Carbon Based Lifeforms – Twentythree

It’s been floating about for a few weeks now, but there’s quite a few reasons why I’m finally posting about this majestic piece from Sweden’s most discerning ambient and long lasting duo. One, i’ve realised I havent even featured Daniel and Johannes’ work on ASIP before (criminal). Two, they will be gracing London next week in a very rare Ultimae performance (I CANNOT wait). And three, this album will go down as an all-time classic with me, after several repeat listens and a growing love for the album each time.

Twentythree is Carbon Based Lifeforms fourth release on Ultimae, the long-standing label which is also home to fellow countryman Solar Fields. A fourth album from a partnership which has stood the test of time – since Daniel and Johannes were just 15 years old to be exact, and their relationship seems to have hit it’s peak; Twentythree is already being touted as their best work to date.

I’m not going to go into detail on each of the tracks included on this release. This album is quite simply, classic, perfected ambient music. Atmospheric, melodic, emotive and spacious, Daniel and Johannes seem to come off effortlessly with an album which will stand the test of time. I wouldn’t be surprised if i’m looking back at this album in fifteen years time the same way I do with Biosphere’s masterpieces… Big, I hear you say? Just give it a try…

Oh and I almost forgot, the fourth reason for this post; we may be expecting a little mix series contribution from Daniel and Johannes in the near future…

You can purchase twentythree from the Ultimae Bandcamp or the physical version from Ultimae directly. If you’re planning on attending the CBL London gig, please get in touch!

isolatedmix 20 - Markus Guentner: Ten Years of Pop Ambient

I’ve got to be honest, since day one of the isolatedmix series, Markus Guentner has been at the top of the wish-list. He needs little introduction to most of you, as lovers of ambient would’ve no doubt at some point melted in amongst one of his productions on Kompakt’s Pop Ambient or floated along to one of his very rare ambient sets. His consecutive contributions to our best loved ambient series and a one-off release on Sending Orbs has earn’t him respect from all walks of musical life. From lovers of ambient to die-hard techno fans, i’ve heard Markus’ name crop up numerous times within inspirational music conversations.

The likes of ‘Baghira’ and ‘Express Yourself’ have become synonymous with dream-like, looping ambient productions for the past ten or so years and have taken starring roles amongst Kompakt’s finest productions – no mean feat. Ultimately, Markus’ consistent, quality ambient music has defined the minimalist side of Kompakt we all love today and has spurred on a multitude of other producers to adopt the same approach to ambient music.

It’s unsurprising therefore to find out the inspiration and theme for Markus’ isolated mix.

10yrs of Pop Ambient …

“As you can see, I used a lot of Pop Ambient/Kompakt tracks in this set, but it should not be seen as promo-mix for Kompakt – instead, the mix honours ten years of a specific ambient-style and contains many of the great artists who produced and adopted this style. I selected long and wide tracks to create a constant atmosphere, for long mixes without big cuts and breaks.”

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Tracklist:
01 – Gustavo Lamas – MaÒana / Kompakt
02 – Chris Mcnamara – Oooohdear / Overlap
03 – www.jz-arkh.co.uk – ddrhodes / www.jz-arkh.co.uk
04 – Roger Martinez – Crowded City Empty Minds / Roger Martinez pres. Horizontal Excursions
05 – Triola – Leuchtturm (Triola im Fünftonraum)/ Kompakt
06 – Aitokaiku – Sunset Park / Unreleased
07 – Ulf lohmann – Audrey (Pop Ambient 2004) / Kompakt
08 – Markus Guentner – Wanderung (1981) / Kompakt
09 – Andrew Thomas – Fearsome Jewel 9 (Pop Ambient 2004) / Kompakt
10 – Jens-uwe Beyer – Volax (Pop Ambient 2011) / Kompakt
11 – Triola – Das Wunder Der Kulperhütte (Pop Ambient 2007) / Kompakt
12 – Gastón Arévalo – Latitud / Unreleased
13 – Klimek and Husak -The Godfather (For William Basinski & Snoop Dogg) (Pop Ambient 2009) / Kompakt
14 – Gas – Pop / Mille Plateaux
15 – Ulf lohmann – Lai King Est (Pop Ambient 2007) / Kompakt
16 – Mikkel Metal – Decline (Pop Ambient 2006) / Kompakt
17 – The Sight Below – No Place for us (Eluvium Sedated remix) / Ghostly Int.

http://www.m-guentner.de/

bvdub presents Deep Space Mix 21

After their special colab release ‘Symbol 02‘, comes anther much welcomed partnership, but this time ASC has opened up the Deep Space mix Holy Grail to it’s first ever guest… Well, if it was going to be anyone, it was always going to be Brock.

No tracklist, which kills me, but that seems to be the ongoing bvdub style… lull you into a heightened sensory experience only to leave you questioning what the hell just happened. Fine by me.

Download, or see the original post on the Auxiliary site.

You can find links to all of ASC’s previous Deep Space mixes on the ASIP mixes page.

ASIP – Glacially Patterned Oases (Mix for RTFKT)

I’m honoured to be able to contribute to the RTFKT Mutecast series with a special mix I spent the best part of two months deliberating, experimenting, swapping around and finally putting together. I’ve ended up with an electronic mix which is very much in the vain of the kind of music the guys over at RTFKT are regularly posting about, featuring some pretty recent stuff including Jesse Somfay’s release onZaubernuss as Flourish, one of the best tracks from aboutface’s EP and Jon Hopkins’ absolutely cataclysmic remix of Agoria’s Panta Rei.

I’ve also included a few artists I hope to give a bit more exposure to including; Technicolour and 110ML, who both boast brilliant releases on the recently launched net label Energostatic; a much loved ASIP favourite in the form of 36 – who deserves all the attention he can get and the Bluetech and Kilowatt collaboration as Invisible Allies to help spice things up a bit.

If you haven’t experienced any of RTFKT’s Mutecasts so far, check them out here with some great mixes from our man Mig Dfoe, Applescal, and the previously featured Feffeffef. (You might also notice some nifty looking artwork in one of the mixes!)

You can read the original post on RTFKT here with a few humbling words about the site. Thanks guys!

Download.

Tracklist (with links to previous features):
01. Biosphere – Inner Ohm
02. Monoceros – The Big Wave
03. Technicolour – Permafrost
04. Popnoname – Nightliner
05. Pantha Du Prince – Stick To My Side (Walls Remix)
06. Invisible Allies – Mulberry Windows
07. Oneohtrix Point Never – Format & Journey North
08. Blanck Mass – Sub Serious
09. The Sight Below – At First Touch
10. 110ML – Scratch Me
11. Glander – Zavial
12. Flourish – Heaven Tar
13. Aboutface – Smile
14. Agoria – Panta Rei (Jon Hopkins remix)
15. 36 – Deluge

isolatedmix 19 - Specta Ciera

One of the ‘newest’ inspirations to be invited to participate in the isolatedmix series, Devin Underwood first captured my attention with his ‘Snowflake Collections’ – released on the brilliant Secret Station Records in 2009. Since then, I’ve been following Specta Ciera‘s contributions to some of the best net-labels in existence, including i,Absentee, Distance Recordings, Circlesandlines and Audio Gourmet. Needless to say, disappointment doesn’t seem to be something Devin offers up.

Devin dips his toes in atmospheric ambient (take his latest EP with Jacob Newman), gentle and melodic electronica, (‘It’s Barely There‘ being one of my favourites), more beat based electronica (Autumn in a Cup) dub-techno (take his Energy Dream 2 EP) and even produces full-on electronic assaults as one half of Drexon Field (again part of Secret Station Records and Attacknine – home to the likes of Casino Versus Japan). His sound is varied, modest and typically understated.

I say Devin is one of the ‘newest’ producers to contribute to the series, because it’s rare I get the chance to invite those who have most recently inspired me in one way or another. Along with Lunar Testing Lab (isolatedmix 08 and head of Secret Station), Specta Ciera has consistently contributed to (many free) net-label releases, which in itself is not only inspirational, but can be seen as the lifeblood of today’s ambient and electronica music community and is most certainly one of the biggest reasons ASIP exists.

Devin’s isolatedmix is a dive into his dub-techno roots, a first within the series and of course another unforgettable mix to push the series along. Here’s what Devin has to say about the set:

“Dub techno has always helped me relax and think, which is why I decided to create this mix. Mixing new dub techno with some old favorites, I tried to create a smooth flowing mix to allow all the different shades of dub techno to shine. Ranging from very hazy/dreamy rhythms like Andrea Suglia & Quantec, to more experimental basic channel like tracks such as Recon. Some of the tracks have also been selected from amazing netlabels as well including CISM, Silent Season, as well as Energostatic (all highly recommended labels).”

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Tracklist
01. Andrea Suglia – “The Beach” (0.00)
02. Resoe – “Tanzfieber” (7:00)
03. Christoph Schindling – “inside” (14:00)
04. Havantepe – “Starliner” – (22:50)
05. Kyle Erich Schulz – “Hemlockfeast” (26:50)
06. Quantec – “Supra” (34:50)
07. King Midas Sound – “Too Long Dub” (40:55)
08. Recon – “Travel Analog” (45:15)
09. Mr Cloudy – “Different Lives (March Snow Dub)” (48:06)
10. R&S meet the Chosen Brothers – “History Version” (55:08)