We have two new disc titles for you! Both are available NOW, exclusively at the Quilter Labs web shop!

BIG BEAT is the latest in our series of excavations into the Optigan Archives in search of material that was left on the cutting room floor. The working title for this disc was “Motown 1 – Big Beat.” Previously only heard on the song “How Do You Feel?” by Optiganally Yours. The keyboard sound is also sourced from the Optigan Archives- we mixed several different solo trombone and trumpet scales to form a brass section. A version of this sound previously appeared on our Orchestron “Brass Ensemble” disc.

POLYRIMBA is based on the 5-against-3 polyrhythm. The basic sound is the classic DX7 Marimba preset. Individual notes are steady pulses with accents in counts of 5 or 3. Holding down chords creates an ever-shifting series of syncopated rhythmic patterns. If you count these in 4/4, you’ll perceive longer rhythmic cycles that won’t repeat for 15 bars. Adding delay will create even more complex patterns. Also, try it with the Panoptigon’s hall reverb turned up, and the main volume knob turned all the way down, to get an interesting ambient pad sound.