tassels is one of those projects that i'm quite surprised isn't on more people's radars, but hopefully that's about to change. "the rosicrucians" is a concept album of sorts, but mostly it's just a killer tape. it is, however, inspired by the actual rosicrucians which is especially apparent through the use of totally awesome samples. sean orr (the brains behind tassels) is quite able when it comes to crafting beats and mixing together the electronica-heavy elements with washed-out brass drones and lilting strings.it's almost unsettling how the religious/cryptic samples and imagery play off the at-times-sunny and generally upbeat music. but that is a combination the orr uses wonderfully to keep you on edge. from the ghoulesque voices mixed with bright synth spikes on "the lifetone" to the dubstep-inspired bass with the ominous strings on the end of "the sermons of the refuter," it is delightfully schizophrenic. by the time "the hours" drags you deep into the abyss, orr is simply preaching to the choir. edition of 75, chrome tapes.