Releases

ED. (Elektric Dreams) Pool Party cassette duplicated by Duplication.ca
When it comes to summer activities like barbecuing in the backyard, floating in the pool, or chilling in the park, you’ve gotta have your jams by your side. At Duplication.ca we’ll make your cassettes look as hot as they sound! Here are some awesome cassette shell colour suggestions for you to duplicate the hottest summer album or mixtape!

Blue tinted with square hubs cassette tape shell by Duplication.ca

Blue Tinted w/ Square Hubs
Normal-bias • Tabs out • Red leaders • Soft window

Calm like a blue ocean, this is a great shell for you to slow down R&B cuts and create a killer vapor beat. Just don’t bring your tape deck too close to the tide.

Silver platinum mirror cassette tape shell by Duplication.ca

Platinum Silver
Normal-bias • Tabs in • Clear leaders

The type of cassette for when you’re decked out and ready to party all night. It’s the visual equivalent of Diamond in the Back by Curtis Mayfield. Your cassette deck will never look classier!

Yellow cassette tape shell by Duplication.ca

Feel Good Yellow
Normal-bias • Tabs out • Red leaders

Really, this tape is what summer is all about: kicking it with friends, good vibes, and forgetting that you have work tomorrow until it’s too late. Pop it into your 4-track and record an improvised jangle pop demo with your buds.

Fire engine red tint cassette tape shell by Duplication.ca
Scorching Red Tinted
Normal-bias • Tabs out • White frosted leaders

If you really want to turn up the heat, try out these red tinted tapes. When placed against a light source they look like smouldering molten lava. Pairs well with 100mph convertible synthwave tracks and Chromatics-style disco guitar.

Glitter cassette tape shells by Duplication.ca

Glitter Tapes
Normal-bias • Tabs out • Leader colours vary

Whether it’s Fourth of July, Canada Day, or any opportunity where you can shoot off fireworks and keep your neighbours up all night, let it be soundtracked by our glitter shells. We have a wide variety of glitter colours— red, blue, white, green, silver, gold, and some of them all mixed together!


Hotel Pools - Fall '18 cassette tape duplicated by Duplication.ca

Feeling inspired? Take a look around our cassette duplication page for more packaging options and shell colours! We duplicate our cassettes with a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz, meaning no bass slap or squealing synth will be spared.

Click here for an instant quote!

If you’re looking for blank tapes for home duplication or to put together the best BBQ mixtape anyone has ever heard, then head over to our online shop. We load blank cassettes to your exact desired audio length and with your choice of colour.

Visit our Blank Cassettes page today

Straight Outta Duplication.ca: Beat Tapes for your Boombox

From 80s NYC rappers to the modern day Ableton beat makers, cassette culture and hip hop will forever be fused. There are few things in the world that bring us more joy than popping a tape in our Nakamichi decks and listening to the chill snare hits and loop-digging samples of a hip hop beat tape. With our real-time duplication services and high-bias chrome tape the bass hits live loud and proud on cassette tape, allowing for a range of 20Hz to 20kHz.

Here are a few of our favourite hip hop and beat tapes that we’ve been blasting through the office!

Astro Mega - The Ends duplicated at Duplication.ca

Astro Mega – “The Ends” c26

Loop digging lofi hiphop beats duplicated to high-bias chrome cassette. Zone out and listen to the record pops and crackles dancing deep in the mix. Astro Mega is a Toronto local so this makes for great Game 6 half-time music during the inevitable Raptors win.
Available at the Dupe Shop


Recognize Ali - Islam duplicated at Duplication.ca

Recognize Ali – “I Self Lord And Master” c50

If you want an alternative to the Soundcloud mumble rappers look no further than Recognize Ali. When he says “that this that soulful boom bap sound” on ‘Liftin Me Higher’, he’s not lying. Limited edition cassette comes with obi-strip.


Cyrus Tha Great - CCC Vol​.​1: Beats Inspired by the film - Straight Outta Compton duplicated at Duplication.ca

Cyrus Tha Great – CCC Vol​.​1: Beats Inspired by the film “Straight Outta Compton” c11

Exactly as described, this cassette is overflowing with instrumentals and scratchwork in tribute to the legendary gangster rap crew. Has an awesome Roy Ayers sample on Side A. Truly dig the Akira style artwork and hand-numbered obi-strip.


Various Artists - Home Grown duplicated at Duplication.ca

Various Artists – “Home Grown”

Inner Ocean Records has an impressive and prolific back catalogue of beat tapes and instrumentals, and this compilation of record digging beats is a stand-out among stand-outs. Deep bass and killer vibes, each track differentiates itself from the last.
Available at the Dupe Shop


Pout - Nylon Tears duplicated at Duplication.ca

p o u t – “Nylon Tears” c26

Blending R&B, pop, and trap beats, this 2017 cassette still gets regular play at our Dupe Shop store in Toronto. Some tracks are filled to the brim with rapid snare hits and reverb-heavy saxophone, while others feel skeletal and atmospheric.
Available at the Dupe Shop


Do you have an album you’re aching to release on cassette? Take a look at our cassette duplication calculator to see all of our awesome shell colours and printing options. Our obi-strip and cassette etching options make for great limited edition releases.

Check out our cassette duplication calculator for an instant quote