Sorry, music industry. We're replacing you with a bunch of small plastic robots with cups for hands.
Yep, those lego people are playing actual music—all on their own. Or, well, with the help of sophisticated machinery and the tiniest bit of magic, but you know what I mean.
The song in question is "Everything Counts," by Depeche Mode, and it was given a new (and block-based) lease on life by Italian sound artist Giuseppe Acito. Here's more on how that all works, courtesy of The Creators Project:
"Explains Acito, 'The robots are playing some unconventional drum percussions made by some food packaging are captured by a contact microphone (piezo) and processed in real time in the DAW Ableton Live.' Accompanied by an Arduino Uno, a 'brand new device appears for the first time, it's a moving platform on x-axis, made of LEGO bricks, gears and servo motors,' which allows his controller the ability to move about his small synth. Says Acito, 'The song [...] is a personal tribute to the band who made my days in the 80's.'"
It's also pretty darn impressive. If someone told child me my legos would one day come to life and play heartfelt hits from the '80s, you'd have probably been able to hear a distinct whimper of confusion in my ensuing wails of abject terror. It would've been intrigued confusion, though.
Machines are neat, even if they will one day replace us all. Let us hope they stay this tiny so we'll have a fighting chance at stepping on them.