We are happy to see our old Brooklyn friends, now Nashville-based, BIG EAR Pedals release a new pedal, and a really intriguing one for that matter: the two-knob modulated reverb called ALBIE.
This stompbox delivers a “less is more” approach to reverb by limiting the control knobs to one (Blend) but expanding the sonic palette through eight modes, selectable through the Effect knob. Hence, just like at a fine restaurant, players get a selection of 8 uneditable modulated reverbs, and are only allowed to determine the effect amount, but not to change the “recipe” – i.e. no editing the parameters is allowed.
Most of the modes, built and curated in collaboration with Joe McCaffrey (of the band Nightmare of You), recreate the jangly, shimmering, modulated sounds associated with the New Wave & Post Punk music of the ‘70s & ‘80s. This includes anything from useful slap-backs to wide and deep ambient reverberations.
Hear the sound of the BIG EAR ALBIE in the videos below – we added it to our list of Best Reverb Pedals with Modulation.