Rob Guz' guitar with 48 frets
From past to present time, different kinds of expressions within the “music worlds” have evolved and been combined with each other. This has given us exciting musical transformations in classic music, art music, folk music, popular music etc, as well as development of the “tools” of making music; music instruments, tone systems, tuning systems, composition techniques etc…
One issue that is continuing to be “separated” in a distinguished way, is the ideology and practice of using quarter/microtone semi tones, and how it is used in a traditional way, which appears to be very different from say like; Middle Eastern “raj”/popular- music , Indian music , compared to folk music from Sweden, Norway, Macedonia, Bulgaria etc…
However, in western music cultures there has been some experimentation with alternative tone systems; in classical/ modernism music, for example Charles Ives and Miklos Maros.
Even in rock/art rock music, there has been occasions of achievement towards this, Steve Vai and Jeff Beck for example, although, in these cases it should be considered as a momentary and solistic element in their music creativity as a whole…..It should also be mentioned that bands like Led Zeppelin and The Beatles only used the sound of “exotic” instruments in their songs, not the practice of alternative tone systems in itself.
Summary; regarding western popular music [pop, rock, punk, metal, hard rock, electronica, goth etc] no stringent and consistent use of quarter semi tones has been used by any artist or band so far.
…Until now!!!!!!
Rob Hakemo
M.A.N is very proud to declare to be the very first metal band ever to have incorporated what we call the “Full Scale Quarter Tone System” into our music – and metal music genre on the whole, resulting in the upcoming album “Massive, Audio, Nerve” by M.A.N. Full Scale Quarter Tone Systems [our own term] means that there are 24 quarter semi tones, instead of 12 “ordinary” semi tones, within reach of an octave [1200 cent]This has led to new kinds of expressions and possibilities that have never been heard before, especially when this concept -cultivated and formed by M.A.N- is featured by more than just a solistic issue in order of solo instrumentalist matter or a solo part, but covered by the string instrument section in whole songs, with state of equilibrium with the ordinary semi tone system…..
M.A.N will enter Grand Recording Studio on Sept 18:th to lay down 14 tracks for their upcoming release “Massive, Audio, Nerve”.
The album will be recorded and engineered by Svein Jensen, produced by M.A.N & Svein Jensen.
The mixing will be handled by Ulrich Wild ( Pantera, White Zombie, Deftones, Staind, Static-X, Limp Bizkit)
you can listen to the first sounds here:
Rob Hakemo (links) + Rob Guz (rechts) mit ihren ungewöhnlichen Saiteninstrumenten
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