Horrors keyboard player and analogue synth enthusiast Tom Furse shows us around his corner of the band’s studio, complete with modular setup and a unique instrument commissioned by XL’s Richard Russell.
Tom Furse (The Horrors) – My Studio
This is me in my area of the studio. It’s usually pretty messy but I like it apart from when the rodents are running around.
Modular
Modulars are an endless source of inspiration and intrigue. I’ve refined my system a lot over the last few years and now it can do so many different things. I always turn to it to throw up something unexpected, but it’s like a duet – you manipulate it but it throws out almost as much as you put in. The Make Noise Erbe-Verb is a new favourite module. Many of the most exciting things happening in the modular world are digital and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the format.
Adam S1 Monitors
I picked up these monitors cheap after my girlfriend scoped them out on eBay. To be honest I don’t know how suitable they are for my setup but I really like the sound of Adams and have a miniature pair at home too.
Elektron Analog Rytm
You can just see the Elektron Analog Rytm, which is an astounding groove box. I really love Elektron gear – the work flow is so smooth. Never underestimate convenience when getting ideas out.
Roland TR-808
What can I say that hasn’t already be said? I wish mine had MIDI though, because I’ve been using James Holden’s Humanisers a lot recently and my 808 doesn’t talk to the computer. I did record all the sounds to 1/4” tape though and have used those sounds on projects, so it’s getting on there one way or another.
Vintage Vibe 44
This is a Vintage Vibe 44 electric bass piano. It’s a modern Rhodes copy but it doesn’t weigh nearly as much. It’s got a beautiful sound and is an amazing sound source for processing with the modular or whatever else is at hand. It’s pretty mean through a Jet Phaser.
Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Another classic. I use the DSI Prophet 08 live and that definitely has its own charms, but the Prophet-5 is pure muscle – huge, huge sound. It’s also just fun to pretend you’re John Carpenter and have a bit of a drone.
The Pyramid
The Pyramid is a prehistoric anachronistic sound generation/processing device found buried deep beneath a 12 million-year-old asteroid crater. It has a sister that was found at the top of the Temple Of The Moon in Peru. It might also have been dreamt up by [artist] Pete Fowler, commissioned into reality by [XL Recordings’] Richard Russell and built by a Nervous Squirrel. Arthur C Clarke once said he knew the answer but died shortly afterwards. It now resides in our studio, making frequent trips to shows whenever possible.
The Horrors will be performing at Standon Calling, Hertfordshire this weekend. The last remaining tickets can be found here.
03.59 PM
more more more my studio’s!!! 🙂
10.59 PM
more studio’s and more information on the gear and its owners methods.
01.42 PM
that elektrom’s a bit dusty