Best(favorite) Ambient of 2021

Music

 
 
As with many other mixes this one has a specific track that was the inspiration. The tune is called "Franky's Floyd" from the album "An Evening with Friends" by Ron Boots. It's a live album by Boots and his friends. The track is called "Franky's Floyd" because Frank Dorittke plays a nine minute variation of David Gilmour's solo from Comfortably Numb. It all sounds so familiar but with enough variation to make it interesting. Thanks to Paul Asbury Seaman for giving me the heads-up on this track. I am in awe of it every time I listen.
https://ronboots.bandcamp.com/album/an-evening-with-friends
The title of this mix is a bit misleading, while there are a couple of screaming guitars here, most of the mix is just loud-ish guitar tracks that lean towards a spacey vibe. I think this set does a good job combining new and old tracks, going from 1975 & '77 to the 2010s and then 2020 & '21. 
I've definitely been in a guitar mood lately with this one and a couple more guitar-based mixes in the works. One of them will have a Khruangbin vibe because they have a new album out and they are one of my favorite artists on the music scene right now.
Cheers!
 
T R A C K L I S T :
00:00    Steve Hillage - Meditation Of The Snake (Fish Rising 1975)
03:03    Sunburned Hand Of The Man - Flex (Pick A Day To Die 2021)
06:51    Frank Dorittke, Harold Van Der Heijden, Ron Boots & Stephan Whitlan - Franky's Floyd (An Evening With Friends 2017)
13:55    Moon Duo - Square of the Sun (Hexadic III 2018)
19:55    Roy Buchanan - Fly…Night Bird (Sweet Dreams: The Anthology 1992)
24:30    Gov't Mule - Tomorrow Never Knows (Dub Side Of The Mule 2015)
28:50    Tangerine Dream - Impressions of Sorcerer (Sorcerer 1977)
31:24    Steve Hillage - The Glorious Om Riff (Green 1978)
37:42    Spencer cullum - Dieterich Buxtehude (Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection 2020)
44:53    Grails - Chalice Hymnal (Chalice Hymnal 2017)
48:50    Dans Dans - Shell Star (Zink 2021)
52:50    Dan Phelps - Cumulonimbus (MODULAR 2011)
59:30    end


In Space No One Can Hear Your Guitar Scream

 
I am fortunate enough to occasionally have labels or artists connect with me about new music they have coming out. Sometimes those discussions result in a guest mix. Which brings us to this latest mix.
Daniel Field, owner/founder of Imaginary North, reached out about some new music coming out on his excellent ambient label. He has a new album out under his Kilometre Club moniker so we figured it would be a great time for a guest mix.
Here's what Daniel has to say about this collection:
"I am so excited to share my new triple album, An Alphabet of Distance, and wanted to create a mix that reflects the idea of closeness. As a result, I looked to music being made in and around my hometown Toronto, thinking about some of our growing ambient community, as well as reflecting on the past. While putting this together, I quickly began to notice themes and trends that have permeated local ambient, electronic, and experimental music from this vast and vibrant city. 
 More than anything, the vast array of instruments used across this mix feels like a connect-the-dots of the diverse, complex, and cosmopolitan nature of the city. In 100 minutes, on top of the usual guitars and synthesizers, you'll hear harp, bass clarinet, saxophone, kulintang gongs, kalimbas, horns, a bridge, and so many more components that come together beautifully. The title of the mix is named after Toronto's most annoying and traffic-filled major thoroughfare, one that has recently undergone partial demolition and multiple lane closures, but is still such a pivotal artery of the city. 
An Alphabet of Distance is out now as a digital download or double CD from Imaginary North."
 
Here's the link to the new Kilometre Club album:
https://imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/album/an-alphabet-of-distance
Imaginary North Bandcamp page:
https://imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/
 
Here are links to all the music used in this mix:
https://imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgia
https://shnshn.bandcamp.com/album/form-s
https://gracescheele.bandcamp.com/album/landings
https://josephshabason.bandcamp.com/album/anne
https://piersoolvai.bandcamp.com/album/solace-shards
https://domakesaythink.bandcamp.com/album/you-youre-a-history-in-rust
https://imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/album/other-rooms-mainstream-x-imaginary-north
https://imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/album/imaginary-north-transmission-004
https://imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/album/outside-choices
https://brokensocialscene.bandcamp.com/album/you-forgot-it-in-people
https://pantayo.bandcamp.com/album/ang-pagdaloy
https://avantlard.bandcamp.com/album/sleepwalking-through-lambton-woods
https://fanwu.bandcamp.com/album/touch-the-ten-thousand-things-without-dependency
https://aidanbaker.bandcamp.com/album/field-of-drones
https://oscarson.bandcamp.com/album/anth-ne-held
https://dreamstate.bandcamp.com/album/the-drone-cycle
https://polmopolpo.bandcamp.com/album/like-hearts-swelling
https://imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/album/the-longest-time

 
Thanks to Daniel & Imaginary North for this excellent mix.
Cheers!
 
T R A C K L I S T :
00:00   Kilometre Club & Lutes Jennings - Stoplight (from An Alphabet of Distance, Imaginary North 2024)
02:28   Moonwatcher - Echo In The Hollow Of My Skull (from Impressions, Age of Leisure, 2024)
06:11   JICS - come back to me (from Nostalgia, Imaginary North, 2024)
08:44   shn shn - first light (from Form(s), independent, 2023)
13:22   Kilometre Club & Sun Rain - Zone of Harmony (from An Alphabet of Distance, Imaginary North 2024)
16:28   Grace Scheele - pomposity (from Landings, independent, 2023)
18:28   Joseph Shabason - Forest Run (from Anne, Western Vinyl, 2018)
22:52   Piers Oolvai - Materia (from Solace Shards, independent, 2021)
27:29   Do Make Say Think - A Tender History in Rust (You, You’re A History in Rust, 2007)
32:34   Kilometre Club & Gollden - Fragments (from An Alphabet of Distance, Imaginary North 2024)
38:26   Erin Corbett - All You Can Think About Is How Good It Feels (from Other Rooms, mainstream x Imaginary North 2024)
45:54  Pick a Piper - Kalimbas and Chimes (from Imaginary North Transmission 004, 2023)
51:49  Kilometre Club & Astrolope - All/Flax (from Outside Choices, Imaginary North, 2023)
58:06   Broken Social Scene - Capture the Flag (from You Forgot it in People, Arts and Crafts, 2002)
1:00:12   Pantayo - Bakal Bote (from Ang Pagdaloy, Telephone Explosion, 2023)
1:02:28   Nick Storring - Sleepwalking Through Lambton Woods [excerpt] (from Sleepwalking Through Lambton Woods, Avant Lard, 2023)
1:09:00   Fan Wu - Yarrowly (from touch the Ten Thousand Things without dependency, Second Spring, 2024)
1:13:40   Aidan Baker - Twilight [excerpt] (from Field of Drones, Arcolepsy Records, 2004)
1:18:11   anthene - beneath the trees (from Held, Oscarson, 2021)
1:21:52   dreamSTATE - Northern Ark (Feat. Kurt Swinghammer) (from The Drone Cycle, independent, 2024)
1:27:30   Polmo Polpo - Farewell (from Like Hearts Swelling, Constellation Records, 2003)
1:32:29   Kilometre Club - The Longest Time [excerpt] (from The Longest Time [coming soon], Imaginary North, 2024)


Ghosts of the Gardiner Expressway by Kilometre Club


 
Time for some fresh ambient tracks. This is a simple, straightforward mix featuring all very new music. These new tracks work very well together to create a nice, flowing listening experience. There's not much else to say other than enjoy the peace and tranquility.
Links to all the music used in this mix, although the Braulio Lam album & the einwandeins album have not been released yet so you'll have to keep your eye on Bandcamp for those releases.
https://archivesdubmusic.bandcamp.com/album/abstract-lights
https://ancientastronaut.bandcamp.com/album/expanding-flows
https://dronarivm.bandcamp.com/album/recollected-in-tranquility
https://handstitched.bandcamp.com/album/feeling-flying
https://soundinsilencerecords.bandcamp.com/album/arcadian
https://floraliaeditions.bandcamp.com/album/stray-light
https://perceptualtapes.bandcamp.com/album/unmetrical
https://perceptualtapes.bandcamp.com/album/exosphere
https://altusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-sea-part-two
https://jogginghouse.bandcamp.com/album/rendezvous

 
Cheers!
 
T R A C K L I S T :
00:00    David Cordero - Segunda Generación (Abstract Lights 2024)
01:30    Ancient Astronaut - A Long Way (Expanding Flows 2024)
05:38    Runaway Horses - House in the Woods (Recollected in Tranquility 2024)
09:20    Feeling Flying - Shimmer 7 (Feeling Flying 2024)
13:18    The Green Kingdom - Arcadian Skies (Arcadian 2024)
18:40    anthéne - second guess (stray light 2024)
23:21    Vagantpoesi - Music Plays Flowers Bow (Unmetrical 2024)
26:33    Braulio Lam - XR 50 (Redscale 2024)
31:18    einwandeins - revolt of silent reverie (revolt of silent reverie 2024)
41:08    Ghostloop & Atmøsphäre - Forgotten Memories (Exosphere 2024)
45:14    Loneward - Submerged (Beyond the Sea Part Two 2024)
57:48    Jogging House - Reporter (Rendezvous 2024)
62:20    end


Focus on Tranquility


 
I love getting a sequencer mix from Paul! I don't seek out Berlin school, sequencer based music very much anymore which is strange because I really enjoy it when I hear it. But I don't need to seek it out because I know the best sequencer music researcher - Paul Asbury Seaman. And he regularly provides me with my Berlin school fix.
Every track included in this mix is top notch sequencer bliss. I knew a few of the artists but most are new to me which is why I love these mixes. Paul turned me on to Gert Blokzijl earlier this year so it cool to a track from him in the mix. And also nice to see a couple of tracks from Frank Dorittke (F.D. Project). There will be a track featuring Frank's guitar in an upcoming guitar mix.
Here are Paul's thoughts on this mix:
"In the U.S., Memorial Day marks the traditional start of summer. So a good time for another train mix to stir your holiday dreams. This one favors rhythmic continuity over musical diversity, so while fast-paced, should still have a relaxing, even hypnotic effect. My guiding image was long-distance high-speed rail, with lots of time for drifting thoughts as you glide through the endless European lowlands, across the rice fields of Japan, or the open prairies of the US and Canada.
In that spirit, this extended-length mix gives the longer tracks (mostly in the second half) time to stretch out as they were intended.”
Thanks for the great tunes, Paul.
Here are the links to all the music used in this mix:
https://fdproject.bandcamp.com/album/f-d-project-live-2004-electric-visions
https://stateazure.bandcamp.com/track/valkyrja
https://assemblage.bandcamp.com/album/dreams-of-motion
https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/missing-pieces-of-a-puzzle-vol-6
https://gertblokzijl.bandcamp.com/album/wide-fields
https://robertrich.bandcamp.com/album/medicine-box
https://pfaun.bandcamp.com/album/sproque-ep
https://synphaera.bandcamp.com/album/starfall
https://synphaera.bandcamp.com/album/starmaps-vol-1
https://johnchristian.bandcamp.com/album/jerechoes
https://lamansardehermetique.bandcamp.com/album/the-attic-diaries-episode-7
https://fdproject.bandcamp.com/album/atmos-two-faces

Cheers!
 
T R A C K L I S T :
00:00    F.D.Project - Harmonie in Space (F.D.Project Live 2004 Electric Visions)
04:40    State Azure - Valkyrja (Valkyrja 2024)
18:00    Nuell Martin - Dreams of Motion (Assemblage - Dreams of Motion 2023)
24:37    Side Liner  - We Stand Up Together (Missing Pieces Of A Puzzle Vol. 6 2024)
29:00    Gert Blokzijl - Wide Fields 1 ( Wide Fields 2020)
35:42.   Robert Rich - Salamander Quay (Medicine Box 2001)
42:50    P'Faun - Sequencer improvisation (sp'roque 2018)
54:00    Ascendant - Unveiled Sky (Starfall 2024)
1:01:12    Transponder - Starlane (Starmaps, Vol. 1 2022)
1:08:52    John Christian - Fragrant (Jerechoes 2023)
1:22:25    La Mansarde Hermétique - Lo-Fi Ponyhof (THE ATTIC DIARIES- Episode 7 2024)
1:34:47    F.D.Project - ATMOS - Two Faces (ATMOS - Two Faces 2024)
1:48:26    end


More Train Tracks by Paul Asbury Seaman

 
We've had more guest mixes than usual the last 6 months and that is a great thing because it means we all get to hear some amazing music and amazing mixes like this one. 
This new mix comes from Matthew Ramolo, who records as Khôra. There is a new Khôra album that just dropped in April called "Gestures of Perception" and is described this way - "The album weaves ritualized instrumentals with alien textures and resonant melodies, inviting listeners to transcend into uncommon consciousness."
You can find the new album here - https://khora.bandcamp.com/album/gestures-of-perception-3
I was unfamiliar with the music of Khôra, but one listen to the new album and I was all in for a guest set. This mix is so very propulsive, it draws you in and drives you forward with layer upon layer of rhythmic intensity. 
Here's what Matthew says about this mix:
"This assemblage of material was selected primarily on the basis of substantiating the sonic and conceptual universes that my most recent Khôra release is in lineage with. The vast majority of the pieces presented are percussive or propulsive, but also circular in nature and in one respect I was seeking a fundamental rhythmic presence or energy among my troves of collected music that could be traced across various artists and presented as a single typology or modality that tenders itself in various guises through a cast of contemporary and historical voices. Functionally, the mix pursues a particular genealogy of percussive music across various genres, cultures, histories, technologies, and interpretations which initiates a kind of meditative dancing. Within the outline of this non-linear genealogy, ancient ritualistic and tribal tendencies flower within the unconscious regimes of the body even as the mind and body are provoked to find new appreciations and applications for these emboldening forms of musical intelligence which persist through time but are mutated, conditioned, and understood by the nuances of the listener and their temporal circumstances."
Thanks to Matthew for putting together this unique journey. His album is out on the Marionette label and you can find more of their fine releases here - https://marionettelabel.bandcamp.com/
 
Cheers!
 
T R A C K L I S T :
00:00 Khôra - Flux and Hieroglyph (Gestures Of Perception 2024)
06:45 Cyclopean - Fingers (Cyclopean 2013)
12:21 The Dwarfs of East Agouza - Resinance (Bes 2019)
15:12 The Comet Is Coming - Journey Through The Asteroid Belt (Channel The Spirits 2016)
20:30 Muslimgauze - Caste the First Stone - (Salaam Alekum, Bastard 2020)
24:44 Love-Songs & Ulf Schütte - Dumpfes hämmerndes Dröhnen (Spannende Musik 2021)
29:29 Various - Radio Delhi #1 (Radio India: The Eternal Dream Of Sound 2004)
32:04 Uwalmassa - Belit (Malar 2022)
36:00 Kilchhofer - Karon ( The Book Room 2018)
39:28 De Leon - A2 (De Leon 2018)
44:44 Khôra - In Petrified Light (Gestures Of Perception 2024)
49:50 Joyfultalk - Kill Scene (Plurality Trip 2018)
53:42 Jon Iverson Meets Prins Emanuel, Golden Ivy & Inre Kretsen Grupp - Drum Steel (Jon Iverson Meets Prins Emanuel, Golden Ivy & Inre Kretsen Grupp 2023)
58:21 D.K. - Going Into Trance (The Goddess Is Dancing 2019)
1:04:15 Antonio Zepeda - Danzando en El Templo Mayor (Templo Mayor 1982)
1:07:30 23 Skidoo - Coup De Grace (Urban Gamelan 1984)
1:09:07 Holden - Blackpool Late 80s (The Inheritors 2013)
1:17:24 Autechre - known (1) (Oversteps 2010)
1:22:00 Stephan Micus - Passing Cloud (The Garden Of Mirrors 1997)
1:27:07 Tomaga - Idioma (Intimate Immensity 2021)
1:31:10 Shabaka - Ital Is Vital (Afrikan Culture 2022)
1:35:35 Roberto Musci - Claudia, Wilhelm R, and Me (The Loa Of Music 1984)
1:38:38 Khôra - Golden Femur (Gestures Of Perception 2024)


Best(favorite) Ambient of 2021

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