Exotic performing electronic music instruments

April 21, 2005 12:12 PM

Dewanatron : a family of electronic instruments ‘which hazard unpredictable behaviors and self playing tendencies.’ See, for example, the Alphatron, the Dual-Primate Console, and the Courtesy Modulator. Besides his work as an instrument- and furniture-maker, the Dewanatrons’ co-creator, Brian Dewan, is a musician and singer who has collaborated with They Might Be Giants, among others. He is also a visual artist, who has created numerous filmstrips, and who was responsible for the ‘flying victrola’ design for the the Neutral Milk Hotel album ‘In The Aeroplane Over the Sea.’
posted by misteraitch (9 comments total)

Neat!
posted by drobot at 12:22 PM on April 21, 2005

As an amateur thereminist, I find this site delightful. Wonderful light-hearted text. Good post.
posted by QuietDesperation at 12:30 PM on April 21, 2005

Nice stuff, thanks! I liked the sample songs. Speaking of unpredictability, I recently got hold of a Cracklebox. It's small, and makes a noise like a hundred cats being electrocuted simultaneously.
posted by carter at 12:41 PM on April 21, 2005

I've always dug the Brian Dewan. He's good people.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 1:01 PM on April 21, 2005

I highly recommend finding a copy of the song "Wastepaperbasket Fire".
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 1:02 PM on April 21, 2005

Brian Dewan is great, and this is a great website. The names he gives to his insruments are charming. He makes me want to learn music theory.
posted by painquale at 3:11 PM on April 21, 2005

I, for one, welcome our new robo-musical overlords.
posted by sophist at 3:37 PM on April 21, 2005

It's small, and makes a noise like a hundred cats being electrocuted simultaneously.

I was going to ask how you know what this sounds like, but on second thoughts, I don't think I really want to know...
posted by Chunder at 2:56 AM on April 22, 2005

I got to meet Brian and see him perform on his amazing instruments several years ago. It was a great show and he's a very nice guy to boot. I ordered the only CD of his I could find right after the show and unfortunately that's still the only one I've ever seen.
posted by acetonic at 6:18 AM on April 22, 2005