Cibo Matto on the cover of Keyboard Magazine
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 23:34:03 -0000
A Report by: "DJ x-pat" <djxpat@yahoo.com>

for those who don't already know, Miho and Yuka appeared on the cover of Keyboard Magazine (May 2000 issue). Miho looks so cute in her devil- horned hoodie. Of course, the article is about Grand Royal's "At Home with the Groovebox" album.

for those who don't know about the Groovebox album, where have you been? Tannis Root in cooperation with Grand Royal (Beastie Boys label) planned an album in which 1 Roland MC-505 'Groovebox' was sent to each artist chosen. They were encouraged to use only the groovebox for sounds. Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter. Sean Lennon, Bis & Beck are just a few on the album.

after repeated listening, Buffalo Daughter's "303+606=acid" is still my favorite track. a little background on the title: the roland grooveboxes all emulate the classic TB-303 analog bass synth and TR-606 drum machine/sequencer. although the 303 bass, 808 and 909 drum machines are typically associated with acid music, the TB-303 and TR-606 were Roland's intended match. And for those who are smart, a used 606 costs a fraction of an 808 or 909 while maintaining the true analog drum machine sound, but with fewer controls.

as for my opinion of the article. it interviews cibo matto, bis, and dick hyman as well as offering some tips on sequencing a 505. the interviews were too short, but it was nice to hear everyone's take on the groovebox approach to songwriting.

FOR THE SOUND GEEKS: they also give a list with pictures of other groove gear. included are the:
1: akai mpc-2000 - possibly the world's best sampler acting as a drum machine
2: ensoniq asr-x - a modern favorite for a lot of club heroes
3: korg electribe-a - cheap analog modeling synth (nice starter synth)
4: electribe-r - cheap 606, 808, 909 clone with extras
5: electribe-s - i want one the day it comes out. it's a sampler designed like an Roland X0X drum machine (not actually available yet)
6: quasimidi polymorph - never played with one... sorry, no comment
7: quasimidi ravolution 309 - superb sounds, but not as intuitive as
an MC-303 or MC-505. one of the original groove boxes
8: roland MC-505 - larger, expanded version of the original groovebox, the MC-303
9: Roland SP-808 - sampling/drum machine/4-track. very innovative, but not worshiped like other roland gear.
10: roland MC-307 - newest groovebox. overpriced but cool box with very specific musical style presets (detroit, chicago, speed garage, d&b, jungle, hip-hop, and every current flavor of house) and 'turntable emulation'
11: yamaha SU700 - one of the best designed sampler/drum machines ever made (and cheaper than the MPC). it has all kinds of easy access realtime FX that are well planned out for fun performing live.
12: yamaha RM1X - groovebox latecomer that goes far beyond groovebox design, but maybe misses the point of a groovebox
13: zoom sampletrak - fun dirt-cheap sampler

MISSING FROM THE LIST:
SP1200 - older and perhaps the most beloved sampler ever made. it is the cornerstone of hip hop structure and sound (besided the Technics 1200 turntable that it)
Akai MPC-60 and MPC-3000 - the 3000 costs so much, i wouldn't include it either, but i believe DJ shadow's entire epic "Endtroducing" was created on one MPC-60 and an extensive record collection
Roland MC-303 - the original roland instrument with the designation "groovebox"
Korg Prophecy - the most expressive, if not bizarre synth ever designed. it was billed for analog synthesis, but it does things many synths, drum machines, live musician's could never do. really fun, but not too rugged.
Roland SP-202 - all dirt cheap samplers have impact like no other. i think this sampler/drum machine rung in the lo-fi sound
Korg KAOSS pad - actually just an effects box, but so radical in design and cheap that it probably deserves the crown for changing music in the past year or so. it's part mixer, part effects box, part turntable, part sampler, part filter box, and easily the most fun $250 electronic box available.

there is a host of other grooveboxes on the market, but the above listed come to mind as changing the way people make music. they were all designed around the mixer and the turntable as either live gear or as remix gear. although the grooveboxes function like keyboards or sequencers, they are really made to be mixed live. instead of creating songs with the groovebox by itself, the groovebox was designed to let djs transition from song to song, adding their own touches, or abandoning the records altogether trailing off into live sequencing.

x-pat