Playlist Week of 2016-02-20

* Imaginary Landscapes: New Electronic Music (Elektra/Nonesuch CD)

* Ornette Coleman: New York Is Now (Blue Note CD)

* Air: Air Lore (Arista/Novus LP)

* David Murray: Live At The Lower Manhattan Ocean Club Vol.1 (India Navigation LP)

* Billy Cobham: Spectrum (Atlantic LP)

* Billy Cobham: Total Eclipse (Atlantic LP)

* Pat Martino: Consciousness (Muse LP)

* Pat Martino: Joyous Lake (Warner Bros. LP)

* Pat Martino: Exit (Muse LP)

* David Torn Prezens: Saalfelden, Austria 2007-08-24 (FM CDR)

* David Torn Prezens: Barcelona 2008-01-09 (AUD CDR)

* David Torn Prezens: The Vortex, London 2008-01-14 (FM CDR)

* David Torn: Only Sky (ECM CD)

* Unconscious Collective: Unconscious Collective (Tofu Carnage 2LP)

* Unconscious Collective: Pleistocene Moon (Tofu Carnage 2LP)

* Möller + Knutsson: Latitudes Crossing (Atrium CD)

* Grateful Dead: Civic Center, Hartford, CT 1980-05-10 II (d.1) (SBD 2CDR)

* Grateful Dead: Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL 1981-02-27 (d.2) (SBD3 CDR)

* The United States of America: The United States of America (Columbia/Sundazed LP)

* Can: Saw Delight (Spoon SACD)

* Neu!: Neu! (Astralwerks CD)

* Neu!: 2 (Astralwerks CD)

* Neu!: 3 (Astralwerks CD)

* Le Orme: Felona E Sorona (Philips LP)

* Ethos: (Ardour) (Capitol LP)

* Steve Roach: Fever Dreams (Projekt CD)

* Japan: Quiet Life (Hansa/Carrere LP)

* Yo La Tengo: Stuff Like That There (Matador LP)

* Lambchop: Mr. M (Merge CD)

* Wilco: Star Wars (Anti- LP)

* Tortoise: The Catastrophist (Thrill Jockey LP)

* Sleep: Vol.1 (Very Small/Tupelo LP)

* Opeth: Deliverance & Damnation (Music For Nations/Sony 2CD/2DVD)

* Expo 70: Kinetic Tones (Oaken Palace LP)

* Kadavar: Berlin (Nuclear Blast 2LP)

†=iPod/iTunes

‡=car

Commentary:

Well, I have gone down the wormhole...

The only thing really lacking on the Moog Sub 37 is any kind of onboard effects -- and, of course, it would be absurd to expect them in an analog mono synth. But, boy, do those wonderful sounds cry out for further tweaking.

Well, what do you know? Moog also provides full line of Moogerfooger all-analog effects boxes, all with the added benefit of built-in low-frequency oscillators (LFOs) and extensive control voltage (CV) connectivity. Combined with a CP-251 Control Processor, they could potentially turn my Sub 37 into a semi-modular monster synth!

So, obviously, this is where I'm headed...down the wormhole.

I've started out with two essentials: The MF-102 Ring Modulator and MF-104M Analog Delay. Beautiful hand-built instruments, these things are built like tanks, with deliciously solid switches and knobs that feel so good in the hand. But it's the sound they make -- oh my god, the sound!

The ring modulator produces everything from gentle tremolo to clangorous noise, with the LFO and CV-connections adding to the available chaos, just perfect for what I'm after. The analog delay, though, is an absolute beast! No longer being produced, I had to resort to eBay to get ahold of one --but, dang, it was worth every penny. There is just nothing like that old-fashioned "bucket-brigade" delay, which sounds gritty, dark, and downright lo-fi compared to modern, pristine, digital delays. Add in some of that variable waveform LFO and, heck, I can listen to it self-oscillate for hours.

Although visually impressive (and a joy to use), the Moogerfooger's extra-large form factor means they take up considerable space. Should I ever have a full complement, I will have to seriously re-configure my tiny studio. Well, that's part of the fun, too -- but it's the sound that matters.

Stay tuned for further wormhole adventures!