You may have noticed that fierce panda is turning 17 years old even as we type. We certainly have. And so to celebrate this mildly momentous occasion, what finer thing to do than put together a 17-track compilation bringing together some of the very bestest new American acts on the underground scene? And then, how great would it be to release that compilation on cassette, like it was a knowing nod to 'C86' or something? Very great indeed my panda pals, very great indeed...

The Record: THE TAPE FEAR COMPILATION
The Artists: VARIOUS
The Formats: CASSETTE / DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
The Label: FIERCE PANDA
The Catalogue Number: NONG 68MC / DL
The Release Date: APRIL 4TH 2011
The Tracklisting:
Side One
1. WEEKENDS Raingirls
2. HERZOG Silence
3. FANG ISLAND Daisy
4. SAVOIR ADORE Bodies
5. COLLEEN GREEN Just Like I Do
6. BEACH FOSSILS Twelve Roses
7. TENNIS Seafarer
8. GRASS WIDOW Tattoo
Side Two
1. IDIOT GLEE All Packed Up
2. HEAVY HAWAII Teen Angel
3. DUM DUM GIRLS Blank Girl
4. LA SERA Never Come Around
5. CARNIVORES Darker Days
6. TWIN SISTER Phenomenons
7. CANDY CLAWS Warm Forest Floor
8. REAL ESTATE Blue Lebanon
9. FOOLS GOLD Poseidon
10.TOTAL SLACKER Crystal Necklace (special digital-only track)

The Spiel: In the interests of public relations-related authenticity we should give you, the listener, some rudimentary information about all of the American underground acts featuring on this here limited edition cassette and non-limited edition download Tape Fear release. We could tell you which Colorado band has put out two albums on Two Syllables. We could tell you who comes from New Jersey and has had releases on the Underwater People, Half Machine and Mexican Summer labels. We could go on to describe precisely who is from Kentucky, Cleveland and California and then list the clusterbomb of bands straight outta Brooklyn. We could reveal which band is a Vivian Girls spin-off, which track features guest vocals from a Crocodile and which of these acts have been on Transparent or Captured Tracks or Hardly Art. We could even tell you that in the true spirit of Loud & Quiet one side of Tape Fear is quite loud and the other side is quite quiet. But that would be boring, And that is what the worldwide interweb is for. So lets do this instead:

Here are 17 tracks of¦
¦cassette-loving,
C86-adoring,
Spector-referencing,
seven-inch-single-hugging,
major-worrying,
gruff trade-grabbing,
fuzzpedal-kicking funbags¦
¦for fierce pandas seventeenth birthday.

www.fiercepanda.co.uk
?ìseventeen years of tune-chewing shenanigans¬ù