Soul Of the Machine: A Celebration of the Life & Legacy of ARP founder Alan R. Pearlman

via the Alan R Pearlman Foundation

Available on Bandcamp here

Press release follows:

Kingston, NY— In 2025, the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation celebrates the centennial of its namesake, the electronic visionary whose marvelous ARP synthesizers changed the landscape of music forever. As part of the ongoing celebrations, the Foundation is announcing the release of Soul Of The Machine, a 36-track musical celebration of the man and his creations as interpreted by a diverse range of recording artists.

Soul Of The Machine is a 36-track collection of tracks old and new, covering everything from innovative electronic, dance, and space music to jazz, funk, and Latin pop, all featuring the signature sounds of classic ARP instruments. The collection includes everything from ARP’s first synthesizer — the massively powerful ARP 2500 modular system — to the instruments that rewrote the rules on how electronics and music came together. The 2600, Odyssey, Pro Soloist, Omni, and many more ARP instruments sing, cry, scream, and soar, in the hands of musical talents both legends and newcomers.

Soul Of The Machine is a treasure trove of musical exploration. Martin Gore’s “KIno" combines Depeche Mode’s signature rhythmic power with a uniquely lyrical and sweet atmosphere. “Mr. No” is a celebration of the classic proto-techno sound of John Foxx. Award-winning soundtrack composer Mark Isham showcases his signature pulsating energy and evocative moodscapes in the mini-suite “Musings – in Two Parts”. Lisa Bella Donna takes listeners on a journey into timeless wonder in the epic “Conclusions.” JG Thirlwell’s “Sphere” is a synth freakout ricocheting between ominous sci-fi atmospheres and searing beats. Panic Girl offers "Drifting Whispers," a somber and uplifting neo-retro journey into a past that never was.

Other artists on the collection include Michael Brückner, Phil Cirocco, Rupert Greenall, LaMar "Kronick" Mitchell, Jeff Rona, Drew Schlesinger & David Torn, Don Slepian, and many others, as well as tracks by the collection's curators Steve Roach and Chris Meyer of Alias Zone.

Famed ambient / electronic pioneer and ARP user since 1978, Steve Roach shares his thoughts on Soul Of The Machine: "In 2024 I had the honor of meeting Dina Pearlman-Ifil — the director of the Alan R Pearlman Foundation — in person. Over the course of several phone conversations we discussed ways to celebrate the centennial year of her father's life and his place in history. My idea for a compilation of music using her father’s creations grew out of those conversations, presenting a perfect way to directly experience the vast range of music that was birthed by the family of ARP synthesizers. This compilation is just a small taste of the universe Alan inspired in sound explorers and artists across a vast range of genres."

Steve mapped out the music so that CD 1 represents a sonic journey and CD 2 provides a showcase of the depth and breadth of what ARP synths can do. After both CDs were finalized, there were more tracks than room on the CDs. These additional songs are available as a bonus digital supplement to the physical CD set.

Says Dina Pearlman-Ifil: “I have long-dreamed of a multi-genre collection that would illustrate the depth and breadth of the possibilities of my father's instruments. This collection is the embodiment of what my father treasured most: The creative spirit. As the old ARP tagline used to say: ‘The most creative part of an ARP Synthesizer is you.’”

The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is dedicated to the empowerment of young and burgeoning artists into the future. When we look at classical instruments born hundreds of years ago, we see that Alan Pearlman's synthesizers stand tall, earning their place in the evolution of musical history. Acoustic or electric, their common ground is the enduring inspiration for creativity and sonic innovation that inspires the hearts and minds of musicians, performers, and sound explorers worldwide.

Soul Of The Machine will be available for streaming on October 17, 2025. The special limited edition CD will be available for purchase in early-to-mid-November.

Proceeds go the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Our mission is to celebrate the legacy of inventor, musician, entrepreneur and engineer Alan R. Pearlman, by making his innovative inventions publicly accessible, and by inspiring future generations to imagine and create.

ARP Centennial Compilation Concept: Steve Roach
Project Directors: Steve Roach, Chris Meyer, and Dina Pearlman-Ifil Mastered by: Robert Rich

Cover concept and design by Dina Pearlman-Ifil, production by Sharon Wasko

This compilation wouldn't be possible without the support of our incredible sponsors: Cherry Audio, Korg USA, Moog Music and Steve Roach.
Also HUGE thanks to Chris Meyer / Alias Zone, Mark Marshall / interage.com for all things web, Dr. Mike Metlay/ atomicwords.net for creative input on the liner notes, and Sam Rosenthal / Projekt Records.

Purchase from BandCamp: https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.bandcamp.com/album/soul-of-the-machine...

ARP Foundation's Soul of the Machine CD & Download Update

If you haven't picked up a copy of the release, now might be a good time.

via the Alan R Pearlman Foundation:

Soul of the Machine is a Roaring Success!!!

We have officially sold half of our limited edition CD; we are also going to end our introductory 'Name Your Price' for downloads on BandCamp soon, so don't hesitate to purchase today!

Praise from BandCamp (Alan R Pearlman Foundation and Projekt Records )

"A tribute to the creator of my favorite music instruments. I Like the sound of the ARPs in classical electronic albums. Great record with many great contributions!"

"No favourite track, just indulging in the sonic wash of this amazing album. Just wonderful."

"...what an AMAZING collection!! ..."

"A ritual offering—ARP as oracle, muse, and monument. The machine has a soul. And here, it sings."

"It's hard to pick a favorite track off of this compilation... Lots of groovy music by a lot of artists.I had never heard of, but there are a few artists.I am familiar with. this is pretty groovy stuff... " "Awesome tribute and collection. Mr. Roach has somehow found time to be an archivist. would love a second volume. get this as both sampler and tribute..." Purchase from BandCamp

CLICK FOR MORE »

Skeleton Keys by Steve Roach - Synthesizers.com Album

"There’s a worldwide analog modular synthesizer resurgence in full swing. Pioneering electronic musician Steve Roach taps into the zeitgeist on Skeleton Keys, a 74-minute album recorded using the Synthesizers.com large format analog modular synthesizer­/sequencer-based system. These are eight emotional and mind-expanding spiraling mandalas-of-sound made from interwoven tapestries of melody, rhythm, tone and musical space.

'Skeleton Keys connects directly to my first love in electronic music,' Steve Roach explains. 'This form of music creates a living portal to a unique place in consciousness, emotion, body awareness and expansion of perception. It’s a place that can only be reached by way of this genre and these instruments, in particular the sequencer: a tool common within electronic music since early in its inception. I have been obsessed with the sound this instrument facilitates since my arrival as a composer in the late 70′s.'

With the availability of a new era of hardware instrument builders to draw from, in early 2014 Steve set out to create his ideal­ large format modular synthesizer­/sequencer-based system.

'My intention was single-minded,' Steve says, 'to make these ‘Keys’ in particular. The instant this system was in place, the compulsion to create was unleashed. Each piece on this release is an aural skeleton key providing entry through these arcane doors to what awaits inside. In addition, the momentum of my life’s experience was vital in helping turn the skeleton key to open these doors at this precise moment.'

Steve’s artistic path is filled with new discoveries, both nuanced and dramatic. He brings to the table years of dedication and experience exploring sound via hands-on synthesis.

With the sense of an artist working in three dimensional space, Steve’s skill set creates an album that breathes power, passion and vital life energy. On Skeleton Keys Steve connects to the European EM masters at the roots of his electronic heritage while simultaneously mapping the soundworld of today’s contemporary technology-based music. The result is warm and engaging retro-futurism, a continuing evolution upon the musical structures Steve has unlocked in the restless pursuit of his soundquest."

Steve Roach live at the Timeroom [2014]

Published on Apr 13, 2014 jason woodbury·1 video

"Steve Roach explores new sounds sounds and sequences on an analog modular system from http://synthesizers.com at his Sonoran desert studio the Timeroom. Read more about Roach's Timeroom studio, the 30th anniversary of his landmark album, "Structures from Silence," and his unique approach to creating "resonant sonic spaces" by visiting Tucson Weekly: http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/ce...
Visit Steve Roach at his official website: http://www.steveroach.com/
Visit Projekt Records: http://www.projekt.com/store/"

You can find Steve Roach on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/SteveRoachMusic

Portals and Spirals Excerpt - Steve Roach - Visuals by Audri Phillips

video upload by SteveRoachOfficial

"Portals and Spirals - 2025 at https://steveroach.bandcamp.com/
Experience this Live!
Steve Roach Live at La Rosa - Tucson's, Beautiful new music venue Dec 6
https://wl.eventim.us/event/steve-roa..."

This one is in via Noisebug.

Steve Roach

Via Eric:

"Steve Roach performed last night [9/23]in Tucson, Arizona. Steve played material from his recent release "Proof Positive" on guitar, synth and several sizes of didgeridoo while visuals from from his DVD 'Kairos' as well as images from other artists were shown. Here's my best photo from the show. Here's a link to Steve's web page on the concert."

"He's been doing ambient/electronic music for the last 25 years or so. Here's a link to an article about him in Electronic Musician from last year."

Phoenix Synthesizer Festival

video upload by PVCCFineArts

Phoenix Synthesizer Festival
February 11, 2022
Paradise Valley Community College

Featured Performances by:
Chris Meyer
Steve Roach

---

As many of you know, Chris Meyer is the man behind Learning Modular. You can find additional posts featuring him on MATRIXSYNTH here, and posts mentioning Steve Roach here.

Steve Roach: Life in the Soundcurrent Documentary

video upload by SteveRoachOfficial

"''Steve Roach: Life in the Soundcurrent' is much more than a documentary. It is a sensory experience, a visual journey into the life, legacy, and music of a remarkable artist, and a gentle reminder of the profound impact environment can have on creativity.;

Filmnet review

Available on Amazon (US & UK) or https://steveroach.bandcamp.com/merch..."

Electronic Musician Spotlights

Title link takes you to Electronic Musician's Spotlights page. EM Spotlights are articles on featured people. There's a bit of synth content worth checking out including analog conent on Steve Roach and Wendy Carlos. Via Peter Grenader of Buzzclick Music on AH.


The list includes:

Steve Roach
Wendy Carlos
Negativland
Malcolm Burn (String Cheese Incident)
Yoko Ono
Pierre Shaeffer & Pierre Henry - pioneers in sampling
Toby Marks (Banco de Gaia)
Tim Pagnotta
Roger McGuinn
Laurie Anderson
John Cage
Phillip Glass

1992 ZENITH SYNTH MAG NO 2 + FREE TAPE - PPG Modular on Cover

via this auction

"RARE MINT CONDITION ZENITH NO 2 ELECTRONIC SYNTH MAGAZINE FROM 1992. IT FEATURES INTERVIEWS FROM MARK SHREEVE, PERU, SYNTHETIC, KIT WATKINS, SYNCO, NIGHTCRAWLERS, STEVE BRENNER, ANDREW PINCHES, DAVE THOMPSON, CORPERATION. ALSO FEATURES ON UK ELECTRONICA '92, KRAFTWERK CONVENTION, FAUST CONCERT, KLEMDAG '92, ANDY GARABALDI, + LOADS OF CD REVIEWS FROM TANGERINE DREAM, RON BOOTS, KLAUS SCHULZE, BERND KISTENMACHER, PERU, STEVE ROACH ETC. YOU ALSO GET A FREE TAPE WITH IT FEATURING - SYNCO - ECLIPE - 5.05, VERNAL EQUINOX - LE METRO - 5.20, ANDREW PINCHES - SCUBA IN SUNLIGHT - 10. 57, CORPERATION - CRUSADE - 4.33, DAVE THOMPSON - ON THE BORDERS OF CHAOS - 11.06, COCO RUSSEL - LE RETOUR - 6.03, KIT WATKINS - SETTING IRON JOHN FREE - 7.22, SYNTHETIC - OPITAL ILLUSION - 5.46, PETER D. GUICH - STARDUST - 12.34, WAVESTAR - ZENITH - 10.37, JOHN DYSON & FRIENDS - HAYDN SEEK/ANALOG - RECORDED LIVE IN DERBY 1992. THE COPERATION, DAVE THOMPSON & PETER DE GUICH TRACKS ARE ALL EXCLUSIVE TO THIS TAPE! MAGAZINE OVER 80 PAGES!"

Album Art

Anyone know where this image is from?

"LEM Studios." Via Cynthia on AH:

"The picture appears on the back of the LEM album MACHINES (highly recommended), Wavefront Records 1977. It is Bryce Robbley's chrome mannequin and Serge System next to Doug Lynner's Serge System, and Alex Cima's Steiner Parker SynthaSystem... It was shot in Star Track Studios on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood, circa 1977 or so. Danny Sofer of Oberhiem Electronics also played with them and may have contributed the Polyfusion modular on the right side of the picture? They also used an ARP String Ensemble, a Synthi AKS, and an EML PolyBox, a Syndrum, some Oberheim, and a little Buchla 200. These guys were good friends of mine and part of the Synapse/LEM/Triode crowd. They recorded together under the names MOBIUS and LEM (Live Electronic Music). Bryce (RIP) and Doug went to Cal Arts, and Doug's 5-panel Serge was the very first sold as an assembled unit, instead of as a synth kit from the CIA "staircase assembly party" days. Doug went on to use his Serge in the band INVISIBLE ZOO which enjoyed radio airplay of their pop tune "Synthesizer Man" and he performed with it as recently as last October when he and I played live at the the Sacred Elixirs Festival at the San Jose Convention Center."

Update via Loren in the comments: "I use to have that album. You forgot to add Steve Roach as another person who played with these guys. I know Steve played in MOBIUS and I think he made a guest appearance on the LEM album if my memory is correct."

Update: more from Peter Grenader of Plan B:
"A bit more trivia about one part of that photo - the Steiner-Parker
Synthasystem shown in the photo to the left of the robot's ear. - that was
Alex Cima's..

After Alex stopped rep'ing Steiner Parker in Southern California, this
system became the property of John Waddell, who already had one other and
along with a VCS3, were being used for the Electronic Music Studies
department of Birmingham High School in the SF Valley, LA. John was my very
first EM mentor and is wholeheartedly responsible for me being accepted to
CalArts as he pushed me to enter a concert competition that Alex hosted. I
did, I made it, I submitted that to Cal Arts, I made that. Waddell gave me
the best music theory instruction I've ever had, up to and including CIA.

John passed away four years ago, and willed that Steiner-Parker to
me...which I really loved and, although it's recently found a very good home
in Marina Del Ray. It's a great system.

Back about 1977 (?) Alex and I hosted a couple of EM concerts together, one
of which LEM performed live on the seond half. Cima and I also performed
live once with Emmett Chapman, which was one of the highlights of my
performance career. Oddly enough i didn't touch electronics on that one - i
was playing flute and sax, w/Alex on synths, this dreadful percussion player
Alex found and Chapman, who as usual played the stick like no other.

I ended up inheriting Alex's EM concert series, called Electronic
Explorations, after he had had enough. I did three or four of them, one
co-produced by John Waddell, which got that horrible review in Synapse by
Doug Lynner (of LEM) i've spoken about here before. The poster for that
event was done by a very good friend of Cynthia's at the time who used the
name of Sue Dinim (get it?) for her artwork credits.

Ain't it weird how the fabric of the LA electronic music scene was sewn?

Alex Cima is still around, teaching recording and electronic music at
Fullerton College and while he has long departed with his various Steiners,
still owns his Synthi AKS."

TapeOp Convention Modular Synth Class Featuring Peter Grenader, Alessandro Cortini and Dave Wright

Published on Aug 15, 2016 david wright

"live improv modular performance by Peter Grenader, Alessandro Cortini and Dave Wright. Mixed and processed live by Steve Roach. TapeOp Con @ El Conquistador Resort Tucson, AZ 2007"

Charles & Jim on Vintage Synths - Explorer Part One

YouTube via oneamongmany10
"Oberheim Matrix 12 and Sequential Circuits T8 vintage analog synthesizers. We were messing around, trying to come up with some compositions that we could pair up on, in real time, ala late-70s early-80s Tangerine Dream or Steve Roach. The sound is coming through a couple of Martin Logans. We should get better over time as we get the hang of real-time composition on these instruments. But they are fun to play!"

Charles & Jim on Vintage Synths - Explorer Part Two

Roland GAIA SH-01 - Luftrum Soundbank (v2)

YouTube via Luftrum1 | September 21, 2010

"Audio demo of Luftrum 6 - Soundbank for Roland GAIA SH-01 containing 64 ambient patches ranging from warm space pads over Berlin School arpeggios and organic sound effects - suitable for ambient, cinematic and filmscore productions. 32 of the 64 patches are spine-tingling ambient pads, lifting the GAIA up to the next level of sound!

Luftrum 6 is drawn out of inspirations from Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Biosphere and Steve Roach and is a follow up to soundbank successors released for Propellerheads Reason and lately the standalone Luftrum:Ambient for Camel Audio's Alchemy - which cemented Luftrum's signature as an ambient tone painter.

Luftrum 6 is available as download-only from luftrum.com.

Watch in HD for best audio!"

Luftrum 24 - Soundbank for TAL J-8

video by Luftrum1

"Luftrum 24 is a soundbank for TAL J-8 covering a wide range of genres from synthwave to 90s French house to ambient, electro funk and synthpop. All presets you hear in the demo vid above, is straight out of the box with no external processing of any kind.

The presets range from soaring mono leads to dreamy pads over funky dark basses and delicate synth keys and are inspired by a broad range of synth-driven artists and duos such as Daft Punk, John Carpenter, Vangelis, Perturbator, Steve Roach and The Midnight.

The set also features 40 presets designed by Code Elektro, a critically acclaimed synthwave sci-fi artist from Denmark, whose music best can be described as a hard mix between Carpenter Brut, SURVIVE and Tangerine Dream.

LUFTRUM
Website https://www.luftrum.com"

Cwejman RES-4 demo

Cwejman RES-4 demo from hpsounds on Vimeo.

"Here is a short demo of the Cwejman RES-4 Quad VC Resonators module.

This patch involve 3 intermodulating oscillators (Wiard Oscillator in LFO mode, Wiard Anti-Oscillator as a modulator, Tiptop Audio Z3000 as a modulator), which are filtered by a Wiard Boogie filter, itself modulated by the Wiard Oscilator.

12 dB/oct output of the Boogie filter is connected to the Cwejman RES-4. The tip was to modulate two bands of the RES-4 by an envelope (Wiard Envelator), which is trigged by a pulse rhythm created with the Intellijel uStep (clock signal is provided by the End output of a Bananalogue Serge VCS).

EFX processing through a nice Eventide Eclipse patch ;-) which give a Steve ROACH's like sound IMO."

POV album trailer - Miles Richmond/Peter Grenader feat. Steve Roach

Published on Apr 17, 2019 Peter Grenader

"A quick test drive of the upcoming POV album - coming Summer 2019"

Peter Grenader of Plan b.

An Interview with Peter Grenader

"There are three Peter Grenaders. The first one is a renowned composer, whose works have secured wins at several festivals all over the world and whose artistic friends include some of the greatest names from the field of electronic music: Morton Subotnick, Steve Roach, Barry Schrader and many others. The second one is an instrument designer and Head of Plan B, a company producing modular analogue synthesizers. This Peter Grenader enjoys the immediate interaction between these machines and the performing musician, the way in which they allow a composer to have his instruments really do what he wants them to. Customers of his have included Nine Inch Nails and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - again among many others. The third and final Peter Grenader is a former student at CalArts, now, retrospectively, probably considered the most important faculty of experimental media in the USA at the time. With stars like Harold Budd and John Cage working closely together with students, this was an exciting era of departure, of fresh beginnings and of discovering new technologies, timbres and tools. As a CD project and a string of new Plan B products are approaching, the first and second Peter Grenader are sure to make headlines soon. But until then, we're sitting down for a chat with the last one, talking about the "good old times" and life as a student at CalArts in the 70s."

click here for the full interview on Tokafu.

Roland GAIA SH-01 - Luftrum Soundbank

YouTube via Luftrum1 | September 19, 2010

"Audio demo of Luftrum 6 - Soundbank for Roland GAIA SH-01 containing 64 ambient patches ranging from warm space pads over Berlin School arpeggios and organic sound effects - suitable for ambient, cinematic and filmscore productions. 32 of the 64 patches are spine-tingling ambient pads, lifting the GAIA up to the next level of sound!

Luftrum 6 is drawn out of inspirations from Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Biosphere and Steve Roach and is a follow up to soundbank successors released for Propellerheads Reason and lately the standalone Luftrum:Ambient for Camel Audio's Alchemy - which cemented Luftrum's signature as an ambient tone painter.

Luftrum 6 is available as download-only from luftrum.com."

Dave Smith Instruments "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" with JESSE SOLA (NUMINA)

The sixth in Dave Smith Instruments' "In The Spotlight with the PRO 2" series is currently up with JESSE SOLA (NUMINA) here.

"Jesse Sola is an American keyboardist who goes under the project name Numina. He was born in 1971 in a musical family that currently resides in Denver, Colorado. Jesse began recording music in his 20’s while in college. Jesse’s choice of instrumentation was the use of synthesizers and acoustic instruments melded together to create deep, evolving music that ranges from melancholy to mysterious. Currently, Numina has released albums on his own Numinamusic label as well as on Gestalt Records, Hypnos, Dark Duck Records. He’s also been featured several times on the syndicated radio program Music From the Hearts of Space. Similar artists and influences include Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Vidna Obmana, and Stephen Philips."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.