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The Icon Bar: News and features: IBM 1401, A User's Manual

IBM 1401, A User's Manual

Posted by Phil Mellor on 17:57, 26/11/2006
Retro, Sound and music

Like music? Like old computers? Hey, me too.

Avante-garde musician and composer, Johann Johannson, has recently released his new album. IBM 1401, A User's Manual is based upon the work his father, Johann Gunnarsson, did back in 1964 as chief maintenance engineer of one of Iceland's first computers.

The album is performed by a sixty piece string orchestra with electronic sounds and vintage recordings found in his father's attic falling neatly in-between. The IBM 1401 mainframe was programmed to "sing" by placing a radio receiver next to it and controlling the strong electromagnetic waves emitted, producing a thoughtful, engaging and breathtaking experience.

There's an interesting article about the making of the album on the official web site, linked below.

More info:
IBM 1401, A User's Manual
4AD Records
IBM 1401, A User's Manual on iTunes

	IBM 1401, A User's Manual
	ilcook (21:38 27/11/2006) monkeyson2 (21:41 27/11/2006) monkeyson2 (16:53 3/12/2006) blasts of the xtre (16:54 3/12/2006) monkeyson2 (16:55 3/12/2006) blasts of the xtre (16:59 3/12/2006)

Ian Cook	Message #94517, posted by ilcook at 21:38, 27/11/2006
Resident idiot Posts: 1077	Does that make it a synthesiser then?
	[ Log in to reply ]

Phil Mellor	Message #94519, posted by monkeyson2 at 21:41, 27/11/2006, in reply to message #94517
Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler monkeyson.info Posts: 12380	Does that make it a synthesiser then? Yes.
	[ Log in to reply ]

Phil Mellor	Message #95168, posted by monkeyson2 at 16:53, 3/12/2006, in reply to message #94519
Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler monkeyson.info Posts: 12380	You can download one of the tracks as an MP3 here
	[ Log in to reply ]

Sion	Message #95169, posted by blasts of the xtre at 16:54, 3/12/2006, in reply to message #95168
Suppose you were an idiot. Suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. Posts: 326
	[ Log in to reply ]

Phil Mellor	Message #95170, posted by monkeyson2 at 16:55, 3/12/2006, in reply to message #95169
Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler monkeyson.info Posts: 12380	It's OK, it's from the record label's site
	[ Log in to reply ]

Sion	Message #95171, posted by blasts of the xtre at 16:59, 3/12/2006, in reply to message #95170
Suppose you were an idiot. Suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. Posts: 326
	[ Log in to reply ]

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IBM 1401, A User's Manual