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Snakes Grains and Drums

by Baccharis

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about

Three iOS patches culminating in live jam, solo recording sessions from September to December of 2021. Each patch is an exploration in layered percussion, generative melodic elements, and atmospheric textures. The performances were improvisations recorded to single stereo tracks with no overdubs. Early and later evolutions of the patches are presented here among the five tracks on the album.

Snake Launch - the 'magic seed' of this AUM patch is two instances of the SnakeBud step sequencer playing complimentary lead and bass parts, random variation of the patterns (snakes), and probability of notes playing on each step. 3 different lead/bass parts all quantized to minor pentatonic selected by the performer, from low to high note density and varying rhythmic feel. Ableton-style clip and scene launching through LK Matrix was used to build the piece. Key changes initiated by the performer with alternating follow actions between some keys. Key changes use tritone (augmented fourth) and major fourth intervals. Atmospheric percussion with multi-tap delays and sound-on-sound looping on multiple parts for the rhythmic high end. A four-on-the-floor kick and tight snare in the foreground, with starts and stops during performance. Reverbs add space and color.

Grain Stepper - Built in Drambo, this patch uses StepPolyArp as the sequencer playing Synthmaster One. The FRMS granular synth adds the bass, atmospherics, and vocal-like drone parts. Performance involved fading the voices in and out of the mix, manual scanning of the Synthmaster oscillator wavetables, moving through sequenced patterns, and working the filters and delays on the various parts. The rich FAC Alteza reverb adds ethereal textures to the soundscape.

Drum Jam Z - multiple drum synths with their various sequencers build complex rhythms within this AUM patch, with LK Matrix triggering the clips. DrumComputer, Ruismaker Noir, and SeekBeats, along the warping of the beat in the glitch-machine that is Sector, lay the rhythmic foundation. AddStation, the additive synth, provides the bass voice, while Zeeon brings the clean bell tones. SnakeBud is the melodic sequencer triggering both of these synths. Various Koala effects on the percussion, modulated by LFO's, are dropped in during the jam to further mangle the beat. The tweaking of filters and delays on the various percussive parts were also done manually during performance.

A note on the album artwork - the 'snake' is a brush stroke from an oil painting session we (Amy and I) had while sitting at a picnic table next to Trice's Lake in Cumberland County VA. The background is a montage of two photographs taken during the months when the recordings were made, one image being the water on the lake, the other, coals in a backyard firepit.

mastered by Chris Hale
cover art/photography by Chris Hale

credits

released January 18, 2022

license

all rights reserved

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