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Push Turn Move by Kim Bjørn

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Push Turn Move by Kim  Bjørn

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Product Description

This is both a beautifully presented and erudite look at the history of electronic music gear, from design philosophies (and design philosophers) to the minutiae of individual knobs, faders and screens.

Danish Bjørn’s designer’s roots show on every page of this 352 (full color) page hardback book printed on luxury feel 150g acid-free quality paper. So too does his obvious knowledge and love of his subject. Except for one, actually very helpful time-line section that traces the chronology of electro/mechanical instruments from the pipe organ to the iPad, the bulk of the book (speaking of which, it weighs in at several pounds) very much dances to its own analytic beat like a doctoral thesis on design. It has to be said most of the book’s points of analysis and scrutiny are not ones likely to have kept the average purveyor of Jump or She Blinded Me With Science on the tribute band circuit up at night, but they are nonetheless fascinating and painstaking researched.

Not to say the tone is dry or academic. Far from it. Bjørn’s own words, supported by a glittery cast of shakers and movers from founding fatherly folk like Roger Linn and Dave Smith to bright young things like Jesper Kouthoofd from Teenage Engineering, are deep but crisp and for the most part even (we’ll forgive the mix up between a Yamaha Motif and Montage!).

For any student of electronic music Push Turn Move is a must have. And in this big old hardback book form, too. Hasty photocopies or even a read online will NOT provide the same experience.

If you struggle to equate classic instruments of yesteryear with today’s rapid-fire world of controllers and plug-ins you’ll appreciate Bjørn’s mastery of linked approaches from the touch keyboard on Buchla’s 1973 Electric Music Box to Make Noise’s Pressure Points module and the ‘style’ of an about-as-boring-as -it-gets looking Roland 500 Series to the shocking pink of a Korg Kaossillator. So many books, once you’ve absorbed their message, remain on the shelf, literally and metaphorically. But while Push Turn Move doesn't have an agenda or a message, neither is it just an encyclopedia. It's a brilliantly original concept and it's hard not to be in awe of this fascinating bird-meets-worm's eye view of what makes electronic music making - as well as you the electronic music maker - tick.

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