AT HOME WITH THE GROOVEBOX is a compilation of bands making music with a sequencer called a "Groovebox".
Includes liner notes by Bill Mooney.
One of the most unique concept albums ever, the waaaaay star-studded AT HOME WITH THE GROOVEBOX revolves around a specially-built, programmable synthesizer (the Groovebox) and the different artists' utilization of it in their creative process. Each of the old-school electronic composers, future-minded ecclecticists and indie post-punk types gathered here was given one, and told to return with some fresh track for the new millennium.
Electronic standard-bearers like Jean Jacques Perrey returned with a loony bit of analog madness called "Groovy Leprechauns"; Gershon Kingsley with a modernist trip-hoppy update of his classic "Popcorn" melody; and Dick Hyman with "Glass Slipper" in an Eno-fueled organ hymn stance. It also doesn't seem much of a stretch for Japanese future popsters Buffalo Daughter or producer/drummer extraordinaire John McEntire to get a handle on the thing--the former's "303 + 606 = Acid" is filtered electro-house madness, the latter's "J.I.H.A.D." is catchy ambient layered over a rolling percussion track. But indie stalwarts like Pavement go through a process of reinvention into a slack hip-hop band (the set highlight "Robyn Turns 26"), Bonnie "Prince" Billy's blues are thoroughly recontextualized with a tinkly disco for background music, and Sonic Youth just cobble together fire-burning music for a bad acid trip.
