A mysterious man in a futuristic space suit stood before a table of electronic devices. Through the dark shield of his helmet he tweaked and probed these devices as they beeped and hummed. “What are we watching here,” I wondered, “modern art, music, or is he transmitting communication with alien life?” And then, almost beautifully, the beeps and hums began to sync up with a programmed synth-drum beat, the man in the space suit began to nod his head, and Computer At Sea began to play.
Computer At Sea make music with instruments of his own creation — a reprogrammed GameBoy, old antique books with toggles and buttons wired into them, and various joysticks and keyboards.
Toward the end of the set, another man in an identical suit emerged from behind a dark curtain and joined the futuristic noise-making.
Computer At Sea are a moment in music where noise meets harmony, gizmodgery meets musicianship, and the future meets the present. “The name of this band has been Computer At Sea,” the first man announced at the end of the set with one final beep, and we all got the impression that we had seen something truly out of this world.
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