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Dennis Kelley - Synthi Study #4

from Modulisme Session 058 by VA. Synthisis Sonoris II

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about

Dennis Kelley bought his first synthesizer, a used Synthi-A Mk.II, in late 1975. In 1976 he got an apprenticeship at EMSA, the US distributor for EMS, during which time the company introduced the first EMS Vocoder.
In early 1978, Dennis and Dave Goessling formed WKGB, a guitar-and-synthesizer duo that recorded a single for Fetish Records (U.K.), “Non-Stop”/”Ultramarine”. Dennis played Synthi on the first single by The Bongos (“Telephoto Lens”/”Glow In The Dark”, also on Fetish), and programmed that huge EMS Vocoder for Todd Rundgren on Utopia’s “Oops! Wrong Planet!” LP.
Shortly after WKGB opened for DEVO in Central Park for a sellout crowd in July 1980, EMS staff alumnus and Rundgren associate John Holbrook produced three songs by the band at Bearsville Studio. The tracks were unreleased at the time, but are now slated to be issued (along with a remix of the band’s Fetish 45) by Shaddock Records (France) sometime in 2022.
In 1981-83, Dennis and Bruce Grant did many home recordings under the name DeeKay Jones, one of which (“New York, NY”) somehow became a club hit after being released on an obscure compilation LP. In 1997 Dennis co-produced “Easy Listening For Armageddon” (Scratchie Records), the debut LP by the celebrated poet/DJ Mike Ladd.

lyrics

This is an early Synthi-A four-track composition I did in the first several months I had the instrument, which was my first synthesizer (s/n 4522, a Mark II). I was shortly to receive my K keyboard, and the KS was still several months away, so all of the pitch changes are being done by hand or oscillator voltage control. I didn't have a mixer - the four TEAC 3340 outputs were blended into 2 discreet stereo channels by a pair of "Y cable" connectors, and sent to a cassette deck for the master. No outboard gear was used either - just the good ol' Synthi reverb.
The attached photo was taken when I worked at EMSA (the sole American EMS distributor) in Northampton, Massachusetts about a year and a half later, in 1977. It was “analog heaven”, basically – a studio filled with Moog, ARP, EMS, and assorted other gear - an invaluable experience. I still play my Synthi-AKS often (along with my MultiMoog, etc., etc., and of course my drums) – it’s always within reach. I’ll never let it go.

credits

from Modulisme Session 058, released January 14, 2022

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Modulisme Marseille, France

Modulisme (translates Modularism) is a media supporting leftfield Electronic music (giving priority to Modular Synthesis but not only). Providing ressources/interviews, a radio program aired via 7 antennas, and above all label-like streaming music for you to listen to… ... more

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