In today's program I’ve got some off-the-charts gorgeous ambient, neoclassical, and atmospheric gems in store for you — a little bit of ambient guitar, a set showcasing gorgeous piano work, and some other compositions that have become new favorites of mine. My two featured artists on the program deserve this moment in the spotlight — my first featured artist hails from Sardinia, Italy — Federica Deiana has a brand new release out on the Home Normal label, and Minnesota-based ambient guitarist Ian Crawford has a new release on Wayfarer Music that absolutely hits the spot!
Also in the chat, our conversational topic for today… memorable albums in the ambient genre. Most of us know the famous Brian Eno quote — ambient music being both forgettable and memorable — what have been some of the more memorable ambient albums that have stuck with you over the years. Let’s strike up a conversation!
Plus new music from Leafblighter, William St. Hugh, Thorny, The Bird’s Companion, Henrik Meierkord and plenty more ahead.
Strap in and make yourself comfortable, join us for the next two hours for global ambient music, on The Stolace Relay Station.
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Featured artists
Federica Deiana https://federicadeiana.comhttps://homenormal.bandcamp.com
Ian Crawfordhttps://iancrawford.bandcamp.comhttps://wayfarermusicgroup.bandcamp.com
Featured album /// "Fragments" by Federica Deiana
New from the Home Normal label comes the four-song EP from Sardinian-Italian composer and electronic artist Federica Deiana. “Fragments” is Federica’s third album with the UK-based label and feels like vivid moments suspended in time for us to experience in our listening sessions — each track with its own unique signature. The EP leads you through dreamy, contemplative moments of reflection, richly textured genre-defying motifs, evocative and overdriven peaks, and soft moments of introspection. Federica’s sense of freedom and the open landscape of her musicality shows in the end-to-end uniqueness of each track, approaching each composition with its own unique storyline. Perhaps that’s why I was left wanting for more, to hear more of her story in each unique phrase and line. “Fragments” by Federica Deiana is available now on most streaming music services as well as at https://homenormal.bandcamp.com.
Featured album /// "Slow Pull on a Long Thread" by Ian Crawford
Where to begin with the latest release from Ian Crawford? Ian’s latest release, “Slow Pull on a Long Thread” is some seriously high-end ambient guitar work. In fact, this album — in my opinion — sets a higher bar for ambient guitar music. Ian displays masterful levels of creativity in his compositional skills — every instrument, ever note and phrase has purpose, there’s a deep cohesiveness woven from start to finish, and the care and attention that he shows in the spaces between notes leaves me feeling at complete ease. There’s a sense of magic and wonder in this alluring and mystique-rich album that expresses itself with virtuosic levels of guitar, evocative and expansive ambient layers, and a beauty unparalleled in the ambient guitar genre. “Slow Pull on a Long Thread” by Ian Crawford is available now on most streaming music services as well as at https://wayfarermusicgroup.bandcamp.com.
Playlist
* "Streams And Dreams" by Niclas Lundqvist + Christian Alsemgeest from "Streams and Dreams"
* "Strange Beach" by Diogene from "The Ocean in Our Minds"
* "again a stranger" by anthéne + simon mccorry from "wellspring"
* "Vine" by Leafblighter from "Vine"
* "Concave" by William St Hugh from "To Forge a Darker Path"
* "Thoughts Mingle In Rain" by City Of Dawn + Rhucle from "Threads"
* "Departure" by Federica Deiana from "Fragments"
* "Crystals gleaming amidst cavern mists" by Spectrical from "Among Lunar Glaciers"
* "Unheard, Unseen" by HERE from "A Quiet Unease"
* "A Long Dusk (radio cut, part one)" by Thorny from "A Long Dusk"
* "An Imaginary Reality" by The Bird's Companion from "A Place Outside of Time"
* "By the Fire Safe and Warm" by Paul Beaudoin from "A Deep Winter's Snow"
* "Spatial Relation" by Naneum from "Dreams Remembered"
* "Fade, In The Dusk" by ILUITEQ + Eraldo Bernocchi from "Fade, Remain"
* "Go Home" by KapTep from "Exhale"
* "Savikalpa" by Ashot Danielyan from "Awakening"
* "The Long Thread" by Ian Crawford from "Slow Pull on a Long Thread"
* "String Drone Adagio V" by Henrik Meierkord from "String Drone Adagios"
* "Improv Session 20250313" by Stolace from "Improv Session 20250313"
BONUS Download!
Enjoy one of my improv sessions from March of 2025 — I think you’ll like this one. You can stream it right here, or download the mp3 file with the link provided. Have a great week!
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