Since 2018, ACTIVE DARK FILAMENT has released five full-length albums and two extended plays. This latest release MARINERS OF SPACE AND TIME reflects on the Golden Age of science fiction in the 20th century, an imaginary journey to the boundaries of both space and time. The music is realized using both analog and digital gear, as well as drum machines and virtual instruments. Available August 15 2023
Tracks:
ESCAPING SOL: The first step in such a journey is gaining freedom from the gravitational grasp of the Sun. “Escaping Sol” begins with a soft fanfare growing louder and louder before being joined by incessant percussion. After a brief pause in the action, the percussion returns combined with a spirited piano solo.
THE UNQUIET SPACE imagines the transveral of a debris field. It opens with a burbling sequence overlain by dark and resonant melodies. The composition moves through several dark moods before ending on a cacophonous note.
HYPERVELOCITY I & II: These are short pieces devised from improvisations over a simple sequencer pattern.
TRAVERSING THE EXPANSE: The foundation of this piece is an incessant 5/4 ostinato opposed by a contrasting patterns in the middle section. It is a rumination on the enormous distances that must be crossed in order to explore the universe.
SOFT ILLUSIONS. A more introspective piece consisting of variations on a meditative sequence.
ECHOES OF ANCIENT EVENTS imagines a visitation to a deserted world in which there is evidence of a violent past.
DISJOINT UNIVERSES ponders the concept of the Multiverse, a collection of separate universes unable to communicate with one another. Eerie background tones are matched with sombre synthesizer voices that leads to a reverberant, arpeggiated sequence.
SPHERE OF CAUSALITY is a far-reaching concept that describes the idea that we can only access a portion of the universe due to its continuing expansion. Sedate bass and piano arpeggios support airy synthesizer melodies.
THE DECAY OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES considers the possibility of the ultimate disintegration of all matter in the universe, leaving only a universe of black holes. Echoed tones are heard which coalesce into a layered, melodic passage ending with a rhythmic coda.
MARINERS OF SPACE AND TIME imagines being at the final endpoint of the universe, the end of space and time.
DANCING GHOSTS, cosmic jets shaped by intergalactic winds, or playful spirits? DANCING GHOSTS by ACTIVE DARK FILAMENT features nine original electronic compositions which move from mellow to metallic, and everything in-between.
DANCING GHOSTS PART I starts with a circular sequence seemingly asking a question, and matched with funky, percussive sounds. Overlain by a sonorous melody and discordant long tones, it eventually morphs into the Dancing Ghost “theme”.
LAKE OF THE SPIDERS is an austere, meditative impression of Spider Lake on Vancouver Island. Created using emulations of the Buchla Easel and Solina string synthesizer.
TWILIGHT IN THE BORDERLANDS. A “call to arms” leads into a haunting, orchestral piece with a variety of solo timbres, some influenced by Zawinul. Are the Borderlands physical or illusions of the mind? You decide.
CONJUNCTION OF THE SPIRITS. Here the meaning of conjunction is “occurrence together in time or space”. Far-off sounds and sonorities build to a final climax and are resolved by a reverberant final guitar solo.
DANCING GHOSTS PART II revisits the Dancing Ghosts “theme” but is immediately followed by a frantic-sounding melody and solo eventually devolving into a chromatic series of chords over a crazed arpeggiator pattern.
BENEATH THE SURFACE liquid-sounding patterns come and go in this extended, translucent piece. The “plucking” sounds were an attempt to emulate sounds found in the piece “Georg Trakl” by Klaus Schulze. Not wholly successful, but that’s the way it goes…
I, J, and K. A composition written for the mathematical entities “i”, “j” and “k”, the “basic quaternions”. Hey, why not? Inspired originally by Bach’s “Contrapunctus I”
RED GIANT Exploring that “plucking” sound again. Plaintive, textured patterns wind their way to a interlude before crashing back to a bombastic conclusion.
DANCING GHOSTS PART III A jazz-tinged solo over an unusual time signature, with a return to the final Dancing Ghosts “theme”.
Available on BANDCAMP: https://activedarkfilament.bandcamp.com/album/dancing-ghosts
Available on APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/dancing-ghosts/1601694270
Available on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Ghosts-Active-Dark-Filament/dp/B09PHSQ3KQ
Here is INSULAR MOUNTAINS, the fourth full-length release from electronic composer ACTIVE DARK FILAMENT. The music represents a personal vision and is not confined to a particular musical genre, drawing instead from Berlin School, ambient music, jazz, industrial and progressive rock.
Of the 13 tracks on INSULAR MOUNTAINS, “Cathedral” is the most meditative and ambient track, along with “Cirriform” I and II‘. “Departure” is a synthesis of electronic and industrial influences, while “Endless Maze of Dreams” and “The Age of Automation” are more experimental. Finally, there is a nod to pure trio jazz, with the track “Nimbus”.
Available on BANDCAMP: https://activedarkfilament.bandcamp.com/releases
Available on APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/insular-mountains/1564168387
CHRONICLES is the third release from and is the first release for the new decade by ACTIVE DARK FILAMENT. It features six compositions influenced by such diverse elements as Berlin School, ambient music, progressive rock, and jazz.
Available on APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/chronicles/1498340390
Available on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Active-Dark-Filament/dp/B084LZJBKN
Available on BANDCAMP: https://activedarkfilament.bandcamp.com/album/chronicles
CONVERGENCE is the second release from electronic composer ACTIVE DARK FILAMENT. Lyrical melodies with electronic precision and texture. Introspective, ebullient, and influenced by classic electronic artists such as Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulz, Isao Tomita, and Vangelis.
Available on APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/convergence/1463324291
Available on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Convergence-Active-Dark-Filament/dp/B07RKYPDWD
Available on BANDCAMP: https://activedarkfilament.bandcamp.com/album/convergence
BEYOND THE GREAT DIVIDE is the first release from electronic composer ACTIVE DARK FILAMENT. Lyrical melodies with electronic precision and texture. Introspective, ebullient, and influenced by classic electronic artists such as Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulz, Isao Tomita, and Vangelis.
Available on APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beyond-the-great-divide/1421512886:
Available on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Great-Divide-Active-Filament/dp/B07G4NXQCW
Available on BANDCAMP: https://activedarkfilament.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-great-divide