Micro Biological by Xotla

A mixture of styles incorporating elements of electronic funk, breakbeat and atmospheric music all made using alternative tuning systems to the common 12 equal divisions of the octave (12edo). Where much of modern music uses this system, in which the octave (the second harmonic) is divided into 12 smaller pieces to approximate a variety of harmonic frequency ratios (like the 3/2 fifth, 4/3 fourth, 5/4 major third, 6/5 minor third and so forth), it only does so approximately. 12edo misses out on many ratios involving overtones above the 6th harmonic, which sit somewhere between the conventional 12 divisions. 12edo gained popularity as it is a small number of divisions that tunes the fifth (3/2) and the fourth (4/3) incredibly accurately, the next edo that has an even better tuned fifth than 12edo is 29edo, which is a whole lotta notes. However, if the fifth is considered less important than other intervals, such as the major and minor thirds, then other tunings which can do better with only a handful more notes arise, like 19edo and 22edo.

This album is microtonal, and explores the use of multiple alternative edos, listed in the title of each track, each of which have their own individual approximations of harmonic ratios, some similar to 12edo and some completely unique (like the 7th harmonic, 11th harmonic, and 13th harmonic and their relation to other harmonics, depending on the system). They all thus have their own unique feeling, such as 22edo, which has some great approximations including 7/4 (the 7th harmonic), 7/6 (the subminor third), 9/7 (the supermajor third), 11/8 (the 11th harmonic) and some weird approximations of the minor and major thirds. Where 12edo tunes the minor third flatter than 6/5 and tunes the major third sharper than 5/4, 22edo tunes them oppositely, producing consonant triads that simultaneously sound strangely neutral. 14edo on the other hand doesn't even have major or minor thirds, but instead a note about halfway in between known as the neutral third (11/9), which has a simultaneously minor and major quality to it, which is very strange yet consonant. Needless to say, the tunings have a lot of interesting notes to explore!

Enjoy the music, and if you're new to microtonality, see if you can spot how the alternative tunings affect the feeling of each track. Microtonal intervals have been used in music since long before 12 equal came around, and there's a lot of promise in alternative tuning systems that are still relatively unexplored.

The dragonfly image in the cover art is courtesy of my younger brother (an excellent photographer).

My name is Declan Clark, better known as 'Xotla', a Nahuatl word meaning 'to ignite' or 'to blossom', the fusion of which is a beautiful concept I chose my alias in honor of. I spend my time amongst lush forests and diverse wildlife, which inspires the music I create.
I work with a mixture of unusual time signatures and esoteric tunings, and utilise instruments such as microtonal guitars.

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