Various Artists

Listeners who think of electronic music as a recent innovation will be disabused of that notion by this fascinating boxed set. The compilation's earliest example of electro dates back to 1937, and many of its most bizarre offerings were created in the '50s and '60s, before performers such as Aphex...

By Michael Roberts

October 20, 2005

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Listeners who think of electronic music as a recent innovation will be disabused of that notion by this fascinating boxed set. The compilation's earliest example of electro dates back to 1937, and many of its most bizarre offerings were created in the '50s and '60s, before performers such as Aphex Twin were born.

The set makes no distinction between high and low art: Edgard Varse and La Monte Young were rule-breaking classicists (and inspirations to Frank Zappa and the Velvet Underground, respectively), while Tod Dockstader and Raymond Scott provided nutty noises for cartoons. Their contributions join works by artists ranging from John Cage to Brian Eno in an entertaining continuum of weirdness.

Originally issued in 2000, the OHM+ special edition now includes a major bonus: a DVD featuring, among other things, clips of the late Leon Theremin and Robert Moog showing off the twisted instruments that bear their names. These Gurus prove that the future is nowŠbut it was also then.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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