Ill-Studio, the Paris-based studio by Thomas Subreville and Leonard Vernhet, have been responsible for all DEEWEE artwork.
In 2019 they published a book called ‘Incomplete Inventory’, which contains over 300 photographs capturing part of the endless collection of analog and digital machines from the DEEWEE collection, gathered over the past 30 years by David and Stephen Dewaele.
I dive into the catalogue and dig into the instruments and gear that was photographed for the book by Maxime Verret.
In the photograph on top of this page, you see a detail of the Steelphon S900 Synthesizer, with is unique yellow finnish.
The Steelphon S900 synthesizer was made in Italy in the early 70s – an S900 was used by David Bowie on the Berlin trilogy and he even used one on Italian TV.
Here’s the proof:
I am not sure that is the reason Dave and Steph bought one, but I am sure they were aware of this. Them being such big fans of Bowie.
Made in Torino, North Italy, this is a quite limited, but rare, analog monophonic synthesizer with some presets. The S900 is a strange weird metal-plated synth in both wood or yellow design, often compared to a poor’man Musonic/ moog Sonic V. “
A very uncommon feature for the time: 6 memory presets!
Here’s a more in depth video: