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Album of the Week
Johann Johannsson "IBM 1401, A User's Manual"
4AD/ Beggars Group
Out now
Somewhere between Sigur Ros, Craig Armstrong and THX 1138 is where we find Icelandic electro-composer Johann Johannsson on IBM 1401, A User's Manual, his third album.
In 1964 Iceland took delivery of their first mass-produced digital computers, the IBM 1401. Johannsson's father, a maintenance engineer for IBM and keen musician learned of an obscure method to generate melodic tones from the computer using the electromagnetic waves of the computer's memory and placing a radio receiver next to it. The results were astonishing and by manipulating the memory in certain ways, the tones changed and evolved.
In 1971 the 1401 was superseded by the newer, smaller, faster model (sound familiar?) and in a gesture not too dissimilar to a wake for an office colleague who'd passed on to the other side, the final musical offering from this device - which had never been designed to create music - was recorded as a keepsake. Such was the feeling towards this noble piece of hardware...
Fast forward 30 years when Johannsson was regaled the story of the 1401 by his father. Moved by the story, Johannsson began work writing symphonic pieces based on the themes of this last recorded digital farewell.
On tracks 2 and 3 you'll even hear the layering of original IBM instructional tapes that were dug out of Johannsson's father's attic over the synthphonic backdrop. "There should be no sign of wear or play" explains the contained English accent of the IBM representative.
IBM 1401, A User's Manual can't be said to be a grower. It's far too immediate and addictive. Melding the organic with the digital has never been so beautiful, beguiling and emotive.
**** (Four stars)
Tags:
4AD, Album of the Week, Craig Armstrong, IBM 1404, Icelandic Music, Indie, Johann Johannsson, New Music, Sigur Ros, Synthphonic Music, THX1138
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Posted on 11/17/2006
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