synthetizers pioneers & contemporary flowers

Switched on Bach was the best selling classical album of all time in its release. The album consisted of Bach two part inventions, short pieces such as Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring, and one of the Brandenburg concertos. It was recorded on one of the first commercially available Moog synthesizers. The entire device was created from discrete components. Circuits were completed by using patch cables. It was a completely analog device; no chips or digital processors as we know them. Sequencers had not been invented yet. She was a master of multi-track recording. Because the synthesizer was monophonic (only one key at a time could be pressed), the individual parts were tediously recorded one at a time, synced with click tracks, and remixed.She worked closely with Robert Moog on advancing the state of the art of the synthesizer. (Robert Moog sadly passed away last year, along with John Simonton of PAiA, another synthesizer company pioneer). She went on to do the music for Clockwork Orange, The Shining, and Tron. She was also one of the pioneers of ambient music, releasing Sonic Seasonings in 1972. It was a double record set, with each side containing a single track representing a particular season. All the sounds created on the album were synthetic. No samples were used. This is still before digital synthesis and recording techniques were invented. Sonic Seasonings was released well before Brian Eno created Music for Airports, another important early ambient album. Many of her earlier albums were high quality quadrophonic recordings, but she dropped the format, unhappy with early efforts in surround sound.
I first bought it just for the album cover in a small market in london during the 90's. Was a real surprise to be able to listen to this sixties best seller ufo.

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In a same but more contemporary & digital way to sequence things, Marty Frank Aka Abelcain produced, in 2005, "suite for Harpsichord" under the pseudonym Harpsicorpse for Zhark records., held by Rachel Kozak Aka Hekate. No beats, as well as no samples were used. Just pure harpsichords sequencing, and this religious & haunted scary feeling that it can give.
No surprise from Marty "Abelcain" Frank about taking that direction, knowing that he used to make a radio show by the name of Vincent Venom's "Creature Feature" on WSUM radio in Madison (U$A).
A must have!

Zhark archived the first show here. Check the new website and their wonderful free new compilation.
fresh air! Please support them.

/link in cova/