Lineaments by Fredrik Rasten
Lineaments can be purchased (LP / CD / digital) through SOFA music:
https://sofamusic.bandcamp.com/album/lineaments
SOFA is proud to release a new solo album from Fredrik Rasten, following his fantastic Six Moving Guitars, released on SOFA in 2019. Lineaments consists of two long-form solo pieces performed by Rasten, for an extended instrumentarium of guitars, voice and sine waves.
Lineament I and II proceed from two different plucking patterns played on one acoustic and one electric guitar, both sharing a specific tuning from where the two pieces explore diverging tempos and structures. Humming voice, sine waves and two other guitars activated with electronic bows create rich harmonic textures - a stream of vibrating air where rhythmic patterns and tonal decay of the plucked guitars intersect like rippling droplets.
The cover art depicts a model sailplane in flight against a background of blue sky and clouds coalescing with the material wear of the forty year old source photo from Fredrik's fathers model sailplane days. The extension of the photo exposes a rural landscape, grounding the airy union of plane and sky. In geology, lineaments are topographic elements revealing the underlying subsurface structure. Similarly, just intonation chords are tones drawn to each other to form a consonant structure, unveiling the underlying harmonic series.
The blending of strings and voice draws on inspiration from the ancient Hindustani Dhrupad tradition, where fine-grained intonations of tones and their timbral changes in the fusion of vocals and tanpura strings evoke a deep listening experience.
These aural Lineaments comprise a slow, yet vibrant music of rumbling resonances and glistening overtones. The album is available on LP, CD and digitally, with art direction by Stephen O’Malley.
released June 16, 2023
Fredrik Rasten - plucked acoustic and electric guitar in open tunings,
two acoustic guitars played with electronic bows; voice, sine waves, metal chain (on Lineament I)
The music is played in real time without overdubs or major edits
Composed by Fredrik Rasten 2020-21
Lineament I recorded by Adam Asnan in Berlin-Schöneberg on July 17, 2021
Lineament II recorded by Samara D in Berlin-Reinickendorf on February 9, 2022
Mixed by Samara D. Mastered by Joe Talia. Photo of Fredrik’s father’s model sailplane in the late 70’s or early 80’s by unknown photographer. Art Direction: Stephen O’Malley
Many thanks to Adam, Samara, Joe, Stephen, Philipp, Mareike and SOFA music
Special thanks to Marcus Pal for careful listening and inspiring discussions.
All rights reserved (TONO/N©B)
℗+©2023 SOFA MUSIC
sofamusic.no
fredrikrasten.com
license
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Credits
Fredrik Rasten (born 1988) is a guitarist, improviser and composer based in Oslo and Berlin. He is mainly focusing on the musical possibilities within just intonation and related sound phenomena, and in his work he is reaching for an actively listening state wherein to intuitively explore the complexities of tone and harmony.