isolatedmix 43 - Need A Name (Chasing Dreams)

It’s pretty hard to stand out from the crowd nowadays. I’m seeing less and less focus on ‘big albums’ or month-long hyped releases, and more attention being paid to a constant stream of quality – artists engaging their fans, rewarding them for their ongoing compassion and dedication. Artists that are embracing this new type of free distribution see regular Soundcloud uploads, free EP’s on Bandcamp, public discussions on equipment and techniques, and productions in partner with similar artists from the other side of the world.

One artist that has embraced this approach is Dario Lupo. He makes no secret of the fact he is on a parallel journey with his listeners; encouraging feedback, and consistently getting involved with likeminded artists through remixes and compilation submissions. And it’s because of this approach that Need a Name’s “nostalgic ambient music, featuring larger-than-space reverbs” has hit a note with many of us over the past few years. He’s the epitome of what many of the artists featured on ASIP strive for – a community of listeners engaged on his every note, his every upload.

Dario’s 2013 track ‘Road to Berlin‘ was one of my favourites to emerge last year – and one of only a few which were a free download on my ‘Reflection on 2013‘ mix. More recently, he’s remixing the similarly talented ‘Umber’, taking an instrumental-ambient style into other realms. And earlier this week, another free download that would give the likes of Kiyoko a ride for their money, titled ‘Everything is moving, but not the sky‘.

Dario’s productions are reflective and packed full of lush, sunny memories. This style, combined with his open approach to music production are what make him so appealing to many of us sharing the space – and it’s clearly echoed through his isolatedmix. “A collection of new discoveries mixed together with artists who changed my life in past and are changing it right now”; Dario’s mix pays homage to his blissful production style and his many influences over the past few years. With Umber, Keith Kenniff, Brambles and Hammock on board, this is a journey which will undoubtedly make you sit back and reflect on the better things in life.

Download

Tracklist:

01. Hammock – In The Middle Of This Nowhere
02. Brambles – Half-Gramme Holiday
03. Drops – Autumn Walks
04. Random Forest – The Best Of Us
05. Cass. – Illinois 1880 (Part 1)
06. Naal – W
07. Talquin – Embers
08. Umber – Clémence
09. Mosaik – Aerial
10. Hammock – Shored Against the Ruins… Drowning In Ten Directions
11. Lowercase Noises – Beauty Into Wreck
12. Aural Method – Breathe Deep Your Chorus
13. Keith Kenniff – Portraits Pt. 1
14. Chris Tenz – Chapter Two

Need a Name Web | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Bandcamp

ASIP - Reflection on 2013

It’s been a pretty monumental year for me, both personally and for ASIP. I’ve moved to Portland, Oregon and started a new life in the Pacific North West and at the same time fulfilled a life-long ambition of producing a vinyl record (Uncharted Places). Being up here in Oregon has helped me experience a new world of music previously out of reach. I had the chance to attend Substrata and Decibel Festival in Seattle this summer and i’m slowly but surely getting to grips with the many great musicians and artists involved in the Portland music scene.

This mix doesn’t even begin to capture the music that’s passed through my ears this year, and that’s why I don’t normally do any “top tens” of “best of X ” – just have a read of the site’s monthly archives; it’s as close as you’ll get to the music i’ve liked this past year. This mix does however capture some of the stand-out tracks, many of which hold personal memories where i’ve been lucky enough to see them live, or tracks that capture the year’s best albums or labels.

It’s been an amazing 2013 for fans of electronica. We’ve been treated to Boards of Canada‘s first album in twelve years, Jon Hopkins has remained true to form and produced one of his best yet, and n5MD well… this mix could consist of nothing but n5MD music: Ocoeur, Preghost, (Ghost), bvdub, and Arovane have all presented us with some magical albums – the latter three I couldn’t even include in the mix.

Warp have had a good year too – not just with Tomorrow’s Harvest, but the BoC re-issues have pleased many die-hard fans, along withBibio‘s early 2013 release and Oneohtrix Point Never‘s most celebrated album to date.

Ghostly have well-and-truly established themselves as one of the most forward-thinking labels in electronic music; Shigeto‘s coming of age and Lusine‘s welcome return. The biggest Ghostly release for me though, the more recent Recondite, may fly under the ‘best of’ radar for many given it’s late release in the year. The Ghostly International showcase at Decibel was one of my favourite performances of the year and summarised the depth of talent on the roster.

And then there’s Erased Tapes. Nils Frahm‘s ‘Spaces’ is certainly my #1 album of the year – coupled with an amazing performance at Decibel it’s hard to overlook the innovative beauty of this young mastermind. Even though Ólafur Arnalds signed with a new label for his 2013 release, his performance at the Erased Tapes showcase is also on par with Nils, and ‘For Now I Am Winter’ is another absolutely gorgeous gem that shouldn’t be forgotten. Rival Consoles has also turned many ears this year – Ryan’s ‘Odyssey EP’ representing the more electronic side of Erased Tapes, which also looks set for a big 2014 with the news of a new Kiasmos album.

Don’t forget Max Cooper either. With consistently innovative remixes for the likes of Nils Frahm, several stand-out releases of his own and some of my favourite DJ mixes of the year, it’s been a landmark year for the Londoner.

The world of ambient in 2013 is hard to summarise in a mix, or even a ‘best-of’ list, it’s been such a good year. My bandcamp profile is probably a good place to start for the more independent/ambient releases i’ve enjoyed this year and in all honestly, this mix doesn’t represent that side of ASIP to its fullest. I’ve missed out so many including: 36, Grouper, Eluvium, How To Disappear Completely, Rafael Anton Irisarri, Segue, several Ultimae releases to name just a few… But, it’s been a great year for labels such as Dewtone with Alveol starting their 2013 perfectly, and Silent Season who unleashed an absolute beast in the form of the ASC double CD ‘Time Heals All’.

I’ve done my best to not be biased by including ASIP music or artists. Between them, there’s been so many good releases on other labels this year, namely Markus Guentner’s Moodgadget release, enh’s debut album, Park’s ‘Snowblind’ on Entropy, Audioglider’s debut on Section Records, Herbstlaub’s ‘Our Love Was Only Half Forgotten’, Kit’s stunning EP, and Stray Theories beautiful ‘Those Who Remain’.

Please support these artists and buy the music featured in this music, or where possible take advantage of the free download. I hope you enjoy the mix.

Download.

Tracklist [including links to buy/download].

01. Boards of Canada – Everything You Do Is A Balloon (Warmth remix) Free Download
02. Boards of Canada – Reach For The Dead [Warp]
03. Jon Hopkins – Open Eye Signal [Domino]
04. Ocoeur – Astral Projection [n5MD]
05. Recondite – Riant [Ghostly International]
06. Bonobo – Cirrus [Ninja Tune]
07. Oneohtrix Point Never – Zebra [Warp]
08. Lawrence – In Patagonia [Dial]
09. Daniel Avery – Naive Response [Phantasy Sound]
10. Rival Consoles – Odyssey [Erased Tapes]
11. Nils Frahm – For (Max Cooper remix) [Erased Tapes] Free Download
12. Need A Name – Road To Berlin [Self released] Free Download
13. Ólafur Arnalds – Only The Winds [Mercury Classics]
14. Nils Frahm – Said and Done [Erased Tapes]
15. Max Cooper – Fragments of Self (Petrels remix) [Fields]
16. Rhian Sheehan – Thoughts on Nature [Loop recordings]
17. Hammock – Then The Quiet Explosion [Self released] Free Download
18. Stareaway – The Loss Of Breath [Couldn’t Care More]
19. Ulrich Schnauss & Mark Peters – Das Volk Hat Kleine Seele [Bureau B]
20. Luke Howard – August [Self released]
21. dalot – Night Owl [n5MD]
22. Lights Dim with Gallery Six – Echoes of The Ongoing Riot [Kaico]
23. Bjorn Rohde – I Began To Float [Dewtone]
24. Alveol – Empty Heart [Dewtone]
25. Preghost – Cliff Edge Ghost [n5MD]
26. ASC – I Share My Secrets With You [Silent Season]
27. Nils Frahm – Over There It’s Raining [Erased Tapes]

isolatedmix 42 - todos

In its fifth anniversary year, it’s only right to end the year’s isolatedmix series with something that connects back to the very first few posts on ASIP. For those that have been with me for the full ride, you’ll recognise the name, todos.

His mixes were some of the very first I posted on the site back in 2008 and some of the best mixes I had heard in a very long time. Revisiting the feedback on the first mix he ever posted just now, lots of people are with me and still exploring his early mixes to this day.

Spanning multiple genres, creative, unique, meticulously crafted and above all epic, todos spends months at a time putting these journeys together. Upon listening you’ll hear the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into each one.

He is a pioneer of todays shift to digital mixing, but he doesn’t use it for lack of laziness. Amongst the 47+ channels of audio and midi lie a multitude of custom samples, tempo blends and effects – something of a trademark since todos’ very first Kilchurn Session.

The Kilchurn Sessions have reached a special anniversary tenth edition and i’m beyond pleased that todos has crafted this milestone as part of the isolatedmix series. It’s been a great five years for ASIP and i’m proud that the likes of todos have been a part of it since the beginning.

“Five years have passed since I completed the first Kilchurn Session mix. A mix inspired by my partner, and our Winter’s walk at Loch Awe in Scotland; a place of outstanding landscape and beauty. The challenge for me was to create a mix using tracks with extreme differences in tempo, something I would not have been able to do using a set of 1210’s and mixer.

It would comprise of a collection of personal favourite tracks, old and new, laced with soundscapes, samples and spoken word, yet not following a set genre throughout. What was supposed to be a one off, gained surprising feedback and support from Nick Warren and ASIP which catapulted it into places I never thought it would reach. The demand for another soon followed and now, 5 years on, it is with great pleasure I can bring you the tenth instalment as an isolatedmix, and a first that incorporates original compositions by Devoted Enemies, in which I am involved” – todos .

Download

Tracklist:

01. todos – ‘Intro’
02. Abstract World – ‘Mirage’
03. Sigur Ros – ‘Varðeldur’ / Sigur Ros – ‘Ég anda’ edit
04. Jon Hopkins – ‘The Wider Sun’ / King Creosote & Jon Hopkins ‘First Watch’ edit
05. Kiyoko – ‘Something To Think About’ / Jon Hopkins ‘The River’
06. Devoted Enemies – ‘Anx’
07. Nils Petter Molvær – ‘A Small Realm’
08. Apparat – ‘Tod’
09. Mogwai – ‘Letters to the Metro’ edit / S O H N – ‘Bloodflows’ / The XX – ‘Chained’ (Sasha Beatless Mix) edit
10. Oxia – ‘Exaila’
11. Abstract World – ‘Path’
12. Agnes Obel – ‘The Curse’
13. Sin Fang – ‘Young Boys’ (Jonsi Remix)
14. Nathan Fake – Paean (Coda)
15. Pye Corner Audio – ‘Toward Light’
16. Moderat – ‘The Mark (Interlude) / Boards Of Canada – ‘Nothing Is Real’ edit
17. Lowb – ‘Whealer Dealer Healer’
18. Boards Of Canada – ‘Telepath’
19. Daniel Avery – ‘Platform Zero’
20. Clark – ‘Black Stone’ / todos – ‘Subway’
21. Cotton Wolf – ‘Cassette 98′
22. Alt Fenster – ‘Sur Cette Feuille’
23. Borealis – ‘Nightfall’ (Ben Lukas Boysen remix)

Plus samples & effects.

isolatedmix 41 - Arovane

After our in-depth interview with Uwe, there isn’t much more we need to say to introduce such an esteemed man of music. As most of you know, a mix from Uwe is rare and it’s the first time (at least in over nine years) that we’re treated to a genuine insight into what makes him tick. Rare IDM, studio colabs from years gone-by and beautiful vinyl have inspired this very special dive into Uwe’s mind, echo’ing his signature sound and appreciation for the finest detail throughout. With tracks spanning from 1997 until 2002, this mix taps straight into the heart of a defining era for electronica.

Take a seat, grab your headphones, have a read, and dive into a world of glitch, IDM and atmospheric electro-acoustic surges that could only have come from one of the greatest sound-designers of our time.

Once you’re finished with the mix, Uwe’s return to form, ‘Ve Palor’, is out now on n5MD through Bandcamp, CD or red vinyl editions. Continue the journey we’ve all been waiting a very long time for…

Download.

Tracklist:

01. Pan American – Quarry A
02. Markant – Cat M18
03. Dynamo – Aufenthalt
04. Radian – Biodapter
05. Main – VII
06. Biophilia Allstars – No movement, No sound, No memories
07. Snd – Newtables 36
08. Zorn – The City is Collapsing (But Not Tonight)
09. Signer – Interior Dub
10. Artificial Duckflavour – infarct

Tracknotes:

Pan American – Quarry A
“A very nice 10″ vinyl. I love the special atmosphere on this record”

Markant – Cat M18
“I met Carsten Endraß years ago in south of Germany, he gave me a lot of his 10″ with beautiful self-made covers for my collection”

Dynamo – Aufenthalt
“A rare 12″ from Dynamo. Raw, technoid music, made with the sequential circuits studio 440 with a very special rhythmic signature”.

Radian – Biodapter
“This electroacoustic music fascinates me”

Main – VII
“Same with main. Sound source is an electric guitar”

Biophilia Allstars – No movement, No sound, No memories
“A very interesting project of Lux Nigra. I remember a fascinating session with Peter Gebert in my studio”.

Snd – Newtables 36
“Clean, crisp, digital”.

Zorn – The City is Collapsing (But Not Tonight)
“Micha and me met in my studio for some interesting sessions. I love this track.”

Signer – Interior Dub
“Very smooth, deep sound. I love to listen to late at night”.

Artificial Duckflavour – infarct
“A track with the smell of Artificial Duckflavour”.

ASIP – Fragments from the horizon

I never know where a mix inspiration is going to come from, or where it’s going to take me. That’s the fun of it I guess. However on hindsight, this one did end up having a particular theme to it which i’ve tried to describe with the words below and the main artwork. I hope you enjoy the journey.

From the future, not forgetting the past.
Blinding light, softening texture.
Closer, touching the void.
Neons, to dark.

Download

Tracklist:

01. ASC – Satellites Final Voyage (Time Heals All)
02. Glossata – Lampsace (Pearls & Smoke)
03. Boards of Canada – Uritual (Tomorrow’s Harvest)
04. Symmetry – Over The Edge (Themes For An Imaginary Film)
05. Chromatics – There’s a light on the horizon (Drumless)
06. Daft Punk – The Son of Flynn (Tron OST)
07. Stellardrone – In Time (Light Years)
08. Jon Hopkins – Prologue (Monsters OST)
09. Andrew Thomas – M&K (Pop Ambient 2006)
10. Oneohtrix Point Never – Zones Without People (Rifts)
11. 36 – Dawnspace (Shadow Play)
12. Cliff Martinez – Rubber Head (Drive OST)
13. Global Communication – 8:07 (76:14)
14. Purl & Deflektion – Return Of The Sun (Growing)
15. Newa – Hedgehog (Martin Non-Static remix) (Hedgehog EP)
16. Tangerine Dream – Love On A Real Train (Risky Business OST)
17. port-royal – Stimmung (Ulrich Schnauss remix) (Flared Up)
18. Thomas Fehlmann – Von Oben (Gute Luft)
19. Olafur Arnalds + Nils Frahm – a2 (Max Cooper remix) (Stare)
20. Olafur Arnalds + Nils Frahm – a2 (Stare)
21. Ulrich Schnauss – Shine (Mint remix) (Cardboard Rocketships)
22. B12 – Void/Comm (Time Tourist)
23. Boards of Canada – New Seeds (Tomorrow’s Harvest)
24. Alva Noto – Xerox Rin (Xerrox Vol.2)
25. Biosphere – The Things I Tell You (Substrata)
26. Apparat – Wooden (Anders Ilar remix) (Duplex)
27. Ocoeur – Olakoté (Percevoir)
28. Bulb – Tenderness (Tenderness EP)
29. Bering Strait – Apart (Apart EP)