ASIP - The isolated 1000

One month ago, we were approaching 1000 ‘likes’ on the ASIP Facebook page and with such a great milestone nearing closer each day, it was the perfect time to get you guys involved and collaborate on a celebratory mix. The premise was simple, name a track that you have come to love because of an artist/mix previously featured on the ASIP blog.

Submissions from the inspirational Kilchurn Sessions, Nick Warrens isolatedmix, Ulrich’s shoegaze mix, DJ Vorn’s Electronic Explorations, plus recent stunners from Tropics, Lights Out Asia and Horizon Fire. From ambient, nu-gaze and shoegaze to electronica, prog and classical – this was going to be some journey (if not a little hard to piece together!)

Thank you to everyone who submitted and made up the first 1000. Unfortunately not all of the submissions are included in the mix – some were impossible to track down in mp3 or good quality (Release The Krakken and the Stina Nordenstam remix for example?!) Also, a few were just too hard to fit in (especially with my lack of software), so a big apology if yours didn’t make it.

I even managed to sneak in my own submission; it was one of them track’s you hear years ago, only to disappear without a trace. Luckily, DJ Rich-Ears ‘Sound of Ancient Leafs and Bamboo‘ resurrected it from my long lost musical mind – a worthy entrant I think? For a peak at all of the stories and inspiration behind many of the choices included, see the isolated1000 Facebook note.

I hope you enjoy it.

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Your Tracklist:
01. Helios – Vargtimme (submitted by George Potter)
02. Robert Frost – Fire and Ice (Sample)
03. Tropics – Soft Vision (submitted by Roberto Sodano, Audioglider)
04. Leandro Fresco – Buenos Amigos (submitted by Pete Srdic)
05. Lights Out Asia – Except Europa (submitted by Wes Marlan)
06. Underworld – To Heal (submitted by Danny Fletcher)
07. Thomas Newman – Brooks Was Here (submitted by Rob Abery)
08. Adham Shaikh – Journey To The Sun (submitted by DJ Rich-Ears)
09. Bruno Sanfilippo – Intropassion (submitted by Pete Srdic)
10. Ulrich Schnauss – Blumenwiese Neben Autobahn (submitted by Matt Acornley)
11. Boards of Canada – Olson (sumitted by DJ Todos)
12. The Last Atlant – Twin Of The Sun (submitted by DJ Todos)
13. Vector Lovers – Neon Sky Rain (submitted by Justin King)
14. Adham Shaikh – Journey To The Sun (submitted by DJ Rich-Ears)
15. Lostep – Burma (Sasha’s Involver Dub) (submitted by Kevin Lloyd)
16. Pete Lazonby – Sacred Circles (Healing mix) (submitted by ASIP)
17. Sway – Fall (submitted by Sbando Lorenzo)
18. Horizon Fire – Passed Out In A Datsun (submitted by Mach V)
19. Edward Shearmur – Coda (submitted by Danny Fletcher)
20. Leona Naess – True Love Will Find You In The End (submitted by Michael Pinn)

isolatedmix 11 - Tripswitch

I normally break into a cold sweat when listening to a mix without a tracklist. It’s one of those obsessive traits that forces me to shun potentially outstanding sets, the music geek in me cries in despair. But holding back wasn’t an option on this mix, for three reasons: One, the tracklist was coming (just not yet). Two, I’d already witnessed a tasty live set just weeks before. And three, Nick Brennans’s latest album hasn’t left my earphones for the past two weeks.

2005’s Circuit Breaker demonstrated Nick’s psychedelic and ethnic influences alongside his talent with a guitar – the signature piece within many of his productions. ‘Roll Your Own’ featured on Nick Warren’s GU30 compilation and ‘Deer Park’ signified a Tripswitch sound that spanned downtempo, psy-chill, progressive and ambient.

A five year hiatus and Tripswitch’s latest album, ‘Geometry’ finally sees light of day. ‘Strange Parallels’ (perhaps Nick’s most celebrated production to date) gets an official appearance after many years and epitomises the Tripswitch sound, with a gentle piano melody, atmospheric guitar layers and progressive shimmering drums. Subtle, creeping yet beautiful vocals wrap warmth amongst ‘Concentric Circles’ whilst ‘Floating Point’ glimmers with a shoegaze tinged crescendo. The synth laden Stereogram tops off an album where each track can be appreciated for it’s individuality and treasured as a whole for it’s epic escapism.

Nick must have heard my despair at listening to his isolatedmix without a tracklist. I’d already emailed him halfway through the set with pure excitement after the signature piano hook in the Mint remix seamlessly crept in. Maybe, I should listen without a track list more often?! But, sure enough it arrived and revealed unexpectedness in the form of a chilled Deadmau5, classics in the Amorphous Androgynous shape, favourites of the Schnauss kind and an exclusive first hear of Solar Field’s remix of Tripswitch’s ‘Stereogram’ (released soon on Nick’s new label, Section Records).

After 80 awesome minutes, the inspiration behind his two albums is clear to see and just as easy to appreciate.

This is an autumnal mix which indulges the melancholy and contemplative mood which closes in around me around this time of year. Some people seem to react quite strongly to the emotional qualities of my music … this mix charts a path through some of the key inspirational moments which have shaped that emotion over the years. I hope you enjoy the journey…(Tripswitch)

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Tracklist and a few thoughts from Tripswitch:

1 – James Holden – Kearn
My favourite James Holden track … an emotional use of his signature reverb and delay tricks.

2 – Spectre – Overseas
Taken from “The Missing Two Weeks”, an album of sublime and soulful dub from Nick Manasseh.

3 – Tankerville – Entangled
One of those tracks you hear on an advert and then go to the ends of the earth to track down. These days Shazam takes the effort (and the fun) out of the hunt.

4 – Deadmau5 – I Hate Campers
Not known for his chillout, this snippet’s taken from Project 56, a zip of 56 sketches, stems, chip-tunes and other ideas which he offered up a few years ago as a freebie.

5 – Cinematic Orchestra – That Home
Piano, strings and a good vocal … what more do you need?

6 – Deadmau5 – Wish You Were There
Another clip from Project 56. Going through the tracks you realise just what a talented fellow he is.

7 – Vangelis – Ask The Mountains
There’s something about this track … there’s certainly a whiff of cheese there, but it never fails to put a smile on my face. Vocal is Stina Nordenstam, sublime.

8 – Michael Brook and Pieter Nooten – Finally I
A lesser-known release on the amazing and seminal 4AD label. 4AD was so utterly crucial to my musical development as a teenager … truly powerful music to accompany powerful and character-forming experiences. If I ever have a son he’ll be called Ivo (after Ivo Watts-Russell label guvna and This Mortal Coil founder).

9 – Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke – The Unfolding
Lisa Gerrard of course needs no introduction. A bit obscure this one, but unquestionably epic.

10 – Roger Eno – Voices
Although less prolific or celebrated than his brother Brian, Roger’s music can be every bit as beautiful.

11 – Kevin Shields – Goodbye
Taken from the “Lost In Translation” soundtrack. Tender in comparison to the seminal shoegazing of his My Bloody Valentine years.

12 – Amorphous Androgynous – Mountain Goat
Classic from the 1993 album ‘Tales of Ephedrina’.

13 – Alex Stealthy – Once Ambient
The Russians seem to know about bass … I’m working with some guys from Moscow called Koan who have the same touch with enveloping low frequencies.

14 – port-royal – hva (failed revolutions)
port-royal have really nailed the nu gaze thing … For me they’ve got the blend just right. Powerful stuff.

15 – Tripswitch – Stereogram (Solar Fields remix)
Magnus has worked wonders remixing track 8 from my new album “Geometry”. It comes out in a couple of months as a digital single release on Section Records, along with mixes from Adham Shaikh, Luke Chable, Abakus, Aurtas and me – check out sectionrecords.com for more details.

16 – Ulrich Schnauss – Shine (Mint remix)
This is a great mix … Mint’s another one with an uncanny knack for nu gaze.

17 – Freedom Tygerstar – Snow Runner Sun
This track featured on Magnetic Blue, one of the earliest Interchill compilations. When I first heard this track it made my hair stand on end. Definitely one of the sparks that ignited my path to chillout production.

18 – Twisted Air feat. Caroline Thorp – Feels Like Forever
Aah, the morning after the night before … It’s a long time since I did the full party weekend thing, but this track takes me right back to those weekends where sleep didn’t seem necessary and my body didn’t complain so much.

Massive thank you to Nick for this very special mix. Join the Tripswitch Facebook page or keep an eye on Section Records for future releases including the stunning Solar Field’s remix of Stereogram.

isolatedmix 10 - Nick Warren

A tenth anniversary isolated mix, a two year birthday for the blog and a very special guest: Nick Warren.

There isn’t much I haven’t already said about Nick within previous posts so I will try to keep this one short. An inspiration ever since first hearing tracks such as ‘Earth’ and pretty much every other track on the Way Out West self titled album. His Back To Mine mix remains one of my all time favourite compilations (and I’m sure many of yours too) and the opening tracks to his GU mixes helped grow my love for Ulrich Schnauss, Boards of Canada and Global Communication, amongst many others.

The inspiration mounted, the blog grew and two years later, there was never any doubt who should get behind this very special birthday and 10th isolatedmix. Luckily, Nick was very happy to oblige:

“I have long been a fan of the ‘A Strangely Isolated Place’ website. Any fan of ambient music should make a beeline for it. When Ryan asked me to do a mix for the site I had no hesitation in saying yes and here is the result. Included are some of my favourite pieces of music including “A Blues In Drag” by The Glove, Robert Smith from The Cure and Steven Severin from Souxsie And The Banshees side project recorded back in 1983 and still sounding incredible. It was a joy putting it together and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.”

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Tracklisting:
1. “Crystal Lake” – Klaus Schulze
2. “Burr Dub” – Rocket Empire
3. “Neaera” – Taho
4. “Marraskuu” – Ous Mal
5. “Totems of the Red” – Harold Budd
6. “In Search Of Silver” (Ambient Mix) Nick Warren / “The Shining”
7. “Inside the Pods” – Johann Johannsen
8. “De Ushuaia A La Quiaca” – Gustavo Santaolalla
9. “A Blues In Drag” – The Glove
10. “Aqua” – Edgar Froese
11. “Months” – Oneohtrix Point Never
12. “Good Bye Forever” – Arovane / Timothy Leary samples
Additional keyboard parts, synths and samples by Nick Warren

For the latest on Nick’s releases, DJ dates, and mixes, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or Soundcloud and his official website. Also, be sure to check out Soundgarden, Nick’s monthly slot on Frisky Radio, featuring his favourite downtempo tracks for the first half of each show.

Massive thank you to Nick for taking the time out to put the mix together. Not sure about every one else, but there’s enough inspiration in here to keep me going for at least another two years…

isolatedmix 09 - Helios

An afternoon in the sun, a burnt face and one of my most memorable experiences from Big Chill '09.

Since listening to Helios' compositions on a scorching afternoon last year, it’s been my mission to get Keith Kenniff on board for an isolatedmix. A multi-instrumentalist and master of cinematic ambient and soundtrack composition, Keith’s releases have spanned electronic ambient albums including ‘Unomia’, ‘Eingya’ and ‘Caesura’ under his Helios name, as well as piano-focused music under the name of ‘Goldmund’.

For isolatedmix 09, Keith provides us with an insight into the influences behind some of his renowned piano compositions with 45 minutes of perfected soundtracks from, Vangelis, Howard Shore, Ennio Morricone and Michael Nyman.

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1) 0:00-2:03 Vangelis – Bicycle Riders – Blade Runner OST
2) 2:03-3:52 Francois Tetaz – Talimnavi – Wolf Creek OST
3) 3:52-5:00 Cliff Martinez – Something To Do – Narc OST
4) 5:00-8:17 Howard Shore – Happy Birthday, Nicolas – The Game OST
5) 8:17-9:57 Ennio Morricone – Humburt On The Hillside – Lolita OST
6) 9:57-13:10 Michael Nyman – Laura’s Theme/Laura’s Dream – Enemy Zero OST
7) 13:10-14:34 Howard Shore – Carl Rudolph Stargher – The Cell OST
8). 14:34-16:01 Thomas Newman – White Oleander – White Oleander OST
9) 16:01-19:03 John Murphy – Mercury – Sunshine OST
10) 19:03-19:57 Michael Andrews – Whoever You Want Him To Be – Cypher OST
11) 19:57-21:15 Mychael Danna – Gun Culture – Breach OST
12) 21:15-22:02 Mychael Danna – N.Y. Reading – Capote OST
13) 22:50-25:48 James Newton Howard – 25 Dollars Worth – Michael Clayton OST
14) 25:48-30:13 Johnny Greenwood – Prospectors Arrive – There Will Be Blood OST
15) 30:13-32:08 The Free Association – Dreaming On A Train – Code 46 OST
16) 32:08-34:46 Michael Convertino – Facing the Child – We Don’t Live Here Anymore OST
17) 34:46-36:21 James Horner – Playing A Game of Go – A Beautiful Mind OST
18) 36:21-38:03 Michael Nyman – Henry – The End Of The Affair OST
19) 38:03-40:28 Thomas Newman – Week Eight Days – Up Close And Personal OST
20) 40:28-42:21 Cliff Martinez – What Shoe Size? – Wicker Park OST
21) 42:21-43:40 John Murphy – The Last Message – Sunshine OST

Casino Versus Japan – Night On Tape

En-route from Attack Nine records in USA, the trans-Atlantic CVJ package took several painful weeks to reach me, but the limited edition, deluxe vinyl, CD, mp3s, t-shirt, bag and badge package was definitely worth the wait. I don’t often write reviews, but with such a great release from one of my favourite artists, a few words might go a little way to paying back the time and effort Erik Kowalski has put into this release.

Night On Tape isn’t an album you can just quickly press play on, skip half the tracks, or just listen to the start. Nope, unlike a few of Erik’s previous albums where i have found myself listening to just a few tracks over and over (my love for Metrobolt on Go Hawaii for example), Night On Tape, is an album listened to best in its entirety.

‘Hello you’ – a subtle introduction with delicate shoegaze-esque guitars, is quickly proceeded by the warm fuzzy and static noises from ‘Flow Of No Go’. It’s not until half-way through this track, that the first melody creeps through, but even then, it’s a raw distorted guitar which gently fades away into heavy muffled noise.

It’s a pattern that continues throughout. Initially lacking any fast stabbing drums or beats which have become a staple sound on many of Erik’s previous albums, Night On Tape grows slow and dark. Content with putting you into a comfortable slumber, it’s not until five tracks in that a glimmer of light creeps through in the form of a marching drum, blanketed by an airy drone, like a welcomed Sunday morning awakening. But you weren’t meant to wake up just yet.

Albums before, many of these tracks may have developed quicker, with more melody and recognition. Despite several sharp moments of loud distortion, the tracks are slowly wrapped amongst glimmering ambient tones, pads and filters. Where lacking in melody, it seems Erik has instead, focused on an array of different ambient sounds, distorted guitars and atmospheres. Creating harsh instrumental landscapes that when fused together, form beautiful thought-provoking tracks. Almost cinematic at times, each track develops without any obvious repetition. The kind of music you can never remember, and sounds new every time. For some, that defines an album which is easily forgotten. For me, it’s the making of an album I come out of, and want to dive straight back into.

The last track, ‘Miano: A Pink Night For The Snowmen’ is the tapes sunrise. After nineteen tracks of night, the textures peak and the rough-edged drums and replaced by a tinkering Piano. A fitting morning, to a Night on Tape.

The album may be a surprise to a few CVJ fans who have come to love Erik’s spaced out, sometimes quirky electronica. The distortions, filters and raw instruments are still there, but the melodies are sleeping. Described as ’20 previously unreleased tracks from CVJ’s recording archives’, this long un-interrupted night has been reserved for Erik’s hidden ambient gems.

I’m not sure if there are any more deluxe packages left (grab it if you can!), but you can get the CD or digital download from the Attack Nine website.