Capturing The Voice Of A Galaxy

 

Another stellar guest mix comes our way courtesy of loyal listener, Erwin Broers. He asked if I was interested in a mix of  electronic music from Innovative Communication, the label founded by Klaus Schulze in the late 70s. Yes, please!

Here's what Erwin says about this fantastic mix:

"I was in my teens when I got in touch with Electronic Music by means of well-known artists such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk and Vangelis. Searching for more similar music in the local library, I came across an LP with on its sleeve just a mysterious picture of a huge radio telescope. The album was Robert Schroeder's "Galaxie Cygnus-A" ! Liner notes on the back of the sleeve explained that the music was commissioned by the Austrian Broadcasting Service (ÖRF) and performed live at the 1982 ARS Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. The idea behind the project consisted of capturing sound waves coming from the Cygnus-A galaxy with the help of the Effelsberg 100 meter radio telescope, the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world at that time. Schroeder used those sound waves as basis and inspiration, and created a magical soundtrack for stargazing and floating in outer space. Needless to say, I was blown away by this album, and from then on I fanatically sought out other releases on the Innovative Communication label, which - by the way - was founded in 1978 by the late Klaus Schulze, one of the godfathers of Electronic Music.

To honour my memory of that exciting period, I chose to start this label retrospective with the first two tracks of this special album - including some of the white noise straight from space ! The mix is rather heterogeneous and gives a good impression of the kind of EM that was published on IC in its heydays, ie. the 80s. From the early 90s the label quickly became more commercial edging towards mellow new age and average electro-acoustic instrumental fusion (aka NAM)."

Thanks, Erwin, for this trip back in time.

Cheers!

[ s t r e a m ]    [ d o w n l o a d ]    [ a p p l e _ p o d c a s t s ]

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   Robert Schroeder - Galaxie Cygnus-A Part 1 & 2 (Galaxie Cygnus-A, 1982)
• 12:08   Klaus Schulze - Silent Running (excerpt) (Trancefer, 1981)
• 19:26   Peak - Nightmist (Ebondàzzar, 1982)
• 25:30   P'Cock - The Prophet (The Prophet, 1980)
• 31:15   Peter Seiler - Serengeti (Sensitive Touch, 1987)
• 36:00   Mind Over Matter - Paradise: 1st. Movement: Being One (Air) (The Colours Of Life, 1988)
• 42:09   G.E.N.E. - Taste Of Dawn (Life Is A Melody, 1988)
• 47:42   Software - Syn-Code-Z: 1st. Movement: Code-Ocean (Syn-Code, 1987)
• 53:45   Patrick Kosmos - Airgasm (Cosmic Resonance, 1991)
• 63:16   end

Wind and Wandering

This mix is a continuation of a trend I noticed several years ago - the use of sax or other wind instruments in ambient music. I think I've done 3 other mixes that feature wind instruments. 

This one came together fairly quickly as there is a lot to choose from. Most of the tracks are 2023 or 2024 with 4 of the 14 a bit older. I really like the flow of this set, one song bleeds right into the next with the beginnings and endings slightly obscured.

This also seems to work well as and autumn themed mix. I picture a cold, dreary autumn day like the one in the cover art. Speaking of the cover art, does anyone get the connection between the title and the cover?

Links to al the music used in this mix:

• https://naimasax.bandcamp.com/album/she-was-like-art
• https://annechrisbakker.bandcamp.com/album/a-sketch-in-leaving
• https://circaalto.bandcamp.com/album/faint-structures
• https://www.lottepen.nl/muziek/
• https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B01MSUAGFN?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
• https://bathysphererecords.bandcamp.com/album/dive-1-refraction
• https://latenighttales.bandcamp.com/album/late-night-tales-lafur-arnalds
• https://naimasax.bandcamp.com/album/this-must-be-the-place
• https://johnalsobennett.bandcamp.com/album/klima
• https://taylordeupree.bandcamp.com/album/sti-ll-2
• https://tapanirinne.bandcamp.com/album/decaying-light
• https://machinefabriek.bandcamp.com/album/recytle
• https://icrdistribution.bandcamp.com/album/slowed-life
• https://wereleasewhateverthefuckwewantrecords.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-a-cosmic-garden

Cheers!

[ s t r e a m ]    [ d o w n l o a d ]    [ a p p l e _ p o d c a s t s ]

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00    Naima - nO0NOu (She Was Like Art 2024)
• 03:30    Anne Chris Bakker - Qanik (A Sketch in Leaving 2022)
• 05:10    Circo Alto - For Reeds (Faint Structures 2024)
• 11:02    Lotte Pen - Wanderer (Pelgrim 2022)
• 14:23    Jon Gibson - Extensions II (In Good Company 2010)
• 19:52    Sumner James, Robert Chamberlain, Volcano Lazerbeam, Saroon -                Bathypalegic (Dive 1: Refraction 2024)
• 24:24    Sarah Neufeld & Colin Stetson - And Still They Move (LateNightTales 2016)
• 27:14    Naima - Ectenic Force (This Must Be The Place 2023)
• 34:47    CV & JAB - Dwelling (Κλίμα(Klima) 2023)
• 38:27    Taylor Deupree - Snowsand(For Clarinets, VIbraphone, Cello & Percussion)  (Sti.ll 2024)
• 41:30    Juha Mäki-Patola & Tapani Rinne - Decaying Light (Decaying Light 2024)
• 45:12    Machinefabriek - IV(after Horovitz) (Recytle 2023)
• 48:22    Jonathan Coleclough, Theo Travis, Jeph Jerman - Slowed Life (Slowed Life 2024)
• 52:39    Takashi Kokubo & Andrea Esperti - Travelling Through The Stars To Gaia (Music For A Cosmic Garden 2023)
• 62:25    end

A Moon Full Of Stars and Astral Cars by Andy McNeill/Maple Mountain Sunburst

 

I fell in love with the music of Andy McNeill, who records as Maple Mountain Sunburst, back in 2010 with the release of the album The Maple Mountain Sunburst Triolian Orchestra. Combining a wide variety of instrumentation, electronics, loops and samples the music creates a unique album and listening experience. The album was one of my favorites of 2010.

When I found out that, after a long hiatus, there was new album this year, I was totally hyped. The new recording, Ecstatic, is everything I'd hoped for. Described by Andy as “Instrumental electronic ambient with loops and chopped samples, old keyboards, guitars, and found voices. The vibe is heartwarming, blissed-out, and euphoric; a balm for turbulent times.” You can find the new album here - https://maplemountainsunburst.bandcamp.com/album/ecstatic 

I was so excited by the new music that I asked Andy to create a mix. He graciously agreed and created multiple mixes. So awesome! This is the first one and it is excellent. I can't stop listening to it.

Here's what Andy says abut this mix:

"I could say this playlist is about transcendence and something about the physical and spiritual journeys we might take to get there. Or I could just say these are tracks that bring me joy. Some old favourites, some new. I’ve tried to weave my own material through here in a desperate but determined effort to rise to the level of wonder and beauty in these artists’ work."

Here links to all the music used in the mix:

• https://maplemountainsunburst.bandcamp.com/album/ecstatic
• https://open.spotify.com/track/0yK8sWD6cfrc7pGfaPIcZH?si=b6d1f12acad04c44
• https://open.spotify.com/track/2u00DQoxKIsaI0bGpZ4pZ7?si=0f59590912b64ef1
• https://open.spotify.com/track/0Di008winU6Jn2wz7RBtSa?si=e67b5b93d4764368
• https://maplemountainsunburst.bandcamp.com/album/ecstatic
• https://juanamolina.bandcamp.com/track/quie-n-2
• https://zammuto.bandcamp.com/track/tonight-well-go-for-a-ride
• https://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/track/everything-that-rises
• https://maplemountainsunburst.bandcamp.com/album/ecstatic
• https://open.spotify.com/track/2QL6VUSna6Te2VhyZ9AeFn?si=30ae04def6764ede
• https://radiohead.bandcamp.com/track/pyramid-song-1
• https://open.spotify.com/track/5GO0qzKdvndy7g9r0iKEDz?si=883c63881ad84ecc
• https://open.spotify.com/track/2Mug919daYq40cgwzNhgbY?si=77878dbe0e394788
• https://open.spotify.com/track/6nDzGTp2IvrtEEEgCTInMX?si=349ebcab620e4acb
• https://open.spotify.com/track/6N0Ts6humF8CHQSk7qqxZM?si=de5de47f5fae4f8c

Thanks, Andy, for your hard work on this set. 

Cheers!

[ s t r e a m ]    [ d o w n l o a d ]    [ a p p l e _ p o d c a s t s ]

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   Maple Mountain Sunburst - Waters Of Forgetfulness (Ecstatic 2024)
• 05:24   Santo & Johnny - Sleepwalk (Presenting Santo & Johnny 1959) 
• 07:43   Lemon Jelly - Ramblin’ Man (edit) (Lost Horizons 2002)
• 13:45   The Percy Faith Strings - Out Of This World (Bouquet of Love 1962)
• 17:46   Maple Mountain Sunburst - Murmuration Awe (Ecstatic 2024)
• 20:34   Juana Molina -¿Quién? (Segundo 2000)
• 23:04   Nick Zammuto - Tonight We’ll Go For A Ride (We The Animals 2018)
• 25:14   Sufjan Stevens - Everything That Rises (Javelin 2023)
• 30:10   Maple Mountain Sunburst - Dream Fuel (Ecstatic 2024)
• 34:56   Michael Nyman - Drowning By Number 3 (Drowning by Numbers 1988)
• 38:24   Radiohead - Pyramid Song (Amnesiac 2001)
• 43:07   Cocteau Twins - Otterley (Treasure 1984)
• 46:53   Michael Brook - Midday (Hybrid 1985)
• 52:18   Brian Eno - Spider and I(Before and After Science 1977)
• 55:55   Bill Frisell - Half a Million (Is That You? 1990)
• 59:00   end

Fall Colors

 

I have a whiteboard on the wall outside my office at work where we compile random lists of things - "Best Pizza Topping", "Favorite Kitchen Utensil", "Best First Track of an Album", etc. Recently the category was "Songs for Fall/Autumn." I posted about the list on Mixcloud here - https://www.mixcloud.com/lowlight/posts/songs-about-fall-autumn-fall-colors/

So I grabbed a few tracks from the suggestions, some of my own favorites & some instrumentals to come up with this new Fall Colors mix. The set alternates between vocal tunes & instrumentals. 

Btw, the cover art pic is one of my own, taken ten years ago in my backyard.

Cheers!

[ s t r e a m ]    [ d o w n l o a d ]    [ a p p l e _ p o d c a s t s ]

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00    Neil Halstead - Seasons (Sleeping On Roads 2002)
• 05:21    Jonny Nash - October Song (Point of Entry 2023)
• 09:21    Fleet Foxes - Wading in Waist-High Water(Solstice Version) (A Very Lonely Solstice 2021)
• 11:25    Trembling Blue Stars - Two Octobers (Her Handwriting 1996)
• 12:40    Iron & Wine - Autumn Town Leaves (Weed Garden EP 2018)
• 15:50    Jeff Pearce - The Last Warm Day In October (Rainshadow Sky 2008)
• 20:03    The Declining Winter - Autumn Hours (The Definition Glance 2021)
• 25:50    Brian Eno & Harold Budd - Late October (The Pearl 1984)
• 30:00    Willie Nelson - September Song (Stardust 1978)
• 34:31    The Modern Jazz Quartet - Autumn in New York (Django 1953)
• 38:06    Bill Fay - The Geese Are Flying Westward (Who Is The Sender? 2015)
• 40:48    Early Day Miners - Autumn Wake (Let Us Garlands Bring 2002)
• 46:00    Neil Young - Harvest Moon (Harvest Moon 1992)
• 50:50    The Six Parts Seven - Changing The Name Of October (Silence Magnifies Sound 1999)
• 56:33    Yo La Tengo -  Autumn Sweater (I Can Hear The Heart Beating 1997)
• 61:33    end