It's all right

March 15, 2017 8:27 AM

"An Electromechanical Sound Machine That Makes Music With Rocks." From Colossal: "A rolling stone gathers no moss as they say, but this collection of stones manipulated by electromechanical devices are capable of performing George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” thanks to artist Neil Mendoza. Titled Rock Band, this kinetic sound art installation is actually four different instruments including a xylophone, a buzzing base, two spinners, and a pair of slappers."
posted by Celsius1414 (21 comments total)

The song that they’re playing, Here Comes the Sun, is biographical, describing the daily experience of a rock sitting on the ground.

When I started imagining the daily experience of a rock sitting on the ground, the words of Bernie Taupin came to mind:
"And I think it's gonna be a long long time."
"And I think it's gonna be a long long time."
"And I think it's gonna be a long long time."
"And I think it's gonna be a long long time." [repeat]

Which, appropriately, turns out to be from Rock... et Man.
posted by LeLiLo at 8:45 AM on March 15, 2017 [2 favorites]

Needs more clockwork (or Kraftwerk).
posted by cjorgensen at 8:50 AM on March 15, 2017

Play some be-bonk!
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:02 AM on March 15, 2017

It's all right.

(ninja'd by the post title)
posted by kyrademon at 9:03 AM on March 15, 2017

a buzzing base, two spinners, and a pair of slappers.

Musical instrument...or adult toy?
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:03 AM on March 15, 2017

I believe it's the standard line-up of a Quidditch team, although I don't see how that really figures into the musicality of the whole business.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:20 AM on March 15, 2017 [2 favorites]

At last! Music With Rocks In!
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek at 9:22 AM on March 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

So a physical version of Animusic?
posted by a person of few words at 9:24 AM on March 15, 2017

people used to do this, in the olden days
posted by thelonius at 9:26 AM on March 15, 2017

I'm having a really hard time forming an opinion about this. I'm not even sure what my reaction is. Like a diet cola version of the Shaggs, it almost seems like a thing, but not quite.

I do respect the artist's vision, though. I suppose anything with mechanical slappers is probably a net good.
posted by poe at 9:41 AM on March 15, 2017

MetaFilter: Anything With Mechanical Slappers Is Probably A Net Good
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 9:49 AM on March 15, 2017 [3 favorites]

Okay, now build a roll machine. A device that plays music with various bread rolls. Then they can play together. Rock and roll, baby.
posted by Splunge at 9:59 AM on March 15, 2017

And what is rock and roll without pussy? (SFW)
posted by Splunge at 10:02 AM on March 15, 2017

Too much surface noise.
posted by IndigoJones at 10:35 AM on March 15, 2017

The xylophone felt like a cop out.
posted by Kabanos at 11:06 AM on March 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

Yeah, they should rock out with their cop out.
posted by moonmilk at 2:09 PM on March 15, 2017

This honestly makes me feel so good. Rocks/natural sounds are great, I really should visit Ringing Rocks Park.
posted by spacerail at 4:28 PM on March 15, 2017

...and a pair of slappers

Being a Brit of a Certain Age, this has amused me no end.
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 6:28 PM on March 15, 2017

All that work for a midi-sounding version of a song you can hear at Trader Joe's. Sometimes, when the only limit is your imagination, it becomes apparent how limited your imagination is.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 9:34 PM on March 15, 2017

The thing about using a xylophone in particular, is you can get almost the same sound for a piece of slate if you cut it right
posted by idiopath at 10:06 PM on March 15, 2017

Those aren't xylophone bars, those are bell (glockenspiel) or possibly vibrophone bars. And yeah, when I hear the phrase "music made with rocks" I don't expect rocks (just) used as strikers, I want to hear the sound of rock itself. The essence of a percussion instrument is the object you strike and the striker itself and the sound they make together.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 4:19 AM on March 16, 2017 [1 favorite]