This was my contribution for the Disquiet Junto Project 0579:Memory Serves.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0579 discussion thread:
I produced this track back in August 2022 but wasn’t quite happy with the way the mix turned out. This week’s assignment gave me the incentive to re-visit the piece and make some tweaks. Created with the o-o-o script on the Norns Shield along with Ableton Live instruments and Max for Live effects. Globular Cluster NGC 1850 image by NASA Hubble Space Telescope.

More on this 579th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Memory Serves (The Assignment: Rerecord a piece of music), at: Disquiet Junto Project 0579: Memory Serves – Disquiet
More on the Disquiet Junto at: Disquiet Junto F.A.Q. – Disquiet
Subscribe to project announcements here: Disquiet Junto by Marc Weidenbaum (Disquiet.com)
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0579-memory-serves/

Space Shifter (redux) [disquiet0579]

This was my contribution for the part 4 remix:  Disquiet Junto Project 0594: Threemix

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0594 discussion thread:

I was inspired to remix the @Joule composition "Never Alone", that combined "Nobody's Home" by @glitcher and "Somebody's Home" by @SinnySounds. I liked the mood and the way all the sounds and instruments came together.

After bringing the main track into Ableton Live, I added compression and re-equalized some parts, to make it even more dynamic. This especially helped after I added my own tracks. I also duplicated sections of the main sample a couple times and added effects using Bleass Granulizer, ShaperBox 3 and Strymon Big Sky reverb. The additional tracks that were added used Moog Model 15, AudioThing Noises and Sugar Bytes Aparillo plugins. Hopefully I wasn't too over-the-top or heavy-handed in creating this remix. I enjoyed taking part in this project and also listening to all the great compositions from everyone these past few weeks. 

More on this 594th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Threemix (The Assignment: Remix an asynchronously produced trio), at: https://disquiet.com/0594/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0594-threemix/

A Gathering of Sirens [disquiet0594] (K Joule  “Never Alone” remix)

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0599: Minimal(ist) Blend (part 3 of a Disquiet Junto Éliane Radique themed project done in collaboration with the 2023 Musikfestival Bern)

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0599 discussion thread:
My original intent was to create something very experimental but this evolved into more of an ambient soundscape. I tried to keep it within the minimal description but might have strayed a little beyond that in some sections. I used seven parts that I morphed and modulated using various effects (see below) in Ableton Live. An additional track using Audio Things Noises was used to create a foundation. 

The following plugins/effects were used: Slate+Ash Choreographs and Landforms, Sugar Bytes Aparillo, Amazing Noises Grain Scanner (M4L), Bleass Granulizer, Audio Damage Other Desert Cities, Strymon Big Sky and Eventide Blackhole. 

River canyon photograph by Pine Watt via Unsplash.

More on this 599th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Minimal(ist) Blend (The Assignment: Make a piece of music that combines self-contained minimalist parts), at: https://disquiet.com/0599/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/ 1
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0599-minimal-ist-blend/

Entrenched and Incised Meanders [disquiet0599]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0603: Animated Suspension

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0603 discussion thread:
This week's theme based on “something floating in air" is close to what I envisioned when coming up with "Air Spaces" a couple months ago, so I used it as my submission. Initial track was created on a Roland Aira J6. Additional tracks were added in Ableton Live using Arturia CZ V. 

Final audio was recorded to cassette tape using a Fostex X-18 4-track and copied back into Live using an inexpensive stereo cassette player with weak batteries, which resulted in slower tape speed (about 30 percent less). Accompanying video can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5XgFgkSUUE

More on this 603rd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Animated Suspension (The Assignment: Record a piece of music that suggests something floating in air), at: https://disquiet.com/0603/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0603-animated-suspension/

Air Spaces [disquiet0603]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0604: Heaven’s Gate
Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0604 discussion thread:

There is an abundance of crows in the neighborhood where we live. They're extremely smart and fun to watch as they go about their daily antics. So when it came time to take a photo of some interesting clouds for this week's project, a crow flew  by and photobombed the scene.

I used the Max For Live MIDI effect, Rhythmorphic by Dillon Bastan, as the foundation for this piece. It uses an image source to morph Euclidian sequences into non-Euclidian rhythms. A grayscale version of the crow/clouds image I shot was used. Gate sequencing, notes and modulations were created by the device using the light and dark values of the image. Here's Dillon's video link that better explains the device: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFrhJ0KcqzQ.

Slate+Ash Choreographs was used in Ableton Live for all the sounds/textures within Rhythmorphic, as well as a separate melody track. Additional gate modulation was created using the free plugin Gatelab by Audiomodern.

More on this 604th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Heaven’s Gate (The Assignment: Use a picture of the clouds as a plan for adjusting your sound), at: https://disquiet.com/0604/
About the Disquiet Junto: Disquiet Junto F.A.Q. – Disquiet
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/ 1
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0604-heavens-gate/

Crow Chasing Summer Clouds [disquiet0604]

This was my contribution for the collaborative Disquiet Junto Project 0610: Speed Limit Pt 2

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0610 discussion thread:

Ended up using part 1 compositions by @Timshel0, @dequalsrxt, and @tristan_louth_robins for this piece since they all seemed to work well with the Basinski style vibe I had in mind. I layered them into Ableton Live at 60 BPM and edited the audio in various ways by stretching, warping, chopping and looping the samples. Thank you to the three creators for the opportunity to use these creations, but also apologies for my excessive manipulation and mangling of your source audio.  

I recorded the mix onto a Panasonic RN-125 microcassette recorder and then, played it back into Ableton at half speed. Final tempo should be around 30 BPM. Added plugin effects from Arturia Rev Intensity (reverb), Phonolyth Cascade (reverb), Soundghost Drift (for more tape effects) and AudioThing Noises to the final mix.

The ambiguous title was inspired by reflecting on news headlines referencing "...a fragile peace" in conflict areas around the world.   

More on this 610th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Speed Limit Pt 2 (The Assignment: Combine two or more pre-existing 60 BPM tracks into something new — at half the speed), at: https://disquiet.com/0610/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0610-speed-limit-pt-2/

A Fragile Piece [disquiet0610]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0611: Music That Listens To Itself.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0611 discussion thread:

Here's my attempt to create music that listens to itself by using delay, reverb, granular and tape effects. As the piece progresses and additional tracks were added, the mix levels of the effects were increased. Tried not to go overboard but might have done that anyway. Some tones toward the end started to feedback on itself, so had to dial things down a bit. 

Tracks were created in Ableton Live using Ableton's Wavetable synth, Max for Live Tombola, Sonic Beds Vol.1 by Jogging House, and Slate+Ash Choreographs/Landforms. Ambient noise tracks were added using Audio Thing Noise and FIELD by ELPHNT. Effects used: SoundGhost Drift, Cableguys Shaper 3, Baby Audio Transit, Inorganic Audio Liquid, Arturia Coldfire, Audio Damage Other Desert Cities, Sugar Bytes Graindad, Strymon BigSky, ValhallaRoom and Phonolyth Cascade.  Image by Vedanti via Pexels.

More on this 611th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Music That Listens to Itself (The Assignment: Record a piece of music that repurposes itself as it proceeds), at: https://disquiet.com/0611/
Some of the music resulting from this project may be included in a September 29, 2023, event at the Berkeley Alembic in Berkeley, California: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/expanded-listening-music-that-listens-to-itself-tickets-712124101357 2
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0611-music-that-listens-to-itself/

Lesser Facets Glowing [disquiet0611]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0616: Definition Jam

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0616 discussion thread:

Chose to work with the words "calm" and "placid".

Created in Ableton Live using Fors Chiral and Slate+Ash Choreographs with Strymon Big Sky and Aqusmatiq Dedalus Delay for effects. Not sure whether I'm 100% satisfied with the result since I had a more quiet and subtle ambient vibe in mind when I started. Maybe I’ll re-visit this sometime in the future.
 
More on this 616th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Definition Jam (The Assignment: Explore, in music, the nuanced differences between two closely related words), at: https://disquiet.com/0616/
About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/ 1
Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/
Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0616-definition-jam/

Strangely Calm and Placid Days [disquiet0616]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0635: ‘Round The Bend

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0635 discussion thread https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0635-round-the-bend/66322/13

Used part of the longer recording for this project. Thank you @toaster for providing the sample. Layered a track from my modular over the train recording to create the final piece. Used Hermod+ to sequence a bass line using Rings, and also added a simple melody from the module with a K-Board keyboard. Some modulation was added using OCHD. Reverb was added to both tracks in Ableton Live using Valhalla Supermassive. Train track image by Todd Trapani via Unsplash.       

More on the 635th weekly Disquiet Junto project, ’Round the Bend — The Assignment: You’re in a duo, and your bandmate is a train — at https://disquiet.com/0635/
The image associated with this track is a photograph by Todd (Toaster) Elliott, who also provided the field recordings of the train.

Last Train North [disquiet0635]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0643: Stone Out of Focus

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0643 discussion thread on Lines:

Used Yoko Ono's line "Take the sound of the stone aging", along with the prompt Record your impression of the sound of stone aging, as inspiration for this piece. Through the years, Aphex Twin and “Stone in Focus”, has had a big influence on me musically. Those ideas/influences led to me imagining a large stone aging through eons. Hopefully, I was successful in conveying that vision. 

Created in Ableton Live using Arturia Prophet V3, Fors Tela, Slate+Ash Choreographs, and K-Devices TATAT plugins. Used Soundtoys MicroShift and Valhalla Supermassive for effects. Stone-in-sea photo by Lionel Gustave via Unsplash.

More on the 643rd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Stone Out of Focus — The Assignment: Make music inspired by a poem — at https://disquiet.com/0643/
This week’s project is based on a text by Yoko Ono, originally published in her book Grapefruit60 years ago, back in 1964.

Sound of Stone Aging [disquiet0643]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0658: Re-Amplify. The assignment was to re-record and re-compose an organ improvisation by Daniel Glaus. This project was the last of three done in collaboration with 2024 Musikfestival Bern.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0658 discussion thread on Lines:

This assignment took me out of my comfort zone. Although I appreciate dark and dissonant experimental music, I find it difficult to create that type of music myself – leaning to a more mellow ambient vibe. I really did enjoy the process and outcome though, so I might experiment more with other styles in the future.

I used about a six minute section of Daniel Glaus's "Kokytos", and re-amplified the more quiet sections to come close to the loudest parts. I then copied the WAV file to my iPhone. From there, I went outside to the deck behind our house. A gathering of crows, Scrub and Stellar Jays were calling loudly in the Oak trees nearby. I re-recorded "Kokytos" from the iPhone speaker, along with the bird calls and other ambient yard/neighborhood sounds, using a Tascam DR-100MK3 digital recorder. Maybe it was my imagination, but the birds seemed to be responding to the sounds coming out of the iPhone.

After copying the file to Ableton Live, I added reverb and other effects to two versions of the audio. Other tracks, a bell tone from a Buddhist temple and chopped up clips of a Japanese children's song about crows, were also added. I also played sliced random samples from "Kokytos" with a MIDI keyboard using the Jumble plugin by SoundGhost. Abstract photo by Greg Rosenke via Unsplash. 

More on the 658th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Re-Amplify — The Assignment: Re-record and re-compose an organ improvisation by Daniel Glaus — at https://disquiet.com/0658/ 1.

Elegy For Crows and Jays [disquiet0658]

his was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0659: Reading the Body. 

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0659 discussion thread on Lines:

Was going to interpret the markings on the cello as originally described in the prompt, but ended up taking a different approach. I used an online tool called Image2MIDI. It generated five tracks of 15 bar MIDI notes from the cello back image based on musical parameters I entered on a form. The tool appeared to use the overall light and dark shades of the image for note generation. I then took the MIDI file and imported it into Ableton Live. Instruments were assigned to each track – a mix of built-in and Fors.fm plugins. I made adjustments to the notes and looped them out to about three minutes. A little reverb was the only additional effect used. 

I could see investigating Image2MIDI some more, and maybe using it again as a staring off point for future experiments. I initially wasn't going to take part this week but am glad I did. The assignment turned out to be enjoyable, as well as a good learning experience, so I'm glad I participated. Pattern image by Andrew Ridley via Unsplash.

More on the 659th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Reading the Body — The Assignment: Interpret the markings on the back of a cello as a graphic score — at Disquiet Junto Project 0659: Reading the Body – Disquiet

Reluctant Motifs [disquiet0659]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0662: Spin Cycle

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0662 discussion thread on Lines:

I imagined two cyclists on a banked velodrome. They would take turns occasionally pulling ahead of each other. Toward the end, they both race at the same speed, and leave the velodrome together. Hopefully I was able to convey that scenario here.

I used MIDI sequences generated by a web based version of Laurie Spiegel's Music Mouse by software developer Tero Parviainen. After editing the MIDI notes in Ableton Live, I created two tracks representing the two riders, each using a different instrument preset in Slate+Ash Choreographs. Cableguys ShaperBox 3 was used to create rising and falling volume levels – one every 8 bars and the other every 16 bars. This was done to mimic the cyclists pulling ahead and falling behind each other. Three other MIDI tracks were created for percussion, bass and counter melody using Choreoraphs and Teletone Audio Ondine. Effects used were Valhalla Room and Phonolyth Cascade reverbs. Star trails image by David Becker via Unsplash.

More on the 662nd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Spin Cycle — The Assignment: Record a piece of music that pits one bicyclist against another — at https://disquiet.com/0662/

Revolving Roundabout [disquiet0662]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0665: Clicks + Cuts Music Factory

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0665 discussion thread on Lines:

Although I've heard plenty of glitch inspired electronica through the years, I don't think I've listened to a Clicks + Cuts compilation till now. The tracks gave me a good understanding of what to strive for.  I'm not familiar with Achim Szepanski and Mille Plateaux records, so this has been a nice learning process. Condolences to his loved ones, friends and fans on his untimely passing.

This was created in Ableton Live using a variety of its instruments, samples, and effects – along with Max for Live devices, Slate + Ash Choreographs and Spectres. A vocal sample of a lecture from freesound.org was also used. This turned out a lot less abstract and sparse than I originally envisioned, but I had a good time putting it together. 

More on the 665th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Clicks + Cuts Music Factory — The Assignment: Record a track in honor of the late Achim Szepanski — at Disquiet Junto Project 0665: Clicks + Cuts Music Factory – Disquiet

The image associated with this project was created by Lubomir Panak in 2011. Originally posted on Flickr 1, it is used thanks to a CC BY-NC 2.0 license. This is a detail of the original image, and it has been tilted at an angle, with the project information superimposed.

Subconscience Relics [disquiet0665]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0669: Phonosynthesis
The Assignment: Make music to help a forest regenerate.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0669 discussion thread on Lines:

Hope the music that we've all created will help forests to grow and flourish. The trees and their friends here in our yard seemed appreciative when I played this for them. 

Created with Ableton Live using Slate+Ash Choreographs, Spectres, and Max4Live devices along with loops, samples and field recordings. Valhalla Delay and Arturia Fragments were used for effects. Photo is from a native Monterey Pine forest next to where I live here in California.  

More on the 669th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Phonosynthesis — The Assignment: Make music to help a forest regenerate — at https://disquiet.com/0669/ 1

Daydream Forest [disquiet0669]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0675: Arc of the Drone.
The assignment: Record a drone that goes from simple to complex to simple.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0675 discussion thread on Lines:

Tried to create a ambient drone that subtly transitioned from simple to complex to simple. Hopefully that came across in this piece.  

Created in Ableton Live using Slate + Ash Primaries/Strings, Madrona Labs Sumu, and Amazing Noises Grain Scanner soft instruments. Delay in Ableton along with Phonolyth Cascade reverb were the effects used. Image by Pawel Czerwinski via Unplash. 

More on the 675th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Arc of the Drone — The Assignment: Record a drone that goes from simple to complex to simple — at https://disquiet.com/0675/

Cascading Arc [disquiet0675]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0676: Sub Melody. The assignment: Bury a slow melody deep inside a drone.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0676 discussion thread on Lines:

I really enjoyed these drone projects. Wanted to create a minimal atmospheric vibe with this one. Tried to keep the melody as low key and simple as possible. 

Created in Ableton Live using Slate + Ash Choreographs, along with some samples. Valhalla Delay, Valhalla Supermassive and Output Portal were the effects used. Photo taken in San Francisco in 2008, back when I used to live in the SF Bay Area.

More on the 676th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Sub Melody — The Assignment: Bury a slow melody deep inside a drone — at https://disquiet.com/0676/

Resonant Spaces [disquiet0676]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0679: Ice Age. The Assignment: Record the sound of ice in a glass and make something with it.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0679 discussion thread on Lines:

At first I wasn’t sure if I had time but am glad I’m able to participate in the first Disquiet Junto for the new year. Created this dark noisy soundscape using field recordings of ice rattling in two different drinking vessels. Then copied these sounds into a 64hp rack that included Morphagene, Function, Ikarie and Nautilus. Combined everything in Ableton Live and added a couple random field recordings, samples and an additional track using Slate+Ash Primaries Strings. This turned out more chaotic and dense than I would have liked but enjoyed the creative process of putting this together. 

More on the 679th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Ice Age — The Assignment: Record the sound of ice in a glass and make something with it — at https://disquiet.com/0679/

Icehouse [disquiet0679]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0680: Reverse Resolution. The Assignment: Finish something (musical) you started last year.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0680 discussion thread on Lines:

I didn’t realize I had such a large collection of unfinished tracks and musical sketches from last year on my laptop. For this piece, I used a sequence I created last year when I was exploring the new plugin Tela by Fors.fm. I added additional tracks in Ableton Live using Madrona Labs Sumu and Slate+Ash Spectres.  

More on the 680th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Reverse Resolution — The Assignment: Finish something (musical) you started last year — at https://disquiet.com/0680

Gathering Stray Totems [disquiet0680]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0682: Unring a Bell. The Assignment: What if you could?

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0682 discussion thread on Lines:

My interpretation of un-ringing was based on bell tones morphing and unraveling into other sounds. Initially tried to create this soundscape in Ableton Live but nothing seemed to click. Finally settled on using a small modular system for production. 

Put together a Morphagene reel in Adobe Audition using bell samples as well as atmospheric sounds from freesound.org. The patch routing went from Make Noise Morphagene, Bastl Ikarie, Holocene NLMM, and finally a Make Noise XOH out to an audio interface to Ableton. Manually played Morphagene as the composition progressed. Recorded and deleted multiple versions, till I was finally satisfied with this one. Added a bit of delay and reverb with Valhalla Supermassive. Bells photo by Shaouraav Shreshtha via Unsplash.

More on the 682nd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Unring a Bell — The Assignment: What if you could? — at https://disquiet.com/0682/

Bells Unraveling [disquiet0682]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0684: Early Bird. The Assignment: Record not so much an alarm as a guided wakening.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0684 discussion thread on Lines:

I had a small 48hp modular system setup for a project I did last week, so decided to use the same modules with different parameters for this week’s assignment. Pamela’s Pro Workout was used for master clock, random sample & hold, and quantization. This was then patched into Calsynth Ornament and Crime with Phazerville suite, running the sequential switch applet in both hemispheres. That in turn helped to sequence a Make Noise STO and Calsynth uRings. Desmodus Versio provided in rack reverb. The modules were manually modulated. Some Valhalla Delay and Supermassive were added in Ableton Live.

After a few listens, the overall vibe, and the ending using a dawn chorus sample, seemed a little too new agey to me, but I'm mostly fine with how it turned out. Here’s to restful sleep and positive awakenings to all in the days ahead.

More on the 684th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Early Bird — The Assignment: Record not so much an alarm as a guided wakening — at https://disquiet.com/0684/

Dawn Salutation [disquiet0684]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0685: Pick-Me-Up. The Assignment: Treat a set of sounds like a game of pick up sticks.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0685 discussion thread on Lines:

This is a very loose interpretation of the assignment. It’s also not as polished as I would have liked since I decided to participate at the last minute. Still had fun putting this together though.

I recorded wooden barbecue skewers being dropped on a wooden surface as well as random sounds of the skewers being handled. Brought those samples into Ableton Live where they were recorded into MIDI sequences using K-Dervices TATAT and Soundghost Jumble. Manually edited the MIDI notes till I liked the sequences. Added a percussion track as well as a guitar-like track using Slate+Ash Spectres. For effects, I used Cableguys ShaperBox 3 and Ableton Live builtin effects.

More on the 685th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Pick-Me-Up — The Assignment: Treat a set of sounds like a game of pick up sticks — at https://disquiet.com/0685/
The photo, by Heurtelions, associated with this project is used thanks to a CC BY-SA 4.0 Creative Commons license (photo repeated in a grid with text superimposed).

Stick Pile Dance [disquiet0685]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0686: Catch Your Breath. The Assignment: Listen to yourself inhale and exhale; make music from what you sense.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0686 discussion thread on Lines:

Lately, I’ve been thinking of experimenting with music that could evoke the empty, transitional, surreal, and perhaps eerie aesthetics of liminal spaces. This week’s prompt about breathing seemed like it would make for an interesting soundscape if combined with that vibe. 

This was produced in Ableton Live 12 using Slate + Ash Spectres Multisample. Two tracks were created using a MIDI keyboard, with built-in effects. Additional atmospheric tracks were added from various field recording samples that were recorded last week.

More on the 686th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Catch Your Breath — The Assignment: Listen to yourself inhale and exhale; make music from what you sense — at https://disquiet.com/0686/

Negative Breathing Space [disquiet0686]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0687: Applied Science. 
The Assignment: Record a piece of music that explores physiological and behavioral techniques.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0687 discussion thread on Lines:

I interpreted “physiological” by using looping sequences, created with Slate+Ash Cycles in Ableton Live. 

The “behavioral” is represented with notes and sounds played off-grid using a MIDI keyboard using Slate+Ash Spectres. I tried to give a sense of consciously playing along with the pattern but in a freeform almost casual way. 

Hopefully, both these concepts somewhat came across in this track. Image by Scott Webb via Unsplash.

More on the 687th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Applied Science — The Assignment: Record a piece of music that includes physiological and behavioral techniques — at https://disquiet.com/0687/

Stretching Skid Ladders [disquiet0687]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0688: Sign Up. The Assignment: Interpret a routine public sign as a musical instruction.

At the end of a short cul-de-sac in a residential neighborhood in the town where I live, is a yellow triangular road sign with the words “END” (see image). Something about the finality of the words and the placement of it in front of the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, makes me a little sad and a touch melancholic every time I see it. Especially when the air is misty or foggy, which happens often along the coast. It’s as if the sign is trying to prevent one from further experiencing more joy, hope or happiness. The solid red secondary sign adds to that feeling. I tried to convey that thought with this piece.

This was created using Ableton Live using Native Instruments Playbox, Slate+Ash Spectres, and a field recording from a local beach. Also used built-in reverbs and Spectral Resonator effects within the DAW.

More on the 688th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Sign Up — The Assignment: Interpret a routine public sign as a musical instruction — at https://disquiet.com/0688/

Last Wave [disquiet0688]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0690: Knot Bad. The Assignment: Interpret wood grain as a graphic score.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0690 discussion thread on Lines:

This was inspired from a live edge black walnut board I’ve had for many years. I used to do some woodworking, and this is a souvenir from those days. I might someday incorporate it into an art or craft project, but for now, I keep it around as something to be simply admired.

I used the horizontal grain patterns and the imperfections in the middle of the board, as the graphic score. First, I assembled a Morphagene reel using slices from various pieces I created as well as field recordings I had. Included in the samples was a recording of the sounds of a piece of wood being lightly dragged across the surface of the board that included the imperfections. This created a drone like foundation using the modular synth. I then created some tracks in Ableton Live following the “notation” of horizontal center grains and notches. Used Slate+Ash Cycles for instruments and Valhalla Delay for effects. I also added an outdoor field recording from our front yard. 

I imagined sights, sounds, music and other memories that the tree might have experienced when it was alive.  Those things, embedded within the grains of wood, are released here with this soundscape as a remembrance of those years. At least, that was my intention.

More on the 690th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Knot Bad — The Assignment: Interpret wood grain as a graphic score — at https://disquiet.com/0690/

Memory From A Walnut Grove [disquiet0690]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0691: Un-Ravel. The Assignment: Make a recording of a string quartet fall apart.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0691 discussion thread on Lines:

Initially intended on producing something with Morphagene as the main tool. After creating a 2:23 minute reel from the first half of the first movement, I loaded it into the module and played around with the modular for a few hours. Ended up with some cool and mangled soundscapes, but it didn’t fit the ambient mood I had in mind. 

Scrapped that initial idea and loaded the audio file into Ableton Live. From there, I converted the audio to MIDI and discarded the recorded instrumentation. I suppose this was my interpretation of taking the string quartet apart. I slowed the tempo down a bit but kept the original arrangement. I then copied it and pasted added tracks, re-arranging and shuffling the MIDI notes. I used u-he Hive, Slate + Ash Cycles and Spectres, and Tonal Drifts by Jogging House for the instruments. Effects used were mostly built-in as well as the free Fors.fm Sala for reverb. Field recordings and other samples were also added. 

It was interesting reading up on Maurice Ravel and his influence on music in the 20th century. His musical style and mysterious personal life were the main inspirations behind this piece. Hopefully, he would have found this interpretation of his work at least interesting. 

More on the 691st weekly Disquiet Junto project, Un-Ravel — The Assignment: Make a recording of a string quartet fall apart — at https://disquiet.com/0691/

Ravel’s Secret Muses [disquiet0691]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0695: Clean After Each Use. 
The Assignment: Put a piece of music through the dryer.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0695 discussion thread on Lines:

This is a somewhat loose interpretation of the assignment. I utilized an unfinished track created last year using the Max for Live Tombola.sequencer. Its shape and action resemble a spinning laundry dryer. I then took the audio and “dried” it adjusting parameters in the Smugi filter bank plugin by Felt Instruments as the track progressed. In addition, I added a field recording of our spinning clothes dryer that I recorded a few months ago. A supporting track was added using Slate+Ash Spectres. Effects used were Valhalla Vintage Verb, Phonolyth Cascade, Audio Damage Other Desert Cities, and built-in Ableton Live devices.

More on the 695th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Disquiet Junto Project 0695: Clean After Each Use — The Assignment: Put a piece of music through the dryer — at https://disquiet.com/0695/

Some Fragile Waypoints [disquiet0695]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0696: Chain of Layer. The first of three that are being done by the Disquiet Junto in collaboration with the 2025 Musikfestival Bern.  The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0696 discussion thread on Lines:

Recorded 11 tracks from my modular synth using Make Noise Telharmonic and Verbos HO modules for the voices. Layered them in Ableton Live in the sequence in which they were recorded – fading one into the next. Also inserted 4 samples from field recordings I had and interspersed them between the synth tracks, and also at the end. So this has a total of 15 layers. Some reverb using Valhalla Room and a bit of auto panning using built in devices were the only effects added. Image by Ruido-98 via Unsplash. It's been altered slightly in Photoshop.

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/

Fifteen Waveforms [disquiet0696]

This was my contribution for Disquiet Junto Project 0697: First Third. The Assignment: Record the first third of a trio.

Here’s a copy of my post on the Disquiet Junto 0697 discussion thread on Lines:

Decided to go with rhythmic/percussive samples for the first stage of the project. The three samples, variations of the same patch, were created using Lorre-Mill Double Knot V3 processed through a Comb Room delay. The audio was recorded into Ableton Live and exported without any effects. Have fun! 

More on the 697th weekly Disquiet Junto project, First Third — The Assignment: Record the first third of a trio — at https://disquiet.com/0697/

Double Knotted and Comb Roomed Trio [disquiet0697]

Somewhere on the California Central Coast

he_nu_ri

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