ASIP Polarlichter Places Series Special

I was kindly invited to put together a mix for the brilliant Polarlichter Radio show on Campus Crew Passau, hosted by Thomas Adamski. I chose not to curate just any old mix for this special occasion, but instead, focused on highlighting The Places Series and some of the featured artists inspirations.

I didn’t want to approach this mix by just including some of the tracks from the series like an extended promo; instead, I wanted to make it a little more insightful, dig a little deeper and explore the story behind the story. Each Places Series track describes a personal journey, and every artist has an inspiration. So, I asked each artist to provide an example track that may have directly, or indirectly inspired their Places Series release.

This formula meant I couldn’t approach the mix how i normally would like to, but it ended up being quite a journey, full of twists and turns, spanning the spectrum of music covered on ASIP. It was amazing listening back to the artists and their inspirations, noting the smallest of similar details or the evolution of certain sounds which have been made their own.

Each Places Series track, is immediately followed by it’s inspiration as detailed below in the trackist. I couldn’t fit all of the Places Series releases in, so I hope this persuades you to listen to and download the rest of the series.

Polarlichter airs every two weeks and you can keep up-to-date with shows on the Facebook Page. Up next, are mixes from the legendaryLoscil and fellow music friend Das Kraftfuttermischwerk. Previous shows are also archived on the Polarlichter Mixcloud.

Thanks to everyone who listened live to the show tonight, your comments and support. And a big thank you to Tommy for being such a great host and talking about ASIP (despite it being in German!) It doesn’t feel complete without his voice, but here’s the mix without the intro’s from Tommy!

Download.

Tracklist:
01. [00.00] ASIP023 Benjamin Dauer – Six and Twelve (Forthcoming)
02. [05.40-09.48] Leonardo Rosado – Amidst The Crowd A Love Story
03. [09.48-15.13] ASIP002: enh – Roke DOWNLOAD
04. [15.13-20.21] The Sight Below – At First Touch (Simon Scott Remix)
05. [20.21-27.47] ASIP018 Parks – Black Day, Silver Sea DOWNLOAD
06. [27.47-30.26] Belong – Very Careful
07. [30.26-33.04] ASIP017 Sonae – Traurigtag DOWNLOAD
08. [33.04-37.00] Apparat – Goodbye (Instrumental)
09. [37.00-39.34] ASIP005 Levi Patel – Dissociation DOWNLOAD
10. [39.34-42.40] Ólafur Arnalds – Lag Fyrir Ömmu
11. [42.40-49.26] ASIP025 Leandro Fresco – Almas Sin Prisa (Forthcoming)
12. [49.26-52.15] Brian Eno – Be Calmed
13. [52.15-57.22] ASIP007 Kevin Bryce – The Park by Franklin DOWNLOAD
14. [57.22-1.02.06] Boards of Canada – Everything You Do Is A Balloon
15. [1.02.06-1.07.26] ASIP022 Audioglider – Heathaze Days DOWNLOAD
16. [1.07.26-1.11.37] The Bear And The Sea – Sandblonde
17. [1.11.37-1.15.41] ASIP013 Public Transport – Rosenheim DOWNLOAD
18. [1.15.41-1.21.58] Ulrich Schnauss – Blumenwiese Neben Autobahn
19. [1.21.58-1.22.43] ASIP001: Kit – The Peace House DOWNLOAD
20. [1.22.43-1.32.11] ASIP001: Kit – I Grew Up Here DOWNLOAD
21. [1.32.11-1.40.38] Secede – Born In A Tropical Swamp

isolatedmix 33 – Heathered Pearls: In Memory Form

As with all isolatedmix curators I invite into the series, they have inspired me in one way or another. Jakub Alexander, is probably the only artist that actually started off inspiring me through words; his posts, his ears and links on ISO50 have been the only longstanding articles to remain in my reader for the last three or four years, constantly unearthing new artists and brilliant music – an approach I aspire to today. Recently, it’s Jakub’s music which has took this admiration to another level.

Jakub’s latest masterpiece is set to be released on Ghostly early next month and i’ve been lucky enough to wrap my ears around it several times already. For those familiar with Heathered Pearls earlier work (‘Vaults‘, or ‘Intervene‘ for example) you would have seen the potential Jakub has been cultivating for some time now. And it’s fair to say, that ‘Loyal’ is Heathered Pearls most defining moment so far.

‘Loyal’ came to life after an introduction to ambient music by his mother ten years ago and the album is Jakub’s dedication to that moment. His love for grainy, repetitive, processed textures is a dream approach for many of us and the most simple pictures come to life with subtle looping melodies and beautifully nurtured sounds that are easily visualised, imagined and immersed in. ‘Beach Shelter for example, available as a free download, is the perfect example of Jakub’s vivid imagination coming to life through constantly crashing, looping waves, a hazy blur from a low sunset, and a slow-motion pan across a heavenly vista. There’s hints of many of our favourite artists throughout Jakub’s work, from early Wolfgang Voigt (Gas), to his self proclaimed influence, Markus Guentner, who has provided a stunning bonus remix on the album alongside the equally legendary Loscil.

Until ‘Loyal’ sees the light of day on December 11th, we’re lucky enough to have an isolatedmix from Jakub, taking us through some of his inspirations. But before you indulge, I recommend you preview ‘Loyal’ over at Ghostly, then jump back into the mix to dissect the many forms and textures that have been instrumental in shaping Heathered Pearls most perfected sound to date.

Download.

Tracknotes by Heathered Pearls:

1. Mr. Rogers Speech to Congress
My hero when I was little, I always tried to picture myself being able to deliver a speech like this, impossible.

2. KIDS Soundtrack – Second To Last Scene
This song always stuck with me, its one of those songs on my short list of songs I wish I made

3. Foxes In Fiction – Static Cults
Warren beautifully put together a state of in limbo in music form

4. Steve Hauschildt – The Impossible Flower
One of my favorite releases from last year, glides along with these perfect dips

5. Yagya – Rigning Níu
Yagya and a few others make up the 3% of newer trance that is well done

6. Cuppcave – Circuit Fade
I found this song to be that missing link to what I wish I made, the lo-fi silence with a pulse slowly swelling in and out, I truly wonder if it didn’t end I wonder how long i’d let it play for? 1 day? 1 week? who knows.

7. Pub – Derail
Pub is up there with Wolfgang Voigt, Erik Kowalski and Scott Morgan as my main reason I love to make music, when I first heard Derail I was soo floored by the control of how steady he kept this song, how he never used extremes but the whole song sounds like your standing in 100ft+ tall wind tunnel.

8. C V L T S – Realiser
lo-fi digital meditation zone

9. The Sight Below – Unforetold
The master of giving the ambient of shoegaze a pulse

10. Piano Magic – Halloween Boat
I have a soft spot for arpeggios and water

11. Loscil – Coyote
Scott has a way of making it okay to drop everything you’re doing and calm down, i’m sure if you were at work and your boss saw you stop working and then heard what you were listening to he’d understand and let the song finish, always powerful, heavy and genuine.

12. Heathered Pearls – Raising Our Ashes
The song title always felt a bit morbid after seeing it written down but has grown on me since thats the visual I get when I hear it again. This track was written when I wanted to imagine a song to play out that the whole venue could slowly leave the ground and it would be the last you’d ever hear because you’d just have tinnitus for the rest of your life.

13. Solar Year – Currents
These guys are my latest favorites, such a pleasure to hear vocals slowly swirling, I hope to work with them in the near future.

14. Boards Of Canada – Unknown
I got an email from Marcus once after sending BoC a package of Ghostly vinyl and cds, would it be odd to frame an email?

Heathered Pearls on Ghostly | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Bandcamp

isolatedmix 32 – Good Weather For An Airstrike

isolatedmix 32 comes from one of my favourite artists of recent years, Tom Honey, who records as Good Weather For An Airstrike; a project which was born in 2009 as a result of Tom trying to alleviate the issues of suffering caused by Tinnitus. He also holds, in my opinion, one of the best artist names there is – a name which immediately transports you to a open field, looking skyward at clear-blue skies, a glistening sun and that feeling of dizzyness as you tilt your head back that little too far – a feeling which is common through Tom’s delicate field recordings, post-rock stylings and ambient backings.

Tom is relatively new to all this but has some solid releases under his belt from the past few years; one with the prestigious hibernate recordings, Rural Colours, and an album on his own label, ‘Hawk Moon Records‘. But, if you’re looking for an intro to GWFAA, his most recent EP on the Audio Gourmet netlabel should be your starting point – a free download too. Number of releases aside, every single one has been carefully and meticulously crafted into his own signature sound, combining some of the most elegant guitars with hazy ambient field recordings to transport you into that very field I described above. He’s also branching out with his brother Rob under the alias ‘Damn Robot!’ – Tom’s moving fast and i’ve been loving every part of it so far.

The mix, is a perfect intro to Tom’s inspirations. Starting off with his more ambient side, the mix progresses through more guitar-led tracks, introducing vocals, harmonies and always retaining a blend of melody and escapism. There’s some big, epic moments in here, sat alongside some very tranquil and calming instrumentals. Fans of post-rock and shoegaze fan will enjoy this one, and hopefully many-an ambient fan finds a new solace in Tom’s love of guitars.

“A collection of tracks from signed and unsigned artists who I’ve been listening to pretty regularly over the last 6 months or so, some of whom have been pretty strong influences on Good Weather for an Airstrike and Damn Robot! material, I hope you enjoy them as much as I have been recently.”

Download

Tracklist:
01. Hammock – Ten Thousand Years Won’t Save Your Life
02. Apparat – Black Water
03. Ashtar Command – Into Dust
04. Drops – Autumn Walks
05. Good Weather for an Airstrike – Goodnight, Boogaloo (Free Download)
06. Moving Mountains – Furnace Woods (acoustic version)
07. Owen – A Bird In Hand
08. Frou Frou – Hear Me Out
09. SPC ECO – Spotlight
10. Message to Bears – Daylight Goodbye
11. Oathless – Summer Haze
12. Anathema – Untouchable, Part 2
–

GWFAA on Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

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)

ASIP – White Light

This is one of the first mixes I've put together with a complete story in mind. It began after I watched a video which showed five men as they stood on the ground as an Atomic bomb was detonated 10,000 ft above their heads. You can watch the video here – it’s pretty powerful and thought provoking for so many reasons. For example, this ‘test’ would never happen today with real people, so I found it ridiculously intriguing to watch and listen to, but it also made me think about what would’ve happened for real, when a nuclear bomb was dropped during wartime. From the very first moment; what you see, what you would think, how the country recovers, the thoughts the victims go through, the hope it inspires and the new life it creates. Pretty deep I know, but I really enjoyed trying to pick tracks which invoked these emotions and told a story from start to finish.

Download

Tracklist:

01. [The Drop] “Five Men At Atomic Ground Zero”
02. [The Moment] Norge – 165 Minutes With You (Forthcoming on ASIP)
03. [The White Light] Segue – House Of Cards (Dewtone)
04. [The Realisation] Wolfmaps – Landforms (Futuresequence)
05. [The Angst] The American Dollar – Par Avion (Self-released)
06. [The Clearing] Four Tet – Peace For Earth (Text)
07. [The Realisation] Max Cooper – Gravity Well (Forthcoming on Traum)
08. [The Determination] Lusine – Make It Easy (John Tejada Remix) (Ghostly)
09. [The Hope] Loess – Sofar (Toytronic)
10. [The Return to Life] Crisopa – Gaviot (n5MD)
11. [The Complicated Memories] Onego – Ne Serdis’ (Forthcoming on Fuselab)
12. [The New Life] Martin Nonstatic – Vertraumt (Subspiele)
13. [The View From Above] Aurastore – Outside The Solar System (Energostatic)