OK Housecat

OK Housecat is the alter ego of Billy Prosise, one of electronic musics great eccentrics and has to be a candidate for the the title of Master Circuit Bender.

His website is a gateway to a whole new world of strange mutant instruments, such as the VSS-30 (shown above) that have been modified with extra switches, sockets and miscellaneous house hold items, including plenty of hamster tubes.  Some of his creations look and sound very alien at first, but take the time to investigate , however maybe not last thing at night, especially after a cheese sandwich, unless you want some very strange dreams.

Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking by Nicolas Collins

“Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking provides a long-needed, practical, and engaging introduction to the craft of making – as well as creatively cannibalizing – electronic circuits for artistic purposes. With a sense of adventure and no prior knowledge, the reader can subvert the intentions designed into devices such as radios and toys to discover a new sonic world. At a time when computers dominate music production, this book offers a rare glimpse into the core technology of early live electronic music, as well as more recent developments at the hands of emerging artists. In addition to advice on hacking found electronics, the reader learns how to make contact microphones, pickups for electromagnetic fields, oscillators, distortion boxes, and unusual signal processors cheaply and quickly.

Circuit Bending, Build your own Alien Instruments by Reed Ghazala

“Written by the inventor of the technology, this book covers the tools of the trade, shows how to build a bending workshop, and reveals secrets that will have readers of all levels making sweet music in no time.” – Amazon

Circuit Bending – A Quick Intro

“Circuit-bending” is the practice of adding circuitry and/or random connections to the electronics of a device that can make a noise in order to coax out something new and potentially exciting.