I grew up in a musical household, and my older brothers introduced me to The Beatles and punk by age 12. But three years later everything changed when they dragged me to see The Residents perform live. It was haunting and strange, and I have not been the same since. I came home with t-shirts and records in a tote labeled "A BAG OF STUFF FROM THE RESIDENTS." Among the items was the 7-inch single, "Satisfaction" b/w "Loser Weed." These two sides of music blew my mind more than anything I'd ever heard. I had so many questions. "Who are these people? Why does it sound like this?" And more importantly, "What instruments produce these musical sounds?" As I learned later, the sounds often originated from the ARP Odyssey. Marketed in 1972 as the answer to Bob Moog's Minimoog, the Odyssey went a few steps further, with duophonic capabilities, empowering musicians to move beyond the monophonic limitations of the Minimoog. Ultimately, it isn't the technological innovations that were most crucial, but the fearless spirit of childlike discovery that is required to pull magic out of these soldered circuits. The Odyssey was used by everyone from Elton John to Devo (the whip-cracking sound in 'Whip It'). But the Odyssey found its greatest use in the self-taught hands of Hardy Fox. This little synth helped define the sound of one of the most important groups in experimental music, and influenced generations of songwriters, artists, composers, and storytellers.
Hardy and I met under mysterious circumstances, but the details are unimportant. I consider myself a fan, but also a colleague. I was always respectful and a bit cautious in our exchanges, so it took a few years of acquaintance before I felt comfortable to ask about the gear. That's when he drew back the curtain. "I was an ARP Guy," said Hardy. "I bought it around 1974. Before the ARP was released, I took lessons on a big Moog that belonged to Beaver & Krause. I was taught by Patrick Gleeson. Later I had a similar one in my studio that belonged to the Mothers of Invention's Don Preston. I could never afford such a beast. They were always a bit intimidating."
It was fascinating to learn about how he worked. I asked which Residents albums had featured the ARP Odyssey. "It was used on The Third Reich and Roll, Fingerprince, Duck Stab, Eskimo, Commercial Album, and Mark of the Mole." These are the most defining albums in The Residents catalog, from the classic era of the group. Could one synth be at the center of all these albums? And if so, what happened to it? He still had it! "I also used the Odyssey on Disfigured Night [1997] and The Bunny Boy [2008]," he disclosed. Particularly on Bunny Boy, I was indulging in a nostalgia streak."
On Hardy's site he posted more history: "After some serious lobbying on my part, I convinced Cryptic Corporation [the Residents' management company] to part with about $1,200 (mid-'70's dollars at that) to purchase an all-in-one device, the ARP Odyssey. 'Loser Weed' was the first experiment with the device. I last recorded with it in 2008."
After that, it went into storage. I cautiously asked Hardy if he would be willing to part with it. I nervously awaited his response. Finally he said, "I was just wiping dust off the device and I can see that the little sliders are stuck. So it will need a bit of work by someone to get those sliding again. But you need to let me know since I have to ship it today. I leave town tomorrow. I can drop it at FedEx." A few days later, on June 8, 2018, I opened a shipping box containing The Residents' ARP Odyssey synthesizer. A month later, it was restored to its full Residential glory. I could never have imagined that, 29 years after listening to "Loser Weed" as a 15-year-old, the synthesizer that made those improbable sounds would now be in my possession.
"It will be the centerpiece of my studio," I wrote to Hardy in July. "Those Residents albums are one of the main reasons I'm making music today, and that box of circuits has a lot of personal meaning. So thank you, once again, sincerely."
"Happy you like my synth. Um. Happy you like UR synth," he replied. "Glad it has a good home."
