Name: Chain of Layers [Disquiet0696] by mikey_a
Duration: 3 min 9 s
Description: More on the 696th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Chain of Layers — The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers — at https://disquiet.com/0696/

I love the contrast between the smooth and beautiful long sounds - that partially already bring suspense - and the percussive elements. Somehow like exploring a strange industrial estate on a distant planet. Definitely cinematic.

Disquiet Junto 0696's assignment was to record 10 to 15 layers of continuous sound and create a piece of music only by altering their relative presence over time.

I immediately thought of the story of how the iconic 1975 10cc song "I'm Not In Love" was created. The backing vocals are lush and rich and unearthly. (If you don't know the song, just listen to the first 30 seconds or so to get the gist). The story is that the band recorded themselves each singing a long, sustained note until they had 48 notes on individual 12' tape loops. For the final recording, the tape loops were played simultaneously and mixed into harmonies live on the console, essentially turning the mixer into a musical instrument. 

With this technique as inspiration, I recorded 7 tracks of ebow guitar, each playing a different note in the A harmonic minor scale. Ebow can make dynamics difficult but I managed some good textures I think. I hand-mixed each of the tracks to come in and out in sequence, creating a rising step pattern.

Then I bounced the seven guitar tracks to a single track. This track was duplicated and pitch shifted to create 4 tracks spanning 4 octaves. This essentially multiplied my original 7 tracks by 4 to give me 28 guitars. I applied volume automation to create a primitive Shepard scale out of the result.

Aside from a couple of acousmatic accents and a low-fi kick drum, every sound is from the guitar.

More on the 696th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Chain of Layers — The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers — at https://disquiet.com/0696/

What Became of Grandfather? (disquiet0696)

A chain of layered sequences with a mix of electronic and recorded sounds.

More on the 696th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Chain of Layers — The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers — at https://disquiet.com/0696/

Chain of Events (disquiet0696)

Disquiet Junto Project 0696: Chain of Layers

The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers.

Step 1: Record 10 to 15 layers of continuous sound.

Step 2: Create a piece of music in which you only change the relative presence of those individual layers from Step 1 over time. Some light effects and panning are certainly fine, but the majority of the impact should be how the prominence of the individual layers changes.

More on the 696th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Chain of Layers — The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers — at https://disquiet.com/0696/

Chain of Layers (disquiet0696)

Createtd for the Disquiet Junto Project No 696: Chain of Layers

I used a C and 14 overtones in the harmonic series for my layes, and automated them to create chords, textures and rhythms. A touch of reverb on the 2bus to make it a little more enjoyable. 


The Organ Grinder Has Lost His Marbles [disquiet0696]

More on the 696th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Chain of Layers — The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers — at https://disquiet.com/0696/

Chain of Layers [Disquiet0696]

[disquiet0696] cake

I chose the brilliant track by https://soundcloud.com/torstengoerke for this Disquiet Junto brief; to add a second part in an eventual trio ... https://soundcloud.com/torstengoerke/plastiq-disquiet0697?si=e511e161b08d44e789d92e107816d030&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Looking forward to hearing any additions to complete the triangle of collaboration! ❤️

More on the 698th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Second Third — The Assignment: Record the second third of a trio — at https://disquiet.com/0698/

more halF unusuaL

halF plastiQ [disquiet0698] with Torsten Goerke

This is the second third of the #DisquietJunto Trios project. The left-panned section was Torpid Scorpion's contribution, while the piano on the right comes from me.

Second Third - Disquiet0698

Along the Retroscape. From the album ES1 Retro Redux.

Bandcamp: https://linakamura.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5JJaCP2DNoIXagSqLAWfhF
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MjFuIdqkDk
Find More Here: linktr.ee/linakamura

Composed and Produced by linakamura
Artwork/photography by linakamura
Released September 5th, 2025

ES1 Retro Redux

Along the Retroscape

made on one synthesizer keyboard  improvisation

Fondation verticale

Ambient Aura 1 is the first compilation of ambient music from or label Aeon Records. Featuring a variety of artists and styles.

Free Download

The Burning Heart

mikey_a is an ambient and soundscape artist living in Melbourne, Australia.
Though now producing mainly in the box with a mix of VST and field recordings he still likes to occasionally crank out some of the physical treasures he's owned since the '80s: a Korg MonoPoly, a Roland TR-606, TB-303, S-10 and D-110 along with a TEAC 3440 reel-to-reel.
He is a frequent contributor to the Naviar Records' Haiku Challenge and Disquiet Junto projects.

Chain of Layers [Disquiet0696]

mikey_a

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