The latest installment in Kim Bjørn’s Patch & Tweak series, this well-produced hardcover spotlights the Moog Subharmonicon, Mother32, DFAM (Drummer From Another Mother), Grandmother and Matriarch semi-modular synthesizers. For our reviewers – impressions in quotes – the book made an overall positive impression, but its focus was heavily tilted towards artist interviews rather than sound design, which they all deemed a “missed opportunity” and something that was “somewhat misrepresented by the description.”
First off, the “book is beautiful” with “a quality binder” and “gorgeous photos” The font was deemed “readable” but a bit small. The fabulous Hans Zimmer provides a nice Foreword and Bjørn outlines his concept for the book in the Preface. Bjørn, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is an ambient composer and has authored several books under his Bjooks imprint. In his introduction, Bjørn, who wrote the book with Chris Meyer, claims “the book is intended as a sort of learning lab for all Moog semi-modular explorers.” The problem is that Bjørn and Meyer devote the majority of the book to interviews with either Moog employees or Moog artists instead of synthesis.
If you’re new to synthesis and recently picked up one of Moog’s awesome semi-modular synthesizers, this is “not the first book you want to purchase to learn the foundation of synthesis,” commented one of our evaluators. After providing a basic overview of the five semi-modular analog synths that Bjørn spotlights, the book’s “jittery flow” is continually interrupted by interviews with musicians. In some cases, the interviews include useful tips and provide a personal patch setting, but the space devoted to each artists origin story “far outweighs actual useful instruction.”
The patch illustrations are “well produced” and “crystal clear.” Some inspired our reviewers and some were “just meh,” but your mileage may vary since this is a subjective arena. Where things are more objective is how much the illustrations educate. Sometimes Bjørn specifies how certain patch configurations sculpt and shape the sound, sometimes he doesn’t. “The best analogy I can give you is going to the Grand Canyon and never actually getting to stand on the rim and look down. It’s always like you’re 100 yards away.”
For readers who want to learn semi-modular synthesis, the best way to use this book is to bypass the interviews and excursions into Moog company history, and just read each part of Bjørn’s synthesis curriculum. This approach allows you to gain a basic synthesis understanding, as well as learn more about each of the semi-modular’s specific features. Then try out each one of the patches and explore how each of the parameters and patch points affect the overall sound. After this is accomplished, go back and read the interviews. You’ll have a much better understanding of what the musicians are detailing when you dial in their particular patches.
We understand Bjørn chopped the book up with the interviews and company backstory to give the reader a respite from constant instruction, but it’s unfortunately at the great expense of providing a quality educational experience.
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Conclusion
If you’re not actually looking for a deep dive into semi-modular synthesis and are content with a lot of ancillary content, this book is very compelling. However, if you want to truly learn how to wring the most out of Moog’s semi-modular analog offerings, you should probably start elsewhere. That said, although you won’t learn as much as this book claims, Patch & Tweak With Moog is certainly a nice companion piece if you own two or more of the semi-modular Moog synths showcased in this book. At $40, it may not be something you buy yourself, but put it on your Holiday gift list. Better to receive Patch & Tweak then another ugly sweater from Aunt Mildred.
Rating: 75%
Cheers:
+ Illustrations
+ Pictures
+ Book Construction
Jeers:
– Too Many Long-Winded Interviews
– Soporific Moog Company History
– Educational Curriculum
– Poor Flow
Patch & Tweak With Moog costs $39.99 and is available now.
