For the layer representing the fear of unknown, I constructed four chords, each built from slightly different microtonal clusters.
Quarter-tones are outwith the 12-tone equal temperament tuning system that is used in most western music (Wood, 1986), and therefore can have an ‘unknown quality’ to them.
The timbres applied to the harmony are that of the voice, re-sampled and de-tuned, creating an ‘uncanny valley’ like-timbre, which is seemingly trying to imitate the human voice, but is clearly digitally manipulated. This fits as it is a sound that is unclear, and unknown in it’s origin.
here are the chords 1-4 with that timbre.
The other timbre is based around sampled tubular bells. Another breakaway from the sounds of the tubular bells due to breaking away from 12TET.
Here are chords 1-4 based around that timbre.
References
Wood, J. (1986). Microtonality: Aesthetics and Practicality. The Musical Times, 127 (1719), pp. 328–330.