The Lanthanide Series

Some of the drones by Canadian duo Kalte are truly captivating. Some might say they're just drones, but it's a genre that fascinates me and isn't as easy as it seems.

Here are the program notes. The reference to Mendeleev's periodic table, cited in the notes, is in the title: the lanthanide series (formerly lanthanides) is made up of the 15 chemical elements, also called rare earth elements, which on the Periodic Table are found between lanthanum and lutetium. They have atomic numbers between 57 and 71, inclusive.

Toronto’s Kalte (a duo featuring long-established sound artists Deane Hughes and Rik MacLean) make their recorded debut with this Periodic Table-inspired EP. The harsh Canadian winter served as the backdrop for the creation of these tracks, and while there may be a certain oppressiveness to its roots, the resulting sounds progress from darkness to light. The sonic spectrum on display here slowly builds in complexity at first, with more and more elements layered over a similar low-ringing drone. A slight stylistic shift takes the music to a slightly higher pitch and a more gentle tone for the final two tracks, with buzzes and drones intertwined in a mesmerizingly thick blanket of static.

The entire EP can be listened to and purchased here.

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