Sonae - Far Away Remixed

It was a special time releasing ASIP's first digital series a few years back. The Places Series played home to many ambient artists first 'release'; went on to define the wider ASIP community; and in many instances helped some of the artists get a little more exposure for their great work. The fact I'm writing this post about Sonae, makes me proud to have started it, and proud of where the artists have pushed themselves to in the past few years.

Sonae is one of those unique sounding artists whose work grabbed me from the start. An experimental mixture of close sounds, piano and subtle electronics, which gracefully came together in her debut album last year titled Far Away Is Right Around The Corner, on Monika Enterprise. Now, Sonae returns with a remix EP, enlisting another ASIP steward in Markus Guentner, alongside Mimicof, Dirk Markham, and Cétieu.  

Dirk Markham transforms the calm of Überwindung into a sparkling and energetic experimental piece. The underlaying pulses of Not The Moon may be an obvious choice for Guentner, but as with all great remixes, it's the respect for the subtleties that make the biggest impact. Cétieu takes a page from Sonae's detailed sculpturing to transform the bulbous, glistening I Know A Fish, into a microscopic dive, living on the surface of the harmonic, shimmering metallics. And lastly, composer and sound sculpter Midori Hirano (Mimicof) treats us to a dramatic and dynamic take on Hot Summerday, rounding out a superb sound-detail-oriented remix EP. 

There's no doubt this release features a finely curated roster, obviously chosen to accentuate, not disrupt, with their takes on Sonae's vivid sound designs.

We're lucky to bring you the video for Mimicof's remix below, created by Alisa Berger. 

Sonae - Far Away Remixed is now available digitally on iTunes/Beatport/Bleep etc.

Sonae - Far Away Remixed tracklist:
1. Überwindung - Dirk Markham Remix
2. Hot Summerday - Mimicof Remix
3. Not The Moon-Markus Guentner Remix
4. I Know A Fish - Cétieu Remix

Synkro - Changes Remix EP (Helios exclusive stream)

Synkro's debut album, Changes, was a culmination of many years work for the British artist. After becoming synonymous with remixes, EP's, collaborations along with his work as part of Kiyoko, it was a well overdue album release which captured his unique sound; combining ambient, bass, beats and jungle, to name just a few styles. 

This makes it of little surprise to see the wide-ranging artists contained within his upcoming remix EP for the album, enlisting four artists from across the electronic music spectrum; Sven Weisemann; Legowelt, DBridge and Helios. 

Beginning with a 13-minute trip by the man behind Desolate, Sven Weisemann, his signature echoed piano and angelic vocals take on one of the deeper tracks from the album, Your Heart, flipping the emotion into a soulful, hopeful take on the original. 

Straight-up aggressive acid and stabby-chords from Legowelt form the remix of the slow-stepping title track, Changes - no surprise from a man who drops funky-acid-tinged albums such as Amiga Railroad Adventures.

DBridge is probably the most obvious remix choice for the EP given his closeness in sound to Synkro (and undoubtedly a big influence on Synkro's sound), and his choice of track, Body Close, is also a banker, given the autonomic sound and lead vocal - ripe for a DBridge rip. The result is as big, and as stomping as you would expect from the drum'n bass legend.

Lastly, Synkro honors the many ambient influences on the album by enlisting one of the best ambient producers out there to take on Midnight Sun. The nostalgic Boards of Canada sounding original might seem the easy choice for Helios, but the result is refined; with Keith toning down the beats and chords, turning Midnight Sun into a majestic and ethereal piece of downtempo. One of Helios' best and a perfect ending for an eclectic remix EP.

We've got the Helios remix to stream in its entirety below.

Changes Remix EP available on Bandcamp in digital, vinyl and tape.

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.