What is the Bubblegum Sequencer?

"The Bubblegum Sequencer is a physical step sequencer that lets you create drumloops by arranging colored balls on a tangible surface. It generates MIDI events and can be used as an input device to control audio hardware and software. Finally, people can't claim anymore that electronic music isn't handmade."

Go to this website. As the video starts and Arcade Fire singer, Win Butler, begins to sing with arms outstretched, he is actually beckoning for some interaction. Click around (hands, face, other objects etc.) to interact while the video plays.

Radiohead's latest album In Rainbows hit's the street October 10. But, without longtime major EMI running the show, the marketing and packaging of this album are taking on a different light.

The self proclaimed "YouTube of the Avante-Garde," UBUWeb is chock full of all things less obvious. I thought about picking one obscurity out of the lot to highlight here…

Apple's iPhone hits the stores Friday, June 29th at 6pm, for what promises to be the perfect marriage of entertainment, organization and communication. Yes the big day is finally here.

Cool little music vid from Sweden's Peter, Bjorn & John. I thought it might be a new discovery - a great unknown band who makes it on You Tube (something like OK Go's infamous treadmill video for Here It Goes Again), but apparently they've been around a while and are touring all over the world and have already been seen by everyone else on Conan Obrien's stage. I am slipping in my old age.

Regardless, I love the sound (you will be whistling this tune for the rest of the day) and it's a great illustration/animation that really fits the song. Or maybe it just reminds me of the toons from when I was a kid. Who cares? I like it.

I caught a clip of this piece from Animusic on PBS last night. The image quality on TV was obviously a lot better, but you'll get the idea from this YouTube clip. Cool stuff. There's a bunch of them to check out.

You can buy the Animusic DVDs on their website, and they feature a whole bunch of different fantasy musical instruments and machines, with special features like multi angle shots, split views of the animation etc. Great digital art, well executed.

I can't be the only designer/frustrated musician who thinks somehow they still have a shot at Rock 'n' Roll even though those days are (probably) long gone by. I have the Pro Tools rig at home complete with plug-ins galore, multiple decentish mics and the old Line 6 Pod for when I am recording smokin' guitar licks in the middle of the night.

But when the boys and I are rehearsing, or writing our next big hit and trying hard not to forget the brilliant bridge I just wrote, or when I hit the road for work or pleasure and I just know I am going to get that rush of inspiration in some cool old Seattle hotel room or dusty Texas motel, I'd like that rig to be a little more portable and a lot simpler to control.

Wish granted! Thanks to the smart, smart folks at iPod accessory champs Belkin.

Belkin's TuneStudio is a fully functioning four-track recorder that records directly to your Video iPod. So cool. This is going to be great for recording live, putting together demos, or even remote Podcasts. Tunestudio is due out this Summer for saround $250. Sold! See here for more info.