Sonae

Markus Guentner / Kontrapunkt Collaborators

 

Markus Guentner’s new album, Kontrapunkt showcases eight collaborations with some exceptional artists, each of whom has a unique connection to ASIP’s world in one way or another. Though I did not influence Markus's choice of collaborators, the album somehow found a thread through so many of our past releases, as well as artists I have also respected for a long time. Here are some of my favorite tracks from each artist, in case any of these artists are new to you, or you want to dig a little deeper and an introduction to each of the relationships by Markus himself.

Joachim Spieth

I've known Joachim since the early 2000s, back when we were both involved in the Kompakt Pop Ambient Series. Our collaboration has grown over the years, and we've recently been working together on projects for his label, Affin. It's been a fantastic experience, as I get to contribute my graphic ideas and, of course, some music too. Collaborating with Joachim feels like a natural extension of our long-standing friendship and creative synergy - Markus Guentner

It might seem a bit dated to highlight Joachim’s early Pop Ambient work, especially considering how much he has evolved within the widescreen ambient and techno genres in recent years. However, this track was pivotal in launching the iconic Kompakt Pop Ambient series and remains a timeless classic in my eyes. It’s an essential example of what defined 'Pop Ambient' and the series as a whole. While there are significant stylistic differences when you compare this track with Joachim’s more recent works, that irreplaceable sense of attachment and atmosphere still resonates.

Karen Vogt

My first encounter with Karen was through a request for the Galán/Vogt remix album. Since then, we've developed a close relationship, regularly sharing ideas and having wonderful chats during video calls. Working with Karen has been incredibly inspiring, as her creative vision aligns perfectly with mine. Our collaboration has blossomed into a seamless partnership that I deeply cherish - Markus Guentner

Karen Vogt, a founding member of the Australian band Heligoland, has been creating music for over 20 years. Recently, she has found her niche in more expressive ambient and vocal work. The track I've chosen is a stripped-back piece that perfectly captures Karen’s distinctive approach and serves as a wonderful example of the mesmerizing ways her vocals can evolve.

Sonae

Sonia and I have been good friends for a long time, and our bond is strengthened by our epic five-hour phone calls! We first connected when she remixed my track "Saint" for the "Uncharted Places" ASIP release in 2013. Given our long history and mutual admiration, it was only natural that we would eventually collaborate on a project together. Our collaboration feels like a culmination of years of shared experiences and creative exchanges. - Markus Guentner

Sonia and ASIP have a history that spans over 11 years now as one of the early artists who took a chance on the label with a demo for The Places Series. Since then, Sonia has developed a distinctive style that blends elements of ambient, techno, and experimental music. Her sound is typically abstract, free from conventional rules or clichés, and often explores unexpected directions. Her collaboration with Markus is a prime example, featuring shifting BPMs and a vivid, pulsating heartbeat that showcases her unique approach. The track ‘Rust’ from her 2018 album, ‘I Started Wearing Black’ is a nice companion to her collaboration with Markus.

Pepo Galán

Like Karen Vogt, my first significant interaction with Pepo was for a remix for an album. Shortly after, Pepo and I found ourselves in a perfect coincidence: he asked me for a collaboration for his project ‘Family Harmonies’, while I was simultaneously considering a collaboration for Kontrapunkt." This serendipitous alignment led to a fruitful and harmonious collaboration that we're both very excited about. - Markus Guentner.

With collaborations involving artists like Warmth, Awakened Souls, Karen Vogt, David Cordero, Shinji Wakasa, Max Würden, and many others, Pepo is an obvious choice as a collaborator in the ambient world. His track with Markus stands out as one of the album’s most surprising, elevating Markus’ music to unexpected new heights based on some of the feedback I’ve heard so far. To complement this, I’ve chosen a more nuanced track from his 2018 collaboration with Max Würden which again, shows a perfectly complemented partnership.

Arovane

Uwe and I have known each other for some time, although our interactions have been mostly digital, through emails and such. I was thrilled when he asked me to remix "Scale," a track by him and Hior Chronik released on ASIP in 2016. As a long-time fan and admirer of Uwe's music, it was an honor to collaborate with him. Our collaboration was a highlight for me, blending our musical styles in a way that felt both fresh and familiar. - Markus Guentner

I wasn’t exactly looking forward to this part… Trying to pick a favorite track by Arovane is a bit like choosing a favorite child—you might have one, but admitting it is a different story. There's no need for a history lesson on Uwe here, as his inspiration knows no bounds. Instead, I’ll focus on the track I chose, which is admittedly a bit of a selfish selection. Over the years, Uwe has contributed several times to the label, collaborating with Hior Chronik, but I still vividly remember receiving his AMX remix of his own track After Tomorrow, on the In-Between Remix EP. If there’s ever a track that encapsulates the quintessential Arovane sound outside of his earliest album, this is it.

Benoît Pioulard

Released eleven years ago, Benoît’s "Hymnal" was, and still is, on heavy rotation for me. Our connection felt almost predestined when we met in Seattle while playing at Rafael's Substrata Festival. I've always wanted to collaborate with Benoît’, and finally, the timing was perfect with this new album. Working with him has been a dream come true, and our collaboration has exceeded all my expectations. - Markus Guentner.

Thomas Meluch’s most recent contribution to the label was in collaboration with Viul on the album Konec. Like Uwe, Thomas has an expansive and well-loved body of work, making it difficult to pick a favorite. However, for this occasion, I’m choosing to highlight his more vocal-forward work on Morr Music. This selection takes me back to the first time I discovered the beautiful guitars and melodies of Slowdive, or even the more electronic folk sound of artists like Bibio and early Caribou. Thomas seems to be one of those endlessly talented individuals who can master a vast spectrum of styles, all while keeping his distinctive sound at the forefront. I’ve picked the second track from his 2023 release, ‘Eidetic’ which is the first impactful vocal hit from the album that represents this side of Thomas’ work.

Abul Mogard

I'm a huge, huge fan of Abul's music. Before our collaboration, we had no prior connection, which made reaching out to him feel daunting. I was elated when he replied and agreed to work on a collaborative track. Despite the initial uncertainty, the collaboration turned out to be incredibly rewarding, and I am thrilled with the outcome. - Markus Guentner

Checking the blog tag for Abul Mogard on the site reveals a wealth of mentions and mixes spanning several years. Guido’s music has played a significant role in shaping my taste, and, alongside a few select others, he’s been instrumental in fostering my appreciation for more powerful ambient music (see the Portals: Power Ambient feature). There was a time when I engaged in countless debates about Abul’s identity, which remained a mystery for many years, making him the ambient scene’s equivalent of Burial—before Burial ventured into ambient, of course. Now that his identity is no longer a secret, Guido has been relentless in honing his distinctive style through live performances and collaborations. One of his more recent releases, in collaboration with Rafael Anton Irisarri, is particularly noteworthy. The album’s title has never made more sense after experiencing it in full. The intricate details, combined with the music’s vastness and intimacy, are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Hollie Kenniff

I've admired Hollie Kenniff's music for a long time, especially her work with Mint Julep alongside her husband Keith. When she released her solo album "The Quiet Drift," I immediately thought it would be a perfect match for a collaboration. Despite our musical differences, we share a lot of similarities that made working together a fun and enriching experience. This collaboration is certainly not our last, as I'm already looking forward to future projects with her. - Markus Guentner

As Markus mentions, I think it was Mint Julep that formed a big part of my exposure to Hollie’s music alongside her partner and esteemed producer Keith Kenniff (aka Helios). Mint Julep has that certain Schnauss-ian effect (especially his remixes) so it was easily absorbed into my realm; electronic shoegaze and with a stellar vocalist, you can’t go wrong. But before that, her debut solo record on n5MD blew me away, forming the opening to my Reflection on 2019 feature and without a doubt one of the best records of the year.

~

Markus Guentner’s new album , Kontrapunkt featuring each of the above amazing collaborators is now available, digitally and on gatefold 2LP.

 

Markus Guentner / Kontrapunkt (ASIPV050)

 

Even though we are well over fifty vinyl releases now (thanks to my bad vinyl catalog nomenclature), it’s still a celebratory moment to reach the ASIPV050 milestone. And of course, it had to be with Markus.

Markus has been with the label since our first digital release series - The Places Series, with his Talking Clouds EP. I still remember clearly emailing Markus to see if he was interested in my rather humble proposal, and like the true gentleman he has been ever since, he graciously accepted and turned out an amazing set of music.

Since then, Markus has gone on to release three 2LPs through the accidental triptych of Theia, Empire and Extropy, as well as two digital releases; Gradient Spirits, and a single track for Charity - Overtone (David’s Song). He has become the label’s most prolific partner, and has been a pleasure to work with since day one. So it is my absolute honor to introduce his new album which features eight similarly brilliant producers, in Kontrapunkt.

Markus Guentner returns to his longstanding label, A Strangely Isolated Place, following the triptych of Theia, Empire, and Extropy, presenting eight inspiring collaborations on Kontrapunkt.

Collaborations are nothing new to Markus, but it’s hard to see beyond his strong singular presence as a pioneer of long-form ambient and drone. Collabs have punctuated his albums in various places over the years, and he is no stranger to working as a duo amongst other projects, with such a strong conceptual thread throughout his prior ASIP releases, Kontrapunkt represents a literal pivot and counterpoint in his production approach. Instead of music encapsulating a strong conceptual narrative, Kontrapunkt sees Markus create a dialogue between himself and a collection of inspiring production partners. 

Kontrapunkt opens with ‘Vanish’, a widescreen cinematic odyssey created in collaboration with fellow German and Affin label-head Joachim Spieth, forming the perfect opener with its modest subtleties. Australian-born Karen Vogt, renowned for her voice layering and looping, brings a beautiful, and natural addition to ‘All Light Will Remain’. 

Sonae, who appeared on ASIP’s early digital releases, demonstrates her evolution into experimental flourishes with ‘Farbe Der Nacht’, adding pulsating techno tendencies and a menacing, metallic approach to Markus’ foundations. Multi-instrumentalist Pepo Galán harmonizes beautifully with Markus on ‘Ancestral Images’, adding complex nuances to a slowly evolving euphoric piece. 

A master of synthesis, Arovane delivers a powerful display of supercharged electronics and coils of energy on ‘Utopian Fragments’. Benoît Pioulard's renowned expertise with guitars and tape distortion become a perfect counter to the electronics of Markus, blending styles seamlessly on ‘Father Of Waters’. 

‘An unstoppable force meets an immovable object’ on ‘While Hunting Nightmares And Dreaming For Peace’, as Abul Mogard adds powerful restraint in a meeting of two drone titans. The album concludes with ‘Presence’, where Hollie Kenniff’s uplifting vocals provide a shimmering finish, perfectly bookending an album of perfected counterpoints and evolutions on the Markus Guentner sound.

Kontrapunkt will be available on Gatefold Black/Grey/Blue marble 2LP, digital and streaming on August 30th 2024. Mastered by Gio at Artefacts Mastering, Berlin, and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding.

 

ASIP - Subtempo Guest Mix 012

 
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Last year we featured one of the first releases from the Subtempo crew; this lovely Alejandro Bento album and its accompanying remixes. Fast-forward a year and Subtempo have some ambitious plans with both the label and their new website/blog, and they’ve invited me to help kick-off the newly refreshed design by contributing to their ongoing guest mix series. There’s also a little Q&A with yours truly should you be interested!

For full background on the mix and to read the interview, head over to Subtempo here.

Big thanks to Rocco and Subtempo for the support, invite and the great feature.

Tracklist

01. Tongues of Light - Healing Side [Pre-Cert]
02. DJ Healer - At Last (Becoming The Storm) [All Possible Worlds]
03. DJ Richard - Dissolving World [Dial]
04. Lori Scacco - Other Flowers [Mysteries Of The Deep]
05. Sonae - Soul Eater [Monika Enterprise]
06. Sophia Loizou - Order Of Elements [Kathexis]
07. Strië - Capsule [Serein]
08. Christoph De Babalon - High Life (Theme) [DHR]
09. Abul Mogard - Quiet Dreams [Ecstatic]
10. Hands - Beelitz Heilstatten Pt6 [Ecstatic]
11. Suzanne Ciani - Quadrophonic Part One [Atmospheric]
12. M Geddes Gangras - Kalapana [Umor Rex]
13. DJ Healer - Hopes And Fears [All Possible Worlds]
14. 747 - Cretaceous (edit) [Aquaregia]
15. Hotel Neon - Roke [Archives]
16. 36 - Soul Boundary [A Strangely Isolated Place - forthcoming]

 

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 EnterpriseNow, Sonae returns with a remix EP, enlisting another ASIP steward in Markus Guentner, alongside MimicofDirk 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

 

Passing by: Sonae, Levi Patel, Leandro Fresco

 
 

Sonae – Far Away Is Right Around The Corner

Sonae’s hard-work and dedication have never been in doubt alongside her brimming talent. The Cologne-based producer’s Places Series EP was just a taster of what to expect for when an inevitable full-length came to fruition.

Far Away Is Right Around The Corner is Sonae’s debut on Monika Enterprise and a natural extension to her Places Series Cologne EP. I’ve enjoyed the unexpectedness and variety of Sonae’s productions (and even her mixes) to date, and her album finally depicts the many courses, battles and emotions she considers when taking to the studio.

A pounding beginning echo-ing with static is followed by the title piece; a shining ambient drone juxtaposed with a piercing synth. Wanderingis another play on Sonae’s explorations of her city no doubt, with eery radio samples, static and decay. The piano has long been Sonae’s weapon of choice and her differing approaches show between the heavy drones in Song Of Hate And Anger and  the uplifting keys in Hot Summerday. My favourite track I Know A Fish, is Sonae’s most balanced piece to date and a defining piece for the album.

Within each track lies hidden meanings, a hidden emotion and a confusion of sorts, that only becomes apparent as a whole. Skip through the tracks and you’d miss it. Listen as a whole and you’ll be engrossed until the end – a story with highs, lows, twist and turns. Available on LP / digital download.

Listen and download Sonae’s Places Series release Cologne here.

 
 


Levi Patel – Of Sleep and Time

After his big step with Forms on Dado Records, Levi Patel has returned with a mini EP, which he recognises as a different approach to his earlier material. But let me make this clear – this is probably only a different approach to a musical genius like him… sure it focuses more on the piano, and is definitely less Soundtrack, but to us mere mortals, the pure emotion and melancholy still remain. You’d be quick to draw comparisons with Nils Frahm’s early days, but it’s Olafur Arnalds and Otto A.Totland who’ll be witnessing a similar young prodigy tread in the same, gentle footsteps. Available on Bandcamp.

Listen and download Levi’s Places Series release, Dissociationhere.

 
 

Leandro Fresco – El Reino Invisible

Leandro’s latest, El Reino Invisible, is the first in a new Pop Ambient album series, which follows the acclaimed compilation series – a move that was to many of us inevitable given the quality of output so far. Kompakt have always ‘released’ ambient albums, but only now have they decided to position them under the successful Pop Ambient guise.

Expect nothing unexpected from Leandro and everything you’ve come to love from the Pop Ambient mainstay – his beautiful, warm synth-sound wrapped in subtle melodies is a perfect start to the series. As Leandro quotes, “I do not associate this album with feelings of sadness, but with hope, light and the summer heat, full of cyan and orange colors”, much like a summer trip to Buenos Aires accompanied by the man himself. El Reino Invisible is the equivalent of putting your music on auto-play when watching a superb sunset – a warm, slowly evolving and colourful attack on the senses. Just as the first track translates, we’re hoping it’s A Golden Age for Pop ambient after this signature release.

Available to preview/listen and pre-order on Kompakt.