With “Ascension,” the Tetragon Project led by sound visionary Stefan Zaradic presented an audiovisual experience that goes far beyond a classic album at Groundlift Studios in Inning am Ammersee on April 25. What began in 2021 with the atmospheric, meditative Oracles now finds its evolutionary continuation in rhythmically charged, multi-layered orchestrated soundscapes.

Zaradic combines electronic textures with organic sound sources to form a powerful symbiosis of structure and spontaneity. Many of the pieces were created in improvisational sessions with a great spirit of experimentation, yet Zaradic’s clear artistic signature can still be heard. He is accompanied by a trio of outstanding musicians: Wolfgang Opitz (saxophone and flute) weaves airy melodies with impressionistic timbres. Drummer Wolfram Winkel, internationally acclaimed for his work with Steve Reich, gives the music a structured grounding with his pointed rhythms. Finally, singer Melanie Bong brings emotional depth to the proceedings with subtle tonal impulses.

The result is an acoustic work of art that blends ambient, avant-garde, minimal music, and electroacoustic sound installation. Ascension challenges its listeners and demands their attention and openness. Those who allow themselves to be drawn in are rewarded with a listening experience that lies somewhere between meditative contemplation and sensory overload.
The Tetragon Project does not view music as a finished product, but rather as a journey of discovery into spatial sound. In the tradition of acousmatic art, the project explores the boundaries of audiovisual perception—immersive, multidimensional, almost visually perceptible. Here, immersive 3D sound is reimagined so that almost every sound can be felt spatially and appears deliberately placed—not only at a live concert, but also at home thanks to Dolby Atmos.