There is also Robert singing on Tape, but that doesn't really make it a song. It's been recorded as an intro for the Wish tour. The same way as the chime bells for the Prayer tour, the long Want intro in 95' and 96', the one used in 2002 & on the Trilogy... ...& of course Eyemou (which is not called Eyemou, but that's another story ;D ) Also note that Tape was re-recorded for the 4tour.
From the music-composing point of view, the main guitar riff that plays on Tape is a series of harmonics on the same guitar fret (on two positions), using the Open alternate guitar tuning. In reality, this riff exists in the whole Open song.
So, my guess is that having noone available to play this over and over on Show, they they planned to put it on a tape loop sampler (hence the title), use it as an intro and let it play throughout Open (well, that's what we - The Accureacy - did too, and it sounds and works extremely well). Having a loop on tape, it was very easy (and it's a natural musician instinct) to jam over it, and I think that's what really happened. I can just picture a rehearsal where the loop starts to play, then Perry adds some piano, Boris some toms, Simon keeps a steady bass foundation, Porl makes some guitar noise and Robert some Ahhhhhhhhhhh's and there you have it. A brand new track... (that's how many songs are initially composed btw).
So, it was an intro track that eventually turned into a standalone instrumental track. And it's referenced in The Cure Sideshow as a separate track. Used as an intro...
PS: you can clearly hear it here... mark 4:05-4:20. The guitar that can be heard is a loop that plays throughout Open and it's actually the Tape guitar riff.
Last Edit: Apr 12, 2013 9:57:23 GMT 1 by Johnnakis