isolatedmix 62 - Benoît Pioulard

A Kranky Records regular since 2006, Thomas Meluch has slowly but surely earned a swell of respect and admiration from the wider ambient community through his textured instrumental manipulations.

As well as his Benoît Pioulard pseudonym, Thomas has also produced alongside Rafael Anton Irisarri as Orcas, with two albums on Morr Music, and more recently, released my favorite album of his to date; Sonnet, which I was lucky to witness live on a hot Portland summer evening last year.  2016 however, sees a bitter-sweet production in his latest release, Radial; treating us listeners to some special unreleased productions, including his own take on an Aphex Twin classic, Stone In Focus.

Just like Aphex's ambient classics, such as Rhubarb, Thomas' interpretations and indeed his productions in general, reproduce this simplicity and swell of emotion.  Radial captures the very essence of Thomas's work, as a spectrum of degrading colors, gently shift in waves of warmth, static and blanketing drones.

Radial, comes under disappointing circumstances however, with Thomas recently breaking his wrist while hiking, hindering him from working and producing. Funds from the EP (currently name your price on Bandcamp) will go towards medical bills and lost hours of production. 

A track from the EP has the final word in Benoît's isolatedmix, appending a considered mixture of music that has helped keep him company since his injury:  "these are some of the records that I've found to be most healing over the past couple of weeks while mostly kind of cooped up at home with books, movies and cats." Healing indeed, as the mix drifts between soothing deepness in Warmth's recent ambient output; Markus Guentner's, Baryon; and Zane Trow's futuristic experimentations, alongside moments of uplifting light from Bibio, Chilly Gonzalez and Elvis Depressedly. 

Download.

1. Ant'lrd : Aplomb : Split
2. Andrew Chalk : Untitled : The River That Flows Into the Sands
3. Colin Stetson : This Bed of Shattered Bone : New History Warfare Vol. 3
4. Elvis Depressedly : Weird Honey : Holo Pleasures
5. Future 3 : Trmbns : With and Without
6. Warmth : Odessa : Essay
7. Memory Drawings : Sunstruck : Music for Another Loss
8. Markus Guentner : Baryon : Theia 
9. Saint Hildegard : Ave Generosa : A feather on the breath of God
10. E and I : A Perhaps Song : An Inch of Air
11. Chilly Gonzalez : Rideaux Lunaires : Solo Piano II
12. Zane Trow : Arcade : For Those Who Hear Actual Voices
13. Bibio : Wren Tails : A Mineral Love
14. Kyle Bobby Dunn : Duck-Faced Fantasy : Kyle Bobby Dunn and The Infinite Sadness
15. Benoît Pioulard : Madrigal : Radial

Benoît Pioulard | Web | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Facebook

bvdub - A Thousand Words

An expressive soul that channels his feelings through music, often the subject of those he surrounds himself with, bvdub is well known to many of us by now for his emotive and open approach to his productions.

He'll bunker down for weeks on end, to surprise us with another extensive insight into his world, evolving from his last, and keeping us guessing as to what's next. 

Brock's latest release, A Thousand Words, is his longest and largest work to date - one continuous piece that features nineteen movements, five-hundred audio channels, performed live in one take. And yep, you guessed it, is an ode to his beloved ones.

“Whatever form they take, don’t forget those who are there for you every day - and take a moment each day to be there for them. You don’t have to speak, but simply being there can mean a thousand words.”

— bvdub

Beginning with a wall of deep chords and static, A Thousand Words soon rises into lighter more melodic, piano pieces. Courageous waves of synths soar amongst the contrasting lows of melancholy - the ups and downs of a reflective journey we can only begin to imagine - and one we've come to learn and respect from Brock's work. 

Brock prides himself on the rawness of his sound, avoiding things that sound too polished, and you can hear that throughout the many drifting movements, as the static and orchestral chords seep through every open pore, in an unavoidable and purposeful wall of sound. This is Brock with his hood up, hunched over his laptop, crafting a journey deep from the heart. 

A Thousand Words is available on Bandcamp with $3 from every sale going towards rescue centers that encourage children to read to cats every day after school. 

Parks - In Memory

Igor Bystrov aka Parks, sadly passed away in June 2016.

Igor was a big part of ASIP and the wider ambient community, contributing his beautiful textured music to the label's beginnings, including: The Places Series, as well as the first two vinyl compilations; Uncharted Places and Europe. 

We're deeply saddened by Igor's passing and wish to celebrate his life and music as Parks, which so many of us loved and will continue to cherish forever. 

This is a collection of his original music on esteemed labels such as Infraction Music as well as Igor's contributions to ASIP, available for free. If you wish to contribute any money by choosing to pay for this EP, all proceeds will go to Igor's family. 

You can find more of Igor's music and continue to explore his legacy on his Bandcamp page.

Thank you for the music Igor. 
RIP.

'In Memory' is available on Bandcamp.

Helios - Remembrance

Following Keith Kenniff's music since 2006(ish), I've seen the subtle twists in his beautiful productions, his maturity in sound and the complimentary aliases he has spawned.

Helios' has always existed in this perfect space between ambient music, modern classical and electronica. The warm textures create an inviting space, Keith's instruments create stories, and the subtle beat-work and electronics, often compliment the aforementioned without pushing it too far; all together, creating emotional and comforting pieces of work.

Many would say their favorite album from Helios was Eingya, from back in 2006. My favourite track of his, Vargtimme is a part of this album and captures the very essence of why I love Helios' music. It's a defining ambient piece, extremely vivid and emotional, reminding me of a slow moving landscape with a million stories to be told. 

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of this defining album, Keith has released Remembrance; a collection of unreleased tracks, which to me echo the feel of Eingya from a decade past. Land Father in particular, gives me the same feels as Vargtimme, with its expansive strings, melancholic story and grainy texture. 

Available on Bandcamp as 'name your price'.

“10 years ago I released my second album, Eingya. The album marked a significant time in my life of self-discovery both as a young man and as a musician. Since its release I’ve traveled the world with these songs, and heard from other’s experiences with the music in times of joy, sadness, relationships, deaths and births. It brings me happiness to know that such a connection has been made, and the music has touched people. I never expected this music to find an audience outside of my studio and a handful of friends/family.

Thank You”

— Keith Kenniff

todos - Kilchurn Session XIV

It's been just over a month since todos treated us to a dub-techno themed mix in Komunizm, but now he returns with his staple Kilchurn Session series, and its 14th edition. 

Back comes the euphoric, constructed build-ups, flawless mixing and programming; the well-placed samples, and considered track choices. Rare edits, and double-mixes featured alongside a variety of artists; from the mighty Sasha, to our very own Arovane and his colab with Porya Hatami and Darren McClure.

Always perfected, and always brilliant, keep 'em coming, todos.

Download

Tracklist
1. KRTS - ‘Sealed’ (Intro)
2. Danny Scrilla - ‘Cryosphere’
3. Darshan Atmosphere - ‘Vishuddha’
4. Frostbite - ‘The Spirit Stirs’
5. Dessin Bizarre - ‘Eidfjord’ / Memotone - She’s a Killer’ Edit / Dessin Bizarre - ‘Pressure’
6. Sasha - ‘Modcon’
7. DSR Lines - ‘Uitval’ / Dessin Bizarre - ‘Daylightmast’
8. Sasha - ‘Scarpa Falls’ / Boards Of Canada - ‘Trails’ (Recordssectionclip Slight Edit)
9. Cliff Martinez - ‘The Moon’s Light’
10. Dalhous -‘Response To Stimuli’
11. Rezo Glonti - ‘Line In’
12. Dessin Bizarre - ‘Air Frais’
13. Matt Dunkley - ‘Cycle 5 (Clint Mansell Remix)
14. Anders Brørby - ‘The Knives in Her Eyes’
15. Sophia Loizou - ‘Order of Elements’ / Carbon Based Lifeforms - ‘Endospore’ (Remastered)
16. Zahn | Hatami | McClure - ‘Vhaundt’
17. Leafar Legov - ‘Years’
18. Solar Bears - ‘Longer Life’ / Nils Quak - Future Mistakes’ / Dessin Bizarre - ‘Flow’
19. Melokind - ‘The Forester’ Extended Edit

This mix also features various field recordings collected by @soundexmachinaSpecial thanks to @KLoukovikas. Please visit http://soundexmachina.com