DIY + Unusual Music Music tech Tech

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.

Lorenzo Colombo in live session, framed by speaker stacks, equipment from Torso and Soma on the table and metal percussive plates suspended behind him and on tables, as he strikes one plate with a hammer.

Dream with this: solenoids, percussion, and circuits in live Torso session

Here’s a perfect way to treat your ears at the start of the week. Sound artist and percussionist Lorenzo Colombo recorded this ethereal, cosmic live set at Torso Electronics in Copenhagen. The dadamachines automat toolkit and its mechanical possibilities get woven together with Torso’s T1 and S4 hardware, and the results are pure magic.

Peter Kirn - February 9, 2026

DIY + Unusual Gear Music Music tech Tech

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ZAVOLOKA’s high-protein live set on the new Waldorf synth is don’t-miss

Ukrainian-born Zavoloka was a perfect choice to debut the new Waldorf Protein with a jaw-rattling live set. Now you can catch that performance in video — grab a cold Koryfei*, kick back, and enjoy.