The Harmonic Field is a collaborational work by Arius Blaze and Ben Houston = folktek. This is a limited addition of 50 = each signed and numbered.

Aside from basic controls for pitch, volume and activation - it is all touch based. There are four panels of twelve points each that allow the user to play a full range of notes and alter those sounds with an entire amp section.

The amp section controls filtering, resonance, distortion, bass boosting, noise etc. - abundant variations depending on which points are being touched together and how hard or soft.

It comes down to massaging the boards and creating dronescapes. After one has a feel for the various points, the most subtle movement will effect the waves.

We also consider this piece a two-player instrument = one person sitting across from another controlling two boards while the person on the other side controls the others.

Waves can be made to be soft and lush harmonics or turned to disturbing waves - the sound can be melodic and beautiful or tense and uneasy.

The piece has a constant soft drone of all notes when it's on - regardless of whether or not it's being touched - which we consider to be a part of it's character and intention.

We're in the midst of creating sound samples and we've made a video. The vid should help you to see the subtle nature of the piece.

I'll be working to create an entire album with the _ and I'm sure whoever gets one will want to consider doing the same...The sound and possibilities are vast and lush.

The _ has a built in speaker that turns off when jacked into a mixer. The box was handcrafted with fine hardwood and all of the panels were designed by us as well.

this is a play at your own risk instrument...Though very subtle, the Harmonic Field provides a slight charge to the player...We've been playing it for weeks and have found it energizing.

Everyone who's had a chance to see and play the Harmonic Field has fallen in love and we're certain you will too.

Here's a link to the video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dkUU8Dn1Luo

We've added another video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8z5GZtxBuSM

The Harmonic Field is being played by Todd Krupa of YSLE = http://www.ysle.net/

amazing artist...We're trying to get this man to record some sound samples for us as his style of play says something about the piece that we haven't been able to = check back!

Sounds are up...More sounds will be added asap...These were all recorded by me - I'm much more of a producer than a musician so getting some different takes by individuals who actually have some musical background will be essential as this can be a very musical piece. This may come later and we'll try to outsource to get some individuals to create some tracks for us.

Here are the sounds and some brief descriptions (ALL of these recordings are straight with no effects. All except the first are one take...The first "Harmonic Slide" is a track I created - a total of three layered tracks and no effects):

Harmonic Slide

(track by my self)

Harmonic Sweetness

soft high end tones and variations of the amp section

Harmonic Drone

long droning track - an interpretation of early 90's minimalism

Harmonic Detune

Wierd sounds in the beginning - later turning to an example of the detune option of the field - very boards of canada