Archival recording
Dark ambient study built from granular processing and noise structures.

Ruptura

Stars begin to fade
Softly on the window
Shadows on the ceiling
Everything is quiet in the middle of the night

Looking for a sign
Waiting for the morning
Echoes of a whisper
Trying to find my own way

Watching all the lights across the bay
Counting every breath in the dark
Wondering where you are now
I am finally awake
Blue hour glow
Keeping all the secrets that we made
Hiding in the velvet of space
Searching for the true heart
Will you ever come home?
Midnight is here

Rain is on the glass
Tracing all the memories
Tracing all the silence
I can see the world is sleeping under silver clouds

Looking for a sign
Waiting for the morning
Echoes of a whisper
Trying to find my own way

Watching all the lights across the bay
Counting every breath in the dark
Wondering where you are now
I am finally awake
Blue hour glow

Everything is beautiful and strange now
I can feel the universe is breathing with me
Time is just a circle in the water tonight
Holding on to hope until the sun begins to rise
Everything is beautiful and strange now
I can feel the universe is breathing with me
Time is just a circle in the water tonight
Holding on to hope until the sun begins to rise

I have been waiting for the revelation in the center of the silent midnight sky
Fading into the light
I have been searching for the meaning of the nostalgia that is burning in my chest
Finding the truth inside

Watching all the lights across the bay
Counting every breath in the dark
Wondering where you are now
I am finally awake
Blue hour glow
Keeping all the secrets that we made
Hiding in the velvet of space
Searching for the true heart
Will you ever come home?
Midnight is here

Everything is beautiful and strange now
I can feel the universe is breathing with me
Time is just a circle in the water tonight
Holding on to hope until the sun begins to rise
Everything is beautiful and strange now
I can feel the universe is breathing with me
Time is just a circle in the water tonight
Holding on to hope until the sun begins to rise

Midnight.
(Everything is beautiful and strange now)
(I can feel the universe is breathing with me)
Fading into the light.
(Everything is beautiful and strange now)
(I can feel the universe is breathing with me)
Finding out the truth inside.
Will you ever come home?
(Everything is beautiful and strange now)
(I can feel the universe is breathing with me)
Midnight is finally here.
(Everything is beautiful and strange now)
Blue hour glow.

Blue hour glow

Title:
Quack Quack

Dates:
09-Mar-2026 (inception), 13-Mar-2026 (finalised), 14-Mar-2026 (released)

Artists:
Music composed, performed, produced by Norman Freund
Artwork by Norman Freund

BandCamp Purchase:
https://normanfreund.bandcamp.com/album/quack-quack

1: Quack Quack - Part 1, 07:11 (Granie (Ref. [1], Soma Lyra 8, Ref. [2])
2: Quack Quack - Part 2, 05:24 (Granie, Soma Lyra 8)
3: Quack Quack - Part 3, 03:51 (Granie, Soma Lyra 8)
4: Quack Quack - Part 4, 03:36 (Granie, Soma Lyra 8)
Total 20:02


Description:
My afternoon walk has me pass by wet lands and water-ways inhabited by ducks. They have a very lyrical call, which has always amused me. After several months of modular synthesis development and music projects, thought I would mix it up a bit and return to granular synthesis using Granie and see what I can do with just a duck call and my Soma Enner.

Two duck recordings were made, both needed heavy noise reduction to cancel out unwanted ambient noise, mostly wind noise from automobiles, hard to escape it. Not to worry, part of the challenge. You can here the first duck recording in the introduction of the first track in this album free of granular synthesis.

Between two and three grain tracks were used from the duck calls. Granie can also record external audio to it's master track and that is where the Soma Lyra 8 came in. Before recording I decided to conjure up a new microtuning scale, done by ear for parts 1 to 3 using, listening to the granular synthesis sounds as I progressed through the eight note tuning. Micor-tuning scales are not just about generic scales that work with any instrument but often rely upon the timbre and spectral content of the instruments they are played on.

i, f(i) [Hz], Cent
1, 7.5, 0 c
2, 8.9, 296c
3, 11.9, 799c
4, 16.4, 1 oct + 154c
5, 24.3, 1 oct + 835c
6, 33.5, 2 oct + 191c
7, 41.9, 2 oct + 578c
8, 55.1, 2 oct + 1053c

Then came Lyra 8's turn. Playing each of the above eight notes, then tuning by ear the Lyra 8 to notes that I thought fitted together. Sorry, I did not reverse engineer the Lyra 8 frequencies used and document them here. The Lyra 8 tuning was largely left untouched during the performances.

For the final piece in this album, the granular synthesis tuning was changed to a prime number sequence, three grain buffers with the following tuning, each grain buffer played simultaneously:

i, Grain1_f(i) [Hz], Grain2_f(i) [Hz], Grain3_f(i) [Hz]
1, 10, 17,23
2, 13, 19, 29
3, 17, 31, 37
4, 19, 37, 41
5, 23, 41, 43
6, 29, 43, 47
7, 31,47, 49
8, 37, 49, 51

Each of the three grain tracks had different grain lengths and starting positions, the frequencies were synchronised during the performance according to the above table. During the performance, I would adjust the starting positions of the grains, using the rotary encoders of the Ableton Push2.

Extensive use was made of delay+feedback net works for both the Granie sounds and that of the Lyra 8. Lyra 8 performances used a modulated delay time tied back to it's "HYPER LFO" (sends out blips at time intervals according to two time controls), this mimicked the "laughter" of the duck calls. Other times I would make live adjustments to the delay times and feedback gain, a conversation between the Lyra 8 and the Granie would ensue.

The Lyra 8 sounds were sent to the Soma COSMOS for either reverb effect or creative looping of themes.

Perhaps you would like to try out Granie for yourself:
https://normanfreund.gumroad.com/l/granie
What granular synthesis scene will you come up with?

References:
[1] Granie, N.O.Freund, software based granular synthesiser, https://normanfreund.gumroad.com/l/granie
[2] Lyra 8, Soma Laboratory, hardware analogue synthesiser, https://somasynths.com/lyra-organismic-synthesizer

Quack Quack - Part 4

Quack Quack - Part 2

Quack Quack - Part 3

Quack Quack - Part 1

Springtime energy blooms
Rising from the dust
We are wild and we are free
Chasing after light
Simple days remain
Purest dreams begin
Life is just a start

Growing into golden fields
Seeds of future hope
Running through the valleys of the morning
Waiting for the sun to rise
Keep the fire bright
Love is all we know

Children of the rising sun shining
Breathing in the rhythm of our own heart
Telling all the secrets to the blue sky
Never letting go of the magic that we hold so tight
Children of the rising sun shining
Breathing in the rhythm of our own heart
Telling all the secrets to the blue sky
Never letting go of the magic that we hold so tight

High above
We can fly
Find the path
Real life
True hearts
One soul
Free mind

Burning with a steady flame
Treading paths where nobody has ever been before us
Starting up a story that will never really end

Children of the rising sun shining
Breathing in the rhythm of our own heart
Telling all the secrets to the blue sky
Never letting go of the magic that we hold so tight
Children of the rising sun shining
Breathing in the rhythm of our own heart
Telling all the secrets to the blue sky
Never letting go of the magic that we hold so tight

Burning with a steady flame
Treading paths where nobody has ever been before us
Starting up a story that will never really end

Children of the rising sun shining
Breathing in the rhythm of our own heart
Telling all the secrets to the blue sky
Never letting go of the magic that we hold so tight

Children of the rising sun

Blue light
Quiet echoes
Still waters
Deep breath
Silent patterns
Slow pulse
Cold glass
Hidden visions
Lost moments
Fading
Inner vision
One soul

Watching
Dreaming
Waiting
Drifting

Blue light
Quiet echoes
Still waters
Deep breath
Silent patterns
Slow pulse

Watching clouds that slowly sail across the dark
Listening to voices from a distant star
Everything is melting into silver haze
Searching for the true meaning in the ancient maze

Tension starts to fade away
Circles in the heavy air
Looking for a path to the sun
Finding all the beauty in the mirror of the soul

Blue light
Quiet echoes
Still waters
Deep breath
Silent patterns
Slow pulse
Cold glass
Hidden visions
Lost moments
Fading
Inner vision
One soul

Looking at the shadows on the cold wall of the room
Feeling all the magic in the winter bloom
Memories are flowing like a mountain stream
Waking from the heavy weight of a long restless dream

Feeling all the weight disappear
Spirit is becoming so clear
Reaching for a sacred place in the sky
Finding all the beauty in the mirror of the soul

Blue light
Quiet echoes
Still waters
Deep breath
Silent patterns
Slow pulse

Watching
Dreaming
Waiting
Drifting

Blue light
Quiet echoes
Still waters
Deep breath
Silent patterns
Slow pulse

Feeling all the weight disappear
Spirit is becoming so clear
Reaching for a sacred place in the sky
Finding all the beauty in the mirror of the soul

Blue light. Quiet echoes.

Hahahahahahaha
Mmh, Jeez Suave, Mucho Suave

Baby, shake your ass
Skinny waist, spicy babe, I love your taste
Boss Lady, donc crie mon name
Baby, shake your ass
Skinny waist, spicy babe, I love your taste
Boss Lady, donc crie mon na-a-a-a-ame

J'ai besoin de cash, un peu de molly
La sexy elle pop, elle eat la molly
Take it personally
T'envoies des messages, personne a lu
Afreaky, moi j'suis sexy au lit
À ta party, j'suis pétée ou lit
J'ai le big nyash comme météorite
Ça mouille d'après la météo, oui
J'ai besoin de cash, un pеu de molly
La sexy ellе pop, elle eat la molly
Take it personally
T'envoies des messages, personne a lu
Afreaky, moi j'suis sexy au lit
À ta party, j'suis pétée ou lit
J'ai le big nyash comme météorite
Ça mouille d'après la météo, oui

Ah, ah, uh-oh
Ah, ah, uh-oh
Ah, ah, ooh-ooh
Ah, ah, ooh-ooh

Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé

Wa si party ka shaye
With money I no dey play
Viens on sort pour se saouler
You can call me, "Brazy Bae," mwah
You dey motivates me, burst my brain
Make you elevate me, aje
You dey motivates me, burst my brain
Make you elevate me, mwah
"Ita la wa", come again?
"Ita la wa", eh? Eh?
"Ita la wa", stop playing
"Ita la wa", mwah
Three, two, one, I'm afro-sexy, rule of thumb
In the club when the beat is dumb
To the dance floor and shake some bum

J'ai besoin de cash, un peu de molly
La sexy elle pop, elle eat la molly
Take it personally
T'envoies des messages, personne a lu
Afreaky, moi j'suis sexy au lit
À ta party, j'suis pétée ou lit
J'ai le big nyash comme météorite
Ça mouille d'après la météo, oui

Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé
Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé

Hahahahahahaha ("Ita la wa", come again?)
B-b-b-beat is dumb ("Ita la wa") (Mmh, Jeez Suave, Mucho Suave)
(Eh? Eh? "Ita la wa")
(Stop playing, "ita la wa", to the dance floor and shake some—, mwah)
(Wa, "ita la wa", come again?) B-b-b-beat is dumb ("Ita la wa")
(Eh? Eh? "Ita la wa")
(Stop playing, "ita la wa")
(Why stop if you want have fun? Mwah)

Tu m'avais pas dit, mon bébé (Non, non)

Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
The stars, the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
The stars, the stars

The stars, the stars

Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
The stars, the stars

Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars

Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
The stars, the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
Kelly watch the stars
The stars, the stars

Kelly watch the stars

The entire sound is in my hands. I write cyber poetry, produce, and compose every track ready for Immersive 3D. Every beat is crafted for spatial and next-gen headphones.
Intimate lyrics, total immersion, every track.

For 30 years I kept unfinished demos to myself, never letting them out. Now I finish what I start and release it the moment it’s alive.

I use every tool available, human or machine, as an instrument.
Technology doesn’t replace creativity. It expands it.

Axel Pulgar works as an audiovisual performer and sound producer. His interest in research and experimenting arose after the creation of various audio effects that have been made with a guitar processor. Then he began to use as a tool the computer; he worked with different techniques different sound sources to compose abstract electronic works.

www.axelpulgar.com

Welcome to my place of musical experiments and my endless journey of exploring new sound textures, rhythms and melodic ideas. I am a multi-instrumentalist coming from a background of having actively played, harmonica, recorder, piano, organ, clarinet, tin whistle, pan pipes, guitar, violin, Shakuhachi, jaw harp, didgeridoo and accordion. My genre is mostly a fusion of Jazz and Soundscape, however I often seek inspiration from a wide variety of music, Celtic, Rock, Heavy Metal, Classical, Folk, Micro-tonal, just to name a few. I also build my own instruments, various Shakuhachi using them either directly in recordings or sample the sounds to incorporate in pitch shifting tools in Ableton Live. I often set myself a music challenge, taking every day sounds not considered musical, sampling, transforming and moulding them into a virtual musical instrument. Experimenting with evolving polymeters is a favourite feature of my works. I have been classically trained but soon ventured into free improvisation, which is my happy place.

I am based on the South Island of New Zealand, enjoying the great outdoors there. I often take inspiration from this for my music and associated cover art.

I have a no cover’s policy, all my works being original compositions, the only exception would be the odd jazz interpretation of a Bach piece from the Baroque era. My percussion sections do not use any artificial intelligence drum machines, nor do I use auto tuners for my violin playing. Paid likes and plays — none of that either. 

I also participate in musical collaborations, from accepting sound samples to see what I can do with them, to instrumental collaborations. Send me a message if interested.

Please join me on this wonderful journey of music exploration.

New tracks tagged #granular synthesis