eBook published by the The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music

"In November of 2016 the inaugural ‘The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music’ took place across four days and across three venues. A numbering system was used as a statement of intent - there is the intention that this will continue. It will grow, it will develop.. this is the start of something.

The stellar ‘live’ line-up included highly influential ambient industrialists :zoviet*france:, revered ‘Kraut-rock’ and electronica collective Gnod, Ex-Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür (responsible for inventing the group's electric drums used throughout the 1970’s), DJ Rusty Egan of Visage fame (put simply, without Rusty Egan there would be no Steve Strange) and Richard Barbieri (currently with Porcupine Tree but he cut his teeth as the highly respected synth player for new wave pioneers Japan in the 1980’s).

One of the highlights of the 'first' festival was an all-day conference with keynote speeches from Wolfgang Flür (Ex-Kraftwerk), Andy McCluskey (of multi-million selling synth pop exponents OMD) and DJ Rusty Egan (whose Blitz Club started the New Romantic movement).

Between 2016 and 2022, The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music has worked with Thomas Dolby, Martyn Ware, Fiat Lux, Tim Bowness, Ulrich Schnauss, Thorsten Quaeschning, Banco de Gaia, Test Dept, The Black Dog, Ultramarine and many, many more.. the details of this unique musical experience which traverses the inner and outer reaches of electronic music have been documented in an eBook running to a total of 249 pages.

For a mere £7.99 you not only get the eBook but have the option to access a companion publication ('Sounds of The Seventh Wave' : Music, Video and Audio from the Festival) for 'free'

Full details of both publications can be found here:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-seventh-wave-festival-of-electronic-music/id6445570213?ls=1

SCI Prophet 5 Rev 2 and Sequential Prophet 10 Rev 4 - Rain

video upload by Glen H

"Short impro with both Prophets"

---

This one made me think of Japan's Nightporter driving home for the night.
Richard Barbieri of Japan prominently used a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 no less.



Update: lyrics added below along with the note above on Japan's Richard Barbieri using the original Sequential Circuits Prophet-5.

Lyrics
Could I ever explain
This feeling of love it just lingers on
The fear in my heart that keeps telling me which way to turn
We'll wander again
Our clothes they are wet
We shy from the rain
Longing to touch all the places we know we can hide
The width of a room that can hold so much pleasure inside
Here am I alone again
A quiet town where life begins
Here am I just wondering
Nightporters go
Nightporters slip away
I'll watch for a sign
And if I should ever again cross your mind
I'll sit in my room and wait until nightlife begins
I'm catching my breath
We'll both brave the weather again
Here am I alone again
A quiet town where life gives in
Here am I just wondering
Nightporters go
Nightporters slip away

Opening Page

video upload by Richard Barbieri

"A looped piece I used for my old website's opening page. Also used as a backdrop to the track 'Not The Weapon But The Hand' with Steve Hogarth.
Made with a Yamaha CS-01 mono synth and a Boss RC-5 loop pedal."

Nord Lead A1 Sound Creation with Richard Barbieri of Japan, Rain Tree Crow, & Porcupine Tree

'In these Sound Creation Tutorials, Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree) demonstrates how he is able to recreate iconic Japan-Style Instruments using his Nord Lead A1."

Richard Barbieri of Japan, Rain Tree Crow, & Porcupine Tree w/ the Prophet-5 Rev4 Desktop Synth

video by Richard Barbieri

"Short piece using just the new Prophet 5 rev 4. I programmed the kind of sounds that I was making on the original circa 1981-1983 Just a little stereo delay used on a couple of sounds, otherwise no processing."

The Seventh Wave - Sixth Electronic Music Festival comes to Birmingham 16 March 2019

WMSN promo one from Chris Wave on Vimeo.

"The Seventh Wave
Festival of Electronic Music: Number Six

Sixth Electronic Music Festival comes to Birmingham and once again it includes an all-day free electronic music event featuring talks, demonstrations, interactive sessions, synth manufacturer attendance, a room for attendees to set up and show off their synth gear and a number of free live performances!

This year sees the addition of a ‘raffle’ to the all-day free event in aid of Drake Music who are the leaders in music, disability and technology.

In March of 2019 the sixth ‘The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music’ takes place across three days. For a relatively small festival The Seventh Wave continues to get some of the biggest names in electronic and progressive music.

This time around you can feast your eyes (and ears!) on Richard Barbieri (Ex-Rain Tree Crow and Porcupine Tree) who, let’s not forget, is also one of the original members of Japan and Ulrich Schnauss, who as well as being a distinguished solo performer in his own right is a ‘modern day’ member of electronic giants Tangerine Dream. To cap it all, the Festival finishes with Steve Jollife (who played in one of the earliest incarnations of Tangerine Dream) and he will be performing the Tangerine Dream album Cyclone ‘in-full’.

Tickets can be purchased for the individual paid events from Skiddle and for the free event which runs from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm people can just turn up on the day, stay for a few minutes, or get hooked and end up of staying all day!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

PATCH & TWEAK - Exploring Modular Synthesis Book on Kickstarter

via Kickstarter:

"The new book about modular synths, their makers, and masters. Patching secrets, performance tips, history, modules, and techniques.

'Hello!

My name is Kim Bjørn – welcome to the PATCH & TWEAK Kickstarter campaign! Following our book PUSH TURN MOVE about electronic music instruments - we are now creating a book on modular synthesis.

We want PATCH & TWEAK to provide an opportunity for new and experienced users to become true masters of their modular systems. In the style of its predecessor, PATCH & TWEAK contains inspirational interviews with significant creators and major artists who all share their passion for modular. Explore their systems, philosophies, patching secrets, and performance tips.

Besides a comprehensive introduction to synthesis and its history, the book covers systematic sections on concepts, purpose and creative possibilities of specific modules. Enjoy colorful diagrams, presentations of both popular and rare modules, semi-modular and software, as well as techniques for patching and how to get started.

PATCH & TWEAK has a foreword by Suzanne Ciani, is written by Kim Bjørn and Chris Meyer, and edited by Paul Nagle.

So what exactly is PATCH & TWEAK? Watch the video, take the tour below, and please support the book by selecting a reward if you like the idea.'

Kim Bjørn, Copenhagen, May 2018

About the book

Meet the makers, and artists

Apart from systematic sections and general subjects PATCH & TWEAK features interviews with the passionate makers of modules and systems, and the artists who use them, and influence them. We have already started interviewing - and when more artists are confirmed, we will keep you updated!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Tangerine Dream - Identity Proven Matrix (live studio performance)

Published on Mar 23, 2018 Kscope

Some synth spotting with Tangerine Dream. Manikin Schritmacher sequencer in the rack. White Moog Voyager Electric Blue and Voyager RME, Roland V-Synth & JD-XA, Clavia Nord Lead, & eurorack modular.

"Tangerine Dream complete their Quantum Gate album with the Quantum Key EP as a new double CD release - http://found.ee/QuantumGateKey

This new live recording of "Identity Proven Matrix" was filmed at the band's studio in Berlin where the band have been gearing up for their European shows (more to be announced)
13 April - Halle/Saale - Haendelsaal - DE
14 April - Dresden - Kulturpalast/Philharmonie - DE
23 April - London - Union Chapel - UK - SOLD OUT!!
24 April - London - Union Chapel with special guest Richard Barbieri - UK
12 May - Duisburg - Theater am Marientor - DE
01 Aug - Amsterdam - Dekmantel Festival - NL - SOLD OUT SOON!!
04 + 05 Aug - O.Z.O.R.A. Festival - HU
12 Aug - Helsinki - Flow Festival - FI

The Quantum Key EP preceded Quantum Gate and both delivered an updated, contemporary development of their trademark sound: sequencer-driven electronica covering a wide range of moods and atmospheres from ambient soundscapes to energetic, upbeat moments.

The Quantum Years material began as a concept and series of musical sketches by Froese before he passed away in 2015. Remaining band members Thorsten Quaeschning, Ulrich Schnauss and Hoshiko Yamane worked together to realize Edgar's visions and expectations of a conceptual body of work that attempts to translate quantum physics and philosophy into music.

Tangerine Dream have been a fundamental influence on electronic and progressive music since their formation in West Berlin, 1967. Inspiring genres, musicians and other art forms, from The Future Sound of London to Porcupine Tree, the widely popular TV show Stranger Things (for which their music also featured in) to seminal video game Grand Theft Auto V (for which they helped to write the soundtrack).

Pre-order your copy of the new Quantum Gate / Quantum Key double CD now for 20th April release - http://found.ee/QuantumGateKey"

Seventh Wave of Electronic Music Festival comes to Birmingham

"In November of 2016 the inaugural ‘The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music’ takes place across four days and across three venues in Birmingham.

The stellar ‘live’ line-up includes highly influential ambient industrialists :zoviet*france:, revered ‘Kraut-rock’ and electronica collective Gnod, Ex-Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flur (responsible for inventing the group's electric drums used throughout the 1970s), DJ Rusty Egan of Visage fame (put simply, with-out Rusty Egan there would be no Steve Strange) and Richard Barbieri (currently of Porcupine Tree but he cut his teeth as the highly respected synth player for new wave pioneers Japan in the 1980’s).

One of the high-lights of the festival will be an all-day conference with key note speeches from Wolfgang Flur (Ex-Kraftwerk), Andy McCluskey (of multi-million selling synth pop exponents OMD) and DJ Rusty Egan (whose Blitz Club started the New Romantic movement).

Tickets can be purchased for individual events from both theticketsellers and Skiddle from:
https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk
http://www.skiddle.com/"

Additional info: https://theseventhwaveblog.wordpress.com/

The Twilight Sad - I Could Give You All That You Don't Want

Published on Feb 12, 2015 thetwilightsadofficial

http://thetwilightsad.com

Quick disclaimer: I recently discovered this band and absolutely love them. That said, I didn't think I would be posting them here anytime soon as this site is strictly about specific synth demos and heavy synth spotting only, with few exceptions. Well... a funny thing happened. I finally got around to watching this video in full and I noticed something odd midway through that would definitely warrant a post here on MATRIXSYNTH. You will notice the only synth featured in the video is a Roland Juno-60, but that in and of itself really isn't enough to warrant a post. There has to be something more. So why the post? Watch the video and see if you can guess, then come back to this...  Done watching?  So what was the guitar playing vs. the Juno-60?  While watching the video I realized that what I thought I was hearing was the guitar towards the end, was likely the Juno-60. If you didn't catch it, watch the video again, listen, and try see what each instrument is playing. If I'm right, it's a fascinating transition and conceptual blend of the two instruments. The transition happens at 2:08 with the first reveal at 2:14 and 2:20 (guitar) followed by 2:34 and 3:08 (Juno-60).  I could be wrong, and it could be they chose to show the guitar playing rhythm vs lead at those points, but I do know the Roland Juno-60 and most synths in general are capable of making that sound. I thought this was a good example of how a synth can add substantially to a track without having to stand out specifically as a synth, and that gets the post.   To expand on this, what originally drew me into synths wasn't the "synthy" timbres we've come to traditionally associate with synths nor the attempt to mimic real world instruments, but rather the exploration of sound with instruments not possible before. With a synth you get to create your own instrument, and it doesn't have to sound like a synthesizer. One of my favorite synthesists is Richard Barbieri of the band Japan because he did things with the Prophet-5 that sounded more organic than synthetic. He used the Prophet-5 as an instrument rather than as a synth if that makes sense. Sometimes, like in this track, you don't even realize what you were hearing came from a synth and that is a good thing. The title of this track is somewhat fitting in that context as well. Sometimes a synth (and I'm guessing this site for that matter) will give you all that you don't want. There is so much more to synths. It's all good.

Video description:

"Directed By Nicola Collins

Taken from 'Nobody Wants To Be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave', out now on FatCat Records

The Twilight Sad tour North America Feb/March 2015. Tickets at http://thetwilightsad.com/tourdates

Feb 23 Boston, MA - Great Scott+
Feb 24 Brooklyn, NY - Baby's All Right+
Feb 25 Philadelphia, PA - The Boot & Saddle+
Feb 26 Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel+
Feb 27 Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox+
Feb 28 Chicago IL - Beat Kitchen+
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry+
Mar 03 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium (Upstairs) +
Mar 05 Missoula, MT - Stage 112+
Mar 06 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern+
Mar 07 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge+
Mar 08 Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret+
Mar 10 Sacramento, CA - Blue Lamp+
Mar 11 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill+
Mar 12 Costa Mesa, CA - The Wayfarer+
Mar 13 San Diego, CA - The Merrow+
Mar 14 Phoenix, AZ - VivaPHX
Mar 17 - Mar 20 Austin, TX - SXSW
+ - w/ Port St. Willow

Buy Amazon - http://smarturl.it/nobodywantstobehere
Buy iTunes - http://smarturl.it/nobodywantstobehere

http://www.thetwilightsad.com // http://twitter.com/thetwilightsad // https://www.facebook.com/thetwilightsad"

Sines & Squares at the Islington Mill Oct. 2014

Sines & Squares at the Islington Mill Oct. 2014 from Lu Katavist on Vimeo.

"24-26 October 2014 - Manchester, UK
NOVARS, Manchester University, England and Islington Mill, Salford, UK

www.sines-squares.org
http://www.facebook.com/SinesandSquares

NOVARS Research Centre in association with Open-Circuit, Salford and Basic Electricity Berlin are proud to present the first edition of the Sines and Squares Festival, celebrating the recent resurgence of analogue and modular synthesizers.

Part festival/part symposium, for the first time in the UK, this event brought together composers, performers, manufacturers, musicologist and DIY enthusiasts in a weekend of concerts, interactive sessions, installations, master classes, demonstrations, workshops and coffee… Guests included two of the most creative of today’s new breed of analogue designers Rob Hordijk of Hordijk Modular (Netherlands) and Tom Bugs of Bugbrand, along with artists such as John Chantler (ROOM40, Café OTO), Lu Katavist (smalldeath.org), Richard Scott (psi, Basic Electricity), Buchla-master Dan P and David Ross (ini.itu records). The festival featured artists working with systems such as Buchla 200e, Haken Continuum, Eurorack, Bugbrand, EMS Synthi, Expert Sleepers, Ciat Lonbarde and Serge.

Sines & Squares is supported by Thonk, Islington Mill, Analogue Solutions, Expert Sleepers, Bugbrand, Frequency Central, KOMA Elektronik and featuring the MANTIS Surround Sound System

The weekend was a unique opportunity to listen, to enjoy, to educate, to meet and to learn more about the history, present and perhaps the future of analogue and modular synthesis. We focussed of the music, the instruments and on the people who build, love and play them.

We hope to deepen and enrich the culture currently surrounding analogue and modular musical technologies and to help build an artistic and discursive community which bridges boundaries, between academic and non-academic electronic music, between the technical and aesthetic, between synthesizers designers and users, between analogue and digital technologies between the past and current artistic practice.

An extraordinary line-up of over 30 artists from the UK, Mexico, Spain, France, USA, Germany, Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Mexico, Italy and Brazil including Rob Hordijk, Tom Bugs, John Chantler, Dennis Verschoor, Sam Weaver, Finlay Shakespeare, Danny Saul, Jo Hyde, Aidan Taylor, Kim Da Costa, Jens Hedman, Lu Katavist, Richard Scott, Jules Rawlinson, Ricardo Climent, Mark Pilkington, Dave Ross, Patrick Gunawan Hartono, Rosalia Soria, Guillaume Dujat des Allimes, Epameinodas Fassianos, Ignacio Pecino, Chelsea Bruno, Tintin Patrone, Nils Knott, Daniel van Eendenburg and the Krachkisten Orchestra, Manoli Moriaty, Melanie O’Dubhshlaine, Mat Dalgleish, Chris Foster, Gary Bromham, Andrew Lowe and James Prosser, Matt Preston, Dave O Mahony, Jim Frize, Andrew Duff, James Parr, Alexander Harden, Nuria Bonet, Alena Mesarosova, Manuel Ferrer, Rodrigo de León Garza, John Macedo, Caterina Barbieri, presented their music, research and ideas and there was space to discuss the music, instruments, the scene and the ideas behind the remarkable recent resurgence of these beguiling and fascinating once thought to be obsolete musical instruments."

Near Silence, Japan appeal

Mat from microscopics with Korg MonoPoly, Roland Jupiter 6, Rhodes Stage 73, Roland SH101 and CR-78."

Near Silence, Japan appeal
"A free electronic album for ANY donation to the Red Cross Japan appeal. It's quite a chilled electronic album with tracks and exclusives from Roedelius (Eno, Cluster), Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree), Charles Webster (Furry Phreaks etc), Gas, High Skies, Woob and others; There's also a bonus DJ mix version, mixed by Charles Webster for anyone who donates above the average. Needless to say it's pack with technology and analog synthesizers.
www.microscopics.co.uk/japan"

The release was also featured on MATRIXSYNTH-C.

Richard Barbieri of Japan & Porcupine Tree, Talks Roland V Synth (Synthesizer)


YouTube Uploaded by SynthesizerBook on Mar 28, 2011

Japan (1982)

flickr by Neil Vance

full size

"Richard Barbieri Mucking on the Oberheim OB-X"

Interview: Richard Barbieri, Porcupine Tree

Be sure to check out the write up on Sonic State.