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.

ASIP - Vinylic

A mix I put together this afternoon whilst dusting off some old records. Nothing new, everything plastic, lovingly mixed on two turntables. Wasn’t sure where this was going so it starts with some ambient, then progresses into techno and deep melodic stuff, finished off with one of my favourite tunes of all time by Paul Kalkbrenner.

Download.

01. Aphex Twin – Polynomial C
02. Carl Craig – Wonderful Life
03. Global Communication – 12:18
04. 7 Hurtz – Sisters
05. 7 Hurtz – Mono Random
06. Slide – Buttaface (Mathew Jonson Remix)
07. Donnacha Costello – Orange
08. Tiga – Man Hrdina
09. Daso – Daybreak
10. Paul Kalkbrenner – Gebrunn Gebrunn
11. Ego Express – Live at Sirius Prime
12. Âme – Shiro
13. Code E – Analysis & Evaluation
14. Ed Chamberlain – Styge
15. Subway – Testing (Dexter Mix)
16. Paul Kalkbrenner – Since 77

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

ASIP - Reflection on 2010

You’ve seen the A-Z of music which made my 2010, but what’s a year-end wrap-up without a mix?!

A reflection on 2010 is an overview of my favourite artists and albums of the year. Whilst some tracks may not necessarily be the best from each respective album, I’ve gone for those that fit the overall mix. And of course, by doing this I’ve missed out plenty and the more upbeat electronica has been left to one side for now… But I’m hoping you’ll value this as a listening experience rather than just a year end list.

Once again, thanks to all the artists featured and I hope you all enjoy it. If you fancy any of the tracks featured, follow the album links in the tracklisting below (some are free!)

Download

01. 36 – Geiga [Hollow]
02. Nest – Charlotte [Retold]
03. Mig Dfoe – Real de 14 [The Stone Master]
04. Ous Mal – Marraskuu [Nuojuva Halava]
05. Loscil – Fern and Robin [Endless Falls]
06. bvdub – No One Will Ever Find You Here [The Art Of Dying Alone]
07. Pantha Du Prince – Im Bann [Black Noise]
08. Thomas Fehlmann – Falling Into Your Eyes [Gute Luft]
09. Elika – Stand Still [Snuggle Bunnies]
10. Ulrich Schnauss + Manual – In Odense [Epic]
11. Solar Fields – Unite [Origin#01]
12. Stellardrone – Milliways [Energostatic] FREE
13. Dalot – XX [The Reconstruction Of Fives]
14. D_rradio – Midnight on a Moonless Night [Parts]
15. Horizon Fire – Denver River Logging [Chemtrail] FREE
16. Foxes in Fiction – Karma Bank [Swung From The Branches] FREE
17. Rhian Sheehan – Texture 2 [Unreleased]
18. Casino Versus Japan – Hello You [Night On Tape]
19. Verulf – Sunlight and Sea [Self titled] FREE
20. Dextro – Ring Cycle (Live version) [Zero Circle]

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”