Gear Music Music tech Software Tech
On 303 Day, acid bassline love abounds, and some freebies, too
Roland is fairly quiet on this 303 Day, but in the maelstrom of terrible news, it was a relief to see the Japanese music community out in force. This is what we really strive for: a world where we can just make bassline noises all day. Here are some highlights, and even some free Max for Live love if you need some acid therapy.
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Endless joys of the Open Reel Ensemble and reel-to-reel performance
Japan’s Open Reel Ensemble has been active continuously since 2009, with collaborations from Issei Miyake to Ryuichi Sakamoto. But there’s a special magic that some of their most experimental performances — bows flying over tape — are what has earned a fresh wave of attention.
Peter Kirn - March 2, 2026
DIY + Unusual Music Music tech Tech
From Tehran’s Bernisaun, dreams, cortisol reduction, and analog rituals
In dark times, music and sound can go from seeming irrelevant or empty to becoming a lifeline. The artist Bernisaun from Tehran has been brewing music that can, in his words, “engineer the frequency of your well-being.” It’s healing for headphones. And I know almost everyone I know is going to need to turn to that at some point this week.
