2023 Label Compilation (mixed by todos)

A showcase of individual tracks from our 2023 label releases and a special continuous mix of select tracks from todos.

It’s become somewhat of a tradition since our first annual compilation release in 2019, and each year I find it tough to separate tracks from their album releases in this way. We pride ourselves on delivering an album format, and more often than not, specifically a conceptual album format that works best as a whole. So I appreciate the artists who allow us to separate their musical children for this worthy annual exercise. It’s so easy to skip over releases nowadays - at no fault of anyone but the pace of life and technology today - and so this compilation not only helps us reflect on the year gone by, but also ensures anyone new to the label, or dipping in and out over time, can get a taste of what we have proudly spent our time and passion presenting this year. Please take the time to visit each respective artist's release to realize its full form. 

Not only is separating tracks from an album format a formidable task, but finding a way to combine them in one seamless mix is even more so. Once again, we’ve asked our esteemed todos to provide the continuous mixed version. Creating a flow using a limited predetermined set of music across a variety of styles, moods, and tones is an almighty feat. But no-one does it better than todos. Here, he is left to his own devices as we have grown to admire time and time again, using snippets and samples from many of the releases, but focusing on delivering a long-form mix that stands on its own, using nothing but the ASIP 2023 library of music. 

It was a year that introduced new faces to the label with Iceland’s Gunnar Jónsson Collider providing a spectacular audio-visual experience in S.W.I.M, and welcoming Germany’s Mary Yalex who explored imaginary worlds of fascinating texture and melody. We fulfilled a long-awaited foray into more classic trance styles through the exciting Mikkel Rev, and finally presented the magical drums of Alex Albrecht’s heart-warming soundscapes. Max Würden continued his foray into expansive sonics with Landmark, and Quiet Places returned with their second Volume of psychedelic long-form trips into the unknown. One Million Eyes returned with more compelling genre-defiant magic, and OKRAA brought his live edits of his debut album 1994 to life once more. 2023 will also be remembered as the year Brock Van Wey’s Earth House Hold project came both full circle, and full stop. The last track title on this compilation coincidentally represents the perfect swan song for a project that has found a home on ASIP for the past five years. 

Thanks for all your support, comments and encouragement this year. We have an exciting 2024 lined up.

Available as Name Your Price on Bandcamp

Play the mix on Soundcloud

astrangelyisolatedplace · ASIP Label Compilation 2023 (mixed by todos)

Continuous mix by todos: soundcloud.com/djtodos. Full mix tracklist differs from the digital compilation tracklist featuring additional edits and samples.

Art and photography by ASIP featuring a photograph of ‘The Landmark’ sculpture by Enrique Martínez Celaya.

For album credit and production details, please see each release page.

Alex Albrecht / Violet Visionary (ASIPV043)

We are in full release mode as we close down the second half of the year and get caught up on some releases after a big switch in Plants and Distro early on in ‘23. Next up is a beautifully pointed and succinct portrait of the wonderful work to come from Australian producer Alex Albrecht. Alex has been slowly winning over every ear his music seems to touch and this record will undoubtedly do the very same if you’re new to his lush mixture of Jazz-infused deep house and field recordings.

We’re leading the announcement with the mesmerizing, perfectly matched video for the last track of the album, ‘June’, created by Jessica Grilli.

~

Australian artist Alex Albrecht debuts on A Strangely Isolated Place with Violet Visionary, a perfectly honed evolution of picturesque downtempo and hazy, percussive Deep House. 

Alex Albrecht has refined his unique triangulation of ambient, house, and instrumental influences over the years, either as one-half of Albrecht La’Brooy (Apollo) or under his Melquíades alias (Analogue Attic). Combining rich field recordings and hypnotic instrumentation, Alex’s productions are often recognizable thanks to this instantly warm and welcoming combination. Percussive elements and powerful drum patterns sit amongst perfectly executed melodies and dusky atmospheres; Alex’s music is just as suited for the orange hues of dawn as the purple tints of sundown. 

A notably shorter album than we may hope, but sequenced as one complete experience, Alex is purposeful and precise in his approach, with every element completely additive to the last. Violet Visionary echoes a moment of organic evolution that disappears as quickly as it came into existence; peaking to a glowing embrace that will undoubtedly leave an impression. 

Featuring original artwork by Evie Cahir and mastered by Corey Kikos, Violet Visionary is available on Transparent Orange Smoke 12” and digital, from September 29th 2023.

Visit the release page for more info and links to buy

isolatedmix 123 - Alex Albrecht

We’re entering a busy half of the year for the label, and while we don’t always use the isolatedmix series to help tee up what’s in store, Alex Albrecht also happens to be a brilliant selector and curator of many great mixes over the years.

Yes, you did read that right, Alex will soon be gracing ASIP with a new release, to be announced in full very shortly and available at the end of September. We had hoped to get this mix out a little earlier in the year but life got in the way for us both, and after a small trip to Japan recently, Alex was able to get some answers down to a few of my questions in anticipation for his awaited release here on ASIP.

~

It's been interesting to see how you've created a very unique style and approach between your own project, with Sean as Albrecht La'Brooy and under the Melquíades guise. How would you describe the differences between them all?

I originally created the Melquiades alias as a way to separate club/dancefloor music from more downtempo/ambient productions under my own name. The music I now produce under Alex Albrecht incorporates all sorts of sounds and influences and in my development, I don’t now see a reason to differentiate.

 Campfire Stories was quite the debut album, and received such a great reception it seems. It combined lovely atmospheres and house elements, with downtempo and instrumental (even jazz). How are your albums born usually?

 My albums are usually created through my field recordings and recent experiences. I generally take recordings and loop/manipulate them to create a canvas and use that as the inspiration for each new track. When I see a larger album coming together I try to identify gaps in the concept and fill it with new productions.

 Your own label imprint, Analogue Attic was home to much of your early work and continues to host some of your music alongside others. How did the label aspect come about?

 The label was definitely created as a way to release our own music but very quickly became a medium to put out music from our friends and influences. The ambition has always been to showcase ambient music specifically made in Australia. We also hope to showcase music that does not generally conform to current trends in the global electronic scene. 

As mentioned already, your music is rich with field recordings and vivid instrumentation. What does your studio setup consist of usually? And what elements have remained a constant?

 My studio has been very consistent throughout the last 6 or 7 years. It has a Nord A1R, A Blofeld, a few Yamaha digital pianos, and some eventide effect pedals. Of course, there is also the Sony PCM A10 recorder which is really an incredible piece of tech.

 If your label (Analogue Attic) is any indication, the output and potential of producers in Australia seem very rich and fertile - is this true? How would you describe the "scene" for this type of music where you are?

 I’d have to agree – it is certainly a fertile scene in Aus with amazing music being produced around the country. There are many artists blending strong musical themes and elements with electronic elements and many gigs/shows aim to push boundaries and do something out of the ordinary.   

Your isolated mix captures your sound very well and includes a variety of styles and influences, what was your approach?

 I am often commuting to work by bike and love an interesting, hypnotic mix to push me along. I have been listening to ASIP mixes for years and was compelled to dive deep into my old libraries to capture some of the nostalgia that I feel with the earliest memories of ASIP. I brought a few of these into the picture with Dousk, John Beltran, BOC and Jesse Somfay  (among others) and was also really happy with how well they’ve stood the test of time.

Other than ahem, a pretty special record dropping here on ASIP soon, what can we expect from you for the remainder of 2023?

It’s unclear for now but I’m always making music and searching for inspiration. I have a huge collection of field recordings from Japan so will be surely using these in the short term to see what it inspires. 

~

Stay tuned for news of Alex’s album on ASIP set to be announced very soon, and available at the end of the month.

astrangelyisolatedplace · isolatedmix 123 - Alex Albrecht

Listen on Soundcloud the ASIP Podcast or the (new!) 9128.live app

Download MP3

Tracklist:

01. IMPS - Heaven and Bagpipes
02. O.S.S - Bianga
03. Sense - Rain 5
04. Marow - Tsih
05. Jesse Somfay - Tomorrow's Yesterday is Today
06. Cyan341 - Pattern4
07. Alex Albrecht - Forest Dance
08. Castel - Estrel
09. Remote - Public Service
10. John Beltran - Gutaris Breeze
11. HOLOVR - Outer Time
12. The Phantasy - Love Will See Us Through
13. Ariet - Shaman's Heart (Polygonia Remix)
14. Boards of Canada - Amo Bishop Roden
15. Dousk - Sidewalk Lovin 

Alex Albrecht | Bandcamp | Instagram | Soundcloud

ASIP - Reflection on 2021

As with all past ‘Reflection’ year-end mixes, I start with a collection of albums I have enjoyed over the year. Through the process of compiling a mix that flows well, songs are whittled down and selected from this collection. This means many of my favorite tracks and albums are often omitted in the process, due to the need for them to fit in a mix that comes together as organically as possible. As I say every year, this isn’t a definitive ‘best-of’ list, but a selection of just some of my favorite music from the year in one easily listenable format. It’s the most enjoyable way for me to boil down the music I’ve loved from the year using these self-imposed restrictions, for you to then enjoy and discover more. I encourage you to use the mix to jump off and explore each artist, listen to the album in full and see what else is on the label (and check the Buy Music Club list). Of course, releases or aliases a part of our own label/s are not considered (head over here for our label-specific 2021 showcase).

Another crazy year in the books (or is this the new normal?). Looking back, it’s been a tough year personally and one that in theory should have left me with more time to listen and absorb music but somehow did the opposite. This mix, as it does every year, serves as a great way for me to dedicate time listening to albums again, and I’m realizing this has become a yearly sort of musical therapy for me. The fact that people actually listen and await the mix, is a lovely bonus.

It’s been interesting to see the pendulum of music move across various online listening platforms during strict lockdowns this past year, and what seemed like an onslaught of output as artists buckled down inside. At one point, I am sure we were all left feeling truly spoiled with music choices and online events, despite not being able to attend physical events until the past few months. I know from my own experience, that many artists have albums in the locker and the labels are now struggling to keep up with the present vinyl production bottle-neck.

On the ASIP label front, we finally managed to launch our 9128.live sister label, producing physical and digital editions from notable live performances, with many more planned for 2022. Despite ACL recently commenting that ASIP seemingly “so far has seemed immune to the vinyl shortage”, we have been massively impacted and have only been able to keep somewhat of a cadence this year because we had so much in the pipeline. Next year, we may see bigger gaps between releases and different formats as we look to work with new plants and basically turn our production flow on its head. Numerous times this year I have questioned whether to continue with our current approach, and I am sure many other labels have felt the same.

On the listening front, and upon reflection, I have definitely been drawn to the more electronic-driven side of ambient music this year. Slightly darker and edgier perhaps for obvious reasons, with less instrumental, gentle, or orchestral sounds in my library overall it seems. The Reflection mix, as it does every year, ends up moving through several different stages and captures many of the different styles of music that have been on high rotation.

This year’s mix, begins with some more tranquil pieces (Hopkins, KMRU, Arian Shafiee), then takes a dive into the deep, dynamic elements (ASC, Inhmost, Sciama, AES DANA, Ulla, Bana Haffar), to then slowly emerge into melody just before the hour with Christina Chatfield. Things become more storied, as pieces are overlapped and looped, presenting the powerful drones of Christina Giannone, and more fluid, energetic beat-driven pieces from Ground Tactics, Whylie, nthng and Skee Mask - most of which made me crave the (out of bounds) dance floor. Beats then become crunched, textured and irregular, with the likes of new discoveries in, Hoavi, Vivan Koch, and Amandra X Matthies. The mix then begins to draw in, as more melodic moments take over from some (old but new) music from Niko Tzoukmanis and CiM, before the final chapter draws in with more organic and spiritual elements from Saphileaum, Alex Albrecht, ending on a positive curtain closer from Wau Wau Collectif. Ending the mix on something more optimistic seems to be a requirement after the journey of this past year.

Thank you to everyone listening and supporting what we do, and I hope you can find a new artist or album to support on Bandcamp with this mix - all this year’s inclusions are below in the Buy Music Club list. For a more extensive list of what I have supported and listened to this year, head over to my Bandcamp collection.

Listen on Soundcloud, Mixcloud, or the ASIP Podcast.

Download

astrangelyisolatedplace · ASIP - Reflection on 2021

Tracklist:

000.00. Jon Hopkins - Tayos Caves, Ecuador I (Domino)
006.20. KMRU & Echium - Unending (Self-released)
009.10. Bolivian Fireships - Quiet Room, Locked Door (Hream)
012.50. Arian Shafiee - Wembley (Constellation Tatsu)
018.00. Ab uno - Adonai (Mahorka)
019.30. ASC & Inhmost - Sunrise on Titan (Auxiliary)
026.10. Sciama - Periphery (Auxiliary)
029.00. AES DANA - Foreword (Ultimae)
031.40. Ulla - Shelter (Motion Ward)
033.30. Bana Haffar - Totally Alive and Totally Invisible (Self-released)
039.50. Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement - Flying Fish Ambience (Hospital)
043.20. Nadia Struiwigh - Organic (Nous’klaer)
047.15. Op Zee - Muziekkamer (Stroom.tv)
050.00. Christina Chatfield - Concatenate II (Mysteries of the Deep)
057.10. Nigel Mullaney - The Well Of Sleeping (Behind The Sky Music)
059.00. Avsluta - Meditation 16 [Notes on Iridescence] (e2-e8)
1.00.30 Marine Eyes - On this Fresh Morning (Stereoscenic)
1.03.30. Christina Giannone - Realms II (Past Inside The Present)
1.09.00. Milieu - Terpentine Xylophone (Milieu Music)
1.10.05. Ground Tactics - New Earth (Self-released)
1.16.10. Whylie - JGL24-04 (Lith Dolina)
1.19.40. nthng - Energy Reloading (Lobster Sleep Sequence)
1.25.58. Skee Mask - LFO (Ilian Tape)
1.29.15. Ocoeur - Breaking The Circle (n5MD)
1.32.57. Hoavi - Tessera (Peak Oil)
1.36.17. Vivian Koch - Closed (AD93)
1.39.20. Amandra X Matthies - Cornemuse (Nous’klaer)
1.43.30. Warrington-Runcorn Newtown Development Plan - Part of the Union (CIS)
1.47.35. Akira Sileas - Cliff Cooling (Rusted Tone)
1.52.10. Niko Tzoukmanis - Raindrops (Libreville)
1.57.15. Uf0 - Yeh Premoh (Self-released)
1.59.50. CiM - Metric (Delsin)
2.02.10. Sofie Birch & Johan Carøe - Portal of (Stroom.tv)
2.03.10. Saphileaum - Savar (Good Morning Tapes)
2.07.50. Alex Albrecht - Forest from the Trees, w. Sean La’Brooy (Analogue Attic)
2.12.00. Wau Wau Collectif - Yaral Sal Doom (Sahel Sounds)

9128.live takeover: EN PAUSA Festival

On Sunday April 18th, musicians from every corner of the globe will come together to play a 12-hour program broadcast on 9128.live.

Curated by a_mal_gam_a from the CALMA Madrid collective, our latest 9128.live takeover will feature twelve uninterrupted hours of DJ-sets and performances by Alex Albrecht, Ario, Chris SSG, Federico Duránd, Gigi FM, Karim, Klara Vedis and Patricia Wolf and live performances by Jo Johnson & Hilary Robinson.

And I will also be spinning a set for 90 minutes!

More info + schedule