“Beyond the Loci” is the debut concept album of Jared Kozub (a.k.a. Ice Locus) from the icy heart of Canada. It takes you on an ambient journey between loci (locations) starting off in the distant reaches of space, to crashing in the ocean on an unknown planet, and hiking through a jungle and up a mysterious volcano. Jared uses a combination of Eurorack modular synthesizers, hardware and virtual synths, acoustic instruments, and sampled audio recordings to create a fantastic and unique sonic universe for the listener to explore. Some of the sampled recordings were personally recorded by Jared at locations in Canada, the US, and across the planet in New Zealand. Experimental sound design was used to help immerse the listeners as they become sonic adventurers on this epic journey.

Downloadable PDF Listening Guide in the Bonus Items or at the following link:

icelocus.com/IceLocus-Beyond_the_Loci-Listening_Guide.pdf

Chapter 1: Spatial Reasonings
The journey begins floating in space far from any life, yet surrounded by cosmic energy and celestial events that are randomly moving around the explorers.

Chapter 2: Journey Between Interstellar Loci
The adventure is on the move! A journey onboard an interstellar starship in deep space. From dreamy ambient voices, to screeching granular machinery, and the rumble of the engines pulsing – traveling through hyperspace at faster than light speeds is an easy place to get lost in.

Chapter 3: Atmosphere Entry
Dropping out of hyperspace, the ship approaches a blue and green orb suspended in space – an unknown planet that begins pulling the ship towards it. Cosmic electromagnetic fields percolate around the hull of the ship. As the explorers are pulled into a descending orbit, the sun of this solar system passes by on the left side. The atmosphere gets denser as the vessel starts its approach. The friction on the hull is causing things to heat up as the travelers enter the atmosphere. It’s a violent and noisy descent, but the engines pulse to slow down the ship. Splash! The ship crashes into an ocean. The locals – a pod of whales, greet the newcomers on their arrival with the same mysterious melody heard during the trip through hyperspace. Were these Cetaceans expecting the visitors?

Chapter 4: Hydraphonics
The ship surfaces from beneath the waves in a rocky cavern. The explorers step out into this new environment and are surprised – the waters surrounding the ship are filled with dolphins singing to each other, as if discussing, “Who are these extraplanetary visitors?” A rumble! As the unexpected seismic activity shakes the ocean floor beneath the water, the dolphins have sensed the danger and have cleared out. The seismic event passes and the curious dolphins return to sing their songs.

Chapter 5: Birds & Bells
Now on the shore of the ocean, the waves lap up on the beach while the air is teeming with sea birds. The journey on land must begin. There is a mountain on the other side of a jungle that is next to the beach. The intrepid explorers start their hike into the forest and thunder is heard from above the mountain. It begins to rain, but the forest shields the explorers from getting wet. A waterfall is on the left and there is a brief pause to enjoy the refreshing mist. A strange bell is heard in the jungle, then it stops. Something big is snoring on the right side… The sound of bells returns near the base of the mountain.

Chapter 6: Climbing the Mountain
This odd mountain has no trees. A hawk soars overhead announcing the visitors to their epic challenge of scaling this enormous inclined rock mass. After beginning the ascent, it becomes strangely calm and the mountain seems to emit a bizarre electric whisper. Another rumble and the sound of a distant avalanche! Perhaps this mountain is the cause of the seismic disturbance… a volcano! There is no turning back and the weather now turns as a storm rolls in. Their picks and cleats echo as the mountain continues to rumble. The mysterious melody from before welcomes them to an opening in the side of the mountain near the top. The adventurers enter.

Chapter 7: Entering the Mountain
Inside the mountain there is definite geothermal activity with the sounds of spewing eruptions of steam. The mountain seems to have a heart beat! This is no ordinary volcano... The electric whisper has now become a full-on sparking and sputtering ball of plasma – the heart of the mountain! They must keep moving… they escape and euphoria sets in. The danger seems to have passed in this strange world…

Chapter 8: Beyond the Loci (Modular World Performance)
The first modular synthesizer performance by Ice Locus aired on the Modular World Anniversary Show on May 9th, 2021. It starts off as wind that calls out “Ice Locus” over the spectral bands. It is beyond all the locations visited on this sonic adventure and repeats the melodic theme echoed throughout the explorers’ journey.