Kijimi MK2 History — Black Corporation

Kijimi MK2

2024

Kijimi MK2 is Black Corporation's recreation of the impossibly rare RSF Polykobol II, a French analog polysynth of which fewer than 30 units were ever produced. The original Polykobol II, designed by Ruben Spitz in the early 1980s, is considered one of the holy grails of analog synthesis—almost mythical in its rarity. Black Corporation has made this legendary sound available to modern musicians while adding contemporary features the original could only dream of. The MK2 revision brings significant improvements to an already exceptional instrument. The most notable change is the new SS1240 filter, replacing the SSI2144 in the original Kijimi, providing even more character and stability. The VCOs have been made more stable, VCA control improved, and the potentiometers upgraded to sturdier versions. The LFO settings are now per-destination rather than global, offering much greater modulation flexibility. What truly sets Kijimi apart is its unique continuous waveform morphing—instead of switching between fixed waveforms, you smoothly morph from sine through triangle, saw, and pulse. Combined with hard sync (in both directions), extensive velocity and aftertouch routing, and the lush SSM2044-style filter (via the modern SSI2144/SS1240), Kijimi offers a sound palette unlike any other modern polysynth. Available as DIY kit ($999) or fully built ($4,299).

The RSF Polykobol II was created by Ruben Spitz's company RSF in France in the early 1980s. It represented a unique take on polyphonic synthesis, distinct from the American (Sequential Circuits, Oberheim) and Japanese (Roland, Yamaha, Korg) designs of the era. With only a handful of units produced before the company ceased operations, the Polykobol II became one of the most sought-after vintage synths, with the few that surface commanding astronomical prices.
Black Corporation first released the Kijimi in 2018 as their second major polysynth after Deckard's Dream. The instrument was named Kijimi (気持ち) after a Japanese word relating to feeling or mood. The original Kijimi was already highly regarded, but the MK2 revision released in July 2024 refined nearly every aspect of the design. Notable users of the Kijimi include Mathew Jonson, Richard Devine, and Sarah Schachner—artists known for their distinctive, forward-thinking electronic music.
The MK2 includes artist-designed sound banks from these notable musicians, showcasing the instrument's versatility across genres from ambient to techno to cinematic scoring. The DIY community has particularly embraced Kijimi for its slightly more manageable build complexity compared to Deckard's Dream, while still offering a genuinely unique analog polyphonic experience.