Reason
vs Impulse is Passwar D third single release from the debut album "Personal Cosmology",
is an experimental take on techno and electronica. It juxtaposes the
beats of the classic 808 drum machine with the mystical sound of the church pipe organ. A TB303 bass riff is introduced as a surprise in the
middle section. Liquified and distorted with the peculiar synth effects, it
further intensifies this techno saga and ushers the listeners into a spatial
vacuum with an increasingly heightened sense of euphoria.
Scheduled to be released on August 7th, one day before
Roland 808’s 40 anniversary, Reason vs Impulse is a 3 1/2 minute celebratory tribute to
this classic drum machine. The recording provides a passage to the captivating
explorations into the 808's robotic and spacey sounds. And this time, it is to
accompany the highly synthesized and sometimes distorted melodies.
Exemplifying Taro (Roland's founder) and his philosophy in simplicity, the
track’s schematic approach in structure and instrumentation is intentional.
Using the drum machine in its purest form allows
Passwar D to focus on applying multi-dimensional dynamics to the synth melody
lines. First, the drum beats kick off the track. Then, the melodic sounding of
the pipe organ takes the center stage. The melodic line morphs itself throughout
the track until the end when the steadfast beats of 808 re-emerge from the
background and end the piece with its distinctive sound.
Reasons vs Impulse is Passwar D's attempt to apply the foundation of simplicity
in his music-making. It is about leveraging systematic reasoning to guide
humanistically impulsive tendencies.
Ikutaro Kakehashi,
aka Taro, had the vision to create electronic musical instruments that were easy
and simple to use. And, he built one of the best companies in the world for
that. Passwar D, deeply inspired by Taro's disciplines, applied his principle in
simplicity to his usage of 808 drum machine. Yet at the same time, he managed to
successfully unleash his very strong inclination toward human
impulsiveness.
"I wanted to strike a balance. I want to use this drum machine the way it is without embellishments. Then, I want something really out there. Something very impulsive. No reason. No logic. Purely visceral. So, there came the idea of pairing church organ with Roland 808".