Alexander Hacke Brings Experimental Guitar and Bass to Orchestral Tools’ Splinter

Alexander Hacke, musician, composer and member of the experimental duo hackedepicciotto, has contributed his distinctive guitar and bass playing to Splinter, an experimental virtual instrument collection developed by Orchestral Tools.

Designed for composers, sound designers and music producers, Splinter explores the expressive possibilities of unconventional instrumental techniques. Rather than focusing exclusively on traditional orchestral sounds, the collection embraces sonic imperfections, unusual textures and the physical character of acoustic and electric instruments.

Alexander Hacke’s Experimental Approach to Guitar and Bass

According to Orchestral Tools, Alexander Hacke performed the electric guitar and bass parts for Splinter, using techniques that extend beyond conventional playing. These include bowed strings, bends, slides, feedback and other unconventional sounds.

This approach connects naturally with Hacke’s broader musical background. Known for his work with Einstürzende Neubauten and hackedepicciotto, he has developed a distinctive artistic language that explores the boundaries between industrial music, experimental rock, electronic textures and sound art.

His contribution to Splinter brings this experimental sensibility into a virtual instrument environment, giving composers access to sounds that can be difficult to reproduce through conventional sampling techniques.

Splinter: A Hidden Chamber Ensemble

Orchestral Tools describes Splinter as a hidden chamber ensemble designed for contemporary scoring and experimental composition. The collection combines strings, electric guitar, bass, banjo, percussion, an upright piano and the unusual electronic-acoustic instrument Ondes Martenot.

Recorded at Saal 3 in Berlin’s Funkhaus, the library emphasizes detailed performances and unconventional articulations. Its sound palette ranges from delicate, atmospheric textures to distorted, unsettling and rhythmically aggressive elements.

The result is a flexible collection intended for experimental music, avant-garde composition, art rock, contemporary classical music and cinematic sound design.

Connecting Experimental Music with Film Scoring

Splinter demonstrates how techniques associated with experimental musicians can find new applications in contemporary composition and production. By capturing unusual playing methods and the imperfections of physical performance, the collection offers composers an alternative to polished, conventional orchestral sounds.

For music producers and sound designers, these textures can become starting points for original arrangements, atmospheric layers, tension-building passages and distinctive soundscapes.

Hacke’s participation also highlights the connection between experimental performance and modern music technology. His contribution brings the character of an individual musician into a tool designed for composers working across film, television, games and independent music.

Discover Splinter by Orchestral Tools

Splinter is available through Orchestral Tools and runs in the company’s SINE Player. The collection offers an extensive range of instruments, articulations and sound-design possibilities for musicians seeking unconventional sounds.

Explore the official product page for audio demonstrations, instrument details and availability:

Official website: https://www.orchestraltools.com/splinter

For followers of Alexander Hacke and hackedepicciotto, Splinter offers another perspective on Hacke’s experimental approach to sound and instrumentation, extending his creative work into the world of virtual instruments and contemporary scoring.a