Five Years

It’s been five years to this day (26th) since the very first post on ASIP.

Looking back, it’s been an incredible journey and I never thought that five years later we would have amassed over 40 very special isolated mixes by some of my musical heroes, over 27 digital releases, again by a multitude of talented artists and more recently, our very first physical release in Uncharted Places. Not to mention an iPhone app, the Places Series map and of course, an amazing bunch of likeminded ambient and electronica lovers who I wouldn’t have otherwise met.

I’ve been helped along the way by some very generous people. Most recently, everyone who helped support Uncharted Places but for a couple of years now there’s been a little donate button at the top of the site and some very kind people have been so kind as to contribute directly to the ASIP cause. This money has helped push the site on further, from the small things to the bigger developments, we wouldn’t be here today without these people.

Everyone who donated directly to the site was asked to suggest their favourite track for a compilation mix which has been kept behind closed doors for over three years now. I could’ve kept this mix going, but I feel like it’s the right time to release it as a thank you to all of those involved and to help celebrate five years of ASIP.

As you can imagine, it’s more a compilation than a mix, spanning ambient, electronica, chill-out and downtempo but as a whole it does a good job in recognising the type of music we all enjoy here on ASIP.

Thank you to everyone involved in ASIP these past five years.

Download

Tracklist

01. Ulrich Schnauss – A Strangely Isolated Place
02. Cliff Martinez – Don’t Blow It (Submitted by Reef Younis)
03. Cream Sound – Not Alone (Underset Ambient mix) (Submitted by Vadim Tkachenko)
04. Cocteau Twins – Cherry Coloured Funk (Seefeel Remix) (Submitted by Roberto Sodano)
05. Max Cooper – The End Of Reason – Ambient Rework (Submitted by Pete Srdic)
06. Gel Sol – IZ (Submitted by Ian Borthwick)
07. Susumu Yokota – Love Bird (Submitted by Alexander Strachan)
08. DJ Food – The Dusk (Submitted by Eric Fletcher)
09. Lulu Rouge – Ninna Nanna (Featuring Trentemøller & Alice Carreri) (Submitted by Andy Schneider)
10. Kalliope – Lunar Landings (Submitted by Felix Schuermann)
11. Speedy J – Tesla (Submitted by Nicholas Dawson)
12. Bola – Heirairerr (Submitted by Scott Ivell)
13. Rim – We Can Row To The Shore (Submitted by Eiko Bron)
14. Signaldrift – Missed (Submitted by Ruben van den Belt)
15. Underworld – To Heal (Submitted by Arthur Ort)
16. Keith Kenniff – Branch (Submitted by James Burke)
17. Carbon Based Lifeforms – 20 Minutes (Submitted by Mads Linden)
18. Shelflife – My Coordinates to You (Submitted by Michael Dilliott)
19. bvdub – Don’t Say you Know (Submitted by Adrian O’Conner)

This compilation is dedicated to all of the people below who have helped support ASIP in recent years. Some of the track suggestions didn’t make the final mix but I want you all to know I am eternally grateful for your support: Vadim Tkachenko, Pete Srdic, Roberto Sodano, Reef Younis, Ian Borthwick, Alexander Strachan, Andy Schneider, Dustin Main, Eric Fletcher, Simon Hunter, Nicholas Dawson, Lionel Rigal, German Lewizki, Jonathan Lees, Andreas Gaisbauer, Michael Wiswedel, Krzysztof Szafranek, Michael Dilliott, Gustavo Rodriguez, Matt Gibbs, James Burke, Adrian OConner, Fatih Tuter, Julie Bender, Giles Croft, Volker Wieprecht, Felix Schuermann, Dave Ridley, Mads Linden, Ruben Van Den Belt, Aaron McLoughlin, Ian Borthwick, George Potter, Tim McGovern, Derek Davidson, Mike Grove, Michael Nilsen, Eiko Bron, Scott Ivell, Joakim Sandstrom, Jason Anderson, Tonn Poorter, David and Carla Palmer, Michael Stipicevic and Alex de Guzman.

And lastly, thank you to everyone who has supported ASIP (be it in monetary terms or not), it’s amazing to know there are people with a similar ridiculous passion in this type of music. Long may it last.

(Artwork created using some of my favourite landscape photos from the past five years, most of which you can view here).

The Tenth Annual Decibel Festival 2013

I’ve already been lucky enough to attend Substrata Festival this year following my move to the Pacific North West, but a few months ago the sudden realisation hit me that I’d also be in with a chance to attend the tenth anniversary of Decibel Festival in Seattle. From it’s humble beginnings in 2003, Decibel is now one of the worlds leading Electronic festivals, with a heavy focus on live performances, interactive multi-media art and state-of-the-art sound technology and education.

The line-up for this year’s celebratory edition has been drip-fed to us these past few months over three announcements and now we’ve got all the players on paper, I thought it was about time to feature a few who i’m more than excited to see in my new country of residence. To say the line-up is impressive is an understatement. This year’s festival manages to combine some classic acts alongside many of my favourites of recent years – most of which I could only have dream’t seeing in the USA.

My hit-list for the weekend-long city festival is long to say the least. Childhood heroes Moby, Peter Hook (New Order) and the legendary Orb will be performing, the latter of which is obviously pretty special – getting these guys together seems almost impossible nowadays, but I hear that they will be in full attendance for this performance.

But what’s really getting me excited about this year’s festival are the two Optical A/V showcases featuring a wide selection of international ambient, neo-classical and experimental music. Hosted at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall and the Triple Door Dinner Theater (remember that live recording from Helios?) Optical 1 will feature Hauschka who i’m yet to see live, and the debut live performance of  Oliveray – the collaborative project of Nils Frahm and Peter Broderick.  Their beautiful improvised neo-classical album, ‘Wonders’ was released on Erased Tapes back in 2011 but this seems to be the first time the duo will perform together as one.

The second Optical showcase will be a mirror of one of my favourite gigs of all time, when Erased Tapes’ Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm take over the Illsley Recital Hall on September 27th. if it’s anything like the performance they put on in London last year, then this is set to be another special night. Since that night, Ólafur has seen his latest album ‘For Now I Am Winter’ come and go with high praise, and Nils has been busy in the remix world, both providing (for the likes of Ralph Starck) and receiving (Juno reworked – where fellow Decibel attendee Luke Abbott is also involved). It’ll be interesting to see what this amazingly talented pair throw at us on the night.

In addition to the Optical Showcases, I do of course like the nights to extend a little every now and then, and needless to say there’s plenty of artists to satisfy the all night crazies. Ranging from the electronic genius of Max Cooper, Ghostly’s new signing Dauwd, and the always ASIP celebrated Lusine, the electronica side of Decibel is also looking strong. I may even be tempted to visit my old techno favourites Âme and one of my more recent favourite producers, Kink.

I haven’t even mentioned The Sight Below, Shigeto, Speedy J, Teen Daze or the illusive Kompakt After-hours showcase thats scheduled for 2am on September 28th… Persuaded yet? I’ve picked out just a couple of tracks from some of my favourite artists to feature this year below. If you can join me up in Seattle, then be sure to give me a shout.

Both festival and individual performance tickets available on dbfestival.com

Stray Theories – Those Who Remain

For those who went for the $20 Uncharted Places Bonus content package for Uncharted Places, you would have had the pleasure of receiving this beautiful new album by Stray Theories. His second full length, ‘Those Who Remain’ is evidence of Micah’s musical maturity reaching new levels and expanding upon his ingenious electronic compositions he’s treated us to recently.

It’s pretty obvious why I love Micah’s work and why he has been so welcome in contributing to The Places Series and Uncharted Places. His music is the perfect companion in illustrating emotions, landscapes and picturesque scenery that only exists inside your head. Whilst ‘Those Who Remain’ starts off on a darker more sincere note, it quickly develops into a softer more poignant side revolving around gentle pianos and subtle acoustics enveloped in Micah’s trademark cloud-like atmospheres and grainy background textures.

Just like Micah’s Places series release, what starts as a beautiful view out on to a lake, surrounded by mountains and fauna, slowly develops into a sunrise, with mist rolling across the water and clouds departing from shot, and appearing from the back of the gentle rolling gorges and glaciers. If music was meant to transport you then Micah’s productions are the drug of choice every time. I don’t think I can talk about his music by sound alone – only beautiful imagery can do his work justice. And because this is all subjective and down to personal interpretation, no ‘review’ can do this justice, only experience, so just sit back and make up your own mind.

‘Those Who Remain’ is available on a limited cassette through Already Dead and on Stray Theories’s bandcamp.

Electronic Explorations – Synth Sense

I owe about five additional posts and reviews to the Auxiliary label and the many outputs of ASC, but as you probably know I can never get around to writing about everything I listen to unfortunately. So let this post (and mix) be a very strong nudge in their general direction. And what better way to showcase such an amazing bunch of artists than to dedicate a mix to the very best releases of old, new and future.

Auxiliary label duo Synth Sense have prepared a glorious, glimmering journey for the esteemed Electronic Explorations series, featuring many of their own works and a few hints towards new unreleased tracks. The mix also features tracks by label honcho ASC, another favourite duo of mine, ‘Kiyoko’ (also Bering Strait and purveyors of one of my favourite mixes of the last year) and of course, the more ambient-esque of the bunch, Sam KDC. The mix closes with a track from Auxiliary’s most recent ambient addition, ‘Central Industrial’, who’s album ‘Tuned To A Dead Channel‘ was brilliant on first listen and one I need to dedicate more time to.

Synth Sense closed out the Auxiliary Symbol series in April this year, so it’s only right they spawn the next generation of excitement through this glitchy, genre-defying label mix.

For a full preview, download options and more information please visit Electronic Explorations.

Download

Tracklist.
01 – Synth Sense – Electronic Explorations Intro
02 – ASC – Citrus (AUXTR002)
03 – ASC & Sam KDC – Cold Spot (AUXWL002)
04 – Synth Sense – Symbol #9.2 (AUXSYM009)
05 – ASC & Synkro – Sacred Moments (AUX004)
06 – ??????????
07 – Sam KDC – Symbol #3.3 (AUXSYM003)
08 – Kiyoko – First Light (AUXCD003)
09 – Sam KDC -Tides Of The Moon (AUX008)
10 – Synth Sense – SRV Experiment (AUXCD004)
11 – Abstract Elements – Fourth Dimension (AUX005)
12 – Synth Sense – Deleted Scene (AUXCD004)
13 – ??????????
14 – Sam KDC – Symbol #8.1 (AUXSYM008)
15 – Bering Strait – Background (AUXCD005)
16 – ASC – Symbol #1.1 (AUXSYM001)
17 – Synth Sense – Lost In Time (Synkro Remix) (AUXCD004V)
18 – Method One – High Sierra (AUX006)
19 – ASC – As The Dust Settles (AUXTR001)
20 – ASC & bvdub – Symbol #2.4 (AUXSYM002)
21 – ??????????
22 – ??????????
23 – Sam KDC – Catacomb (AUX008)
24 – Synth Sense – Nexus 2 (AUXCD004)
25 – ??????????
26 – Synth Sense – Alien Transmissions File #1 (AUXTR008)
27 – Indigo – Symbol #7.4 (AUXSYM007)
28 – Central Industrial – Their Fleeting Memories (AUXCD006)

isolatedmix 40 – Arts Learning Community: Away

Do you remember hearing your first recorded mix? Like most people, the first mixes I got into were live set recordings, often poor quality with dodgy mixing. But because they reflected your weekend moments, tracks you’ve never heard and new music styles, they were cherished beyond words in 128kbps formats ripped off Soulseek. Off the back of these mixes, I started to buy CD mixes from some of the artists I enjoyed – programmed – although I didn’t always know it at the time. Mixes that come to mind immediately are the early Global Underground stuff, from Sasha, John Digweed and Nick Warren. The mixing was flawless, track selection was impeccable and for the first time I started to listen to journey’s instead of tracklists, manipulations instead of transitions, live instrumentation over tracks I thought couldn’t get any better, and overall feelings instead of isolated moments, and I realised that being a DJ isn’t about beat-matching or having the latest records, and that there were people out there mixing using more than just a turntable. It was a new type of ‘set’ that really started to break down the conventional DJ mix.

Apart from the notorious Global Underground mixes, there’s been a few on ASIP which really highlight this feeling and approach. Tripswitch’sisolatedmix comes to mind, as does Rob Dowell’s Figment Fragments and DJ Todos’ multiple Kilchurn Sessions. More recently, Andy Schneider’s ‘Home’ can be added to that list – a true journey.

Since that mix, Andy has continued to work with his musical partner Brian, developing their own productions as Arts Learning Community and in parallel, developing the follow-up mix to ‘Home’. Aptly named ‘Away’ for many reasons, including the duo’s separate locations (San Fran and Taipei) and the time committed to this mix – a commitment which actually resulted in Andy relocating to Taipei for a month. As you will read below in Andy and Brian’s introductions they have literally poured their life and soul into this mix, and never has such dedication been so apparent.

To revisit my earlier sentiment, this is one of those mixes which you need to dedicate hours to with no distractions. A true audiophile journey and one that you just know, took revision after revision, change after change and tweaks in there thousands. If, like me all those years ago, you’re just falling in love with DJ mixes, please take the time to absorb what’s about to follow. For these reasons, this is an utterly deserved isolatedmix and i’m pretty sure you’ll fall in love with the journey these guys have managed to conjure – a truly epic piece of work and a homage to the DJ mix.

Introductions by Andy and Brian below.

Andy:

“For a while, Brian and I had been talking about doing a follow up to Home – my first attempt at taking a progressive DJ approach to a genre-less mix, which I was honored to have featured here on ASIP last year. I never really planned a sequel nor a collaboration for something as personal and musically autobiographical as that mix, but the challenge (with Ryan’s encouragement) got the better of me. And with Brian being a sound designer and studio engineer by day, I wanted to hear how our extracurricular skills could work together in this format.

That’s how it started, with a plan to have it finished in a few months. What we didn’t expect was an onslaught of everything professional and personal life could throw at us, all at once. This pushed back the deadline almost a year, but along the way influenced what we were listening to, and eventually changed the goal of the mix. All of this ultimately shows up in the track list, with many of these songs feeling like little anthems for big life events, something I’m sure all music fans can relate to.

Putting these symbolic/amazing pieces of music into a unique, contextual narrative like this has been quite an incredible process. And now that we’re at the other end, it’s also unexpectedly cathartic. Which is nice, because it’s been one of the most consuming musical things we’ve ever done. Lots of special edits, layering, and massaging square pegs into round holes, all while trying to preserve the original spirit of the tracks. However many hundreds of hours later, it’s absolutely been worth it, even just for us. But, given how inspirational ASIP and the legendary isolatedmix series has been, I really hope you guys like it too.

Thanks to Ryan for his support (and patience) along the way. Thanks to each of these amazing artists we’ve featured and hope to expose to new ears. Thanks to our talented friends Julia Turner, Duser and Carly for contributing incredible, original visual interpretations of the mix. And finally, a special thank you to The Dead Sea and Pierce Fulton for personally providing us with lossless source material. Look out for our Arts Learning Community debut release soon. Until then, enjoy isolatedmix40!”

Brian:

“I’m quite honestly ashamed for having spent so long on a single mix, although for the reasons Andy mentioned, and considering our satisfaction with resulting material, it all feels worthwhile. Bouncing the final mix was both a moment of victory and of substantial relief.

Listening back, events in the mix evoke vivid associations, and the piece in its entirety documents a significant breadth of emotions for me. I truly hope it resonates with you too, and that you connect with the narrative in some way.

Special thanks to:

Sean Costello of ValhallaDSP for his outstanding reverberation algorithms, used extensively throughout this mix. Bootsy (H.L. Goldberg) ofVariety of Sound for his wonderful free contributions to the audio community. Everyone who encouraged and supported me during the process, and Andy for staying excited and continuing to help me move forward after finishing a pretty amazing draft – and eventually flying to Taiwan to remove the 6000+ mile and 16 hour time difference encumbrances from our collaboration.

Ryan, for his supremely potent online ambient music dosing center, and of course, all the immensely talented people who were involved with the creation of the selected songs.

Caffeine, for maintaining a respectable level of efficacy even after such dramatic periods of abuse, and for conveniently existing within delicious beans. You, for reading this and taking the time to listen.”

Download
For a HQ download please visit the Arts Learning Community Facebook Page

Tracklist:

0:00:00 Nils Frahm – live improvisation @ la route du rock 2/22/11
0:03:00 Working for a Nuclear Free City – je suis le vent
0:04:37 Infusion – we follow. i fly.
0:05:52 Roxy Music – in every dream home a heartache
0:07:24 Rosetta – deneb
0:09:39 The Boxer Rebellion – semi-automatic (acoustic)
0:10:24 Luomo – visitor
0:11:40 Max Jasper Mezzowave – valaam and the angel
0:12:02 Pelican – ataraxia
0:13:11 Smashing Pumpkins – daydream
0:15:57 Hammock – winter light
0:19:08 Alt J – blood flood
0:23:13 Alt J – intro
0:24:14 DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross – i’m on one
0:25:20 Everything But the Girl – before today
0:29:34 Prefuse 73 – no special bed
0:30:00 Amiina – bláskjár
0:30:20 Prefuse 73 – awakening to a…
0:31:23 Tiki Obmar – deru (remix)
0:32:27 Worm is Green – love will tear us apart
0:36:46 Working for a Nuclear Free City – pixelated birds
0:37:56 Oliver Blank – balloon suite prelude
0:40:43 Oliver Blank – you can call me x
0:42:18 How To Destroy Angels – the sleep of reason produces monsters
0:44:58 Rosetta – cleansing undertones of wake_life 1
0:46:25 Tool – useful idiot
0:46:30 Michael Stearns + Monks of the Dip Tse Chok Lin + Brother Hamish Richardson – broken vows (a prayer of kala rupa – an daorac)
0:47:26 Max Jasper Mezzowave – initiation
0:48:16 Ulf Lohmann – kristall
0:50:22 PJ Harvey – horses in my dreams
0:55:40 FC Kahuna – fear of guitars
0:56:56 Michael Stearns – organics
0:59:01 Pierce Fulton – 10 / 6 (that should do it)
1:02:36 Pink Floyd – a new machine (part 1)
1:04:30 The Dead Sea – banquet
1:05:39 Dead Can Dance – host of seraphim
1:11:28 Prefuse 73 – if they died and they were yours
1:12:08 Chairlift – i belong in your arms
1:15:18 Junius – spirit guidance
1:16:42 Voyager One – out and over
1:17:42 Eluvium – everything to come
1:18:46 Mogwai – kids will be skeletons
1:23:29 The Dead Sea – nulla desiderata
1:25:37 Explosions in the Sky – the birth and death of the day (jesu mix)
1:33:24 Jesu – weightless and horizontal
1:38:55 Good Weather for an Airstrike – rescue
1:39:46 Sasha – cut me down
1:45:38 Junius – eidolon & perispirit
1:49:35 Matt Lange – rift (Kerry Leva undo)
1:52:31 The Cinematic Orchestra – that home feat. patrick watson
1:54:13 Death Cab for Cutie – brothers on a hotel bed (bachelors of science mix)

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