Ph_ren by Oscill_Ether
Ph_ren is an album borne of minimalism and restriction.
Composed and performed on a eurorack modular synthesizer using a strict number of modules along with outboard fx units, each patch serves to explore differing compositional and melodic possibilities presented by such rules and limitations.
Named for the 2 modules which centre the 10 pieces (Piston Honda mk2 from Industrial Music Electronics & Make Noise Music’s Rene mk1), what started as a patching experiment in tonal studies quickly turned into an exercise in compositional reduction. As time passed & the collection of differing recordings grew, several of them began to exhibit similar characters & a larger shared sonic narrative started to emerge, from which this group of pieces was chosen.
Minimal at its core both in composition & execution, Ph_ren explores the rules of confinements & possibility, approached in equal amounts by both curiosity & patience.
Arranged into two halves to fit the cassette medium, the first five pieces are brighter & in parts, more aggressive, whereas the following half is comprised of dreamier & longer evolving ambient works.
Each of the pieces is a single live take containing no overdubs or edits, & were performed using the following equipment:
Industrial Music Electronics Piston Honda mk2
Make Noise Music Rene mk1
Doepfer A143-3 Quad LFO
Make Noise Music Optomix
Doepfer A101-1 Vactrol Filter
Eventide Space
Moog MF-104M delay (replaced by Roland RE201 Space Echo on Amulet)
Recorded & mixed between April 2015 - June 2018 by Oscill_Ether at Crucible Studios.
Mastered by Lawrence English at Negative Space.
Cassettes by DupeShop, art by duckboibones
Thanks to the following people for either your direct input, criticisms, kind words, or inspirations. Please know there is a part of you in these pieces: Lawrence English, Arongo Te Whiu, William Basinski, Robin Fox, Adam Swain, Mick Gordon, & Erther.
Tracklist
| 1. | Forward Large | 6:44 |
| 2. | Amulet | 7:09 |
| 3. | 610Walk | 8:00 |
| 4. | Spooks | 4:40 |
| 5. | Chase | 5:33 |
| 6. | Um | 5:38 |
| 7. | Say Hello | 4:19 |
| 8. | Gravity (samples) | 7:27 |
| 9. | Roads | 7:14 |
| 10. | Crucian | 7:53 |
