isolatedmix 14 - Joey Fehrenbach

Nearly two years ago now, Joey Fehrenbach’s ‘Being Around You’ popped up in my Last.fm library and formed one of the very early posts on ASIP. After his first album, ‘Mellowdrama’, we had to wait four years for its successor ‘Dont Wake Me’, released just last year. Luckily, the four year break hadn’t resulted in a radical change of direction for Joey, just refinement of his superior downtempo.

Joey’s production sound is heavily reflected in his isolatedmix. An appreciation for chill-out is the spine of Joey’s music and indeed this mix, but it can quickly turn into something more upbeat and addictive. It’s the kind of music that can be played anytime and enjoyed by anyone.

Shorter than most, but sweeter than many, Joey’s isolatedmix is a great warm-up set with driving downtempo beats, playful tones and a few unexpected surprises – plenty of smiles to be had with this one.

See Joey’s site for links to purchase either of Joey’s albums if these awesome beats be floating your boat.

Download.

Tracklist and a few words from Joey:

1. Plaid – Two Rooms
Beatless and beautiful. Chimes and bells are so expressive and have such a beautiful and delicate sound. Haven’t really heard much from Plaid in awhile, but this track will always be in my top 10.

2. Pitch Black – Flex
Groovy track with a lot of texture and atmosphere.

3. Le Sherifs – Errors
A really unique and moody track. Reminds me a bit of Siouxsie and the Banshees.

4. Koan – Matariki
Koan really sets the bar high for quality music. Not only do they create unbelievably
complex and lush arrangements, but also their recordings are so warm and polished.

5. Mark Finnie – Remorse
Old b-side from 1997. Still holds up.

6. Joey Fehrenbach – Ghosts
From my latest album.

7. H.U.V.A Network – Something Heavens
So smooth and groovy with a nice momentum. It just sort of drifts and flows into a epic climax. I think they made the bassline out of butter.

8. 80’s Casual – Fiesta
Trip hop with a flamenco vibe? Yep. And it works. Yee–uh!

9. Tropics – Give It Up
This is THE jam. One of my favorite tracks at the moment. Can’t wait to hear more from Tropics.

isolatedmix 13 - Solar Fields

When the isolatedmix series first started, my intentions were to include artists who have inspired me from day one, or have recently made a big impact with an amazing record. Magnus, is one of the very few who tick both boxes. His work as Solar Fields leaves me as high as a kite every time. Since his very first album on Ultimae in 2001, to his latest release, #Origin 01, Magnus defines my soundtrack to escapism and his isolatedmix is nothing short of the epitome of beautiful music.

Titled ’21 Days Of Winter’, Magnus has featured some of my favourite artists to date, with N5MD‘s finest; port-royal, Winterlight, Proem and Bitcrush featuring amongst the classic Manual, M83 and Telefon Tel Aviv, resulting in an absolutely stunning isolatedmix. This is one hell of a start to 2011…

Download

01. Neu! – Elanoizan
02. Proem- Hope is great but we need Caffeine
03. Hecq – I Am You
04. SE – 15mg
05. Sensei – CPU Romance in an Airport Lounge
06. Xela – Softness of Senses
07. Bitcrush – Every Sunday (Winterlight remix)
08. port-royal – Karola Bloch
09. Solar Fields – Bigger Stream
10. Phoenix – Love like a sunset, pt. 2
11. Manual – Afterimages
12. M83 – Sister (Part 2)
13. Andrew Thomas – Soft Bullets
14. Stockfinster – Gold Canyon
15. Tobias Lilja – Manifesto
16. Savvas Ysatis & Taylor Deupree – Like Ice On a Summer’s Day
17. Monoceros – Background Birds (Flotel Remix)
18. Vector Lovers – Endless summer
19. Telefon Tel Aviv – The Birds
20. Secede – Memory table part. 2 (discolight)
21. Mungolian jet set – Ocean 0304 (Cruusin with the Henleys mix)

Read Magnus’s notes to each track below:

Neu! – Elanoizan
Smooth track from the German Kraut legends very last album.

Proem- Hope is great but we need Caffeine
Beat less and deep, fantastic.

Hecq – I Am You
Epic sounding.

SE – 15mg
Deep and emotional, makes you think.

Sensei – CPU Romance in an Airport Lounge
Her name is Tara and she like sounds, she also compose great music.

Xela – Softness of Senses
Fantastic track from the album Tangled Wool

Bitcrush – Every Sunday (Winterlight remix)
Into the fog.

port-royal – Karola Bloch
The end part of this 12 minute track. Makes me shiver.

Solar Fields – Bigger Stream
It’s me from my latest album Origin #1.

Phoenix – Love like a sunset, pt. 2
This track put a smile on my face. Very positive.

Manual – Afterimages
One of my favortite Manual tracks.

M83 – Sister (part 2)
Deep and emotional.

Andrew Thomas – Soft Bullets
Beautiful music.

Stockfinster – Gold Canyon
Sebastian Borg has made tons of great music, here is one of them.

Tobias Lilja – Manifesto
Another Swede, deep and harmonic.

Savvas Ysatis & Taylor Deupree – Like Ice On a Summer’s Day
A guitar driver masterpiece.

Monoceros – Background Birds (Flotel Remix)
Fantastic groovy. Kraut year 2000.

Vector Lovers – Endless summer
My favorite VL track, i never get tired of it.

Telefon Tel Aviv – The Birds
Fantastic opening track from the album Immolate Yourself.

Secede – Memory table part. 2 (discolight)
Simple and stunning track.

Mungolian jet set – Ocean 0304 (Cruusin with the Henleys mix)
Fantastic band from Norway, the album We Gave It All Away… And Now We Are Taking It Back should be in everyone’s collection, highly innovative album.

http://www.solarfields.com

isolatedmix 12 - 36

There’s nothing better than finding a new artist, a new sound and several accompanying albums to dive into. Tell a lie… there is. When that artist provides a 70 minute insight into his favourite music and influences behind such recently favoured productions.

Isolatedmix 12 is brought to you by Dennis Huddleston aka 36 (or 3Six recordings). With three albums under his belt and several other limited releases, some of you may have already come across his stunning ambient productions on the albums, ‘Hypersona’, ‘Hollow’ or ‘Memories in Widescreen’. They’ve been on my iPod for the past few weeks after a bulk purchase and I would recommend them all to any reader of this blog. But, not before you’ve had a listen to this beauty of course…

Intense and emotive drones alongside minimal classical moments, Dennis has selected some beautiful pieces for this atmospheric isolatedmix. As you can see from the artists included, it’s a dig into some ASIP featured producers (Markus Guentner and Irisarri) along with some I haven’t had the pleasure of, until now. So without further a do, get this on the download, have a read of Dennis’ track notes below, and then go hibernate in front of some breathtaking scenery with this on your headphones.

Download.

01. Chris Watson – 10m
02. Thomas Köner – Teimo
03. Deathprod – Treetop Drive 3
04. Markus Guentner – Wenn Musik Der Liebe Nahrung Ist
05. Celer – Balsam
06. William Basinski – El camino Real
07. Arvo Pärt – Für Alina (Rafael Anton Irisarri Cover)
08. Bass Communion – Ghosts On Magnetic Tape II
09. Mono – Due Foglie, Una Candela : Il Soffio Del Vento
10. Christian Fennesz – Plays Charles Matthews
11. Arovane – Scapen Te
12. Grouper – Sick
13. Talvihorros – Handwriting (Part II)
14. Resignation – I (2)
15. 36 – After Time

Chris Watson – 10m
“One man and his microphone, capturing the ordinary and making it sound extra-ordinary”

Thomas Köner – Teimo
“The master of dark, ultra-minimal ambient and a guaranteed sub shaker. This track is quite different though and is his most emotive release for me.”

Deathprod – Treetop Drive 3
“One of my all time fav artists, who sadly no longer makes music under the Deathprod alias. My absolute fav tune of his is “Dead People’s Things” but he also made a very limited release a few years earlier called “Treetop Drive” which was thankfully reissued on the 4CD retrospective. It has quite a Basinski vibe to it and was an instant win for me.”

Markus Guentner – Wenn Musik Der Liebe Nahrung Ist
“I always liked Kompakt, mainly because it is owned by the chief ambient techno maestro himself, Wolfgang Voigt aka Gas. However, while the label can often be a little inconsistent in quality for me, “1981” by Markus Guentner was an instant fav, especially because of this track. It is the perfect blend of shoegaze and atmospheric, emotional ambient. His publisher Sony once contacted me, asking if I wanted to release his last album “Doppelgänger” on my label, which was quite funny. Not because of the music (it is great), but rather it was strange to have a massive, global name like Sony recognise my own personal imprint!”

Celer – Balsam
“Celer make beautiful, longform drones and are alarmingly prolific. Incredibly annoying because they are also consistently brilliant! A love story, with a sad ending, but with a lasting legacy we can all enjoy forever”

William Basinski – El camino Real
“I always loved that John Cage quote “If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.” It seems William Basinski took it to heart and completely mastered the process. For me, once I get a loop burrowed in my head, it’s game over. It’s all I can think about. He makes wonderful music, which sounds beautiful whether you listen to it for 2 minutes or 60.”

Arvo Pärt – Für Alina (Rafael Anton Irisarri Cover)
“I have to give props to Rafael for having the balls to do a cover of this and achieve the impossible – making a tasteful, sensitive remix of a cherished Arvo Pärt tune, which both respects the original and takes it to wonderful new places.”

Bass Communion – Ghosts On Magnetic Tape II
“A classic isolationist album, from a highly successful and prolific artist. I always found Steven a fascinating guy, since he has achieved worldwide commercial fame with Porcupine Tree, yet still takes the time to experiment with music and reach completely different audiences. He also allowed me to remix his BC back catalogue and let me release the CD as a bonus disc with my new vinyl record. How many other rock stars would do that? Respect to Steven Wilson.”

Mono – Due Foglie, Una Candela : Il Soffio Del Vento
“I bought this record, because I thought it was quite amusing that Cameron Crowe ran a vinyl label. The music is anything but laughable and is my favourite Mono record.”

Christian Fennesz – Plays Charles Matthews
“Fennesz turns the organ into an emotional beast of an instrument, releaased on a limited 7″ on the always wonderful Touch label. I spoke to Christian when I put my first album out and he was nice enough to not only to give a complete stranger his address, but also to take the time to listen to my music, leave some lovely feedback and then give it to the Touch guys. Solid bloke.”

Arovane – Scapen Te
“I always thought Arovane got a bit of a raw deal, being compared to Autechre and the like, when the vast majority of his music sounds nothing like them. This tune in particular is incredibly moving and minimal and something I like to dig out often. Alas, he doesn’t make music any more, but thankfully he has a wonderful back catalogue to delve into.”

Grouper – Sick
“Liz makes dreamy, ethereal drones using a Wurlitzer piano and her voice. She has a superb, very individual approach to song writing and has a loyal following now – I should know, i’m one of them! She is getting better and better with every release.”

Talvihorros – Handwriting (Part II)
“Talvihorros is Ben Chatwin from London, who contacted me one day saying he liked my tunes. As it happens, he makes really brilliant, highly emotive music himself and we have kept in touch via email since. Maybe a future collab in the waiting? Regardless, buy his music!”

Resignation – I (2)
“Sadly, I don’t know much about the artist in question, but I found this record on youtube a year or so ago and it made a lasting impression. I’m running out of adjectives to describe these tracks, but needless to say it is brilliant.”

36 – After Time
“It’s me, innit. Thanks for listening”

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)

Download

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.”

Download

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…