Our digital world tends to accumulate layers of detritus, much of it banal remains – orphaned cords and power adapters. And then there are cheap computer speakers, which you might think have achieved some sort of means of asexual reproduction. They’re everywhere: on shelves, in closets, given away, left on the street.
It’s time to look at them another way. Grab that cord dangling from the back, and plug it into the front. Result: instant feedback loop, a zero-input sound system. Okay, yes, a simple idea – but that’s the beauty of sound, making noise with simple ideas.
Moscow-based Alexander Lakein sends us the quick video he made to inspire his studios. I love all the glitchy rhythms. Enough careful listening and twisting of that volume knob, and even this basic feedback can yield entire tracks.
Now, in the video, we wind up at a store buying a speaker, but see the opening sentence — this is a perfect chance to instead rescue some refuse.
And, of course, this idea can lead you to plenty of others. And to think, we keep spending all this money on computers… hmmm…
Ce n’est pas un haut-parleur. It’s a synth. Photo (CC-BY-SA) LividFiction.