BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL – The Rope (40th Anniversary Edition) (Limited Blue Vinyl with Splatters) - 2LP

BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL – The Rope (40th Anniversary Edition) (Limited Blue Vinyl with Splatters) - 2LP

Limited Edition of strictly 300 copies ONLY.

140-gram vinyl (LP1: baby blue with heavy black splatters / LP2: transparent blue with heavy white splatters) in black poly-lined inner sleeves, in a single pocket jacket (300 gsm board, black inner-flood, with matte finish). 

Comes including an 16-page lyric/memorabilia fanzine insert and sticker [BOTH in full colour], packaged in a resealable plastic polybag!

The entire 12-track album is included twice: the new 2026 mix and the original 1986 mix remastered. Mastered by Martin Bowes of Attrition
CD 1 / LP1 : Original mix remastered
CD 2 / LP2 : 2026 mix by Rosenthal
the CD (see below) has 7 bonus tracks.
 
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of black tape for a blue girl’s debut, The Rope.
On The Rope, Sam’s subtle electronics and introspective lyrics establish black tape for a blue girl’s stature beyond the realm of the traditional “gothic” sound, creating a timeless blend of Oscar’s emotional vocals intertwined with warm ambient soundscapes.

The darkly mesmerizing The Rope's appearance on the underground rock scene kicked off a rich and diverse musical career for Projekt founder and Blacktape songwriter Sam Rosenthal. Now 40 years later, Projekt releases deluxe editions for the fans.
 
Twenty-year-old Rosenthal’s electronics coupled with his angst-filled, introspective lyrics established black tape for a blue girl’s stance beyond the traditional “gothic” sound. His lyrics overflow with the emptiness of a shattered soul and broken heart revealing a dark, tortured youth scanning the wreckage in search of love, understanding, and connection. The striking blend of Oscar Herrera’s passionate vocals intertwining with warm electronic soundscapes and soothing ambient passages creates an album similar to 80’s-era releases on 4AD and Factory Records.

Opening the album is the rhythmic, hard-hitting “Memory, Uncaring Friend,” along the lines of Peter Murphy or Gang of Four. Following this striking opener, the music takes a more subtle turn: gently disorienting, autumnal, mesmerizing, mournful, full of wonder and elusive grandeur.
 
Sam recalls, "In November '85, following two years of recording instrumental electronic music, I invited Oscar Herrera to sing two songs on my ISLANDS cassette. A few months later in February of '86 I left Florida for college in Orange, California. I was 20 years old, feeling isolated, lonely, missing friends back home. In my dorm room that spring I used the school’s Fostex 250 4-track cassette portastudio to record songs with my lyrics and melodies. Writing words for Oscar to sing over my ethereal and ambient music helped me explore those angsty and tangled feelings. The Rope is half vocal and half instrumental. It’s all quite minimal, yet it’s an album listeners still mention as a favorite. Capturing the confusion and darkness I felt at that time remains valid; new listeners connect with it today. I never would have expected that 40 years later The Rope would be listened to and appreciated by new generations. It’s really nice knowing those feelings are timeless, and the music has a place in people’s lives."

Tracklist:

Side A:
01 memory, uncaring friend 
02 hide in yourself 
03 within these walls 
04 the holy terrors 
05 end 
06 seven days til sunrise 
07 the rope

Side B:
01 the few remaining threads 
02 the lingering flicker 
03 slow blur 
04 the floor was hard but home 
05 we return