El Jaguar: re-amped Colombian Picó sound systems as instrument

El Jaguar, out now, is a rhythmic excursion from sound library sameness. This toolkit from boutique house MNTRA produces a deeply customizable sound world by re-amping through the legendary Picó sound systems of Barranquilla, Colombia. It’s something new, melding Montréal synth love and afro-Caribbean percussion into a new hybrid playground for producers.

Modor DR-2, Belgian beast of a drum machine, now does basslines, too

Modor’s DR-2 is a monster truck of digital drum machines. Apart from being massive physically, it’s got brutal sounds — aggressive filters, pounding kicks — and its developer keeps packing in more. The latest update now adds bass models to the many features lurking behind this panel.

Peter Kirn - October 14, 2024

Teenage Engineering’s new Medieval drum sampler – no, not a joke

Teenage Engineering was apparently worried we’d stopped thinking they were bats*** insane. So they’re here with a fully Medieval edition of the EP-133 drum sampler/composer, complete with lute and farm animal samples and a silkscreen inspired by illuminated manuscripts.

Peter Kirn - August 6, 2024

The Speak & Spell is reborn as a chaos monster and glitchy groovebox

Peter Kirn - July 29, 2024

Polyend Tracker+: stereo everything, USB audio, more engines, more

Peter Kirn - May 13, 2024

Normcore, hard techno: The Last DJ is the influencer we need right now

Peter Kirn - April 3, 2024

Nepheton 2 is here: D16’s perfect, booming 808 recreation joins 909

Peter Kirn - December 4, 2023

Erica Synths LXR Drum and Pērkons HD-01 each get big updates

Peter Kirn - November 28, 2023

Teenage Engineering’s EP-133 K.O. II: sampler-sequencer, $299

Peter Kirn - November 22, 2023

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