Julio d'Escriván :: Music

A modern take on Gustav Holst's orchestral suite uses theremins, accordions and other unusual instruments to make a musical statement. Who's listening? For starters, the director of Hayden Planetarium. […]

The Scottish post-rock band drops a new concert movie and a fresh live album on the same day. Guitarist and sometime-singer Stuart Brathwaite talks about the intense projects and Mogwai's connection to comics legends Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. […]

The innovative musician's upcoming record, created with fellow composers Jon Hopkins and Leo Abrahams, hits stores in November. […]

“ping” came before Ping – and it might just outlast it. Photo (CC-BY) Noah Sussman. And yes, when I asked readers about Ping, a number of people referred me to this one. Before diving into the litany of gripes from artists regarding Apple’s Ping social service, it’s worth saying: some critics say they expected better. […]

Jon Hopkins performs live at the ICA. Photo (CC-BY-SA) Matt Biddulph. Classically trained as a pianist, musician and producer Jon Hopkins has one of the richest resumes in electronic music. He’s a frequent collaborator with Brian Eno, wand has worked with artists like Coldplay (who featured his music on their last album), Tunng, David Holmes, […]

Pocket Piano from Critter and Guitari on Vimeo. Apologies to the immense powers of lumbering studio gear, but a new lifestyle may be forming around unique, mobile, small, simple synths. The latest entry comes from none other than Critter and Gitari, some of our favorite electronics designers, based in Philadelphia. This time, they’re touting a […]

Sony's upcoming motion controller is more than just a Wiimote clone. Thanks to its player-facing camera and its powerfully precise targeting, it offers a peek at what full-fledged augmented reality will look like. […]

Computer lab manager Don Hodges knows why Pac-Man, at level 256, suddenly turns into a hideous mess of ASCII letters and graphics. […]

Investing in a rock 'n' roll band might not seem like the world's most savvy business move. But new services hope to muster music fans' muscle to find, record and promote new groups. Commentary by Eliot Van Buskirk. […]

Rather than attacking SeeqPod, a popular music search engine, the major labels should view it as a template for how to make money on the internet, which isn't going away any time soon. […]

As new digital-distribution plans gain traction, an inevitable fight over publishing royalties breaks out. If songwriters lose, your ears will suffer. Commentary by Eliot Van Buskirk. […]

A stunning new concert film captures the Irish rockers in all their stadium-filling glory. The film might be even better than the real thing. Commentary by Eliot Van Buskirk. […]

After a disappointing start, live online music is poised for success. With new technology and Web 2.0 networks in place to fuel the boom, record labels become the last remaining sticking point between you and some rockin' web shows. Commentary by Eliot Van Buskirk. […]

A simple, "pay what you like" offering breaks all the rules and helps set the stage for the splintered future of the music biz. Bands need to treat marketing and management decisions as a valid part of the creative process. Commentary by Eliot Van Buskirk. […]

The rapper is ready to launch a unique new social networking site with a twist (and an "Aunt Jackie"): It caters to the world's fascination with dancing. Commentary by Eliot Van Buskirk. […]

The old-school audiophile's format of choice is making a quiet comeback. Record sales are climbing as fans turn to vinyl for high-end home listening while continuing to buy MP3s for portability. Commentary by Eliot Van Buskirk. […]

In a DRM-free environment, software developers that have wasted time trying to lock down audio files will undoubtedly create the fabled celestial jukebox that lets users listen to their music whenever, and wherever, they want. […]

Experimenting with synths, software and other high-tech gear can distract musicians from what arguably should be their main goal: making great music. The jazz cat who rode "Rockit" to fame tells how he keeps current while plugging in to the soul of music. […]

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