Welcome to Hammer and Circuit a site about electronic and experimental music and equipment.
Hi, I’m Alexander. Even when I was a kid learning to play Erik Satie on an upright piano, I was fascinated by the lush sounds of synthesizer music in films like The Shining and the often more gritty sounds of experimental instruments.
Both types of music, though very different, seemed to capture something for me that sounded both futuristic and outside of time. I grew to love Vangelis, Einstürzende Neubauten, and too many others to name. Always curious about this music and how it was made, I often found it hard to pierce overly technical discussions.
I created this site as a journey of exploration to learn more about the styles of music and musical equipment that have always fascinated me. My goal is to step around gatekeepers and make a site that’s fun, accessible, and informative. I’m not a guru or self-appointed expert. I’m just a guy trying to figure it all out. I hope you’ll come along!