Peter Gabriel - The making of PG IV (Security)

Found this excellent upload of the South Bank Show (UK arts TV programme of long standing and excellent repute) which documents the making of Peter's 4th eponymous album, known by most as "Security" or PG IV.

Part 1



Part 2



Some excellent footage of the man in his (then) newly created studio at home showing such beauties as his Fairlight, Prophet 5, CP70, Linn LM1, Emulator II amongst others, as well as his unique approach to collecting (the suitcase) and creating (scrapyard sound design) new rhythms and sounds. There is also some live footage too.

Well worth a gander, if only to remind you that music is something best created by experimentation and by proving new ground. As Melvyn Bragg states in the prologue, "Peter Gabriel has had a number of hits but has never let his successes become formulas"

My missus has a minor claim to fame in that she comes from Chobham, Surrey as does Mr Gabriel ;o) She also went to school with Paul Weller. Certainly a hotbed of musical talent in Surrey !

The Prophet Poll

We asked a cross section of Failed Muso readers, which version of the Prophet 5 they would prefer.

Our survey said....

The original SCI P5 = 2 (33%)

NI's Pro-53 = 0 (0%)

Arturia's Prophet V = 0 (0%)

DSI's Prophet 8 = 4 (66%)

Looks like Dave has a winner on his hands :o)

Thanks for your participation.

A Prophet for our times !

Well, this one took me by surprise this evening !

It appears that Dave Smith Instruments are releasing a 30th Anniversary edition/homage to the legendary Prophet 5. Called the Prophet 8, it's an 8 voice analogue synth based on the CEM chips used in the Evolver with the sequencer, arpeggiator and memories.

Rather than regurgitate what has been written elsewhere, here's a teaser video...



... and some links to info elsewhere...

News from Music Thing

News from Matrixsynth 1

News from Matrixsynth 2

News from Matrixsynth 3

News from Vintage Synth Explorer

Sound Samples courtesy of Stefan Trippler

You can be sure that as more info becomes available, it'll be posted here and on every other synth geek forum in the blogosphere !! :o)

UPDATE: The official site for the Prophet 08 is now up...

Click here

Prophet 5 on eBay UK

A good example of a classic. Rev 3.2 and a few dodgy keys, but worth a punt for someone with the cash. Sadly that someone isn't me:o(

Some lovely pictures....just because....

All shots from the EBoard Museum

Take a long look at these pictures and the synths contained within. Am I alone in thinking that these are beautiful objects ? Show me a Triton or Motif or whatever hardware synths are left nowadays (except the Alesis Fusion maybe) and they all look the same. These synths of old were all unique not only in sound but in looks too. If anybody wonders why people like me get moist around the gusset for old synths, here are some prime examples....

Emulator I


Prophet 10


Roland SH-101 Blue


Yamaha DX1


Sequential Circuits Prophet VS and Prophet 5


Elka Synthex


Yamaha CS-80