A folk instrument that came from a foreign country called the past.

March 5, 2022 8:37 PM

The Open Reel Ensemble makes interesting music by directly manipulating slightly modified reel-to-reel tape recorders and other things. Often involving with magnetic tape strung across the room and hit with drum sticks.

I've posted about Ei Wada's Electronicos Fantasticos previously, but this is a new collaboration with a new concept and new people. Well, it's mostly the same people. But the project is new.

posted by eotvos (5 comments total)

that first Youtube link is worth the price of admission

thank you.
posted by philip-random at 10:11 PM on March 5, 2022

Also of note, the same group has moved on from holding barcode scanners by hand to mounting them on the bottom of skateboards. (I think we're still waiting for the concert performance with really skilled skateboarders.) They also have a new and improved fantar.
posted by eotvos at 5:46 AM on March 6, 2022

When Fetch The Bolt Cutters came out, I wondered what was making that sound on Rack of His. It turned out to be a Mellotron, which "is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. As the key is released, the tape is retracted by a spring to its initial position."

This is a manual version.
posted by Bee'sWing at 5:49 AM on March 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

This is great. Thanks for the post!
posted by Kosmob0t at 11:12 AM on March 6, 2022

<3 this
posted by nikoniko at 12:59 AM on March 7, 2022