Electronic Explorations – Synth Sense

I owe about five additional posts and reviews to the Auxiliary label and the many outputs of ASC, but as you probably know I can never get around to writing about everything I listen to unfortunately. So let this post (and mix) be a very strong nudge in their general direction. And what better way to showcase such an amazing bunch of artists than to dedicate a mix to the very best releases of old, new and future.

Auxiliary label duo Synth Sense have prepared a glorious, glimmering journey for the esteemed Electronic Explorations series, featuring many of their own works and a few hints towards new unreleased tracks. The mix also features tracks by label honcho ASC, another favourite duo of mine, ‘Kiyoko’ (also Bering Strait and purveyors of one of my favourite mixes of the last year) and of course, the more ambient-esque of the bunch, Sam KDC. The mix closes with a track from Auxiliary’s most recent ambient addition, ‘Central Industrial’, who’s album ‘Tuned To A Dead Channel‘ was brilliant on first listen and one I need to dedicate more time to.

Synth Sense closed out the Auxiliary Symbol series in April this year, so it’s only right they spawn the next generation of excitement through this glitchy, genre-defying label mix.

For a full preview, download options and more information please visit Electronic Explorations.

Download

Tracklist.
01 – Synth Sense – Electronic Explorations Intro
02 – ASC – Citrus (AUXTR002)
03 – ASC & Sam KDC – Cold Spot (AUXWL002)
04 – Synth Sense – Symbol #9.2 (AUXSYM009)
05 – ASC & Synkro – Sacred Moments (AUX004)
06 – ??????????
07 – Sam KDC – Symbol #3.3 (AUXSYM003)
08 – Kiyoko – First Light (AUXCD003)
09 – Sam KDC -Tides Of The Moon (AUX008)
10 – Synth Sense – SRV Experiment (AUXCD004)
11 – Abstract Elements – Fourth Dimension (AUX005)
12 – Synth Sense – Deleted Scene (AUXCD004)
13 – ??????????
14 – Sam KDC – Symbol #8.1 (AUXSYM008)
15 – Bering Strait – Background (AUXCD005)
16 – ASC – Symbol #1.1 (AUXSYM001)
17 – Synth Sense – Lost In Time (Synkro Remix) (AUXCD004V)
18 – Method One – High Sierra (AUX006)
19 – ASC – As The Dust Settles (AUXTR001)
20 – ASC & bvdub – Symbol #2.4 (AUXSYM002)
21 – ??????????
22 – ??????????
23 – Sam KDC – Catacomb (AUX008)
24 – Synth Sense – Nexus 2 (AUXCD004)
25 – ??????????
26 – Synth Sense – Alien Transmissions File #1 (AUXTR008)
27 – Indigo – Symbol #7.4 (AUXSYM007)
28 – Central Industrial – Their Fleeting Memories (AUXCD006)

36 – Secret Thirteen Mix

My favourite Vinyl purveyor is fast becoming one of my favourite mix curators too. A superb isolatedmix, several within his own mix series, and now a mighty-fine curation for the ever-brilliant Secret Thirteen music and art journal.

Dennis’ music straggles between many a haunting and beautiful place. His music can be deep, and at the same time contain some of the most euphoric pieces of ambient you’ll ever hear. His mixes mimic his production approach too. Just a scan of the track list and you’ll notice this one crosses every path between ambient and techno and you’d be forgiven thinking this was going to go off on some full-speed techno assault with the likes of Plastikman, Basic Channel and Convextion. But Dennis keeps us on the edge; that feeling of falling into the dark only to be pulled straight back out again. Textured pads and atmospheres which his releases are renowned for, are finely balanced with dubby undertones. If you’ve listened to any of my mixes, you’ll know this is my kind of journey.

“‘Secret Thirteen Mix 036′ is a sensuous and nebulous musical compilation that fulfills autumn with more nostalgic memories and harmless depression than colorful leaves and rain can bring. The selected music is chivalrous, emotionally powerful and liberal so it should find a straight way to every intellectual music lover’s heart”.

Use the Official.fm player below to download. View the original post on Secret Thirteen.

Tracklist:
01. Martin Stig Anderson – Sounds of the Factory (Limbo OST, 2010)
02. Irezumi – Untitled 6 (Snowblood, 2008)
03. Deepchord – Vantage Isle (Echospace Glacial) (Echospace, 2007)
04. The Nautilus Project – Back To Civilization (Unreleased, 2012)
05. EUS – Estos Bon Mis Ojos (EUS, 2012)
06. Stars of the Lid – Articulate Silences Part 2 (Kranky, 2007)
07. ASC & Bvdub – Symbol 2.2 (Auxiliary: Symbol, 2011)
08. Biosphere – Vi Kan Tenka Digitalt, Vi Kan Tala Digitalt (Biophon, 2012)
09. Jesus Jones – Zeroes and Ones (Aphex Twin Reconstruction #2) (EMI, 1993)
10. Basic Channel – Radience III Edit (Basic Channel, 1995)
11. Plastikman – Consumed (M_nus, 1998)
12. Convextion – Equanimity (Down Low Music, 2006)
13. Coppice Halifax – Dancehall (Original) (Wil-Ru Records, 2011)
14. The Sight Below – At First Touch (Ghostly International, 2008)
15. 36 – Nistarim (3six Recordings, 2011)
16. CV313 – seconds To Forever (Echospace, 2010)
17. ASC & Sam KDC – Vapour Lock (Auxiliary, 2012)
18. Tim Hecker – Trade Winds, White Heat (Mille Plateaux, 2003)
19. 36 – Deluge (3six Recordings, 2011)
20. Massive Attack vs Burial – Four Walls (The Vinyl Factory, 2011)

Kettel & Secede – When Can (flavors mix)

The legendary Sending Orbs label has been quiet for the past few years but we’re about to witness a revival. Home to Yagya’s first releases (both ‘Rigning’ and ‘Will I Dream During The Process’) as well as Markus Guentner’s ‘Doppelgaenger’, the label has enlisted its debut artists to get the needle back on track, as Secede and Kettel team up for a joint release called ‘When Can’.

The Sending Orbs website has had a makeover in preparation and Kettel and Secede have prepared this lovely ‘flavours’ mix in anticipation of the release and have this to say about it:

To launch the new Sending Orbs website (www.sendingorbs.com) and to warm up for their new collaboration full-length “When Can”, Kettel & Secede have prepared little mix of tunes that have colored the fields of their inspiration over the past months. This mix does not feature any actual songs from the album.

So no tracklist then, and as yet no preview of the collaboration either. But if the flavours of this mix are anything to go by, we’re in for a truly exceptional experimental release. This is one beautiful journey packed full of the unknown, samples and touches of inspiration from both artists.

Subscribe to the Sending Orbs mailing list to keep up to date on the label and releases. And if you enjoyed this mix, you may also want to give Kettel’s isolatedmix a listen!

Download

(No tracklist as yet)

Kiyoko – The Beginning (Mix for Finest Ego)

After their stunning debut album as Kiyoko, Synkro and Bering Strait have teamed up again to bring us this tasty mix for ‘Finest Ego‘. Featuring many of their own cuts as Kiyoko (‘coz you just can’t hear them enough) as well as several other classic from Aphex Twin, Ulrich Schnauss, Arovane and Boards of Canada, this duo are fast becoming my favourites of the year.

Tracklist:

01. Arovane – Eleventh! [City Centre Offices]
02. Yasume – The Prevailing Wind [City Centre Offices]
03. Bering Strait – Surya [Forthcoming Apollo]
04. Actress – I Can’t Forgive You [Werk Discs]
05. Papercutz – Where Beasts Die (Kiyoko Remix) [Dub]
06. Gold Panda – Lonely Owl [Varicount Records]
07. Ulrich Schnauss – …Passing By [City Centre Offices]
08. Manual – Frequently [Morr Music]
09. Squarepusher – Iambic 9 Poetry [Warp Records]
10. Aphex Twin – Z Twig [Warp Records]
11. CiM – Friends I’ve Made [Delsin]
12. Christien Klein – Handsome Used [City Centre Offices]
13. John Beltran – That Day In Monterey [Exceptional]
14. Xela – Last Breath [Type]
15. Kiyoko – Untitled [Dub]
16. Synkro – 2b [Dub]
17. Bering Strait – Over The Hills & Into The Light [Dub]
18. Boards Of Canada – Olson (Midland Edit) [Dub]
19. Bering Strait – Journey To Truth [Dub]
20. Kiyoko – Untitled [Dub]

Dustin Morris – Waterscape I (ASIP Exclusive)

It’s got to a point with some labels that nearly every release they put out, I want to feature on the site. Sometimes I don’t have the time, sometimes I forget and things pass me by, so, instead of letting all that good music go unheard, i’ve decided to put together a few features on my favourites. Up first, we dive into the world of Dewtone, with label founder, Dustin Morris.

Dewtone are responsible for two of my favourite EP’s of the past two years; Brando Lupi – Aural, and Martin Nonstatic – Cosmic Shapes. And the rest on the roster aren’t far behind. Dustin has kept his output consistent, with quality and style ever since the first release, and boasts an amazing bunch of artists under the Dewtone umbrella including Brando, Martin, Alveol/Purl (Ludvig Cimbrelius), Marco Madia,Halo, Syene, Ali Khan, Meesha, Antendex, and Nadia Popoff – all of which, were previously new to my ears.

I had originally asked Dustin to compile a mix featuring music from the label (given it’s all pretty much amazing) but instead, he chose to expand on this approach and also incorporate the other major creative half of Dewtone – Dewtone Radio. This mix is indeed something special, expertly curated, and a true insight into Dewtone, it mimics the very essence of the label, with soft textures, beautiful melodies and pictures of calm waters, scattering clouds and dusky sunsets. Neatly tied together with an inspired theme; ‘Waterscapes’ is the first of potentially many similar mixes which Dustin will endeavor to complete.

The goal with this mix was to showcase some of the music that is being promoted through Dewtone Radio. I didn’t want to focus exclusively on the label because that’s just a small chunk of the audio that I’ve been working with over the last few years. When I started working on this project, I realized that there was no way I was going to be able to say everything I wanted to say with just one mix. The music ended up working together beautifully in a way that I was able to produce complete soundscapes that almost sounded like one piece.

http://www.dewtone.fm/

Download.

Tracklist:

1. Dadub – Biopoiesis / Stroboscopic Artefacts
2. Martin Nonstatic – Sub Atomic / Dewtone Recordings
3. Taho – Alpha Rain / Lumina
4. Arc Of Doves – Natalis / ROHS!
5. Mon0 – Dreaming / Silent Season
6. Alveol – Living Crystal / Dewtone Recordings
7. Anton Zap – Water / Ethereal Sound
8. Brickman – Lux / Monography
9. Alveol – Alignment (Nikosf. Brightly Aligned Remix) / Lovezone Records
10. Fingers In The Noise – Weekend… Finally! / Self released
11. Bjorn Rohde – Intentionally Gone / Multitap Records

Photo courtesy of Random Hero 58.