Nova was a ‘commercial’ side-band for the synthesizer-band Peru. This song (Aurora) was a nr.2 hit in Holland in 1983. They don’t get any simpler than this. The melody is just one phrase over 2 chords, repeated twice . The only thing that happens is that it shifts through a few keys.

Why is this music not being made anymore? Agreed writing an annoying melody like this AND record it without shooting yourself halfway the process isn’t that easy. I must say, the tunes I wrote in this style are all in the thrash. Being this shameless is something I can only bow my head in respect for.

One of the band members in Nova was Rob Papen, a now pretty famous sound-designer and writer of popular synth plugins for Mac and PC. The other band he was in -Peru- had a minor hit with ‘Africa‘. That song is a bit more experimental, but equally mind-numbing

Fridgebuzzz, an Electronic manufacturer created a one of a kind synthesizer. Using an old Atari400 case completely strip it, and fill it with new electronics. Now it is a 12 oscilator and 3 modulator square wave synth. The fact that the keys are old-style arcade push buttons make my heart skip a beat.

Unfortunately it is a one of a kind, but they are working on a portable version. Frankly I couldn’t care less about the synth specs in there. I’d just create a little shrine in my studio and put this behind bullet-proof glass.

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/01/13/the-atari-400-goes-a.html [BOINGBOING]