Album Notes

The idea to make this album came to me in early spring of 2008. I worked on several preliminary ideas at that time but then put the project aside to work on other musical efforts including the album Hidden Music. In the end, I produced three other albums before completing The Divided Line.

The concept for The Divided Line began with the intent to compose music that reflected the various aspects of human consciousness and the planes of existence. This idea is certainly not a new one to inspire music - Ambient and New Age composers often play along these themes. Instead, the album took on a life of its own and evolved into an eclectic mix of broader mystical themes and sonic experimentation.

The album is darker than my previous works. This is because the music reflects my interest in the topics of technology, physics, mysticism, and esotericism which are inherently mysterious. The album also seems to reflect the underlying anxiety of our times, such as that caused by the potential climate crisis. I call this the universal experience of "Earth Anxiety". The underlying pads and textures used seem to enhance the darker feel. Many of the melodic motifs I used, however, reflect shades of light, optimism and beauty.

I used a combination of hardware synthesizers and virtual instruments as well as electric guitar and live field recordings that add additional textures. Several of the pieces use piano treatments, such as Fall of Day and some are built on highly effected guitar tracks. I also used samples from shortwave radio transmissions. I have been fascinated by radio since I was a child and have always found the sounds, whether they be from humans or from the cosmos to be quite interesting. The closing track, Through the Veil, features my friend Tresza on vocals.

I mastered the album in such a way to maintain the full dynamics of the instruments and sounds. I recommend listening to the album in a quiet setting where the layers and nuances can be best experienced. I personally find the pieces to be somewhat hypnotic and mesmerizing. I hear the pieces speaking for themselves, as if they are only partially "my voice", and this is only because my hands created the music.