Mark Tucker

Among collectors of ultra-rare, private-press editions, the recordings of Mark Tucker represent the pinnacle of a highly-personalized, untouchably damaged musical vision. In 1968 he founded the Tetrapod Spools label to release direct-cut acetates ... Full Descriptionand reel-to-reels containing his unlikely music masterpieces; Tetrapod's first vinyl release, the highly experimental BATSTEW (1975), became highly coveted by enthusiasts of basement-level, loner-psych productions. After suffering a series of mental breakdowns, Hunter resurfaced in 1982 with his second full-length, IN THE SACK. Ostensibly hatched as a concept album centered on themes of karma, the apocalypse, and the U.S. postal service, the album is an indescribably strange mix of naïf songwriting, ersatz piano virtuosity, and spoken-word ramblings. At times resembling a bizarre amalgam of Van Dyke Parks' SONG CYCLE crossed with the fractured, art-damaged pop of the Residents and Half Japanese, IN THE SACK offers a fascinating glimpse into one of the most obscure corners of the music underground.This CD version contains "bonus" tracks that were left off the original LP due to time constraints.