Archive for November, 2008
Ten Favorite Mixes of 2008
Besides listening to albums and compilations, I do tend to consume a lot of mixes released around the net on various blogs, podcasts, and labels. Although this selection is pretty enormous, I’d like to take the time and document some of the mixes that have appeared in my rotations more than a few times, and [...]
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At times mysterious, at times complex, but always relaxing, even during its climaxing moments, Silent Land Time Machine is an instrumental rock project that reminds me a lot of A Silver Mt Zion. Except that… Jon is just one man… But upon your first listen you wouldn’t know it… Hailing out of Austin, Texas, Jon [...]
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Tags: folktronic, laptop americana, neofolk
I’ll admit – it took me more than a few listens to get into Paavoharju. I almost dismissed the album completely, but my readers kept insisting that I give it another whirl. And here it is, Laulu Laakson Kukista, opening its intricate secrets after careful observation. The crackles, the noises, the lo-fi magnetic tape manipulations [...]
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Tags: abstract, experimental, neofolk
Like a buzzing concoction of plaster molded jigsaw, the sound of this abstract and experimental album descends on a creaky base board of musique concrète and gets nailed with percussive staples. The man behind this sound effect rich “soundtrack for late nights/early mornings” is Chris Reid, who goes by the name of Wurlitztraction. Reid compiled [...]
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Tags: abstract, rhythmic noise
Gescom – ISS:SA (Skam)
So we’ll never know who’s really behind Gestalt Communications (Gescom), so what? It’s pretty obvious that Sean Booth and Rob Brown of Autechre had a hand at this. The only clues on this 2003 EP are the references to a well respected label, Skam and its title, ISS:SA (and even the latter is slapped as [...]
Filed under: EPs, Flashbacks | Leave a Comment
Tags: glitch, idm, rhythmic noise
Neo Ouija is BACK! That’s right kiddies. After closing its doors in 2005, the Devon (England) based label originally started by Lee Norris (Metamatics), has re-opened its doors, and is now managed by Martin Hirsch (aka Deer and Random Noise Productions). Propelling many electronic musicians to fame, Neo Ouija is responsible for much output from [...]
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Tags: downtempo, dub techno, idm, tech house
I guess the reason that I keep listening to Benn Jordan is the fact that he simply makes beautiful music. Period. In fact, I catch myself restraining from listening to Benn Jordan too much. His short, full of witty ideas tracks, produced under The Flashbulb moniker, have already conquered all of my last.fm charts. And [...]
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Tags: ambient, electronica, modern classical, space music
This is obviously an amazing record to start off my Random Vinyl of the Week adventure, as I dig through my dusty archives. Released in 1996, Dead Cities was Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans’ fourth full length album as The Future Sound of London. Dead Cities was that very last record and then there was [...]
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Tags: dark ambient, downtempo, electronica
Integral – Rise (Tympanik)
Another excellent surprise coming out of Tympanik. And that’s twice in one year. First I was completely blown away by Subheim‘s Approach. And now another brand new group, Integral, hitting me hard out of nowhere with their debut, Rise. The duo behind Integral are Germany based David Rotter and Rafael Milatz. Their sound is dark, [...]
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Tags: dark idm, downtempo, idm, psybient
Keith Kenniff is back on Type Records with his second full length album under Goldmund alias, titled The Malady Of Elegance. A previous EP, Two Point Discrimination (Western Vinyl, 2007), hit the streets on the heels of Kenniff’s much anticipated Helios release, Ayres (Type, 2007). Whether Kenniff flips between his more ambient and acoustic electronica [...]
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Tags: modern classical, piano
Do you have a clear (or imaginary) line for deciding which compositions belong to Goldmund and which to Helios? It’s a pretty clear line for me; the Goldmund material is basically just solo piano, and even though I use some piano in Helios, there it’s more centered around traditional song structure and electronics/guitars and beats. [...]
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There is a melancholic tone in your music. Do you think there is a specific reason why you identify with sadness? i think it’s easier to make music when feeling a bit sad or melancholic and to make good music when expressing those feelings. i think there’s been some happier songs on the two latest [...]
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All the recent sounds from Hauschka, Max Richter, Peter Broderick, and Eluvium literally guide me towards the latest album from David Wenngren, who is now the single member of Library Tapes (previously joined by Per Jardsell). Well, that’s not actually true. On the latest album titled, A Summer Beneath the Trees, released on Make Mine [...]
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Tags: ambient, modern classical, piano
Who is Juxta Phona & offthesky, and where did [they] come from? Well Juxta Phona and offthesky are two separate entities with one common denominator – my brain. But other than my vision/ideas there are a whole set of different rules/players for each band. Of course offthesky is mostly my solo project working to sample [...]
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With its fifth limited release, Somnia is introducing Juxta Phona & Offthesky to the rest of the world. Starting off with some ambient and modern classical sounds, Somnia delivered a little surprise with their last release by Evan Marc and Steve Hillage. In Dreamtime Submersible the duo has married dub techno and hypnotic ambient sound [...]
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Tags: future jazz, idm, jazzy
Getting back to melodic electronica, I turn my attention to Andrew Johnson and Craig Tattersall, who go by the name of The Remote Viewer. Their previous releases include two albums on 555 Recordings and three LPs on one of my favorite labels, City Centre Offices. This time, the duo releases their latest album, I Can’t [...]
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Tags: ambient, downtempo, modern classical
Experimedia Headphone Commute Mix
Cole Pierce - LAKE ODESSA


