Pico Metric by Xotla

The third in the trilogy of microtonal electronic albums exploring the outer edges of tonality and tuning, taking a more dance-able approach this time around to celebrate what has been a fantastic year for xenharmonic music all round. I'm honored to be a part of such a wonderful community of artists and music lovers.

A variety of alternative equal temperaments are employed in this album, all built up of these so called microtones, intervals smaller than (or perhaps simply in-between) semitones. Depending on the way they stitch together, new progressions and melodies become possible and familiar ones are warped in new and interesting ways.

What sounds out-of-tune with the familiar at first, becomes in-tune with itself after sufficient exposure.

In the title of each track is listed the equal division of the octave (edo) utilized, to allow for an understanding of the specific sound each tuning has to offer. I always try to allow the character of the tuning to shape the way a track is written, the timbres employed, and often even the rhythm, to give an authentic perspective as to the potential of the system, so it feels like a pertinent piece of information to make accessible.

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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