FT Drone by Baccharis

FT-drone, a modular synthesizer patch with three iterations. Presented here are 7 selected drone pieces made throughout the evolution of the patch during the months of August and September, 2021. FT is an abbreviation for Filtatron, the iOS instrument by Moog, which is at the heart of this patch. A strummed acoustic ukulele is the initial sound source, combined with other synth voices, running into the effects chain which includes a looper (Enso), and spacious reverb (Alteza). Versions 2 and 3 use captured loops as the sound bed. Melodic percussive elements are introduced with Version 2 (Synthmaster, Mersenne). Version 3, presented on the last track, uses a stereo gate (GateLab) to provide an added textural dimension.

The pieces on the album are arranged in order of recording date, and best experienced by listening continuously from beginning to end. Tracks 1 and 2 have moments of abrasive tension, then from there, the album settles into soothing soundscapes with the melodic elements woven into the sound bed. If choosing to listen to only one track, then begin with the penultimate, track 6.

Each recording was a live improvisation combining minimal performance with generative components, captured to a single stereo track with no overdubs. Mastering was done in T-Racks using emulations of vintage sound processors (EQP-1A, White 2A).

The background image on the album cover is a manipulated photo of patterns in mud formations on the banks of the Rappahannock river, taken in August of 2021. With a filter applied, new colors and patterns emerge, unrecognizable from the source.

Musical explorer

Baccharis is the solo project of Chris Hale, focusing on original electronic music and experiments in sound design

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