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 Enterprise. Now, Sonae returns with a remix EP, enlisting another ASIP steward in Markus Guentner, alongside Mimicof, Dirk 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

Synkro - Changes Remix EP (Helios exclusive stream)

Synkro's debut album, Changes, was a culmination of many years work for the British artist. After becoming synonymous with remixes, EP's, collaborations along with his work as part of Kiyoko, it was a well overdue album release which captured his unique sound; combining ambient, bass, beats and jungle, to name just a few styles. 

This makes it of little surprise to see the wide-ranging artists contained within his upcoming remix EP for the album, enlisting four artists from across the electronic music spectrum; Sven Weisemann; Legowelt, DBridge and Helios. 

Beginning with a 13-minute trip by the man behind Desolate, Sven Weisemann, his signature echoed piano and angelic vocals take on one of the deeper tracks from the album, Your Heart, flipping the emotion into a soulful, hopeful take on the original. 

Straight-up aggressive acid and stabby-chords from Legowelt form the remix of the slow-stepping title track, Changes - no surprise from a man who drops funky-acid-tinged albums such as Amiga Railroad Adventures.

DBridge is probably the most obvious remix choice for the EP given his closeness in sound to Synkro (and undoubtedly a big influence on Synkro's sound), and his choice of track, Body Close, is also a banker, given the autonomic sound and lead vocal - ripe for a DBridge rip. The result is as big, and as stomping as you would expect from the drum'n bass legend.

Lastly, Synkro honors the many ambient influences on the album by enlisting one of the best ambient producers out there to take on Midnight Sun. The nostalgic Boards of Canada sounding original might seem the easy choice for Helios, but the result is refined; with Keith toning down the beats and chords, turning Midnight Sun into a majestic and ethereal piece of downtempo. One of Helios' best and a perfect ending for an eclectic remix EP.

We've got the Helios remix to stream in its entirety below.

Changes Remix EP available on Bandcamp in digital, vinyl and tape.

bvdub - A Thousand Words

An expressive soul that channels his feelings through music, often the subject of those he surrounds himself with, bvdub is well known to many of us by now for his emotive and open approach to his productions.

He'll bunker down for weeks on end, to surprise us with another extensive insight into his world, evolving from his last, and keeping us guessing as to what's next. 

Brock's latest release, A Thousand Words, is his longest and largest work to date - one continuous piece that features nineteen movements, five-hundred audio channels, performed live in one take. And yep, you guessed it, is an ode to his beloved ones.

“Whatever form they take, don’t forget those who are there for you every day - and take a moment each day to be there for them. You don’t have to speak, but simply being there can mean a thousand words.”

— bvdub

Beginning with a wall of deep chords and static, A Thousand Words soon rises into lighter more melodic, piano pieces. Courageous waves of synths soar amongst the contrasting lows of melancholy - the ups and downs of a reflective journey we can only begin to imagine - and one we've come to learn and respect from Brock's work. 

Brock prides himself on the rawness of his sound, avoiding things that sound too polished, and you can hear that throughout the many drifting movements, as the static and orchestral chords seep through every open pore, in an unavoidable and purposeful wall of sound. This is Brock with his hood up, hunched over his laptop, crafting a journey deep from the heart. 

A Thousand Words is available on Bandcamp with $3 from every sale going towards rescue centers that encourage children to read to cats every day after school. 

Helios - Remembrance

Following Keith Kenniff's music since 2006(ish), I've seen the subtle twists in his beautiful productions, his maturity in sound and the complimentary aliases he has spawned.

Helios' has always existed in this perfect space between ambient music, modern classical and electronica. The warm textures create an inviting space, Keith's instruments create stories, and the subtle beat-work and electronics, often compliment the aforementioned without pushing it too far; all together, creating emotional and comforting pieces of work.

Many would say their favorite album from Helios was Eingya, from back in 2006. My favourite track of his, Vargtimme is a part of this album and captures the very essence of why I love Helios' music. It's a defining ambient piece, extremely vivid and emotional, reminding me of a slow moving landscape with a million stories to be told. 

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of this defining album, Keith has released Remembrance; a collection of unreleased tracks, which to me echo the feel of Eingya from a decade past. Land Father in particular, gives me the same feels as Vargtimme, with its expansive strings, melancholic story and grainy texture. 

Available on Bandcamp as 'name your price'.

“10 years ago I released my second album, Eingya. The album marked a significant time in my life of self-discovery both as a young man and as a musician. Since its release I’ve traveled the world with these songs, and heard from other’s experiences with the music in times of joy, sadness, relationships, deaths and births. It brings me happiness to know that such a connection has been made, and the music has touched people. I never expected this music to find an audience outside of my studio and a handful of friends/family.

Thank You”

— Keith Kenniff

Jesse Somfay - Levamentum [Aqua Regia]

Jesse Somfay has consistently evolved since I first latched on to his productions in 2004 on Traum Schallplatten and Archipel. Pioneering a trance-like sound amongst a wave of minimal techno, Jesse provided a base for a more intelligent and happier take on the hip-output of the time, adding a surprisingly softer element to an otherwise stagnating genre with one of my favorite albums, Between Heartbeats. 

Jesse then progressed into darker territories with his Borealis alias, forging sounds that were more akin to Burial's future garage and ambient dub productions. His output as Borealis was understated and he was undoubtedly one of the most forward thinking producers at the time. Watching his every move, Borealis turned in dark and hauntingly beautiful albums such as Voidness, and spurred remixes from the likes of Hecq, and Dominik Eulberg (still one of the biggest tracks you'll hear to this day) along with unofficial remixes himself like his rework of Massive Attack's, Teardrop. 

Needless to say, news of his most recent album recently was warmly received. Released on Tipping Hand, an LA based label previously responsible for a Borealis EP in 2014, the label has ventured into its first vinyl press, affording Jesse's Levamentum, the platform it deserves. 

Going back to his full name as opposed to the Borealis alias, this signaled an obvious change in style, but one that has been hibernating for a good five years. Where Jesse would end up taking this album was anyones guess. Glistening melodic techno? Dark and dubby ambient? How would his notorious love of Trance music come into play?

Levamentum sits somewhere left-centre of all the above. A damn fine positioning considering the many places Jesse could have taken it. Jesse has evidently been having fun with a multitude of sounds; pads, synths and soaring keys, with each playing pivotal roles against a chamber of colorful, bouncing melodies. The light-hearted examples found in his early Archipel releases are still there, often with an undercurrent of slighter darker tones, whilst the progressive trance-like repetition is stripped out to make way for a more playful, pop feel.

Retro-wave in approach, experimental in execution; this is a defining piece in Jesse's evolving armory. You can hear elements of his previous productions throughout, with soaring synths in Supernatural Flirt, and emotional Borealis-style pull in album opener Scorpia White. Eno/Budd-style ambient textures in Vermeer and Lily give the album a warm, retro feel, whilst IDM style-beats in Atalanta keep you off track. Not content with this combination, the album still has the ability to leave you open-gasped at progressive-sounding tracks like Andromeida, as Jesse combines innovative beat-work with his love for the synthesizer. 

Levamentum is a dedication to the many capabilities, combinations and left-of-centre concoctions only someone as vivid in color as Jesse Somfay could manufacture.  Like the dancing ballerina you see on the artwork, this album was never going to be as obvious as what you see and hear on first sight; the thoughts going through the performers head, the work that went into it and tjhe flickering, vignetted picture you watch through the retro kaleidoscope is only half the story at play, and it gives a little more with every listen.

Available in digital and double vinyl on Bandcamp.