Composed by Fredrik Rasten for the quartet Asterales, the long form piece Fuse Modulations unfolds through a series of modulations in extended just intonation harmony. With a deep collective attention to real-time intoning on their instruments, the quartet dwells in sustained timbral fusion and slowly sculpted melodies; shaping the tetradic harmony of the piece into a spectral unity of tactile brightness and spacious bass. In a state between long-form minimalism and an imagined or slowed down early music, the piece invites both listener and performer alike to be embraced in the physicality of harmonic sound.

Asterales is a new quartet dedicated to the exploration of just intonation harmony, focusing on original music by the quartet’s members both individually and collectively. Rebecca Lane, Jon Heilbron, and Fredrik Rasten are all active members of the Berlin-based composer/performer collective Harmonic Space Orchestra, while Léo Dupleix and Rasten have collaborated on a handful of releases, most notably on their duo release ‘Delve II’ on INSUB records, and on Dupleix’ newest album ‘Resonant Trees’, released on Black Truffle Records. Heilbron and Lane also collaborate as a duo, and their interpretation of Catherine Lamb’s Muto Infinitas has been performed internationally and is released on the label Another Timbre. Asterales have so far played concerts in Berlin and been artists-in-residence at GMEA in Albi, France. Fuse Modulations is their first release as a quartet.