Lithosphere by Ice Locus

Lithosphere is an EP consisting of two live ambient electroacoustic / modular synth performances recorded in September and October of 2021. These are improvised experimental sets that use peculiar instruments. The name "Lithosphere" was inspired by two of these instruments that were created in Italy by Azzam Bells - (1) a 16 kg marble Stone Harp and (2) an orb-like spherical tongue drum called the Sfera Electro. Other super inspiring instruments used include a duduk (an ancient Armenian woodwind), a spinning top combined with a pot lid and contact microphone, and a cedar box called the Sputter where the materials were selectively harvested from the forests of Arkansas and handcrafted by Gradient Instruments (extraordinary experimental music artists and my mentors Sarah Belle Reid and Ryan Gaston). Other instruments included in the sets are Eurorack and semi-modular synthesizers, and the chaotic Stereo Field that turns your body into a patch cable!

Track 1 - "Lithosphere" was a performance for "The Passing Room" concert on October 26, 2021. It is an experimental, live-looped piece that melds the sound of ancient instruments like the duduk and the marble Stone Harp with modern electronics and granular synthesis. Friction mallets and contact microphones placed all over the equipment create other-worldly textures for the listener to be immersed in.

Track 2 - "Spherical Chill" was an ambient performance for the Modular World show on September 5, 2021. It was recorded the day my uncle passed away from cancer, so I completely changed the set just before the show from the original plan of "blasting the Moogs" to a very relaxing and soothing ambient soundscape to get lost in. It features the use of the meditative-sounding Electro Sfera spherical orb and a fugue played on the Spherical Wavetable Navigator Eurorack module. Additional experimental textures from the sounds of a spinning top and the Stereo Field chaos synthesizer add to the ambience.

Ice Locus is an experimental synthesis project by engineer Jared Kozub from the icy heart of Canada. He composes and performs music by combining modular synthesizers with sampled field recordings, and other acoustic instruments. Other sonic curiosities are used for sound design and exploration.

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