The Modular Synthesizer

This Modular synth is yeah it's got tons of different cables coming in and out of it in So blue and red and yellow and then the 808 was connected to that as well Yeah I can show you if you like. In here I tend to clock everything from this circle and sequence here And that sort of makes everything take along and talk to each other. Then basically you can take a trigger from the 808 because you can program steps on this button. This is one of the early kind of like surge in Bukla where the kind of more esoteric west coast sort of synthesizers were being made.

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In this episode, John ventures over to Clapton to join James Ellis Ford and talk about how he wrote, recorded, and produced the album ‘The Hum’.

His debut solo release after almost two decades working with some of the world's biggest artists, James looks back on how his approach to music has changed over the course of the album, reflecting on the different mindsets and decisions that come with producing his own work compared to that of others.

As well as a deep dive into his vast studio setup and hybrid system of new and old creative techniques, we’re treated to thoughts on the fine line of ironing out the humanness of mistakes, and how more often than not, pieces of gear can give you back ideas that you’d never have expected.

Listen to find out which undiscovered mics are used across almost all of the records he works on, how to implement a Frippertronics-style tape setup, and what you can create when you push a bass clarinet to its limits.

Tracks discussed: I Never Wanted Anything, Squeaky Wheel, The Yips

LINKS TO EVERYTHING TAPE NOTES

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Listen to ‘The Hum’ here.