This week Moog Music announced the Drummer From Another Mother (DFAM), their latest semi-modular analog percussion synthesizer. The DFAM is the first addition to Moog’s expandable “Mother-32” eco-system, which allows multiple unites to be mounted and patched together simply for extended synthesis.

That expandability is one of DFAM’s key selling points, and Moog has included a bundle of patch cables to entice users to experiment with the synthesizer’s 24-point modular patchbay. The DFAM is fully analog: both with an analog sound engine and sequencer.

The DFAM was demo’d in a video by three members of NYC”s Discwoman collective, and DJ Haram, Stud1nt and Umfang show some of the experimental possibilities that deviate wildly from traditional hardware drum machines.

But possibly the oddest demo of all comes from a cactus. The DFAM is currently anchoring an “interactive interspecies installation” at a cactus store in Echo Park, LA. I’m just going to have to quote this because I have no idea what the hell I’m seeing:

“Entitled BioRhythmia, the installation uses electromyography sensors to measure the electric energies of a 30 year old cactus. The plant’s energies are converted into analog control voltages (CV), enabling the cactus (a mutant species originally from Bali, but now extinct in the wild) to “play” the synthesizer. Different conditions, different times of day, even different experiences with human passers-by can affect what the cactus decides to play.”

 
What kind of music speaks to a cactus’ soul? Hopefully it’s not trance.

The DFAM is being shipped to Moog dealers worldwide now and is available for $679.

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