Syntheridoo
This is far, far out, man.
Kyle Evans’ digeridoo-synthesizer hybrid could single-handledly create sound effects for every sci-fi vehicle and spaceship ever imagined.
SCHEMATIC: A straight up demo video…
Daft Punk DJ Hero
As thrilled as I am by the prospect of pretending to be the fellas from Daft Punk, I’m not sure the thousands of imminent mash-up train wrecks are worth it. Daft Punk and scratching? Really? I’m skeptical at best.
Now if, for example, I can mix components of their tracks freestyle using this funky setup, then we’ve got something to talk about. Riddle me this…Why not make a serrato-compatible version so people can use real decks?
Robot Rock du Jour: Real Life – Send Me an Angel (1983)
RAD is to BMX what Gleaming The Cube is to skateboarding.
An instant cult classic when it hit theaters in 1986, RAD is an absolutely essential piece of 80’s history.
This next clip features a sick “bicycle boogie” set to Send Me an Angel by Australian band Real Life. I watched several versions of this clip on youtube and this one presents the best clip length, video and sound quality. Keep your eyes peeled for the Crimson Twins, Xamot and Tomax!!
SCHEMATIC: RAD BMX credits and three versions of the Send Me An Angel music video… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Zodiac – Zodiac (1980)
Communist disco?! YES! This Latvian state-sponsored disco was actually composed in a music conservatory.
Zodiac is some seriously spaced-out synthy disco goodness. The simple composition of this eponymous track from their 1980 debut LP Disco Alliance brings the lush sythscapes and analog textures to the forefront. Loving those live drums. This exceptional track is essentially unknown in NA and generally available for about US$20 + international shipping. And peep that cover art!!
SCHEMATIC: Three more videos and some fantastic cover art… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Cerrone – Supernature (1977)
This decidedly bizarre pre-Spike Jonze/Michel Gondry video features mutants, naked chicks à la Rio, a vintage Rolls-Royce and a kick-ass rainbow-coloured acrylic drum set.
Supernature is a cautionary post-apocalyptic tale of scientific hubris and genetic experimentation gone awry. Although there are numerous tracks from the 70s and 80s that pay homage to space, robots and computers (thank God), few disco/synth tracks really drop earth science. Me like! Me like!
SCHEMATIC: High quality extended vinyl rip MP3, lyrics, cover art…
Keyser Söze Alert: Clay Pedrini – New Dream (1984)
This may be the single greatest manifestation of Italo every pressed. Who the hell is this guy?! Claudio (Clay) Pedrini Came out of nowhere, cooked up this tasty Italo biscuit and then went back into the night kitchen forever. Even when you can find it, be prepared to dish out upwards of $500 for an excellent copy. Fortunately for vinyl nerds hit by the recession, this has been officially repressed by I.D. Limited, complete with reinterpreted cover artwork. You’ll have to pay shipping from Europe, tho.
SCHEMATIC: A short music video clip and cover artwork…
Documentary: BBC Radiophonic Workshop – Alchemists of Sound (2003)
REQUIRED NERDLING EDUCATION!!!
This is a fantastic documentary on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, which was responsible for such tunes as the Doctor Who theme song. This electronic music primer traces the development of recorded sound from magnetic tape onward. Reel-to-reel beat matching included! Ultimately enlightening and presented in, I think, its entirety (over six roughly 10-minute parts).
SCHEMATIC: The remaining five parts…
Snort: Shotgun Start – City Boy (2009)
Hot damn!! Check out Wormser at 0:54 and 1:16!!!
Between the acid synth lines and vocoders, this cut coulda been a contender. Unfortunately, the right hook is just a bit weak. The video, however, is GENIUS!
Found this one on MATRIXSYNTH-C.
Robot Rock du Jour: Taxi Girl – Paris (1984)
Pain chaud! I’m not sure what the hell is going on in this video…but I like it. It’s a damned time capsule from 1984 Paris wrapped in a warm baguette synth line.
Paris features a very young Mirwais (!!) and Daniel Darc walking around town and ragging on their home city.
SCHEMATIC: Videos for Mannequin, Cherchez le Garçon, an early band portrait and Paris album cover art…
Robot Rock du Jour: Suicide – Ghost Rider (1977)
Synthpunk Elvis? People just didn’t make this kind of music in 1977. Yet here it is. While France and Québéc were making space disco, NY was outputting high concept industrial synthpunk blues. Legends Alan Vega and Martin Rev, tearing it up…
SCHEMATIC: Another live version and a brief documentary excerpt…