Slate and Ash Spectres [KONTAKT]

CONJURE AURAL ILLUSIONS
SPECTRES delves into the elusive realm of radical extended techniques. Sonic illusions and spectral apparitions reveal themselves in the hidden nuances of experimental recordings and collaged loops, unveiling a haunting spectrum of noise and colour.

Curated by experimental composer and performer Lea Bertucci, SPECTRES comprises a large catalogue of solo extended techniques performed by a selection of New York's premiere experimental instrumentalists.
Alongside over 650 core phrases from fifteen players, it delivers more than 500 specially sound-designed textures, atmospheres, and tones created in our brand new COLLAGE engine - a cutting-edge sample looping environment that allows for full exploration and reinvention of the source samples.

LEADING VOICES OF THE AVANT-GARDE
SPECTRES intentionally steps away from classical norms and leans into the unique and distinctive voices of a number of luminary musicians.
Featuring performances from the likes of award-winning flautist and musical pioneer Claire Chase, harpist and Björk collaborator Zeena Parkins, and renowned percussionist Sarah Hennies, SPECTRES finds fresh angles for experimental music.

IN FULL SPECTRAL COLOUR
Recordings were captured by cult engineer Randall Dunn - renowned for his work with the likes of Tim Hecker, Sunn O))), and the late Jóhann Jóhannsson - at his Brooklyn-based temple of recording Circular Ruin Studio.
Across the thirteen instruments are an expanse of tonal, atonal, and non-pitched sounds. From the 50 Hz subharmonic of a contrabass clarinet to the clicks and creaks of a its valves, every "imperfect" nuance is emphasised through precision microphone placement, becoming idiosyncratic sonic material in its own right.

ENTER THE NEW WAVE
SPECTRES comes bundled with a wealth of over 500 sound-designed presets expertly crafted by the SLATE + ASH team.
Drawing influence from the new wave of experimental film scoring spearheaded by independent studios such as A24 and Neon, they provide an enormous range of experimental sounds - pads, atmospheres, rhythms, tones, pulses, gestures - each warped and reprogrammed using the COLLAGE engine's ultra-controllable interface into before-uncharted territories.

RESONANT TRANSLATIONS
Alongside the original recordings are three additional re-amplified channels: a huge resonant grain silo, a wall of distorted amplifiers, and a stereo pair of vintage Roland spring reverbs.
Each reveals new tonal character in the material - creating a huge palette of space and colour. Housed in our multi-dimensional mixer, this spectral landscape can be freely explored to envision new perspectives or ever-shifting timbres.

CREATING THROUGH COLLAGE
SPECTRES lives in our brand new COLLAGE engine - a dynamic playground for sonic exploration, full of overlapping loops and contrasting fragments.
Inspired by the tape-splicing techniques of musique concrete, the COLLAGE engine reassembles and magnifies fragments of samples, building overlapping sequences and granular micro-montages that transcend linear time. Everything feeds into a sophisticated mixer and effect environment, with modular-like automation of almost every parameter.

666 × ARTICULATIONS
35 alto saxophone
70 baritone saxophone
59 cello
32 clarinet
42 contrabass clarinet
32 contrabass
60 flute
52 harp
94 percussion
47 trombone
33 trumpet
58 tuba
52 violin

519 × PRESETS
44 abstract
31 animations
70 atmospheres
52 forms
25 gestures
28 movements
71 pads
35 patterns
55 spectres
74 textures
34 tones



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