A $5 modular drum circuit, a free online course, and how it grows into more

No need to brave the Arizona heat: Glitch’n is a course in electronics that even absolute beginners can enjoy, assembling oscillators, generative beats, filters, and noise on breadboard circuits. But it also helps young people to learn crucial skills that can lead to teaching others and getting jobs. And, for that matter, it could do the same for you. Let’s have a look.

Strange, wonderful #808day creations from Japan — and a DIY D-Beam!

Our friends in the TR-808’s native country, Japan, never cease to honor the drum machine’s holiday in creative ways. So here’s this year’s haul from 808 Day (August 8), 2026.

Peter Kirn - August 9, 2026

Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves have the cutest dinosaur music video

Owen Lake is back — the alias of Jeff Snyder, who in these parts is best known for Snyderphonics, MPE innovator and Manta creator (of Princeton University). Here, we get twee-and-western, electro-country tunes with Anica Mrose Rissi that charmingly stick in your head, played partly on instruments Jeff invented, Electrosteel and Electrobass. And there’s a music video with dinos!

Peter Kirn - July 28, 2026