SUBLIME WAVELENGTHS: The Cosmic Bliss of FM Synthesis
Out now from Clan Analogue
Q1. What is FM synthesis?
A1. The cheesy sounds of mid-80s pop music
A2. A technique enabling sound designers to tap into the underlying mathematical structures of the Universe
Q2. Can both of these be true?
Australia’s pioneering electronic music collective Clan Analogue explore these important questions with their dazzling new release – Sublime Wavelengths: The Cosmic Bliss of FM Synthesis. This compilation takes listeners on a journey through the shimmering tones, intricate modulations, and futuristic landscapes of FM synthesis. Sublime Wavelengths is a celebration of the iconic synthesis method of frequency modulation which revolutionised sound design in the 1980s and defined an era of electronic music.
The artists on Sublime Wavelengths explore FM synthesis in all its manifestations. Jacek Tuschewski and Darrow explore the transcendant qualities of frequency modulation with their expansive contributions, while KOshowKO and Boris Divjak each embrace driving rhythmic and melodic possibilities with their cosmic melding of digital precision and human expression. Meanwhile experimental harpist Kris Keogh pushes sonic transformation to the limit with a mutated strain of crushed and squished FM processing while Sussiguala creates an unrelenting rhythmic structure pulsing with dubbed-out sine wave modulation. The technology employed from the artists’ studios ranges from the classic 1980s Yamaha DX7 synthesizer, heard on contributions from Infinity Deck and BluNjin, to the newest hardware, VST synths and coding environments, such as those used by Acidalius and Marcus Newman. Sublime Wavelengths doesn’t neglect the party vibe of 80s-flavoured pop, with celebratory grooving contributions from Swinging Tasty Bag and Just the Tip-pet. The compilation culminates with the high energy sounds of Mr Rachele before dissipating into hypnotic closing tracks by Intermodd and Cylan.
So what is FM synthesis? In the late 1960s electronic music composer John Chowning experimented at Stanford University with the sonic possibilities of cross-modulating the frequencies of sine waves configured in carrier and modulator relationships. This technique was adopted by Yamaha in the 1980s as the sound design principle for their new DX7 synthesizer, which became one of the best-selling hardware synthesizers of all-time. Still confused? Think of a violinist using vibrato faster than the eye can see and you start to get there.
“This album is both a love letter to FM synthesis and a showcase of how it continues to inspire new generations of sound artists,” says Clan Analogue’s Tieran Kimber. “We wanted to reveal the unexpected warmth, chaos, and beauty that FM synthesis can bring when placed in the hands of creative minds.”
The album reflects the collective spirit of experimentation that Clan Analogue has nurtured since the early ‘90s, while embracing the retro-futurist charm and crystalline complexity that FM synthesis offers. Whether you’re a synth enthusiast, an electronic music aficionado, or simply a listener ready for a sonic adventure, Sublime Wavelengths invites you to tune into a higher frequency.
Sublime Wavelengths is dedicated to the memory of Jacek Tuschewski who passed away prior to the release of the compilation. The album is available for download from Bandcamp and for streaming on all standard platforms.
Tracklist:
1. KOshowKO l The Cosmic Book of FM
2. Boris Divjak l Sleepless
3. Jacek Tuschewski l The Cosmic Bliss of Frequency Modulation
4. Kris Keogh l Hyperdexed 2
5. Sussiguala l Liminal Space Aesthetic
6. Darrow l Going Through a Phase
7. Infinity Deck l Pattern Recognition
8. BluNjin l Funki Funghi
9. Swinging Tasty Bag l Again and Again
10. Just the Tip-pet l Late to the Party FM
11. Acidalius l Freqvanseemods
12. Marcus Newman l Interlinked (live)
13. Mr. Rachele l Ring Around the Machines
14. Intermodd l Oswald3
15. Cylan l Mourning