All I Want for Christmas, Part 2: Tenori-On

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Is it a Lite Brite? An etch-a-sketch? An elaborate “NextBus” sign? Nope: it’s a musical instrument. Tenori-On means “sound in your palm” in Japanese, and this eight-inch square little miracle (made by Yamaha) lets you make beats and loops by touching—well, caressing—its surface. The instructions are a little opaque: draw the wave form! Assign individual sounds to each key! Hold the key down to create a repeating audio loop! Huh? But the video of somebody who knows what they’re doing making (an admittedly pretty noodly) little techno number is positively jaw-dropping. Watch it after the jump.

Tenori-On is only available in the UK right now, but with a low low price of $1200 you can afford a round-trip flight to pick it up for me, right, Secret Santa?