User Manual

13
appealing and an integral
part of pop music. Their
studio, “Kling Klang”, was
a place where the band not
only recorded music, but
also invented and built
their own complex electronic
instruments. FORMED IN 1965,
Pink Floyd was a progressive
rock band known for
experimenting with different
technologies to create a
unique, uncharted experience
with music. Released in
1973, “The Dark Side of
the Moon” featured heavy
use of analog synthesizers
and brought electronic
sound further into the main
stream. They’ve sold more
than 250 million albums
worldwide and are one of
the world’s most legendary
rock bands. THE 1982 ALBUM
“Thriller” by Michael
Jackson is one of the best-
selling albums of all time.
Nearly every song on the
album features synthesized
sounds. IN 2000 the renowned
rock band Radiohead won
a Grammy for their album
“Kid A” which brought synth
sounds to the forefront. The
album features wide use of
analog modular synthesizers
and the Ondes Martenot, an
early electronic instrument.
TODAY Björk is praised for
her experimental electronic
music. She has received 13
Grammy nominations as well
as an Oscar nomination for
Best Original Song from
the film “Dancer in the
Dark.” She uses cutting-edge
LISTEN “Thriller”, the loud blast of chords that queues
the zombie dance was performed on a synthesizer.
LISTEN “Army of Me” (1995) by Björk. Try replicating
the bass line by lowering the pitch of the oscillator and
playing with the micro sequencer or keyboard.
LISTEN “Idioteque” from Kid A. Try replicating these
sounds in the “Synth Band” project on page 26.
LISTEN “Trans-Europe Express” from Kraftwerk’s
1977 album of the same name. Replicate the background
beats with “Percussion Party” on page 24.
LISTEN Carlos’ compositions can be heard in the
films A Clockwork Orange (1972), The Shining (1980) and
Tron (1982).
IN 1968, Wendy Carlos a
pioneer in electronic music
recorded the landmark
album “Switched-On Bach”,
which consisted of pieces
by Johann Sebastian Bach
performed on a synthesizer.
“Switched-On Bach” was one
of the first classical
albums to sell half a
million copies. The album
won 3 Grammy Awards. FORMED
IN 1970, Kraftwerk, which
means “power station” in
German, built the foundation
of the electro-pop genre
with their revolutionary
synth sound. The band and
its members are recognized
as pioneers in music
technology. Kraftwerk is
credited with making machine
made sounds commercially
LISTEN “On The Run” from “The Dark Side of the
Moon” is one of the first uses of a sequencer.
SYNTH IN
POP CULTURE
synths like the “Reactable,”
a digital tabletop that
creates sounds by moving
tangible blocks.
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