In “Piano,” John Object captures emotional realities of war in Ukraine

“Piano” is bookended by sketches on a partly-ruined piano in a war zone – messages over an army radio heard crackling in the background. In between, there is the warmth of a 1920s German instrument in the artist’s Kyiv flat and grandmother’s house before the war. Ukrainian artist John Object is now living mainly as PFC Timur Dzhafarov, deployed to the front. In sounds, images, and words, he has opened up about what that reality means.

Eurorack monster, now with four zones: Make Noise drops 208hp 7U case

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat?” This should qualify – a whopping 208HP with 4 zones, ready-to-run (just add modules), 7U, with the 1U rail containing a bunch of utility goodies preinstalled. It’ll cost you, of course, but Make Noise has made a case to eat Chicago. And it still has a handle and a cover that fits over cables, so you can patch up and lug it to the gig in Chicago, too.

Bandcamp unveils interactive Listening Parties

Listening Parties are a new feature on Bandcamp that do what it sounds like they do. Play your release, talk to fans, and let folks buy the album.

Ziúr’s hard-hitting percussion, epic collaborations speak volumes in “Eyeroll”

Don’t miss this latest LP on Kampala, Uganda’s Hakuna Kulala, as Berlin-based Ziúr takes on a dream roster of international collaborators. In perpetually shifting, explosive rhythms and organic percussion, a fully-blurred hybrid of experimental jazz and club roots, it has plenty to say about the world around in its violence and chaos.

808 Day round-up: music, deals, downloads and … a Roland BMX bike?!

#808day has become a predictable annual event, a content churn in the lazy days of summer. That is, predictable except for … the machine’s original manufacturer, Roland. I’m sure precisely no one had “custom BMX bike” on their bingo card. Here we go.

Playdate pocket game system as sampler, granular instrument, FX, recorder, more

The Playdate looks at first like a curiosity – a black-and-white pocket game system with a crank, from Teenage Engineering and Panic. But now as it starts to get into the world, it’s proving itself as a beautiful mobile instrument, especially with developer Orllewin making everything from samplers to effects pedals and recorders.

A deep compilation to aid in rebuilding Beirut, made from sounds of construction

Bandcamp Friday pick. Beirut’s stellar label System Revival earlier this year put together a must-hear compilation of music with a who-who of Lebanese and international artists. And if you slept on it before, now’s the chance – made more poignant by the anniversary this week of the Beirut blast.

Multiphonics CV-2 goes waveshaping: what’s in the AAS modular’s 2.1 update

AAS’ Multiphonics CV-2 modular is great; what we want now is more modules. And AAS is delivering, with five new modules for your West Coast, waveshaping, signal sculpting and mangling pleasure. Five may not sound like a lot, but you can do a lot with a couple of these. Here’s a look at what AAS have added in CV-2 version 2.1.

Noise Engineering is teasing new hardware; any guesses?

Okay, I’m normally opposed to teasers and quick clips but uh what is this and why do I suddenly want it? The new Noise Engineering thing, as posted to the service formerly known as Twitter:

New UNO Synth Pro X analog synth from IK Multimedia: complete guide

Meet UNO Synth Pro X. It’s a fully upgraded version of the UNO Synth Pro with enhanced sound and effects and a lot more hands-on control. That means it’s time for a sequel on our side, too – with an update to our deep dive for the original, this time with more ideas for creating sounds and playing live.