"Machines Are Turning Into Animals" is a track off the new album. The song is a classic instance of how experiments can turning into music. At the time, I hadn't yet gotten the SQ-1 and was trying to create sequences with what I had on hand using only Square Wave LFOs. I paired the MS20's internal LFO with then the square wave on the Moog MF101 Ring Mod (that pedal is such a Swiss Army knife of a pedal). The competing square wave pitch changes created drifting but coherent rhythm and melody. I kept the intervals simple and it worked.
The two LFOs modulated the oscillator pitch and the filter cut off and produced a slightly non-linear sequence that became the beat to the tune. It was one of those patches that you can get lost in for hours, but when cut down worked as a rhythmic pulse when looped and edited for a 4/4 song. Working within in limits like this and trying to force a tool to do something new is inspiring. Does anybody else do this move?
This is the 6th track on the new album "When We Dead Awaken." It has all kinds of synth adventures going on using the MS20, an old Arp Odyssey, Juno 106, DSI Mofo and Prophet Rev2, and more. Thanks for listening.
Bandcamp only (on pre-release to May Day): https://invisiblehomes.bandcamp.com.
June 1, 2026 all streaming service.