8 January 2007
Beautiful Computer Music
Posted by Dexter M under: Uncategorized .
For a while, I’ve been meaning to get “IBM 1401, A User’s Manual” by Johann Johannsson. Today, I finally went into Reveal Records and picked it up.
It’s a kind of tribute to the IBM 1401 mainframe computer - apparently the first computer in Iceland. The story goes that when this incredibly bulky, expensive and cantankerous collection of hardware came to the island in the early 60s, Johnannsson’s father worked with it and discoverd a way of actually getting it to produce a strange and delicate music. Recordings of this, various ambient sounds from the machine and spoken word from an instructional recording have been woven together with powerful string arrangements and electronics to create something that lies easily against the likes of Max Richter, Arvo Pärt and Sigur Rós.
Released on 4AD towards the end of last year, I heard the opening track - “IBM 1401 : Processing Unit” on a late night drive back home listening to the superb Late Junction program on Radio 3, and was just mesmerised. Sure, it’s an acquired taste (see video below, complete with slightly overdone performance art/dance interpretation), but also, once in your head, is totally captivating.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvPKxRMciRs]