In 2021, I was simultaneously working on four albums: Transneptunian Planets (with J. Peter Schwalm, Eivind Aarset, Tim Harries, and Manuel Pasquinelli); Fractal Sextet (with Jon Durant, Fabio Anile, Colin Edwin, Andi Pupato, and Yogev Gabay); Music for Piano and Strings (an upcoming album of piano quintets and string quartets written either by Fabio Anile or me), and this album, Fractal Guitar 3, the third installment in the Fractal Guitar series.
While being stylistically very different, these four albums are connected in many ways, not to mention the fact that various musicians appear on more than one album. In hindsight, it's interesting for me to see how progress on one album often provided fresh inputs into one or more of the other albums, and how ideas that appeared on one piece were often further developed on pieces on other albums, albeit in a different form.
"Morning Star," for example, is based on a similar "5 against 7" polyrhythm just as "Pluto" from Transneptunian Planets and "Fractal 5.7" from Fractal Sextet were. One of my goals as a composer is to invent new non-standard beats, often using odd meters, polyrhythms, isorhythms, and other techniques. It then sometimes happens that such a beat suggests different applications in different settings. For example, this particular beat first appeared on "Orbit 5.7," a track from Sonar's album Black Light.
Another example is "Black On Electric Blue," which is based on the same rhythmic patterns in 7/4 (simultaneously played in different speeds and in different octaves) as "Slow Over Fast" on the Fractal Sextet album.
A third example is "Ascension" which is based on similiar musical material as my sixth strinq quartet of the same name (recorded by the Al Pari Quartet for Music for Piano and Strings). This version of the piece was co-composed by Markus Reuter and J. Peter Schwalm.
A fourth noteworthy example is "Glitch," a piece that started as a possible track for Transneptunian Planets, but then was further developed and finished as a track for Fractal Guitar 3. It's a new version of "Angular Momentum," a track that was co-composed by Manuel Pasquinelli and also first appeared on Black Light.
Finally, "Through The Stargate," although not directly related to any of the pieces of the four albums mentioned above, is a further exploration of material used on "Enneagram," the opening track of Black Light. This piece was co-composed by Eivind Aarset, who introduced the “Richard Wagner theme” that inspired the orchestral ending. As a bonus track, I have included an edited version of this piece which focuses on Eivind’s parts, mixed by our mutual friend J. Peter Schwalm.
As usual, I would like to thank all the musicians who were involved in the making of this album: without them, it would have been impossible to make. Thanks also to Leonardo "Moonjune" Pavkovic for his unwavering support.
Eivind Aarset: electric guitar, e-bow, effects, noise orchestra
Markus Reuter: touch guitar U8
Jon Durant: fretless guitar, clouds
Fabio Anile: electric piano, clavinet, synth
Stefan Huth: touch guitar U8 (bass)
Yogev Gabay: drums
Stephan Thelen: electric guitar, synth, strings, programming
02 MORNING STAR (Thelen) 09:49
Markus Reuter: touch guitar U8, soundscapes
Jon Durant: guitar, fretless guitar
Bill Walker: glitchy strat, yinyang guitar, koto guitar
Stefan Huth: touch guitar U8
Tim Harries: bass guitar
Yogev Gabay: drums
Stephan Thelen: fractal guitar, electric piano, synth, programming
03 GLITCH (Thelen/Pasquinelli) 09:37
Eivind Aarset: electric guitar, e-bow, effects and glitches
Markus Reuter: touch guitar U8, spanky loop
Jon Durant: guitar
Fabio Anile: electric piano, synth
Stefan Huth: touch guitar (bass)
Tim Harries: bass guitar
Andi Pupato: percussion
Manuel Pasquinelli: drums
Stephan Thelen: electric guitar, organ, samples, programming
04 ASCENSION (Thelen/Reuter/Schwalm) 13:38
Eivind Aarset: tremolo guitar, e-bow
Markus Reuter: touch guitar U8, soundscapes
Jon Durant: fretless guitar, clouds
J. Peter Schwalm: synth, electronic percussion
Stefan Huth: touch guitar U8 (bass)
Andi Pupato: percussion
Manuel Pasquinelli: drums
Stephan Thelen: electric guitar, strings, keyboards, programming
05 BLACK ON ELECTRIC BLUE (Thelen) 11:32
Eivind Aarset: electric guitar, e-bow, glitchy digitalia
Markus Reuter: touch guitar U8, soundscapes
Barry Cleveland: bowed cymbals and guitars, guitar,
psychedelic soundscapes and effects
Stefan Huth: touch guitar AU8 (bass)
Manuel Pasquinelli: drums
Stephan Thelen: electric guitar, electric piano, strings, mellotron
Bonus track:
06 THROUGH THE STARGATE (J. Peter Schwalm remix/edit)(Thelen/Aarset) 09:56
Eivind Aarset: electric guitar, e-bow, effects, noise orchestra
Jon Durant: clouds
Fabio Anile: electric piano, clavinet, synth
Stefan Huth: touch guitar U8 (bass)
Yogev Gabay: drums
Stephan Thelen: electric guitar, synth, programming
Recorded between March 2021 and June 2022 in Zürich, Berlin, Oslo, Portland, Frankfurt, Rome, Santa Cruz, Agoura Hills and Aldekerk.
Drums recorded by Reto Muggli @ Powerplay Studio A near Zürich, Switzerland, May and September 2021.
Mixed by Benjamin Schäfer and Markus Reuter for Unsung Productions @ Horus Sound Studio in Hannover, Germany,
July - August 2022.
Mastered by Lee Fletcher, September 2022.
A guide to the guest soloists on Fractal Guitar 3:
01 Through the Stargate
00:00 - 03:30 Eivind Aarset (Solo and Sounds)
03:30 - 04:50 Markus Reuter (Touch Guitar Solo)
04:50 - 07:55 Jon Durant (Solo)
07:55 - 16:17 Eivind Aarset (E-Bow and Sounds), Fabio Anile (Keyboards)
02 Morning Star
00:00 - 01:07 Bill Walker (Sounds)
01:07 - 02:51 Markus Reuter (Solo and Soundscapes)
02:51 - 03:58 Bill Walker (Solo), Jon Durant (Chords)
03:58 - 04:55 Markus Reuter (Solo and Soundscapes)
05:45 - 07:08 Stefan Huth (Pattern), Markus Reuter (Solo), Jon Durant (Solo)
07:59 - 08:37 Bill Walker
08:37 - 09:16 Markus Reuter
09:16 - 09:49 Bill Walker (Koto Guitar)
00:00 - 05:40 Markus Reuter (Soundscapes and Solo), J. Peter Schwalm (Sounds throughout the whole piece)
05:40 - 07:48 Jon Durant (Fretless Solo)
09:50 - 13:41 Eivind Aarset (E Bow)
05 Black on Electric Blue
00:00 - 01:14 Barry Cleveland (Sounds)
01:14 - 03:02 Markus Reuter (Soundscapes and Solo)
03:02 - 03:39 Barry Cleveland (Sounds)
03:39 - 04:15 Markus Reuter (Solo)
04:15 - 06:06 Eivind Aarset (Sounds)
06:06 - 11:32 Eivind Aarset (Solo), Barry Cleveland (Sounds)
Stephan Thelen is a composer, producer and mathematician based in Zürich, Switzerland. His activities are split into three
main areas: 1) as composer, artistic director and guitarist of the Swiss minimal groove band SONAR, 2) as producer and guitarist for his Fractal Guitar and Fractal Sextet projects and 3) as composer of postminimal music ("Circular Lines", commisioned by the KRONOS QUARTET)....more
supported by 93 fans who also own “Fractal Guitar 3”
Excellent album again from Sonar! More "ambiant" and "spatial" sounds. I really enjoy the accumulation of new sounds. The album feel fresh.
Merci! Long live Sonar! ♥️ Jean-Maurice
supported by 91 fans who also own “Fractal Guitar 3”
At first listen, the juxtaposition of Sonar's rhythmic constructions and Torn's soaring, furious/tender voice would by themselves be enough of a pull. But digging beyond the surface will reward the listener greatly. There is great depth, emotional nuance, intrigue and change, rewarding repeated listening. Ref: Miles/80's Crim/Tibbetts, but this is truly new music. grate ape
The UK upstarts' debut veers from sunny, psychedelic folk to bristling post-punk with reckless abandon without ever missing a beat. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 18, 2024
Winter McQuinn mixes soft rock and psychedelic folk for a sound reminiscent of classic pop purveyors like Cut Worms and the Lemon Twigs. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 16, 2024
supported by 64 fans who also own “Fractal Guitar 3”
Another stellar release from this long-lived ensemble. Though the King Crimson influence is obvious & that comparison unavoidable, these guys have made many great recordings that can't be categorized as 'mere copies'. The perfect balance of aggressive riffing and serene soundscapes. Stephen Roberts
