Allen Ravenstine and Robert Wheeler of Pere Ubu: IDOW Extended Interview #2

In February 2012, Pere Ubu synthesists Allen Ravenstine ('75 to '89) and Robert Wheeler ('94 to present), two legendary figures of Cleveland's punk rock scene, met at Grant Avenue Studio to discuss and demonstrate the EML modular synthesizers that have been an integral part of the Pere Ubu sound for almost 40 years. The impromptu jam session that followed marked the first time the two have ever played together, and resulted in two full-length CD releases.

[@spensert4933]

The birdies are singing what I wanna sing...

[@stevebutler812]

I get that some find pleasure or irritation with this noise. Just learned about this guy while reading about Pere Ubu. Thanks for posting.

[@mrowsan]

Fly Ravenstine Translove Airways

[@bobparker8294]

I once owned an EML 200. It was the most unmusical piece of gear I've ever owned. The "keyboard" was a 16-button telephone-style pad. It was impossible to tune. I would get the oscillator to pitch, the just by taking my finger off the nob, the pitch would change. Still, it was a beautiful, ugly, quirky confusing, wonderful box of weirdness. I wish I still had it.

[@mikejpassfilms]

Met Rob after an Ubu gig in 2016. Such a cool guy.

[@stutzbearcat5624]

Sounds like 'Queen of Outer Space' music!!!!

[@arcrs40]

loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@temporoboto]

ACE!

[@ZetaReticulian]

Grate interview, infinity insightful to get to hear from some of the early synthesis pioneers and the folks who worked to push these instruments into producing so many of what we now consider iconic analog synthesis sounds, but unfortunately these guys are a little out of touch as to the state of modern synthesis. "digital is always the same" may have bin true in their time and arguably up to the fairly recent past, but fortunately for all of us with the use of more powerful algorithms and developers willing to push the software realm into new and unexplored places we can accomplish MUCH more these days than even some of the best analog gear. Now, there CLEARLY are things that analog is just simply better at than digital at this point, warmth and those elements of randomness inherent in some of the filters and oscillators. But even those characteristics have bin reproduced in recent DSP based soft synths. I'm sure with a little more time some dedicated DSP developers are going to produce a synthesizer that's indistinguishable from the old analog sounds of yesteryear :D

[@wetfishtail6]

What you say is true. But I think that's an academic point, especially with these guys. They may have their personal tastes on technology but that pales and is irrelevant when compared to their artistry and originality which is the real point of the interview. Cheers!