MATRIXSYNTH: Search results for Jean-Jacques Perrey


Showing posts sorted by date for query Jean-Jacques Perrey. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query Jean-Jacques Perrey. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Jean-Jacques Perrey & Harry Breuer – The Happy Moog! - Vinyl


video upload by ZacJust3Letters

"Jean-Jacques Perrey & Harry Breuer – The Happy Moog!

Label: Pickwick/33 Records – SPC 3160
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

A1 Space Express
A2 Short Circuit
A3 Paris 2079
A4 In A Latin Moog
A5 Moog Foo Young
B1 Re-Entry To The Moon
B2 Saturn Ski Jump
B3 In A Happy Moog
B4 Blast-Off Country Style
B5 March Of The Martians"

BTW, if you like Jean-Jacques Perrey, check out Jean acques Perrey et son Ondioline, put together by Gotye. You can find addtiional posts featuring Jean-Jacques Perrey here.

Tuesday, August 08, 2023

ONDIOLINE Quick Oscillator Repair Job using Forgotten Futures Book


video upload by Vintage Keys Studio

"A brief explanation of an oscillator fault in the Ondioline. Resistors around the Oscillator valve (an ECC82) were all original and some had failed, causing a rise in pitch whenever a note was played.

Filmed and Badly Edited on a phone by Steve Christie, as Louisa was away on holiday. Steve hasn't had a holiday for 10 years.

GET A COPY OF THE FORGOTTEN FUTURES ONDIOLINE MANUAL HERE: https://forgottenfutures.bandcamp.com...

OUR WEBSITE:
https://vintagekeysstudio.com"

See the Ondioline label below for more. Also checke out Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline.

Saturday, December 31, 2022

The Tale of The Ondioline: Music's Oldest Synthesizer?


video upload by The Lemon Master

0:00 Intro
1:21 Design
5:50 History
7:46 Rise
10:39 Downfall
12:47 Revival?
14:24 Outro

Note the first "synth" is debatable. The Telharmonium (1897), Ondes-Martenot (1928), Mixturtrautonium (1936), Novachord (1939), amongst others predated it. The Theremin, although not a keyboard instrument, but the inspiration if not the basis for Bob Moog's creations arrived in 1921. For a timeline of electronic instruments see https://120years.net, and for more synth centric, as we know them, see The First Synth to.....

For reverything Ondioline see https://ondioline.com

And related posts:

Jean Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman - The Good Old Days

New Website Dedicated to the Ondioline

Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline (pics of my copy here)

And of course, see the Ondioline label for additional posts.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

New Website Dedicated to the Ondioline



Gotye wrote in to let us know he has been working on a site dedicated to the Ondioline. You might recall he released Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline on digital and deluxe vinyl on Bandcamp. You can find the new website at https://ondioline.com. The site hosts music releases that feature the Ondioline, recreated Ondioline booklets in English and in French, and of course extensive history on the Ondioline.

The following is a short blurb from the about page:

"The Ondioline is an electronic musical instrument invented by Georges Jenny in France in the early 1940s and developed through a number of different models until his death in 1975. This versatile and expressive instrument is monophonic, but can produce a remarkable variety of sounds, from simulating orchestral instruments to creating unique and voice-like tones...

Since 2016 the musician Gotye has worked to revive interest in the Ondioline through the non-profit Forgotten Futures and with an ensemble called Ondioline Orchestra that performs tributes to Jean-Jacques Perrey’s music.

This work has been enabled by electronics technicians Stephen Masucci (USA) and Daniel Kitzig (Germany) who have undertaken extensive and faithful restorations of numerous Ondiolines, allowing Georges Jenny’s pioneering instruments to make music again after decades of dormancy.

Forgotten Futures is dedicated to the recovery of Jenny’s under-recognized work, the recreation of critical Ondioline spare parts, and the dissemination of information that will ensure the functionality and accessibility of these remarkable instruments for future generations."

See https://ondioline.com/about/#history for more, and be sure to check out the rest of the site.

Thursday, September 02, 2021

Moog Synthesizer by Jean Jacques Perrey - EVA/Soul City - 7 inch


video upload by Diogo Beatz

"Records for sale
Vinyl Seller
https://www.instagram.com/diogobeatz/"


--- Additional Jean Jacques Perrey posts

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Gershon Kingsley Has Passed Away


Gershon Kingsley- Music to Moog by, full LP (1969) Published on Feb 8, 2015 Gershon Kingsley


Gershon Kingsley - Popcorn

Published on Jun 16, 2007 sometest353

"The Original Popcorn Video cuz i didn't found it on youtube."

This one was sent my way via Joshua Shroyer.

Via user Peake on Muffs

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/8546355/gershon-kingsley-dead


Bettmann/Getty Images
Gershon Kingsley demonstrates a Moog Synthesizer on Aug. 25, 1969.

via Billboard where you'll find the full article:

"Composer, conductor and electronic music pioneer Gershon Kingsley, who wrote the top 10 hit “Popcorn” and played a pivotal role in popularizing the synthesizer sound, died Dec. 10 in New York. He was 97.

The Emmy Award-winning composer recorded 'Popcorn' in 1969, but it was a remake by Hot Butter that reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, and No. 1 in at least six other countries. In 2005, Crazy Frog released its version, with the song again going to No. 1 in a number of countries. In 2018, Kingsley released a yellow vinyl 12” of his trademark song for Record Store Day.

Kingsley, who also composed 'Baroque Hoedown,' the theme song for Disney parks’ Main Street Electrical Parade, was born in Germany in 1922. He came to New York in 1946 and then attended the LA Conservatory of Music..."

You can find previous posts featuring Gershon Kingsley here. One of my favorites growing up in Los Angeles and going to Disneyland as a kid (as well as an adult during NAMM :), was Baroque Hoedown with Jean-Jacques Perrey.

Thank you for the memories Gershon Kingsley, they literally lasted a lifetime. You made the world a better place for so many.

Baroque Hoedown 1967-2015

Published on Mar 8, 2017 Macro Magic

"The original Baroque Hoedown plus all variations used in the American Disney theme parks. Tracks used:

Baroque Howdown- Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley (1967)

The Main Street Electrical Parade Soundtrack: Disneyland (1977-1996) Magic Kingdom (1977-1991) (1999-2001) Tokyo Disneyland (1985-1995) Disneyland Paris (1992-2003) Disney's California Adventure (2001-2010)

Disney's Electrical Parade/Dreamlights: Tokyo Disneyland (2001- present) Magic Kingdom (2010-2016) Disneyland (2017)

Paint the Night Parade: Hong Kong Disneyland (2014-present) Disneyland (2015-2016)

No audio owned by me. All rights go to their respective owners.
Enjoy!"

Saturday, August 03, 2019

Glenn Gould On the Moog Synthesizer


Published on Aug 3, 2019 Bruce Cross

Great bit of synth history. Do not miss the interview. Jean-Jacques Perrey and the Ondioline get a mention.

"Glenn Gould's radio programme on the Moog Synthesizer as rebroadcast on May 21, 1969.

0:00 Ken Haslam introduction
0:56 Glenn Gould introducion
5:25 On the Moog Synthesizer: interviews with W. Carlos and Jean Le Moyne
42:06 Glenn Gould conclusion
45:09 Ken Haslam credits
45:26 Ken Haslam introduces J.G. Parr [James Gordon Parr (May 26, 1927 – April 28, 2000)]
45:55 Parr lecture
59:52 Ken Haslam conclusion"

Friday, April 12, 2019

Mammoth 5MU System With Many Extras - Smegmar The Medicant & Sysyphus

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

List of modules at the listing and captured below.

"Large-format modular system offers: 40 modules of various brands and 150 Synthesizer.com modules. In addition, there are various power-related modules, mounted in the front and the rear.

The system is 275 MU’s front face panels spaces plus 32-more in the rear. Featuring: 27 full-range multi-waveform oscillators, 12-filters, 3 discrete MIDI interfaces, and 4 sequencers. ( not including the Matrixbrute features)

It has taken over a year to purchase and assemble all of the modules: this system is completely ready to use. Most of this system is housed in solid walnut cabinetry.

There are a few modules I bought in used condition, but the rest are new purchases. The cabinetry, controllers, and cabling are all new. After assembly, this system has not been moved, exposed to smoke, or touched by anyone but me.

The entire system is in excellent condition, with a couple of VERY minor scuffs where modules have been periodically installed and/or relocated...

History: I first purchased a Moog System-55 re-issue modular. I discovered Synthesizers.com when doing a simple google search. I learned their clone of the Moog Dual Sequencer Compliment wing was not only superior to that of the Moog’s, it was nearly 1/3 the price. So from there, I bought a System 66 and A/Bd both the tonal and functionality aspects of each to discover the Synthesizers.com sounded better to my ears, had more functions, and was more stable. I sold the Moog, and steadily expanded the system it is today.

I am 100% satisfied with this system.

It would take upwards of 6 months to get all of these modules (and a couple of these you may not able to get at all) and a significant amount of time to install and wire the modules, and assemble the large manual binder.

It also took 2 full days to convert 16 of the modules into their revised versions, yet I have not added the price of the conversion kits to the list below."

Friday, December 07, 2018

New Synthetic Sound Labs JJP SampleCorder – Model 1451 5U Module


via Synthetic Sound Labs

The SSL 1451 JJP SampleCorder module is the long awaited re-issue of our humble tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey and the early musique-concrete pioneers, where small snips of recording tapes were pieced together into new forms of musical expression. Now you can experiment using analog sound samples that can be played back with electronic precision.

SSL is pleased that the SampleCorder was officially endorsed by none other than the late, great Jean-Jacques himself!

The SampleCorder is designed around a vintage ISD2560 analog voice recorder chip. We have also included a compander chip to greatly reduce noise and improve clarity. The overall fidelity is far better than simple 8-bit samplers.

Each module can hold two audio samples, each from a few milliseconds up to a several seconds. Each can be independently triggered manually via a panel mounted button, or by a gate pulse. Once triggered by applying a gate signal, the sample will play to the end of the sample and stop, or if the gate signal is still present, the sample will repeat for as long as the gate is applied. Premature retriggering or early truncation of a sample is not possible. Samples are stored in non-volitile memory, so power loss should not affect the memory, though this is not guaranteed. Control voltage recording is not supported.

Using the “REC/PLAY” switch in REC position, the Status LED will flash, indicating record mode. A new sample is recorded whenever either the “START” (1 or 2) button is pressed or the “GATE” (1 or 2) signal is applied. The sample length is determined the length of these events. Each new sample will destructively over-write any previous samples on that channel. Sample editing is not supported.

Record input level is critical for balancing noise levels and distortion. The SampleCorder adds the convenience of the “RECORD LEVEL” input attenuator and an “OVLD” LED indicator so you’ll always know when you’re near the maximum.

Sample playback speeds may be adjusted from normal, to nasty sounding clicks and buzzes, to nearly one octave / double speed above recording speed with a convenient front panel “Pitch” control. The “Pitch CV” input is roughly exponential (don’t expect tracking) and may require external attenuation to adjust the range to a convenient level. Record speed is fixed. 1 to 1 playback speed/pitch is usually at about “6” on the Pitch knob. This will be the normal position for this knob, unless you require pitch / time bending effects.

The “PLAYING” output provides a “high” gate for the entire length of the sample being played back. It can be useful for triggering other SampleCorders, sequencers and envelope generators for even more crazy fun.

Probably the most challenging aspect of using the SampleCorder is getting a good sample. Recording timing can be critical and may need to be practiced when samples are to be triggered at precise instants. We have found that in some applications, using the gate output from something like a Synthesizers.com Q118 Instrument Interface can be most valuable.

Though the SampleCorder is not a “looper” and it’s frequency bandwidth is a bit limited, you will no doubt find many creative uses for this unique module.

Sunday, April 08, 2018

Somebody That I Used To Know Cover by YODKAMLUE MUSIC


Published on Mar 16, 2018 YODKAMLUE MUSIC

"Gotye - somebody that i used to know (YODKAMLUE remix)
This is made with a simple beat and to monophonic synthesizer. The Korg Monologue and Moog sub phatty. Plus tons of Reverb and delay.

Original version by Gotye

Published on Jul 5, 2011 gotyemusic

"Film clip for the Gotye song Somebody That I Used To Know, featuring Kimbra from the album Making Mirrors.
Buy Somebody That I Used To Know here: http://www.smarturl.it/gotyesomebody"



Side note: Gotye is an avid fan of Jean-Jacques Perrey and the Ondioline. He recently released Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline on vinyl and digital download.

Saturday, July 01, 2017

Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline


My copy of Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline has arrived! Here are a few "unboxing" pics. I am actually listening to it as I type this. The first side features Jean-Jacques music and is spectacular. The second side features his demos of the individual sounds of the Ondioline. If you are a fan, or even just interested in Jean-Jacques Perrey and the Ondioline, I highly recommend this release. The Deluxe Vinyl LP is a gatefold and comes with a very nice quality booklet on Jean-Jacques Perrey and the Ondioline. See below for a pic of the inside cover and back. The clear vinyl itself looks like pristine glass. You can tell the care that went into this release. See my previous post with details here, or you can go directly to the Bandcamp release page here.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline - New Release Produced by Wally De Backer aka Gotye




Readers of the site should all be familiar with Jean-Jacques Perrey's work. His preferred instrument was the Ondioline. As many of you know, Jean-Jacques Perrey passed away on November 4th of last year. I was actually fortunate enough to see him perform live with Dana Countryman for his 2006 tour.

Wally De Backer aka Gotye has produced Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline, an archival project featuring Jean-Jacques Perrey's early music with the Ondioline. The release features previously unreleased and rare tracks both on vinyl and digital download.

via Wally De Backer: "I got to know JJ in the years before he passed and this is a labour of love I undertook to pay tribute to his incredible work, specifically with the remarkable Ondioline."

You can read a great article on the Ondioline, Jeen-Jacques Perrey, Wally De Backer and the release at The New Yorker here.

The following are the official details for the release:

"Out on Forgotten Futures on LP/digital

- Never-before-released Ondioline cuts from Jean
- Jacques Perrey’s archive.
- Super rare tracks from early private press releases.
- Meticulously restored and remastered from original sources.
- Includes collaborations with Angelo Badalamenti and Billy Goldenberg.
- 36-page booklet with unreleased archival photos and an essay by Simon Reynolds.
- Compilation curated and produced by Wally De Backer (Gotye)

Jean-Jacques Perrey (1929-2016) was a pioneer of electronic pop music celebrated for his uniquely whimsical sampled soundworld, his groundbreaking style of rhythmic tape editing, and his early use of the Moog modular synthesizer.

From seminal instrumental albums such as The In Sound From Way Out! (1965, with collaborator Gershon Kingsley), to Moog Indigo (1970, featuring the classic cut E.V.A.), Perrey’s inimitable sounds have been sampled by everyone from Fat Boy Slim and Gang Starr to Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade!

Not as celebrated or widely known is the fact that Perrey was the world’s only virtuoso of the Ondioline, the remarkable proto-synthesizer developed by Frenchman Georges Jenny in the 1940s.

Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline focuses on this early period of Perrey’s musical life, when he traveled the world as the Ondioline’s prime demonstrator, began experimenting with multitrack recording technology, and made demo recordings designed to exalt the Ondioline’s incredible array of sounds and effects.

The compilation features never-before released collaborations with Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, the films of David Lynch) and Billy Goldenberg (Steven Spielberg’s Duel, Columbo) as well as a collaboration with Dick Hyman which delivers the only piece of music composed by Ondioline inventor Georges Jenny currently on record.

Further gems include a sparkling early version of the beloved Pioneers of the Stars, given a stirring Ennio Morricone-esque arrangement here, as well as choice selections from Musique Electronique du Cosmos, the highly collectible album of library music Perrey recorded in 1963.

Ondioline enthusiasts will be excited to hear a super rare extended demonstration of the instrument, recorded by Perrey in the early 1960s, which also receives its first commercial release on this compilation.

A must for dedicated fans, and a vibrant introduction for new listeners to Perrey’s wonderfully individual style of music, Jean-Jacques Perrey et son Ondioline canvasses his unparalleled mastery of the Ondioline, points towards the exuberance of his later sample and Moog-heavy work, and importantly, illuminates a reflective and melancholy side to his recorded work that expands on his already considerable achievements.

Curated by long-time Perrey fan and recent collaborator Wally De Backer (Gotye), this is the first release on Forgotten Futures, a new record label set up by De Backer to excavate lost works by pioneering producers and musical instrument inventors. De Backer got to know Perrey over the last few years of his life, visiting him a number of times at his home in Switzerland, and coordinating the archiving of his recordings, photos and music scores. Perrey mentored De Backer in the restoration and playing of Ondiolines, and through their developing connection over this instrument, Perrey entrusted De Backer with a number of the rare masters and one-of-a-kind test pressings of Ondioline recordings that form the basis of this compilation.

Tracks:1. La Vache et le Prisonnier 2. Visa to the Stars (commercial arrangement) 3. Chicken on the Rocks4. Danielle of Amsterdam 5. Cigale 6. L'âme des Poètes 7. Dandelion Wine 8. Barnyard In Orbit9. Sérénade à la Mule 10. Mars Reflector 11. Pioneers of the Stars (orchestral arrangement)12. to 38. Ondioline demonstration from Satellite Records acetates"

https://jean-jacquesperrey.bandcamp.com/


Photograph by Anna Webber

via The New Yorker:

"Wouter De Backer, known as Gotye, has a keen understanding of the electronic musician Jean-Jacques Perrey’s discography, and of the nuances it contains."

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

First person synth jams! EP4: Juno-106 solo over an OB-Xa, Pro-One, Polivoks, SDS 800, and a TR-606


Published on Jun 13, 2017 synthead

"Music starts at 3:37!
Download the song here! https://clyp.it/okzbpn5y"

This one reminded me of Jean-Jacques Perrey.

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

MOOGFEST 2017 UNVEILS FULL SCHEDULE OF 100 WORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSES


via Moogfest

"- Moogfest attendees engage in an ecosystem of ideas, experiments, and specialized skills

Durham, North Carolina (April 5, 2017) – Today Moogfest unveils the full schedule for the expansive four-day festival. Exploring the future of technology, art, and music, the festival includes more than 300 musical performances, daytime workshops, conversations, masterclasses, film screenings, live scores, durational sound installations, and interactive art experiences.

The full schedule can be found online at http://moogfest2017.sched.com

*Please note, the full schedule can be viewed on Sched; however, registration and adding sessions to your personal schedule won't be available until sign-up opens Friday, April 7, at 12:00 noon ET for Engineer ticket holders; Tuesday, April 11, at 12:00 noon ET for VIP ticket holders; and Tuesday, April 18, at 12:00 noon ET for all ticket holders.

Moogfest celebrates the legacy of Bob Moog, a visionary engineer who pioneered the analog synthesizer and other technology tools used by artists like Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Kraftwerk. This year’s program will feature over 260 innovators in music, art, and technology -- from Flying Lotus, Animal Collective, Suzanne Ciani, Gotye and Princess Nokia to Dr. Kate Shaw, an experimental particle physicist working on the ATLAS Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, and Joe Davis, a pioneer in creating art with genes and bacteria at MIT Media Lab. Moogfest takes place in Durham, North Carolina, a fast-growing capital of technology, culture and entrepreneurship.

Happening Thursday, May 18 - Sunday, May 21, with hundreds of artists, speakers, and sessions across downtown Durham, Moogfest contains a vast galaxy of discovery. Workshops are an essential part of the Moogfest program, as the platform prioritizes intimate spaces for collaboration and creativity. In these open learning environments, participants interact with technology tools that allow humans to creatively express themselves in new ways, so that we can design the future we want to see and hear.

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

Gotye to Pay Tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey at Moogfest


via Moogfest:

"At Moogfest 2017, Gotye will present a tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey. Jean-Jacques Perrey (1929-2016) was an alternative pop visionary, a pioneer of rhythmic tape editing techniques, and a virtuoso of the rare French electronic musical instrument, the Ondioline. Gotye, a long-time Perrey fan and a budding Ondiolinist, has assembled the Ondioline Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to reviving the spirit of this rare and unusually expressive early synthesizer. The ensemble features thereminist/keyboardist Rob Schwimmer, vintage synth specialist and ex-Psychedelic Furs member Joe McGinty, as well as members of acclaimed alternative band Zammuto. Perrey’s best-known songs will be celebrated alongside ultra rare pieces co-written with Angelo Badalamenti and Billy Goldenberg in an eclectic set juxtaposing Perrey’s joyful and boisterous pop with more reflective work spanning three decades of his career. Ondioline Orchestra perform all sounds live, including Perrey’s signature sample sounds, classic Moog patches, and a rich variety of Ondioline timbres on fully-restored original instruments. This show is a rare opportunity for fans of early electronic pop music to celebrate this influential producer/performer’s wonderfully inventive studio work in a live environment."

How cool is that? I had no idea Gotye was into the Ondioline and Jean-Jacques Perrey.

Jean-Jacques Perrey has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH numerous times in the past. I was fortunate enough to see him perform live back in 2006. I'll never forget that show. It was pure magic. That image to the left was from it. That's Jean-Jacques Perrey on the left and Dana Countryman on the right.

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

MOOGFEST REVEALS MUSIC LINEUP AND PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS



Details are in. Via MOOGFEST:

"Over 150 participating artists including Flying Lotus, Animal Collective, Gotye, Suzanne Ciani, Derrick May, 808 State, Jessy Lanza, Simian Mobile Disco, Moor Mother, Syrinx, Visible Cloaks, Princess Nokia, and Function added to growing list of Moogfest 2017 participants

Gotye Presenting a Tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey, The Center for Deep Listening Honoring Pauline Oliveros, and Peanut Butter Wolf Honoring Bernie Worrell and Other Musicians We’ve Lost

Over forty performing artists also leading workshops and sessions in four-day conference program

The independent, annual, four-day festival will take place in
Durham, North Carolina from May 18-21, 2017. This year marks its 11th iteration honoring the spirit of inventor Bob Moog.

$249 for 3-Day General Admission and $499 for 3-Day VIP

All prices exclusive of applicable fees.

Durham, NC (March 7, 2017): Today, Moogfest reveals its lineup of musical performers, led by Flying Lotus, Animal Collective, Gotye, Suzanne Ciani, Derrick May, 808 State, Simian Mobile Disco, Syrinx, Jessy Lanza, and Function. Building on the experimental format of previous years, Moogfest continues to integrate Future Sound (performances) and Future Thought (conference) programming, with many of these artists also leading sessions during the daytime conference program.

Moogfest’s trademark mix of intimate venues and masterful collaborations creates an unforgettable experience festival-goers will not find anywhere else. Experimental electronic and avant-garde dance music is complemented by thematic programming like Black Quantum Futurism, Protest, and Techno-Shamanism that span day-into-night. This year returns with adventurous formats such as live film scores, an overnight live music sleep concert, prelude to sleep listening parties, long-form durational performances, and presentations by leading Instrument Designers.

Moogfest has also invited artists including Gotye and Peanut Butter Wolf to help honor some of the innovative musicians we lost in 2016, including Jean-Jacques Perrey, Pauline Oliveros, Bernie Worrell and Keith Emerson. This 2017 lineup reinforces Moogfest’s commitment to bold experimentation, with some of the most important musicians and thinkers of our day helping to blur the lines between audience and artist, conversation and collaboration, technology and creativity.

Sunday, January 01, 2017

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Quick Look Back at 2016

Happy New Year Everyone!

This post is a little late going up, but better late than never! :)

I'm going to keep this one a little shorter than usual as I am aware I have a tendency to get a little too wordy at times.

First of all, I want to thank you all for taking a little bit of your day out to visit the site. I want to thank those that contribute to the synthesizer scene and actually give me something to post! Finally, I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all the individual supporters of the site, and the sponsors you see on the right and above! Your support literally makes the site as it is possible!

---

And a look back at 2016...

Update: I forgot to mention, we had a total of 13,679 posts in 2016!
Update2: also, as always take a look back at the exclusive label for the most interesting bits of synth history.

First a look back at some of the people (and companions) we lost last in 2016.

2016 was rough. On the maker front we lost Don Buchla, who along with Bob Moog, was undoubtably the creator of the synthesizer as we know it today. We lost Ray Wilson of Music From Outer Space, arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, influencers in synth DIY. Many makers out there started with his projects.

On the musician front we lost some of synths' greats including Keith Emerson, Isao Tomita, Bernie Worrell and Jean-Jacques Perrey. We lost a couple of pioneers of electronic music as well, namely Jean-Claude Risset and Pauline Oliveros.

The following is the list:

David Bowie - January 10, 2016
Else Marie Pade - January 18, 2016
Stanley Lunetta - March 3, 2016
Keith Emerson - March 11, 2016
Isao Tomita - May 5, 2016
Bernie Worrell - June 24, 2016
Ray Wilson - July 21, 2016
Don Buchla - September 14, 2016
DJ Spank-Spank - September 21, 2016
Jean-Jacques Perrey - November 4, 2016
Jean-Claude Risset - November 21, 2016
Pauline Oliveros - November 24, 2016

And never to be excluded, a couple of the companions we lost:

nonlinear circuit's Bill - March, 2016
CatSynth's Luna - October 31, 2016

Note the above are only those I could tie in with synths. Two artists you might notice missing are Prince and George Michael. Both deserve a mention. Prince I could have tied in with an Oberheim connection. I still remember lusting after an OB-8 after seeing his videos in the 80s.

RIP posts are the hardest to write. Not only because you are mourning the loss of someone great, but because you know your post will never be good enough.


As for new gear in 2016, you might have noticed all of the "New in 2016" labels that have gone up in posts throughout the year. I created the labels back in 2015 as a means to keep track of all the new gear coming in. I also thought it would be a quick, easy, and interesting way to get total counts of everything at the end of the year. Here are the numbers (links will take you to posts for each):

New in 2016 (753)
New Cases in 2016 (18)
New Controllers in 2016 (38)
New DIY in 2016 (108)
New Makers in 2016 (101)
New Mobile Apps in 2016 (65)
New Modules in 2016 (299)
New Old in 2016 (21)
New Soft Synths in 2016 (55)
New Sound Machines in 2016 (34)
New Sound Packs in 2016 (24)
New Synth Effects in 2016 (9)
New Synths in 2016 (112)
New Tools in 2016 (51)

Note, as with anything, labels can be a little tricky. Sometimes there will be overlap, sometimes items will be announced one year, but released in another if at all, and of course, if I'm not made aware of an item it gets missed. You'll likely see a few items from 2015 in the 2016 list for that reason. I also found it can be difficult to categorize certain items. Drum machines for example get bucketed under synths, but I think for 2017 I will create a new label for them and just use both.

All that said, if you look at the numbers above we had 753 new products/items appear on the site last year. Always of notable interest were the items from vintage synth history that were never featured on the site before. Last year there were 21. An interesting side note is that matches the 21 we had the year prior in 2015. I won't go into any in detail as you can take a look at the label yourself and as I mentioned above I'm going to try and keep this post short. You can check out any of the categories above.  Also worth noting is there were 101 new makers to the site in 2016!  Check them out via the link above.

I was never one for top 10 lists, as although they can be fun, I'm a firm believer that all gear has something to offer. It's up to us to use the gear and find out. That said I do think it's worth mentioning some of the major synth releases this year. Not only does it gives us a quick look at what the major players released but it also lets us see when they were released in the year.  The following is a quick list:

  1. Korg Minilogue - January 8
  2. Yamaha Montage AWM2 & FM-X - January 11
  3. Clavia Nord Piano 3 - January 18 & January 21
  4. Roland A-01 - January 19
  5. Korg Limited Edition Kronos Platinum
  6. Make Noise 0-Coast - January 20
  7. Artuia MatrixBrute - January 21
  8. Dave Smith Instruments OB-6 - January 21
  9. Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators - January 21
  10. MFB Tanzamus & Tanzbar Lite - January 22
  11. Mellotron Micro - January 22
  12. Modal 008 Rack - January 25
  13. Anyware Instruments Modulator - March 23
  14. Nord Drum 3/3P - April 4
  15. New Minimoog Model D - May 18
  16. Moog Brother From Another Mother - May 18
  17. Audiothingies Micromonster - May 27
  18. Mini GRP A2 - May 28
  19. DSI OB-6 Desktop - June 22 & June 23
  20. Mode Machines ADX1 - June 28
  21. New Black Oberheim TVS - June 28
  22. Ninstrument SynthBoy+ July 2
  23. Behringer Deepmind 12 - July 7
  24. New Red & Blue Korg Electribes v2 - July 20
  25. Yamaha FM Synth for iOS - July 21
  26. Jomox Alpha Base - July 23
  27. Korg Desktop Odysseys - August 28
  28. Percussa Remote - August 29
  29. KORG MicroKORG-S - August 31
  30. Korg Volca Kick - August 31
  31. KORG Odyssey Desktop Modules - August 31
  32. Roland System-8 - September 3 and September 9
  33. Roland TR-09 & TB-03 - September 3
  34. Roland VP-03 - September 3
  35. Synthstrom Audio Deluge - September 8
  36. CMS 2607 - September 23
  37. Dreadbox Murmox V2 - September 25
  38. Arturia Drumbrute - October 7
  39. Bastl Instruments Kastle - October 7
  40. Korg Monologue - November 1
  41. Full Size Korg Arp Odyssey Keboards - November 4
  42. Cyclone Analogic TR-606 Clone - November 16
  43. Tangible Waves AE Modular - November 16
  44. Modal Electronics CRAFTSynth - November 18
  45. Cyclone Analogic TT-78 - November 23
  46. The White Schmidt Synthesizer - November 25
  47. Plankton Electronics Ants! - December 9
  48. Dreadbox NYX - December 15
  49. Cyclone Analogic TT-303 MK2 - December 15

Note this is only 49 of the 112 items in the new synths in 2016 category. I'd recommend checking them all out.

What stood out for you in 2016? What are you looking forward to in 2017? Leave a comment or two below.

I want to end this with a humble thank you to everyone that makes this site what it is!

Thank you and Happy New Year!!!  On to 2017!

Saturday, December 24, 2016

E.V.A. (with Drumbrute) song originally by Jean Jacques Perrey


Published on Dec 11, 2016 Mattelica

"Live take with the Arturia Drumbrute, Elektron Analog Keys, Korg Minilogue, Korg Volca Keys, Yamaha SU 10 portable sampler, onto a Roland VS 880 to a Yamaha MG10xu mixer, to a Canon 6D with a 50mm 1.4 lens"

The Minilogue looks great with chrome knobs.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

rhodes + moog + eurorack + push = ?


Published on Nov 24, 2016 iftahbox

Reminds me of an edgy Jean-Jacques Perrey with a splash of jazz.

Friday, November 04, 2016

RIP Jean-Jacques Perrey 1929-2016




The image to the left may be a little blurry, but it comes from the one time I actually got to see Jean-Jacques Perrey live with Dana Countryman, back in 2006. I took that photo. That was one of the rare times I could sum up an experience in one word: magical. Well maybe two: magical, and joyful. That may sound cliche to some, but it is 100% accurate, and I do have to say, with the absolute upmost respect, Jean-Jacques Perrey (and Dana Countryman) put on one of the funnest shows I've been too. The man brought absolute joy to life. When I was a kid I had no idea I was listening to his tunes while watching Disneland's Main Street Electrical parade! He was a pioneer of electronic music that brought humor and playfulness to his music throughout his career. I still remember his pet elephant (you'll need to go through numerous posts here on MATRIXSYNTH to find it. :) As you'll see his presence influenced many posts here on MATRIXSYNTH over the years. His main instrument was the Ondes Martenot.




Image credit: Mal Meehan, in via Dana Countryman, who had the following to say (Update: you can find his full words here - do take the time to read it for a fascinating bit of synth history):

"My dear friend and mentor Jean Jacques Perrey passed away today, November 4th, 2016. His illness came on quickly, and he did not suffer long, for which I’m happy. I’m extremely sad that I’ll never see him again, but I have been playing some of his happiest music today, and it immediately cheered me up. I know that’s what he would want --- for everyone to be happy, and not to be sad."

He will be missed, but his music and memories will continue to bring joy to people for years to come. He brought so much joy to the world. Thank you Jean-Jacques Perrey!

Update: Dana Countryman wrote a longer piece on Jean-Jacques Perrey here. Do take the time to read it. From that piece:

"For those who don’t realize it, Jean-Jacques rst started recording electronic music in 1952, long before the Moog synthesizer was rst made for sale in 1967. Relocating from Paris to New York City, JJ actu- ally owned and recorded with the second Moog ever produced, and with his musical partner Gershon Kingsley, they released their rst Moog album -- almost two years before Wendy Carlos released her rst Moog album. Jean-Jacques was truly the pioneer of popular electronic music.

His crazy, happy music has been heard everywhere from commercials, to Sesame Street - in hip-hop songs, in dance remixes and most famously, for decades in the delightful featured music in Disneyland’s 'Main Street Electrical Parade'. In recent years, his music has even made appearances on the Simpsons, and on Comedy Central’s 'South Park'."

Update2: one more sent my way via @bronwenjones:

Jean-Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman - Funky Little Spacegirl - Music Video

Uploaded on Jan 19, 2009 mee3d

"View a High quality version here - www.funkylittlespacegirl.com

Celebrating 80 years of Jean-Jacques Perrey's Legendary Happy Electropop Music here is the Music Video for "Funky Little Spacegirl", released from the new album with Dana Countryman 'Destination Space'. Available on Oglio Records. Music Video Created by Mal Meehan from mee3d"
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