From the Moog and Bach with Craig Leon, Benga speaks out on battling mental illness, and SFX CEO Sillerman sued.
Roland Teases Boutique Series. Roland teases an introduction of three new products, part of a series entitled Roland Boutique. The only information currently available is that they are coming soon. Watch the promo video above, and find educated speculation of the details on the Roland Clan forums here.
Will Bad EDM Be Good For Dance Culture? “We’re part of a dance culture that is making music based on an idea that is completely authentic, whereas they’re making music that is based on profit,” Seth Troxler told THUMP in a recent interview, speaking on behalf of underground producers everywhere. So, THUMP asked if bad EDM will be a good thing for dance culture, putting the question to artists and music world personalities including A-Trak, Move D, Attack columnist Thomas Cox and even a music professor from Berklee. Read their opinions here.
A History Of Moog and Modular Synths. Gear Patrol explores the history of one of the world’s premier synthesiser makers, and how in 1963, Moog came together with composer Herbert A. Deutsch to invent the modular synthesiser. “By the end of that session and the one that followed, together we had come up with the basics of a modular analog synthesizer… Mind you, neither of us had any idea where this was leading.” Read the full article here.
From the Moog and Bach with Craig Leon. An important figure in the original US punk and new wave scenes having discovered The Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads, Ableton sat down with Craig Leon after a Berlin performance of his 1981 proto-techno album Nommos, to discuss playing his electronic works live, Dogon mythology, and what Johnny Ramone and J.S. Bach have in common. Read it here.
Record-Pressing Brought Back to Life. The New York Times discovers the idiosyncrasies of the booming vinyl industry, which surprised many with its unexpected renaissance after fading away with the arrival of the CD in the 1980s. The feature tells the story of those whose pressing plants attempt to capitalise on the popularity of vinyl records, using decades-old machines that often require delicate and expensive maintenance. Read it here.
Benga On Battling Mental Illness. Explaining the reason behind his retirement from DJing, dubstep pioneer Benga spoke out about his battle with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, claiming that his “bipolar was brought on by drugs and the schizophrenia was the result of excessive touring” in a series of tweets. “If you know someone that suffers from mental health issues you’ll understand how alone you feel until it’s recognised,” he added to a warm response from fans. Read the tweets here.
Point Blank Analog Rytm Competition. Subscribe to Point Blank Music School‘s YouTube channel before midnight on Monday Oct 5th to be in with a chance of winning an Analog Rytm drum machine from Sweden’s Elektron – one of the most loved manufacturers in the game for their unique hardware and software – plus a Point Blank online course. Subscribe here and watch the promo video above.
SFX CEO Sillerman Sued. Allegations that SFX Entertainment CEO Robert Sillerman misled third-party investors into thinking he had the financial backing to acquire the company have led to legal action being taken against it: SFX is reportedly being sued by investors. The team behind the lawsuit also claims Sillerman “initiated and maintained a sham process designed to lure third party offers”. Find out more here.
Sheffield’s Niche. Red Bull Music Academy tells the story of Sheffield’s Niche club, which attracted people from all over the country and, almost uniquely for British club culture, spawned its own genre of music, bassline. “All of this from a back street in Sheffield, surrounded by disused cutlery works and boarded-up pubs.” In 2005, the club closed after one of the largest police raids in the city’s history. Read the full story here.