So, you want to build an LCD-lit video wall and interactively trigger sounds? But, what’s that? You want your surface to be modular, reliable, pre-built? Why, that’s a job for Sensacell, a modular interactive wall system that responds to proximity within 6″ with a sophisticated LCD lighting system.

I saw Senacell at a recent night at Compact/Impact here in New York; it’s very solid: lots of redundant circuitry (lesson there to be learned!) and impressive responsiveness. Additional commentary at futurefeeder. The images are cool; there was an installation at the Prada store here. But I’d love to see a music/sound application. Better get grant writing . . .

First colored blocks, now city blocks: Swiss-based collective Rosen & Spademan
has constructed a "music building game table" for creating modular
compositions with transparent blocks, converting improvised
architecture into sound. (thanks, near near future) Their biggest goal, they say: getting people to grab the objects and play.

You can explore this and other projects on their site. My favorite
digital music term comes from their 'soundlounge' project: coach
coaching. Coach-based musicians of the world, unite!

Wondering what to do with all that useless audio gear? Try
building a big igloo out of it in a church, "a new home: a habitat for
listeners of avant-garde music." There's everything from old speakers
to turntables in there. Neat. But creator Benoît Maubrey's description
of the sounds from these retired pieces of gear starts to get creepy,
as he describes "a chorus of electroacoustic souls whispering their
last prayer. We are allowed to enter this room, our body-resistance
brings warmth into this media confessional, the sounds change around us
- or is it our imagination?"

Okay, officially time to come out of the igloo.

(Thanks to we make money not art)