Check this clip of Teenage Engineering’s upcoming synth project – The OP1. A peek at the onscreen display reveals a jet black OLED screen with high contrast graphics. It gives off a ‘neon ceiling decor from an 80′s nightclub’ vibe; and the GUI is pure get-the-hell-out genius. For anyone who’s fumbled with analog tape recorders will appreciate the nostalgic nod to ye old reel-to-reel. Far removed from Native Instrument’s pixel heavy softsynths, TE seems to have taken their design cues from a Texas instrument calculator (and can you blame them) and early Frog Design Mac prototypes. Maybe this is the first sign that we’re getting over emulation and going back to real? Either way, I gotta get a paper route again, ‘real’ is spendy.

Pehea Ka Lawai‘a, the debut album from Makalei, goes on sale today. Look for it at the following locations: Barnes & Noble, Borders, Target, and Walmart. Unfortunately that’s only in Hawaii, but fear not Hawaiian music fans currently off-island, the album is available as a digital download, so you can purchase it right now, directly from the artists!. Cheehu!

Many an influence of graphic designers today, Vaughn Oliver is the mastermind behind 4AD record covers. Seems like he’s put on the ole 90′s cap again to design the Pixies Minotaur box set release. Where in the world is Frank Black?

Take a trip through the softer side of binary, some old favorites and silky new discoveries lie ahead.

By the looks of it, you’d think we were about to be hit by a hurricane tomorrow. Schools are closed, state workers are being told to stay home, and 60 mph Konas are forecast. If the killer waves don’t get you, maybe these killer winds will. Here’s some tunes for the apocalypse, mostly seaward debris that has washed ashore.

Stones Throw single-handedly redeems my distaste for 405 traffic, smog, fake people, and numerous other Los Angeles shortcomings. How can you disagree with this track list and a hand drawn LP jacket? Correct answer: you can not. Hot Dam!

If you’re a fan of Juvelen, Jamie Lidell, or that dude from Purple Rain, you’ll probably like Francis And The Lights… what’s even better, instead of going to iTunes or Amazon and spending money, just visit their blog and download the album for free.