Jóhann Jóhannsson - IBM 1401 A User's Manual

Jóhann Jóhannsson, master of exquisite and often sublime instrumentation, has created an incredibly haunting piece of work with IBM 1401 A User's Manual.

Taking old tapes from an old computer manual, Jóhannsson's soundscapes are sparse and delicate, allowing for an odd sense of claustrophobia to take over when the instructor's voice permeates the reverberated silence on Part 2. Entire symphonies slowly emerge from within such little space and expand into near-whimsical pieces which uplift and captivate with the ease only hinted at on his earlier records like Englabörn. Johansson's skill is knowing when to reign in his compositions, and when to set them free: The Sun's Gone Dim and The Sky's Gone Black mutates a computer voice to sing along, all the while sampling opera and computer noises to elaborate his intentions. The result is an overwhelmingly beautiful record which brims with emotion despite its silicone base.

Sounds like: Tripping through the BBC Sound Archives with a classical score following your every move.

Listen:
Jóhann Jóhannsson - Part 3 - IBM 1402 Card-Read Punch

Released on 4AD. Buy.