Slate and Ash Spectres

SPECTRES delves into the elusive realm of radical extended techniques. Sonic illusions and spectral apparitions reveal themselves in the hidden nuances of experimental recordings and collaged loops, unveiling a haunting spectrum of noise and colour.

Curated by experimental composer and performer Lea Bertucci, SPECTRES comprises a large catalogue of solo extended techniques performed by a selection of New York’s premiere experimental instrumentalists.
Alongside over 650 core phrases from fifteen players, it delivers more than 500 specially sound-designed textures, atmospheres, and tones created in our brand new COLLAGE engine — a cutting-edge sample looping environment that allows for full exploration and reinvention of the source samples.

LEADING VOICES OF THE AVANT-GARDE

SPECTRES intentionally steps away from classical norms and leans into the unique and distinctive voices of a number of luminary musicians.

IN FULL SPECTRAL COLOUR

Recordings were captured by cult engineer Randall Dunn — renowned for his work with the likes of Tim Hecker, Sunn O))), and the late Jóhann Jóhannsson — at his Brooklyn-based temple of recording Circular Ruin Studio.
Across the thirteen instruments are an expanse of tonal, atonal, and non-pitched sounds. From the 50 Hz subharmonic of a contrabass clarinet to the clicks and creaks of a its valves, every "imperfect" nuance is emphasised through precision microphone placement, becoming idiosyncratic sonic material in its own right.

ENTER THE NEW WAVE

SPECTRES comes bundled with a wealth of over 500 sound-designed presets expertly crafted by the SLATE + ASH team.
Drawing influence from the new wave of experimental film scoring spearheaded by independent studios such as A24 and Neon, they provide an enormous range of experimental sounds — pads, atmospheres, rhythms, tones, pulses, gestures — each warped and reprogrammed using the COLLAGE engine’s ultra-controllable interface into before-uncharted territories.

RESONANT TRANSLATIONS

Alongside the original recordings are three additional re-amplified channels: a huge resonant grain silo, a wall of distorted amplifiers, and a stereo pair of vintage Roland spring reverbs.