Various Artists: Soul Of The Machine
A Celebration of the Life & Legacy of ARP founder Alan R. Pearlman
October 17, 2025 • 617026235325
2CD + digital or 3-part digital
Genres: Ambient, Electronic, all sorts of other things!
A musical celebration of the genius behind ARP’s history-making synthesizers
In 2025, the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation celebrates the centennial of its namesake, the electronic visionary whose marvelous ARP synthesizers changed the landscape of music forever. The nonprofit Foundation, in conjunction with Projekt Records, presents SOUL OF THE MACHINE , a 36-track ARPF fundraising compilation: honoring the man and his creations as interpreted by a diverse range of recording artists. (Bio Page)
SOUL OF THE MACHINE is a 36-track collection of tracks old and new, covering everything from innovative electronic, dance, and space music to jazz, funk, and Latin pop, all featuring the signature sounds of classic ARP instruments. The collection includes everything from ARP’s first synthesizer — the massively powerful ARP 2500 modular system — to the instruments that rewrote the rules on how electronics and music came together. The 2600, Odyssey, Pro Soloist, Omni, and many more ARP instruments sing, cry, scream, and soar, in the hands of musical talents both legends and newcomers.
SOUL OF THE MACHINE ‘s track list is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. Martin Gore’s “Kino” combines Depeche Mode’s signature rhythmic power with a uniquely lyrical and sweet atmosphere. “Mr. No” reveals the classic electro-pop sound of John Foxx. Award-winning soundtrack composer Mark Isham showcases his signature pulsating energy and evocative moodscapes in the mini-suite “Musings – in Two Parts.” Lisa Bella Donna takes listeners on an extended journey into timeless wonder in the epic “Conclusions.” JG Thirlwell’s “Sphere” is a synth freakout ricocheting between ominous sci-fi atmospheres and searing beats. And Panic Girl offers “Drifting Whispers,” a somber and uplifting neo-retro journey into a past that never was.
Other artists on the collection include Michael Brückner, Phil Cirocco, Rupert Greenall, LaMar “Kronick” Mitchell, Jeff Rona, Drew Schlesinger & David Torn, Don Slepian, as well as tracks by the collection’s curators Steve Roach and Chris Meyer of Alias Zone.
Famed ambient / electronic pioneer (and ARP user since 1978) Steve Roach shares his thoughts on SOUL OF THE MACHINE , “In 2024 I had the honor of meeting Dina Pearlman-Ifil — the director of the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation — in person. Over the course of several phone conversations we discussed ways to celebrate the centennial year of her father’s life and his place in history. My idea for a compilation of music using her father’s creations grew out of those conversations, presenting a perfect way to directly experience the vast range of music that was birthed by the family of ARP synthesizers. This compilation is just a small taste of the universe Alan inspired in sound explorers and artists across a vast range of genres.”
Steve mapped out the music so that CD 1 represents a sonic journey and CD 2 provides a showcase of the depth and breadth of what ARPs can do. After both CDs were finalized there were more tracks than room on the CDs. These additional songs are collected as a bonus digital supplement to the physical CDs.
The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is dedicated to the empowerment of young and burgeoning artists into the future. When we look at classical instruments born hundreds of years ago, we see that Alan Pearlman’s synthesizers stand tall, earning their place in the evolution of musical history. Acoustic or electric, their common ground is the enduring inspiration for creativity and sonic innovation that inspires the hearts and minds of musicians, performers, and sound explorers worldwide.
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Proceeds go the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
| alanrpearlmanfoundation.org |
The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Their mission is to celebrate the legacy of inventor, musician, entrepreneur and engineer Alan R. Pearlman by making his innovative inventions publicly accessible and by inspiring future generations to imagine and create.
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Steve Roach writes:
With the coveted ARP 2600 and Sequencer finally sitting in the middle of my tiny bungalow in the suburbs of San Diego, California in the mid ’70s, this sacred sonic monolith, time machine, and full-time object of obsession that drove me to carve into the soundcurrent 24-7 was life-changing on many levels.
The 2600 arrived at just the right point in the timeline of affordable portable synthesizers. Globally the Zeitgeist was in full bloom at this time, with ARP and other pioneer synth builders unleashing these creations upon homegrown synth heads, universities, local bands, mainstream rock and jazz outfits, film scoring studios, and places well beyond. For myself and countless burgeoning electronic-music-hungry souls around the world, it represented a clarion call that guided us to unbounded creativity within the comfort of our own worlds, manifesting the birth of a forever-unfolding kaleidoscope of paradigm shifts in the electronic sonic arts.
Fast-forward to 2024: I was performing at Saint Ann and the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York City; after the concert I had the honor of meeting Dina Pearlman-Ifil – the director of the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation – in person. Over the course of several phone conversations we discussed ways to celebrate the centennial year of the life of her father Alan R. Pearlman and his place in history. My idea for a compilation of music using her father’s creations grew out of those conversations, presenting a perfect way to directly experience the vast range of music that was birthed by the family of ARP synthesizers. This compilation is just a small taste of the universe Alan inspired in sound explorers and artists across a vast range of genres. The evolving influence of ARP vibrantly continues into the future with new editions of the iconic ARP 2600 – including Korg’s authentic 2600 re-issues – along with new versions of the ARP line appearing in different formats.
The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is dedicated to the empowerment of young and burgeoning artists into the future. When we look at classical instruments born hundreds of years ago, we see that Alan Pearlman’s synthesizers stand tall, earning their place in the evolution of musical history. Acoustic or electric, their common ground is the enduring inspiration for creativity and sonic innovation that inspires the hearts and minds of musicians, performers, and sound explorers worldwide.
Proceeds go to the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation alanrpearlmanfounda
The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Their mission is to celebrate the legacy of inventor, musician, entrepreneur and engineer Alan R. Pearlman by making his innovative inventions publicly accessible and by inspiring future generations to imagine and create.
ARP Centennial Compilation Concept: Steve Roach
Project Directors: Steve Roach, Chris Meyer, and Dina Pearlman-Ifil
Mastered by: Robert Rich
T R A C K S :
*= exclusive to this collection
Disc 1
*1 Phil Cirocco — Ruins 3
*2 Jon Carin — Zichrono
*3 Harp & Arp — Draumur
*4 Martin Gore — Kino
5 John Foxx — Mr. No
*6 Chris Meyer’s Alias Zone — The Gathering Storm (ARP remix)
*7 Mark Isham — Musings – in Two Parts
8 Steve Roach — Cloud Motion
9 David Baron — XAX
10 Jeff Rona — Pax
11 Bill Wolfer — Four ARP Sequencers Controlling A Dozen Analog Synthesizers
12 Drew Schlesinger & David Torn — Interlude
Disc 2
*1 Michael Brückner — Mother of Pearls
*2 Craig Padilla — Calypsos Improv Live 2011
3 Gabriela Benavides — Seance (Vestiges)
4 Rupert Greenall — Odyssey (Mysterious Voyage)
*5 Lisa Bella Donna — Conclusions
*6 JG Thirlwell — Sphere
7 Panic Girl — Drifting Whispers
8 Bob Familiar — On the Off Chance
9 LaMar “Kronick” Mitchell — Ode To Bernie
10 Moot Booxle — The Time Eraser
*11 DJ CherishTheLuv — Tokyo Titmouse
12 David Mash — ARPology
Disc 3
1 Rick Reger — Processional
*2 Klauss — The Two Thousand Six Hundred Little Odysseys of the Exploring Sequencer Brother
3 Collin Russell — Play
4 Neil Alexander — The Emperor’s Bad Dream
5 Don Slepian — March Of The Spirits
6 Synsor — Nebula’s Embrace
7 Bill T Miller — For the Luv of ARP
*8 Feferonja & Hans Kulk — Stochastic Arp
*9 Cosmic Soup Kitchen — Spicy Pumpkin
10 Brandon Reisig — Ancient Steward
*11 Analog Tara — Input Matrix
12 Beto Hale — ¿Dónde estabas?