Mix - Jenus - The Reverse End

It has been a long time since I’ve featured an unrelated to ASIP mix on the blog. That’s not to say I haven’t been listening, but rather, other than the usual podcasts and mix series I stick to which keep me well and truly fed, I haven’t been drawn away by the kind of passion that used to come from a “blog” -type mix. Mixes that are rare, put together with so much passion and have a personal story behind them are rare to come across nowadays. It’s likely the demise of “blogs” as a whole that contributed to this - but I digress - I stumbled across Jenus’ work this week after someone I follow on twitter shared it.

A G E M O W O R O S · JENUS - THE REVERSE END - ∞ agemoworos mix tape II

The Reverse End is not just a mix for mix sake, but as put - “basically something I recorded for myself to listen to on my headphones in private”. The tracklist reads like a true fans obsession over the ambient and electronica genre, featuring artists of new and old, more obscure and more familiar, all put together seamlessly.

Along with it being a highly respectable mix, of course, what struck me was getting halfway through the mix and tracklist, noticing some ASIP tracks included, followed further down the page by a lovely write-up by Jenus. Thank you.

Mix available on Soundcloud with a lovely write-up + download options available here.

Tracklist:

Isolating – Mortification (4GN3S)
Rapoon – Raising Es (V.O.D./Zoharum)
How To Disappear Completely – Mute Verses (self-released)
DJ Paradise – Ssumo (bblisss)
Croation Amor & Varg – Shadows Show Violet (Posh Isolation)
Charlie Campagna – Earth Day Isolation (Touch)
Shirley Collins – Crowlink (Domino)
The Sight Below – Shimmer (Ghostly International)
Rafael Anton Irisarri – Vanishing Points (Dais Records)
Mønic – Field Work (Osiris Music UK/Downwards)
Cosmic Ground – Soil 2 (self-released)
Wanderwelle – Death At The Helm (A Strangely Isolated Place)
Thomas Köner – Cogitation (Decay) (Mille Plateaux)
Field Rotation – Valse Fatale (Denovali Records)
Folder – Plasma (Experiences Ltd.)
Hotel Neon & Blurstem – Language Of Loss (self-released)
KMRU – Haal (self-released)
Mønic – H-NET 4 (Osiris Music UK)
KMRU – Canthenta (Dagoretti)
Gastón Arévalo – Et Soudain La Vallée (A Strangely Isolated Place)
Joachim Spieth – Ultradian (Affin)
Shasta Cults – Prologue (Important Records)
Pub – Summer (Vertical Form)
ELEH – Still, Not Waiting (Touch)
Telefon Tel Aviv – mouth, agape (Ghostly International)
Simon Scott – The Borderlands (Touch)
Midori Hirano – Belong (Sonic Pieces)
Ferial Confine – Eight Bright Cycles (Broken Flag/Siren Records)
Regis – Another Kind Of Love (Downwards)
Geneva Skeen – Dream State (Recurring) (Crystalline Morphologies)
Warmth – Breathe (Archives)
Othon – Meditation 1: Voice Of A Vast Inner Space (Conscious Expansion)
First Tone – Reaction 1 (Spectrum Spools)
B12 – Go With The Hiss (B12/Warp Records)
Rothko – Burns In Film (Trace Recordings)
Being – Hurts (Play/Pause Remix) (Trace Recordings/self-released)
Michael Begg – Down Below (Omnempathy)
Ryo Murakami – Untitled 2 (Depth Of Decay)
Daniel Lopatin – Mohegan Suite (Warp Records)
Gang Gang Dance – ( infirma terrae ) (4AD)
Black Light District/COIL – Cold Dream Of An Earth Star (Eskaton/Dais Records)
Drew Mulholland – A Spectre Of Coils (self-released)
France Jobin – 25-45 (Schwebung)
Moss Covered Technology – Departure Process (Polar Seas Recordings)
Pascal Savy – Lost In A Mesh Of Time
Cosmic Ground – Compact/Space (Studio Fleisch/Deep Distance)
Teleplasmiste – To Kiss Earth Goodbye (House Of Mythology)
Stephan Mathieu – Stasis 5 (Ripley’s Dream) (Schwebung)
Fovea Hex – Light (Steve Wilson Remix) (Headphone Dust/Die Stadt)
Index – Flux (Longform Editions)
Autumn Of Communion – Autumn Of Communion (Fax +49-69/450464)
Global Communication – 14:31 (Dedicated)
Rrose – Organ Study No. 4 (Low-Low) (Eaux)
Monos – The Black Sea (Die Stadt)
Slowdive – Moussaka Chaos (Creation Records)
Rival Consoles – Sudden Awareness Of Now (Erased Tapes Records)
Cindytalk – Circumspekt (Remodel)
Plant43 – Wren & Elder (Plant43 Recordings
Alva Noto – Xerrox Sans Retour (Noton)
Nature And Organisation – To You (2020 Version) (Durtro/self-released)
Jon Brooks – Fonn (Clay Pipe Music)

isolatedmix 94 - Brambles

Back in 2012 we were introduced to the work of Brambles. It came through a debut release on Welsh label Serein. From the very first track on ‘Charcoal’, as those beautiful strings hit, we knew we were in for something spectacular. It seems like millions agreed too, with 2.1m people streaming the track on Soundcloud since its upload - a testament to the beauty at hand. The album only got better as it progressed too, with the second track ‘Such Owls As You’ ending up as my favorite.

It wasn’t until 2015 that we were treated with a follow-up arriving as a single, more experimental track in ‘Half Gramme Holiday’, featuring another beautiful composition but this time underpinned by slow heart-beating drums. It was a subtle progression, perhaps enough of a progression after a three-year hiatus. But since then, we’ve been waiting to see where Brambles would land next. A full four years later (and three years after I emailed inviting Brambles to contribute an isolatedmix ha!) we have a new album coming soon, and an accompanying journey in the form of isolatedmix 94.

The lead single from the (yet untitled) album, Spirits may come as a surprise to listeners expecting another Charcoal. But Brambles’ respect for texture, composure and melody is clearly evident throughout this new approach.

… the sound palette has shifted dramatically but the moody and melancholic qualities that made their previous release so resonant remain deeply embedded.

One notable addition is the added manipulation of vocals. In Spirits, this evangelical, alien language is used as an instrument, never quite overpowering, holding enough back to add depth and mysteriousness.

The new balance of ambient and more colorful pop-infused productions comes to life within Brambles’ isolatedmix, showing where the inspiration has arisen from over the past few years.

This mix is a little trip around my current influences. Starting with experimental ambient, to left-field pop and ending with dreamy folky shoegaze. Some tracks are recent discoveries and others are tracks I keep returning to. I love how the internet has spawned so many micro-genres and niches. It's overwhelming at times but also exciting to find a new style and follow that path through the various artists, collaborations and offshoots. I have also included an unreleased Brambles track which will be on my forthcoming album - M.

Download.

Tracklist:

01. Kara-Lis Coverdale - Touch me & die
02. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Fullmoon (Motion Graphics Remix)
03. Natureboy Flako - Gelis
04. Brambles - Out Of Bounds
05. Amnesia Scanner - AS Daemon
06. Aisha Devi - Two Serpents
07. Susumu Yokota - GEKKOH
08. Visible Cloaks, Yoshio Ojima, Satsuki Shibano - Anata
09. Zora Jones - Oh Boy
10. Lorn - UNDEAD DOGS
11. SOPHIE - Is It Cold In The Water?
12. Charli XCX - Cross You Out (feat. Sky Ferreira)
13. Nosaj Thing - How We Do (feat. KAZU)
14. M83 - Corridor
15. Florist - The Fear of Losing This
16. Slowdive - So Tired
17. Julia Holter - How Long?
18. Grouper - I’m Clean Now
19. John Maus - Cop Killer

Brambles | Soundcloud | Discogs | Bandcamp

ASIP - Reflection on 2017

2017 was undoubtedly a year for many of us turning to a softer, more comforting style of music to help heal and escape the real world. Many of you reading this probably use the type of music covered here on ASIP as a remedy and form of escapism, and some may just be getting acquainted. Now more than ever, I feel like people are connecting with ambient music, and I see it in the comments, feedback, support and thoughts that accompany each release, friends releases, mixes etc, and and in the growing popularity of the genre in the wider-music spectrum. 

We’ve managed to present three vinyl releases this year, and I'm extremely proud of each one. Starting with the organic calming of Lav & Purl's, A State Of Becoming; we then went denser and deeper with Leandro Fresco & Rafael Anton Irisarri's, La Equidistancia. In August, Arovane & Hior Chronik returned for their second album, Into my own. And in the middle of all of this, we experienced the worst possible outcome with our vinyl production (as did many others), but that was put into balance with your amazing support and kind donations for La Espera; the companion EP by Leandro and Rafael, which helped raise funds and get us back on track to continue with a new press (more to come on that one soon, along with news on the vinyl for La Equidistancia).

We're already looking forward to 2018's releases, with the announcement of Christian Kleine's upcoming album in January. But before we get ahead of ourselves, it's time to look back at all the music that kept the inspiration high and the mind elsewhere over the last year...

Here's a breathless-quick rundown on what’s included...

~

Young composer, Sophia Jani opens up our mix; Kai Schumacher reimagines a Moderat favorite; and South Africa's Jason Van Wyk finds the magical atmospheric piano balance on his Home Normal release. Leandro Fresco pairs up with Kompakt companion Thore Pfeiffer (who also just dropped a new album with Max Wurden); whilst Warmth is back on the year-end list with another pure blanket of warm ambience. I watched Earthen Sea play live in a church this year, and his Silent Season anniversary release was one of the best of a brilliant bunch from the label. ASC strayed away from his Silent Season ambient home to put out a deep-cut on his own label Auxiliary. The powerful, heart-pulls of Black Swan, 36 and Secret Pyramid were some of my favorite tear-jerkers of the year, whilst Rafael Anton Irisarri's political masterpiece on Umor Rex took our emotions to the next level. Noveller moved to LA recently, which might've  inspired one of my favorites of hers in a long time. Ryuichi Sakamoto returned with a twisted and interesting set of compositions, whilst PAN released an intriguing dig through relatively new and unheard ambient artists on their highly regarded compilation, Mono No Aware. Field Records and Acronym are no strangers to us individually, but their combined output was undoubtedly one of this years best pieces of ambient music. The one sweeping piece of ambient from nthng’s original and innovative techno record makes the cut, triggering some deepness from Luigi Tozzi in a rare ambient remix- a break from his bubbling techno on the high-flying Hypnus label. Wanderwelle landed strong with one of the most innovative dub-techno records we've heard in a very long time, whilst my fandom for Alexsi Perälä went up a notch, via his relentless Colundi Sequence compositions. We get deeper with Primal Code (Hypnus with another great release) and then Artefakt pull out the swirling, progressive techno-stomp and another must-own album. Joachim Spieth finally unveils a full-length album spanning ambient and techno- one of the only people who could strike this balance so well. Loess is another big return for 2017 with their signature deep and unique glitches, and Purl continues his many guises with one of this years most original pieces under his Illuvia moniker. Speaking of originality, no-one comes close to the bvdub style, but again he manages to surprise and delight. Loscil pairs with Mark Bridges as High Plains in their brooding instrumental piece, which is followed by our very own modern-classical prodigy Hior Chronik and his debut album on 7K!. Ghostly's, Christoper Willits scores a film on The Art Of Listening with some beautiful textures and Leyland Kirby scored a lifetime of mental degradation this year with his Caretaker series, but chose to release some of his best stuff for free. Hammock and Billow Observatory were once again on point to soothe with their dreamy lulls and enchanting melodies. The Thesis Project continued to present unique collaborations with Anna Rose Carter and Dag Rosenqvist just one of the many standouts from the series. The Susumu Yokota stylings of Poppy Ackroyd, are followed by the now legendary sounds of Four Tet. And with one of my most anticipated returns in a while, The Gentleman Losers begin to end proceedings with their Air/Bibio/Quiet Village dreaminess. And finally, the curtain closer coming from the biggest return of the year, Slowdive.

~

Despite a hefty 36 tracks, and 2hr 42mins total,  I've still left-out a bunch of my favorite releases of the year from this mix. But, I let the flow of the mix dictate what is included whilst pulling from my whittled-down playlist from the past year. It's restrictive whilst also liberating doing it this way, as putting together lists is a near impossible task for me. This method forces my hand, whilst also presenting something a little different to the normal year-end lists. 

To all those artists I’ve missed out, keep doing what you’re doing, we’re still listening. If you need to see more of the music I've been enjoying, well, this blog is of course a good place to start, as well as everything I've purchased and supported on Bandcamp, shown in my Fan Collection (go Bandcamp!).

Thank you to all the artists and labels featured, and a big thank you to everyone for continuing to support ASIP this year, buy our records and listen to the music featured on the blog and the label.  Next year will be ten years since the very first ASIP blog post, so we’ll be celebrating with some very special projects.

Until then, enjoy a look back at 2017...

- Download
- Stream tracklist (Spotify/Apple Music). (Not all tracks included)

Tracklist [label & link to buy] (ASIP links) rough start time.

01. Sophia Jani - Those Who Stay [Unreleased / Soundcloud] 00.00>
02. Kai Schumacher - A New Error [Neue Meister] 04.04>
03. Jason Van Wyk - Clouds [Home Normal] (Review) 07.55>
04. Fresco & Pfeiffer - Splinter [Kompakt] (Review) 10.16>
05. Warmth - Isolation [Archives] (isolatedmix) 14.00>
06. Earthen Sea - The Time Past [Silent Season] 17.50>
07. ASC - Quaoar [Auxiliary] (ASC isolatedmix) (Review) 22.22>
08. Black Swan - The Escapist [Self] 27.06>
09. Secret Pyramid - Two Shadows [Ba Da Bing!] (isolatedmix) 30.48>
10. 36 - Black Soma [Self] (artist page) (isolatedmix) 34.30>
11. Rafael Anton Irisarri - RH Negative [Umor Rex] (artist page) 39.34>
12. Noveller - The Unveiling [Fire Records] 43.40>
13. Ryuichi Sakamoto - honj [Milan Records] 46.30>
14. Malibu - Held [PAN] 48.30>
15. Acronym - The Final Decision [Field Records] (Review) 49.32>
16. nthng - Touches [Lobster Theremin] 55.34>
17. Luigi Tozzi - Yavin (Ambient remix) [Hypnus] 60.42>
18. Wanderwelle - The Starry Night [Silent Season] (isolatedmix) 63.28>
19. Aleksi Perälä - NLL561606935 [Clone Basement Series] 68.36>
20. Primal Code - Junkan [Hypnus] 71.47>
21. Artefakt - Entering The City [Delsin] 77.58>
22. Joachim Spieth - Radiance [Affin] (isolatedmix) 88.17>
23. Loess - Wrikken [n5MD] (Review) (isolatedmix) 94.02>
24. Illuvia - Illuvia (Exaltation) [Eternell] (Review) 99.00>
25. bvdub - Limitless [n5MD] (interview) (isolatedmix) 108.18>
26. High Plains - Ten Sleep [Kranky] (isolatedmix) 113.42>
27. Hior Chronik - That Mistery Again [7K!] (artist page) (isolatedmix) 116.30>
28. Christopher Willits - Beginning [Ghostly] 118.52>
29. Leyland Kirby - Dig Deep March On [History Always Favours The Winners] 122.12>
30. Hammock - Dust Swirling Into Your Shape [Hammock music] 127.04>
31. Billow Observatory - Montclair [Azure Vista] (Review) (isolatedmix) 130.00>
32. Anna Rose Carter & Dag Rosenqvist - Nothing Ever [Thesis] (Feature) 133.26>
33. Poppy Ackroyd - The Calm Before [One Little Indian] 137.50>
34. Four Tet - You Are Loved [Text Records] 143.38>
35. The Gentleman Losers - Holding Back The Night [Grainy Records] 149.30>
36. Slowdive - Falling Ashes [Dead Oceans] 154.24>

isolatedmix 74 - Secret Pyramid

When I stumbled across Amir Abbey's work as Secret Pyramid, I was immediately struck by the pure emotive power of his productions, alongside his ability to portray vivid, dense and often dark atmospheres. A well-walked path for many ambient producers, but Secret Pyramid manages to break free of any traditional dark-drones, with more intense sounds, progressive synthesizers and analog elements that complete a vibrant organic feel.

In a similar vein to the brooding drones of the likes of Rafael Anton Irisarri and Abul Mogard, Amir often combines these analog textures with slow-climbing synthesizers that evolve into walls-of-sound and emotional hooks we're often used to coming from the likes of 36. One of my favorites being  the siren call of 'IV' from Distant Works II - an album that also ended strongly with 'VII' - a more ghostly and mysterious pattern set against the static hiss of a failed radio signal, a desolate end to a superb collection of music. 

Secret Pyramid just released his latest album on Ba Da Bing! titled Two Shadows Collide, which, "deepens Abbey's relationship with modern composition and abstract songcraft". An album that's proving to be one of my favorites from the year so far; Amir dances with slowly intensifying movements and textures in ways that leave your eyes wide open, and your heart yearning for more.

His influences may sound familiar, but we had no way of knowing unless he got behind the controls of an isolatedmix, to present us with the many intricate styles that go into the work and mind of Secret Pyramid.  

"This mix consists of a range material that influenced my recent LP, newer sounds that I've been listening to lately, and also some all-time favorites. The mix came together pretty naturally, and I'm happy with how it works as a reflection of the variety of styles and moods that continuously inspire me. I took inspiration from some modern classic composers like Scelsi, Ligeti, and Penderecki while making "Two Shadows Collide", as I find their use of space and dissonance, coupled with the sheer intensity to be very engaging. Badalamenti has always been a huge source of inspiration, and this piece from the recent Twin Peaks reboot is sublime. The Abul Mogard and High Plains pieces are recent works that I’ve been enjoying, and the mix ends with a lovely piece of cosmic minimalism from the great Laurie Spiegel." - Secret Pyramid /AA

Download.

Tracklist:

01. Vikki Jackman, Andrew Chalk & Jean-Nöel Rebilly – Mist
02. Giacinto Scelsi – String Quartet No. 3 Avec Une Grande Tendresse, dolcissimo
03. Abul Mogard – Bound Universe
04. Angelo Badalamenti – The Fireman
05. Broadcast & The Focus Group – A Quiet Moment
06. Alireza Mashayekhi – Chahargah No.2 Op.140
07. High Plains – Black Shimmer
08. Bohren & der Club of Gore – Constant Fear
09. György Ligeti – String Quartet No.2 Sostenuto, molto calmo
10. Slowdive – Cello
11. Krzysztof Penderecki – Polymorphia
12. Laurie Spiegel – East River Dawn

Secret Pyramid | Bandcamp | Web | Soundcloud | Facebook

ASIP Wantlist #1

Introducing a new feature series for the diggers out there; the ASIP Wantlist. We'll be asking friends and artists for the five records that sit at the top of their wish list, the records they make a beeline for every time they step into a record store, the covers they've never ran their finger across, the pieces of wax that long for a space on their shelf. 

Finding these elusive records has been made increasingly easier over the years with the likes of Discogs and eBay, but if you ask any record collector, nothing beats finding a piece of vinyl without the means of the internet; wrongly filed, turned backwards, hanging on to an original, busted sleeve, and inappropriately priced. The moment that goes through all of our heads; "is this it? Is it the original? Is it in OK condition? Yes! Why is it it filed in the Jazz section?? OK, how much is it..."

Some submissions in the series will undoubtedly be easily found on the internet, maybe at an extortionate black-market price, but this isn't just about highlighting the rarest LP's with only one acetate ever pressed. Instead, it's a personal love affair with a cherished format. It's a chance for the people who appreciate the physical product, to talk about the pieces they've wanted for some time, and the copies they long to find in a dusty old store - the earned find, not the one-click buy. Nothing beats it. 

I'll kick things off.

Doing this was harder than I thought given how many sought-after records have been re-pressed recently, but I found this to be a proof point in why this feature could be interesting. It wont be a list to show-off peoples collections; "hey why don't you tell me about all those great records you have?" No. It will probably end up being a weird anomaly of records that unearth a bit of nostalgia and personality surrounding said person. I toyed with including some wants from my techno list, my trance list even, but ultimately settled on an ambient theme to begin proceedings. 

And as a reference for all the true crate diggers, I've been collecting for about fifteen years now, which is not that much compared to many people, so expect a relatively modern list, all things considered. Future Wantlist features will undoubtedly dig even deeper...

1. Gas - Gas. 1996. Mille Plateaux [Discogs]

I'm yet to find a Gas vinyl in a record store  and I don't own any Gas on vinyl. It kills me. And given the quality across his four albums between '96 and '00, any of them could be on this list.  

The grandfather of ambient techno (you could say) Wolfgang Voigt, released his defining self-titled LP on the just-as-legendary Mille Plateaux label in 1996 and has seen nothing but praise and imitators (in the good sense) ever since. His sound undoubtedly went on to influence his curations for Pop Ambient  (this is where it started) and likely spawned a generation of washed-out, blissful techno music that straddled between ambient and dance-floor techno. 

Wolfgang is a big influence to many of the artists I listen to today and is responsible for Kompakt's infamous contribution to the ambient world, making his LP's top of my Wantlist by a long way. 

2. Slowdive - 5 EP. 1993. Creation Records. (12") [Discogs]

Perhaps an obvious choice, but I don't own many Slowdive records. I'm not sure if it's down to them generally being hard to come across; if I haven't had the urge to dig them out; or if deep down I can't even begin collecting Slowdive records properly until this one is in my collection (I'm an all-or-nothing type of person). 

In Mind is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever created and Rachel's soft, angelic voice sounds even better on a warm, crackly piece of vinyl. I also want this to accompany my treasured Reload remixes of In Mind 12". Which leads me nicely on to...

3. Chapterhouse Retranslated By Global Communication ‎– Pentamerous Metamorphosis. 1993. Dedicated. (2xLP)  [Discogs] 

Another shoegaze related want, with Chapterhouse receiving the remix treatment from Global Communication at the very beginning of their infamous ambient era. Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard set the bar high in 1993 with this unexpected remix album, yet managed to better it even further with the release of their genre defining 76:14 album a year later. Whilst I'm lucky enough to own an original copy of 76:14, it's this remix album I'm on the hunt for now. Each track, taking the core of a Chapterhouse melody, feeling or vocal and capturing the very essence of Global Communication each and every time. 

4. Brian Eno With Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno ‎– Apollo - Atmospheres & Soundtracks. 1983. Editions EG. (2xLP) [Discogs]

This is an example of an LP that is commonly available online, but one I long to come across in a record store, in pristine condition, sat there patiently waiting for me. It's a classic ambient album, inspired by America's conquest of new frontiers, and contains one of my favorite tracks of all time, An Anding (Ascent). It's the the blueprint for the likes of the KLF's Chillout album (combining elements of Country music for example), undoubtedly some of the Aphex ambient sound, and plenty of Pop Ambient musicians who went on to use subtle guitar loops as textures. It's heralded as one of the best-ever ambient albums for many reasons. Not to mention the track, Deep Blue Day, used in that infamous Trainspotting toilet scene. A must have in any collection, and surprisingly, one still missing from mine...

5. Alessandro Cortini - Forse 1. 2013. Important. (2xLP) [Discogs]

This last one took me a while to think about. There's hundreds of older records I'm on the hunt for (which I'll no doubt have to cover in later features), but I wanted to provide variety across the five, so I looked to more recent 'misses' which are now on my hit-list.

Alessandro Cortini (of Nine Inch Nails fame) has released three Forse albums and I unfortunately jumped on the bandwagon just a little too late, picking up the third (purple) last year.  I now need to track down the previous two, because not only do I have an obsession with completing sets (for example, I'm still on the hunt for a few remaining Donnacha Costello Color Series 12"s and a couple more Pop Ambient LP's to complete those collections) but Alessandro's albums are similarly worthwhile collectors items. Beautifully presented, color vinyls, quality packaging and above all, include some powerful, stunning music by Alessandro and his synth-obsessed world.

I think Alessandro's albums will undoubtedly become some of the most sought after records for ambient/ drone/ experimental fans in years to come. If you see Forse 1 or 2 in the store, you know where to send them...

~

Wantlist #2 coming soon, featuring five selects from friend, Jamie Mccue of Silent Season.