Tapeworm (Steve Ainsworth)

About

Tapeworm was an independent record label operated by Steve Ainsworth, active primarily during the early 1980s with continued output into the 1990s. The label specialized in cassette releases, a format well-suited to underground and experimental music distribution during that era. Tapeworm's catalog reflects an avant-garde sensibility, with releases by artists exploring unconventional sonic territories and conceptual approaches to composition. The label's output from 1980 demonstrates a particularly prolific period, issuing multiple cassette releases within a single year including works with titles suggesting abstract and experimental orientations. Notable releases include Discrete Condition, Accident by Design, All Done My Mirrors, Surprise! Surprise!, and Ducks in The Ascent, all from the foundational 1980 period, alongside later works such as Erroneous Zones (1982) and the big mouse 4 (1990). The label also produced associated documentation through its magazine publication Overview. Though operating on a small scale, Tapeworm contributed to the broader underground and experimental music community through its commitment to alternative formats and artistic vision during a crucial period for independent music distribution.