War is not healthy for fancy chickens and other living things.
Sponsored by
L337.com
This ever so slightly Germanic ambient soundscape generator indubitably bears the distinctive mark of that modern master of software design, Dr. Karlheinz Essl. You can say many things about Dr. Karlheinz Essl, but it would be a hideous untruth to claim that he is unable to slap together some brown and blue boxes in a blighted imitation of standard GUI components for his own nefarious ends. Dr. Karlheinz Essl is capable of this, and much more.
While the lavatorial tones of fLOW’s burbling sets the scene, let us examine Dr. Karlheinz Essl’s use of sliders, which are apparently supposed to lunge wildly about of their own accord. In so doing, they periodically leave distasteful “ring around the slider” — a pixelly residue that would not be tolerated in a more refined application. Perhaps our rudimentary knowledge of Austrian culture is to blame.
Or perhaps Dr. Karlheinz Essl is too busy with his other pursuit, which can be most succinctly described with the following image:
Still, how can we dislike a man who pursues his gurgling attempts at “music” with such passion that he declares:
I like an instrumental approach to electronics… the sensuality of grabbing things, using knobs and faders as if they had something to do with your body.
Well said, Dr. Karlheinz Essl, and for this, we award a space-filling 8.7, composed of equal parts water, fire, earth, and air, also taking into account the recipient’s individual socio-cultural context. Don’t ever stop grabbing things. Huzzah!
Posted by ladd at January 6, 2004 09:13 PM | TrackBackMy knob, too, is fading ...
Posted by: aussie boy on January 6, 2004 09:48 PMHold on Aussie Boy! Buff and wax with all your might!!
Posted by: on January 7, 2004 05:07 AMHold on Aussie Boy! Buff and wax with all your might!!
Posted by: Mr.Clicky on January 7, 2004 05:12 AMI like this app. I think it's ugly cause it was made using MAX/MSP. But it looks much better if you wear welding goggles and play it while Yoko Ono whips a donkey on stage.
Posted by: wurstchen on January 7, 2004 07:37 AMI'd rather listen than watch. fLOW can serve as an entrance to the inner self if you give in.
Posted by: crop on January 7, 2004 12:09 PMis it just me, or does this guy think that the four elements are air, earth, fire, and... earth?
wait a minute...
Why is the Germanic individual wearing a 49ers hat? Why is the text reversed? Why is it that I noticed this when I hate football? Why are you still reading this?
Posted by: 49er on January 7, 2004 02:11 PMOy...
Posted by: beanland on January 7, 2004 03:38 PMLook!
Up in the sky!
It's a bird!
No, it's a plane!
Nein, es ist ein Berliner!
Posted by: Uncertain Future on January 7, 2004 04:08 PMDr. Karlheinz Essl will from now on be known as Dr.No
Kaboom
Posted by: Ernst Blofeld on January 7, 2004 05:07 PMWie gehts, wie stehts? Güt sehen sie aus?
I took german for 4 and 1/2 years and I just summed up what I remember. There is also a poem I partially remember, but it doesn't really work unless one knows the whole poem. I digress.
What were we talking about?
oh, yeah OxyClean.
Posted by: Nick on January 7, 2004 10:07 PMWhy can't I resize the comments window on this site? I guess it doesn't matter. I like scrolling sideways; really I do. What I originally wanted to say was that the review of fLOW was one of the best ever posted to this site! Keep it up guys...
Posted by: SuperMatt on January 13, 2004 12:25 PM>>Wie gehts, wie stehts? Güt sehen sie aus?
I took german for 4 and 1/2 years and I just summed up what I remember. There is also a poem I partially remember, but it doesn't really work unless one knows the whole poem. I digress.
Shame on you. You remember very little, and you got most of that wrong.
You know, "ü" isn't just some silly European way to spell "u." It actually denotes a different sound. Different than, say, the one in "gut".
Scheisskopf.
well, it wasn't too bad. replace the question mark with an exclamation mark and ignore the ü. two mistakes after 4 1/2 years ain't that bad, in my book.
i just spent 4 hours reading to the music of fLOW. very soothing. though at times i could just as well open the window and listen to the cars and trains drive by, it wouldn't make much of a difference.
Posted by: mirko on April 2, 2004 05:04 AM