Norma Tanega: Unearthing an Eccentric Rap Opera

Norma Tanega, celebrated for her 1960s folk-pop and later ballads, is now revealing a hidden facet of her musical career. Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, Tanega collaborated with writer Aida Pavletich on a series of experimental recordings.

These newly reissued works, produced on a four-track recorder in Tanega's home studio, present a distinct departure from her earlier, more accessible music. The first tape, "Saturday Dancer," is described as a "rap opera."

This collection comprises nineteen varied vignettes. They chronicle a noir-themed night out, featuring elements like stripteases and the ensuing unease. The lo-fi instrumentals are characterized by improvisational percussion and eerie, alluring synthesizers.

Pavletich's esoteric spoken-word commentaries enhance the recordings' raw, experimental feel. The instrumentation draws from diverse influences, from early post-punk to children's music, with tracks evoking swampy synth atmospheres reminiscent of Patrick Cowley.