Composer & synthesist Tomer Baruch (Synthesized Sounds of the Sea) and drummer Alex Brajkovic have released a new electronic soundtrack to the classic Fritz Lang dystopian science fiction silent film, Metropolis (1927).
The new score was created for the Sounds of Silence Film Festival, Den Haag.
Here’s Tomer Baruch & Alex Brajkovic say about the new score:
“One of the most significant themes in the dystopian feature is the blurred-to-nonexistent line separating man and machine; Human-like machines, Mechanical-humans, real-life android deepfakes, and above all the city of Metropolis, an enormous machine and within it men, slaved to maintain its operation. The theme that was disturbing in the beginning of the 20th century is as relevant as ever with the latest developments in AI, forcing us to rethink again what makes us human.
In analogy to that, the soundtrack is based on archive recordings of early 20th century machinery, on top of which Tomer Baruch and Alex Brajkovic play analog synthesizers and drums. They interface with the machines and embody a relentlessly repetitive mechanical motion, one which is usually sequenced or programmed. By creating music which is in itself blurring the line between man and machine, by subjecting themselves to machine-like patterns, the musicians become a part of Metropolis, creating a disillusioned, intensified and darker than ever soundtrack for the film.”
The new score is available via Bandcamp. You can preview the album below:
ELTA Music has announced that their SOLAR 42 analog microtonal drone ambient machine is now available to pre-order.
The SOLAR 42 is described as “an improved model of the SOLAR 50”, an earlier 50-oscillator/10 voice synthesizer, that they said was designed for making atmospheric sounds, background music, microtonal music, ‘super polyphonic electro symphonies’ and more.
Features:
Two white noise generators.
Two Samples and Holds
Two volt octave VCO voices with different waveform variations, including morphing
Two LFOs as in SOLAR 50.
5 step analogue sequencer
Preamp for contact mic.
Envelope follower
Stereo mixer with panoramic left and right channels
Dual polyvox stereo filter
Dual cartridge effector combiner with CV control. Now you can load a different
effect on each channel.
Stereo audio output
Dry audio outputs volt octave voices
External audio input.
Joystick
Separate push-button keypad for six drone voices
Touch sensitive keypad controller for volt octave voices.
Power supply unit no longer needs to be reset.
Reduced output noise compared to SOLAR 50.
SOLAR 42 is available to pre-order, priced at €1500 + shipping. They expect shipments to start around October 2024. Audio and video demos are to come at the ELTA Music website. For info, contact sales@eltamusic.com.
The UNO Synth PRO X takes IK’s UNO synthesizer concept to a new level. The portable synth features a dual-filter, 3-oscillator paraphonic design, 256 presets, a 64-step sequencer and more.
Other key features include true-analog overdrive; 10 effects; three simultaneous slots: modulation, delay and reverb; external input and more.
Eliraz calls the UNO Synth PRO X “a very characterful-sounding monophonic and paraphonic synth”, with a broad timbral range.
Watch the video and share your thoughts on the new UNO Synth PRO X synthesizer in the comments!
