While the BoDeans have built a loyal fan base over the course of the 24 years since the release of their T Bone Burnett-produced debut, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, the duo—Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas—is best known as the band whose “Closer To Free” became the theme song to ’90s TV show Party Of Five. But the BoDeans are fine with that and instead focus on making the kind of music they want to, then bringing it to their devoted followers. New album Mr. Sad Clown (429) features more of the duo’s trademark roots-based rock and intricate vocal harmonies. Neumann will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Q&A with him.
Neumann: The Moogerfooger is the best analog delay unit on the market today. You can say, “Oh, that’s just your opinion,” if you want, but you’d be wrong. It’s a fact. Really, the first sentence here is all that needs to be said. But for those of you out there who don’t know what a Moogerfooger is, I will explain. There was a man named Robert Moog, who was an electronic music pioneer. He and his company introduced many of the most popular modular synthesizers of the ’70s. And if you know any of the music from that time period, then you probably know the sound of his analog synths. Think of groups like ELP, Yes and Genesis. However, the analog-delay sound is something altogether different. Think of the sound of rockabilly: early Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash. While most of the early rockabilly recordings were tape-based delay, the Moogerfooger brought all of that analog warmth to a more reliable solid-state-based format. Meaning you could tour with it. And in my 27 years of screwing around with any delay I could get my hands on, I’ve come to one solid conclusion: The Moogerfooger is the best analog delay unit on the market today.
Video after the jump.
