Madness Factor

Maybe I was living under a rock when this thing debuted last year, but this is the first I’ve heard of the Buddha Machine, a small playback device that generates ambient loops for your listening — or ignoring — pleasure. Developed by China-based electronic artists FM3, the unit plays one of nine selected loops over and over again until you switch to a different one (or turn the device off). From the review in PopMatters, it sounds like the Buddha Machine is the perfect meditation or relaxation companion.

I probably would’ve continued to be unaware of the Buddha Machine’s existence if not for the fact that other electronic artists have sampled its sounds to create original “Buddha-based” compositions, so it’s back in the spotlight. Click here for the Pitchfork Media review of the Buddha Machine and its inspired “re-mixes.”