Viul & Benoît Pioulard / Konec (ASIPV035)

Our next release comes from the esteemed pairing of Benoît Pioulard and Viul with a 2LP collaboration titled Konec.

This album stuck inside my head as soon as I was done with the first listen. Closely rooted in each of their own aesthetics, it sits somewhere between a hazy city sunset and a dystopian swan song, evoking a lot of nostalgia and plenty of memorable moments throughout the twelve tracks. One of those albums where everyone has a different favorite track!

Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri and featuring some stunning hand-drawn artwork by Liz Harris, the gatefold is printed on reverse board gatefold to enhance Liz’s artwork and pressed on Transparent vinyl.

Preorder is available on Monday 15th with full release on August 29th.

Listen to the album and view links to buy on the album release page.

Looking for some of the best Ambient music of all time?

I don’t make best-of Ambient lists, but I know a lot of people search for music that way and some end up here on ASIP wanting an introduction to what others may deem the ‘best’ Ambient music out there or even better, good albums to start with in the genre. I also get a few people asking me for recommendations without much context about what they like. A broad mix full of a range of styles, artists and labels is always a good place to start. So with that in mind, we wanted to point you in the right direction…

Neither Scene Nor Heard (Article + Playlist)

First, this evolving playlist on Spotify originates from the Neither Scene Nor Heard article which describes my personal journey with ambient music. Over 400 unique artists (and counting) in an ambient adjacent world to explore. Now, it is kept updated and evolving with additions - both old and new. Follow the playlist on Spotify, then find your favorite artist on Bandcamp and buy their music!

ASIP Reflection Mixes (end of year mixes from 2010>)

Next, consider all of our annual Reflection mixes together in one place as a good introduction to Ambient music and its many facets.

Since 2010, each year they have taken the shape of mixes, as part of our ‘Reflection on…’ series, which is an annual feature we create that combines some of (my) favorite Ambient music of the year and related styles in one long mixed journey. For you to not only explore many different artists in one place but to enjoy without interruptions. Within these, you’ll find plenty to listen to, crossing all genres related to ambient music, including drone, chill out, experimental, modern classical, IDM, electronic, dub-techno, and many more surprises that bring the mix to life, plucking select tracks from albums that have been on high rotation that year.

Jump over to this dedicated page with all the features or check the Soundcloud playlist.

astrangelyisolatedplace · ASIP - End of year Reflection Mixes

ASIP Portals features

This series of in-depth articles and features many different aspects of ambient music, from a dedicated reconstruction of the KLF’s seminal Chill Out, to an overview of Power Ambient, and a full classic Trance Loops mix made up of nothing but beatless Trance samples.

View all of the features here, or listen to the mixes on Soundcloud.

astrangelyisolatedplace · ASIP Portals Series

I would also recommend these other great publications and blogs to kick-start your journey with Ambient music, who have all stood the test of time and regularly post ‘ best of’ albums and lists: Headphone Commute, Igloo Magazine, A Closer Listen, Textura to name a few to get started.

Still need more? Check out our label of course, which goes across the ambient music spectrum.

ASC / Original Soundtrack (ASIP037)

After two albums as Comit, James Clements brings his ASC alias to the label with a completely new and revealing style, focusing on the piano and creating space for the listener to construct their own associations with an imaginary Soundtrack.

Bridging the majority of Electronic styles over the past twenty years, from Autonomic and Jungle, to Ambient, Techno and IDM, James Clements can be held up as a master of these styles by many of us, but when it comes to boiling down his musical intricacies to focus on a single instrument, you’d be hard stretched to find something within his vast catalog until now. In 'Original Soundtrack' the piano is now the focus across eight introspective acts, with the spaces and places left open for further interpretation.

Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri and featuring photography by Greg Nunn, Original Soundtrack will be available as a limited Digipak CD and digital download. View the release page for more info and links to buy.

Buy on Bandcamp

Buy on Juno

Christian Kleine / Touch & Fuse - Neon Orange 2LP version now available

Arguably Christian Kleine’s most comprehensive and colorful release to capture his enigmatic IDM style, Touch & Fuse was originally released on CD in 2020 and is now available as a Neon Orange 2LP edition.

Featuring a new vinyl master and lacquer cut by Andreas Lupo Lubich, with revised and expanded artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding, copies are available through our Bandcamp store, our distributors Juno (UK) , One Eye Witness (EU) and additional stores soon.

View the album release page for more information, links to buy and stream.

Ameeva / Die Wellen (9128-4)

Out today on our sub-label 9128.live, an incredible live performance by Ameeva, which we had the pleasure of hosting last year during the 9128 anniversary takeover. Now available on digital and a limited edition cassette box with UV printed foil.

Born in Girona, Spain and based in Berlin since 2019, Alex Bussé Santacruz's Ameeva project previously came to life on the Lowless music label in 2020 and the album 'Fractura del Sueño'. His live set for the 9128 Birthday event took these experimental electronics to a deeper, more personal level, weaving friends' samples and conversations into a rich tapestry of drone and field recordings, creating an immersive and enveloping 40-minute narrative.

Available on Bandcamp, and Juno.

The 9128 label aims to document significant live performances by artists that previously performed on the 9128.live platform. With recordings initially created for a singular collective listening moment, and often as part of a festival or takeover weekend, label recordings will re-present this music for further listening across various formats that best suit each release.