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Ambientblog MixesOpusAfter publishing many ambient mix-collages (87 and counting!), I decided to challenge myself. What if I combined ambient soundscapes and classical music? Would that work out? This proved to be more difficult than I expected. It proved to be much easier to combine abstract atmospheric music than ambient music with 'program music' like classical. It proved even more difficult when choosing from 'classical classical' music such as baroque music, polyphonic choir music, or music from the absolute giants (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc.). Maybe because I definitely wanted to retain an introspective atmosphere, but also include some 'tension - release dynamics...
2025-04-0253 min
Ambientblog MixesWinter Solstice 6The Winter Solstice Ambient Night on Concertzender Nederland has become a yearly tradition: this is the sixth edition already of the 8-hour ambient music night presented by four of their radio show hosts. Like in all previous editions, I'm honored to close the night with a two-hour collage. My contribution is presented here, but for those interested the complete night will remain available on-demand from the Concertzender Nederland website.
Other than you might expect, this mix is not intended to make you sleep. On the contrary: the challenge is to keep you awake in these last two...
2024-12-221h 59
Ambientblog MixesWinter Solstice 5My 2-hour contribution to the fifth edition of the 8-hour Winter Solstice broadcast on Concertzender Nederland.
For this fifth Winter Solstice mix, I chose fragments (most of them heavily edited) that are all more or less in the same key. In the first hour all tracks are in B-minor, in the second hour the tracks are in F-minor (first half) and A-minor (closing half). These chords define the overall atmosphere: from 'solitary, melancholic' to 'obscure, funereal', and finally 'tender, soothing'. At least, that's what the theory says. In the end, it's the listener that associates his emotions...
2023-12-221h 59
Ambientblog MixesIn Praise Of The Saddest ChordCould this be ‘the saddest mix of all time’? I don’t think so myself, I would rather call it melancholic – in a pleasant way. But it’s a fact that all of these tracks are in D minor (Dm), which is said to be ‘the saddest chord’:“The D minor chord (often written as Dm) is a chord that evokes a sense of melancholy and contemplation on the negative side of situations. Like many other minor chords, Dm can create a heavy, serious atmosphere — and sometimes even creates an almost otherworldly sense of drama.”
For a detailed tracklistin...
2023-05-171h 00
DreamscenesDreamScenesEen ononderbroken mix van ambient soundscapes, experimentele electronica en modern-klassieke muziek.
Dit is de 100e aflevering van de maandelijkse DreamScenes serie!
De eerste 32 afleveringen werden oorspronkelijk gepubliceerd op Ambientblog.net. Sinds Juli 2017 (aflevering 33) zijn zij ook te horen hier op de Concertzender. Alle afleveringen kunnen nog steeds beluisterd worden, zowel hier als via DreamScenes.nl.
00:00 DreamScenes – Intro (Susanna)
00:35 Gustavo Santaolalla – The Last Of Us (Never Again)
01:40 Gustavo Santaolalla – All Gone (No Escape)
The Last Of Us (Original Game Soundtrack), 2013, Masterworks
04:17 Ryuichi Sakamoto – 20210310 (fragment)
12, 2023, Commmons/Milan
07:52 Byron Metcalf & Shane Morris – Sounds Of Awareness (edit)
2023-02-1200 min
Ambientblog MixesWinter Solstice 4: “In C”This is my contribution to the fourth ambient night on Concertzender Nederland, which is traditionally scheduled on or around midwinter solstice. It was broadcast from 5:00-7:00 AM on December 25, and closed the 8-hour night.
As in all of my (Ambientblog) mixes, Winter Solstice 4 is a collage created from (short) fragments - hence the extended tracklist below. This time, I used a different method of selecting tracks: I chose only tracks in the key of C. (Or, to be honest: the tracks that my software told me were in C - I have no absolute hearing). It's quite a...
2022-12-251h 59
Ambientblog MixesCloudwatchingMost (if not all) previous Ambientblog mixes always had some dark moments in them, they are never 'just' relaxing. You can only feel release if you also felt tension. This time, I wanted to avoid the darkness and create a 'lighter mood mix'. Not of the 'Ibiza Chillout Lounge' kind, but one that can be played in the background and is still exciting enough to listen to. I hope I succeeded, but of course, you're the one to decide about that!With two hours, Cloudwatching is longer than usual. Only a few tracks are included in their full length...
2022-10-302h 00
Ambientblog MixesTime To ListenApart from its opening sample - 'It is time to stop seeing. It is time to stop speaking. It is time to listen', from David Cronenberg's Crimes Of the Future - this mix has no central theme or story. It's up to you, the listener to take the time to listen and go with the flow. Let your fantasy tell you the story. And, after you did, I'd love to hear what you heard.
Tracklist
Start time Sample Length Artist - TitleAlbum - Year - Label
00:00 01:12 David Cronenberg - Time To Listen (Sample)Crimes...
2022-07-2400 min
low light mixesTime to Listen - by Peter van Cooten of Ambientblog
Peter van Cooten runs the excellent Ambientblog website which has great reviews and, of course, wonderful mixes. Anytime Peter reaches out with a mix idea or a a set he'd like to cross-post on both of our platforms, I will always jump at the chance.
As I said on Peter's last guest mix, his sets are different from mine in that they are more intricate. He does not use full tracks, instead opting for excerpts and samples piled on each other, sometimes 2, 3, or 4 tracks play simultaneously, to create a new sound collage.
Here's wh...
2022-07-2400 min
Ambientblog MixesWinter Solstice 3This mix is created for radio broadcast between 5-7 am, but it is not intended to induce sleep: it is way too 'active' for that. I created this with the intention to manipulate your dreams when you're asleep or half-awake at the time of the broadcast. In that case, it shouldn't be played too loud or you'll probably not be able to sleep at all. When listening on-demand, at different times, sleep is not an issue. Just enjoy the ride and let the sequence guide you. But be sure to sit back, relax, and forget about time.
...
2021-12-211h 59
Ambientblog MixesAmbient DaydreamJust imagine yourself sitting in a local bar at the end of the day. A bit tired, your head full of thoughts. The murmuration of the people around you slowly gets blurry as you drift off. Your thoughts begin to wander, memories are mixed with fantasies and places you never even visited. Until now.
Ambient Daydream tells a story created with myNoise.net generators. I hope that it serves as an introduction to the site itself: because the réal power of myNoise is that you can adjust it to what works best for you.
M...
2021-09-2359 min
Ambientblog MixesSoundWaveThis mix is simply named after the podcast itself: SoundWave. It is a happy coincidence that it literally starts with 'waves' - sonically manipulated by Jos Smolders - and ends with the same waves morphing into the sound of a cheering crowd. Different kinds of soundwaves are all around us, every moment. Sometimes we're aware, most of the time we are not. This mix (hopefully) shows that it can be rewarding to take a moment's rest to really listen and let the sounds affect you. Thanks to Joseph Aleo for inviting me!More details, download and surround version here...
2021-04-0459 min
Ambientblog MixesWinter Solstice 2Music For Long Winter Nights
This is my 2-hour contribution to the (7-hour) ambient music night on Concertzender Nederland radio, which was broadcast in the December 19-20 night. When compiling this set, I tried to keep in mind that this was intended to be listened to in the deepest and darkest of the night. But it is not a 'sleep set', due to the variety of moods and atmospheres. It's a celebration of the dark of night that can be enjoyed at any time - every time you're in the mood for a moment (or 2 hours) of...
2020-12-201h 59
Ambientblog MixesUpon DepartureWhen I first heard Christine Ott's Comma, I felt that this piece should be the starting point of a new mix. In the end, it became the final piece of the same mix - somewhat a movie's intro and end credits.I did not start this mix with a specific theme in mind. Its title only occurred to me after it was completed because it reflected its mood: a somewhat melancholy journey that fits the end of this remarkable year.
Tracklist:Start time Sample length Artist - TitleAlbum Title, Year, Label
00:00 04:00 Christine Ott - CommaChimères (P...
2020-10-2958 min
Ambientblog MixesFragmented DialogueI'm very honoured to present this collaboration mix with Dave Michuda from Low Light Mixes, who has been a source of inspiration from the very beginning of Ambientblog.net. When we talked (or rather: mailed, since Wisconsin and Holland are not exactly near) about creating a mix together, we chose not to go for a 'simple' back-to-back exchange but gave ourselves an objective without knowing where this would lead to:5 minutes each turn. Start with a 5minute track, increase the sample count each turn (next turn 2, next turn 3, next turn 4…) until we reach 60 minutes… (last 5 minutes contain 6 samples each turn...
2020-07-281h 00
Ambientblog MixesLockdownIf you listen back, most of my mixes have a rather dark edge to them. There's always a lot of 'tension/release' - but in this case, it seems there's a bit more 'tension' than 'release'. Sign of the times, probably…I tried to find another name (and image) for this mix, but it seems that only one title remained appropriate at this time.I'm very proud that this mix is also published on Dave Michuda's great Low Light Mixes blog.
Tracklist:Start time Sample length Artist - TitleAlbum Title, Year, Label
00:00 03:23 Fovea Hex - Is Is...
2020-04-0559 min
low light mixesLockdown - by Peter Van Cooten of Ambientblog.net
I like to think that I put a lot of thought and effort into these mixes. Hopefully, the mix as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. But what I do is nothing compared to the transformative touch that Peter Van Cooten brings to his mixes.
Each mix is a unique work of art. Peter rarely lets a track play in its complete form. Instead, he uses smaller samples and deftly weaves the tracks in and out of each other. Sometimes 2,3, or 4 tracks play simultaneously, creating something new from different elements. I...
2020-04-0559 min
Ambientblog MixesWinter SolsticeA two-hour mix for the longest night: Winter Solstice. To be played (and hopefully enjoyed) in the deepest darkness. "Dream All The Dark Away" ... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
December 21 is the longest night in the Northern hemisphere. It marks the start of Winter (even though it is also called "Midwinter"), but gradually the nights will slowly get shorter as to indicate spring will be coming, eventually. For the 2019 Winter Solstice, Dutch Radio station Concertzender Nederland programmed an 8-hour ambient music special from 23:00 until 07:00 (11pm to 7am). That's a good night's sleep for most people! My...
2019-12-221h 59Ambientblog MixesWinter SolsticeA two-hour mix for the longest night: Winter Solstice. To be played (and hopefully enjoyed) in the deepest darkness. "Dream All The Dark Away" ... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
December 21 is the longest night in the Northern hemisphere. It marks the start of Winter (even though it is also called "Midwinter"), but gradually the nights will slowly get shorter as to indicate spring will be coming, eventually. For the 2019 Winter Solstice, Dutch Radio station Concertzender Nederland programmed an 8-hour ambient music special from 23:00 until 07:00 (11pm to 7am). That's a good night's sleep for most people! My...
2019-12-221h 59
Ambientblog MixesRadical CandorThe mix title, Radical Candor, comes from the (management) philosophy that argues that feedback (on behaviour) is most effective if it is 'challenging' but at the same time shows that you 'care'. I felt there was a resemblance: the mix is 'caring' at times but can also be quite 'challenging' to the listener. At least, that was my intention. Now you decide. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
A word of warning first. This is not an ambient mix intended to relax or create a calm atmosphere. Also, it is not a showcase with full album tracks...
2019-07-0258 minAmbientblog MixesRadical CandorThe mix title, Radical Candor, comes from the (management) philosophy that argues that feedback (on behaviour) is most effective if it is 'challenging' but at the same time shows that you 'care'. I felt there was a resemblance: the mix is 'caring' at times but can also be quite 'challenging' to the listener. At least, that was my intention. Now you decide. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
A word of warning first. This is not an ambient mix intended to relax or create a calm atmosphere. Also, it is not a showcase with full album tracks...
2019-07-0258 min
Ambientblog MixesDelusional"For me, personally, a mix has the most impact when it feels like I'm watching a movie. With ups, downs, some drama, sentiment, moment of joy, climax and anticlimax. And yes: tension and release." --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
When I started working on this mix, its working title was Wonderlust, simply because I liked that word: a variation on wanderlust ('a desire to travel') which the Urban Dictionary describes as 'the desire to be in a constant state of wonder'.But as the mix progressed, the title didn't fit very well. There were too many dark...
2019-01-0659 min
Ambientblog MixesJames & AnneHeadphone Commute, Ambientblog and Slowcraft Records are proud to present a unique mix by a colleague and partner in crime, Peter van Cooten, of beautiful works from a beautiful couple: James Murray and Anne Garner --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
The inspiration for this mix came after attending separate performances of James Murray and Anne Garner.The music they perform is quite different: James exploring various kinds of abstract experimental electronic soundscapes, Anne performing her poetic emotional songs blending jazz, alternative pop, folk, spectral lullabies and tender neo-classical arrangements.As different as their output may be, it stil...
2018-09-1800 minAmbientblog MixesJames & AnneHeadphone Commute, Ambientblog and Slowcraft Records are proud to present a unique mix by a colleague and partner in crime, Peter van Cooten, of beautiful works from a beautiful couple: James Murray and Anne Garner --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
The inspiration for this mix came after attending separate performances of James Murray and Anne Garner.The music they perform is quite different: James exploring various kinds of abstract experimental electronic soundscapes, Anne performing her poetic emotional songs blending jazz, alternative pop, folk, spectral lullabies and tender neo-classical arrangements.As different as their output may be, it stil...
2018-09-1800 min
Ambientblog MixesNo Stars"Follow me into a movie that you might want to see sometime... a movie that's happening in the back of your own head..." And remember: "use your ears, not your prejudices"... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:(first time is the start time, time in brackets is the sample length)
00:00 (01:33)Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet - DreamsLandfall, 2018, Nonesuch 7559-79338-901:21 (01:10)Tomoko Sauvage - ClepsydraMusique Hydromantique, 2017, Shelter Press SP08701:25 (01:36)Christina Vantzou & John Also Bennett - Alfred Hitchcock HazeZin Taylor's Thought Of A Dot As It Travels The Surface, 2018, Shelter Press SP09202:38 (01:14)Scott Worthington - InterludeOrbit, 2018, 2018, IIKKI IIKKI00503:17 (01:34...
2018-03-2057 min
Ambientblog MixesBipolar (HC-PvC)A collaboration mix with Headphone Commute's Mike Lazarev, in which we take five minutes for each turn without knowing the others tracklist. The result: Bipolar! --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
We had no clear concept for this mix when we started, other than 'each turn takes 5 minutes, we'll stop at 60, and we'll see where it gets us'. We were unaware of each other's tracklist (apart from what our ears told us). The result is a thrilling ride, where each part is a reaction to the previous section.Not exactly what we'd call an 'ambient' mix, because...
2018-01-0300 min
Ambientblog MixesMind Awake, Body AsleepThe moment I heard Rami Malek whisper "Mind awake, body asleep" (Mr Robot, series 2) I knew this would be the inspiration for a new mix. A mix about half-sleep, lucid dreaming impressions... ungraspable images... and about "letting go". After all, Mr. Robot's tagline was "Control is an Illusion". Control proved to be an illusion indeed, with these different, unrelated, fragments coming together like pieces of a puzzle, creating a mix "like its own cinematic score." (H_C)--- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist
start time – fragment length – Artist – TitleAlbum Title, Year, Label Details
00:00 00:53 Tom Tykwer, Johnny Kli...
2017-05-0900 minAmbientblog MixesMind Awake, Body AsleepThe moment I heard Rami Malek whisper "Mind awake, body asleep" (Mr Robot, series 2) I knew this would be the inspiration for a new mix. A mix about half-sleep, lucid dreaming impressions... ungraspable images... and about "letting go". After all, Mr. Robot's tagline was "Control is an Illusion". Control proved to be an illusion indeed, with these different, unrelated, fragments coming together like pieces of a puzzle, creating a mix "like its own cinematic score." (Headphone Commute)--- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist
start time – fragment length – Artist – TitleAlbum Title, Year, Label Details
00:00 00:53 Tom Tykwe...
2017-05-0900 min
Ambientblog MixesPerception ManagementYour reality is manipulated. Your perception is managed. Your thoughts are not your own. Reality is imaginary. This mix is inspired by 'Hypernormalisation'. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist
start time – sample length – Artist – TitleAlbum Title, Year, Label Details
00:00 01:52 Amon Tobin - Lost & Found (Machinefabriek Deconstruction)Wendingen (Selected Remixes 2005-2015), 2016, Zoharum ZOHAR 117-200:52 02:36 Ryuichi Sakamoto / Alva Noto - The Revenant Theme (Alva Noto Remodel)The Revenant (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), 2015, Milan 399-758-202:06 02:05 Bjørn Hatterud - Victoria ArreleanoNovember 20th, 2016, Line LINE_08103:55 03:00 Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie - Salero End CreditsSalero (Original Motion Picture Soundstrack), 2016, Erased...
2016-12-1300 min
Ambientblog MixesSolace"Life can only be remembered backwards, but it must be lived forwards." The central piece provides the title for this mix: Solace - "Comfort in sorrow, misfortune. Consolation." This Fovea Hex track literally breathes consolation in every single note, so it seemed a good starting point for this mix. It is also one of the few tracks in the mix that are included in its full length. Even though there are quite some dark moments in this mix, I hope it may bring some 'solace' - if needed. (If not needed: even better...! It still can be nice to...
2016-07-0359 min
Ambientblog MixesSecret 41Because of the drones, atmospheric field recordings and insect sounds, this mix will be labeled as an 'ambient' mix by most listeners. And of course it is.... but at the same time it isn't. It simply isn't 'unobtrusive' enough to be 'ambient'. An hour-long journey of scene changes, meandering between *Kitsch* and *Kult* - a bit more 'psychedelic' than 'ambient', in fact. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
This particular mix was created as a submission to Secret Thirteen's 'New Blood' invitation to send in 'kaleidoscopic mixes' for their mix series (that's why their logo is in the...
2016-04-1300 min
Ambientblog MixesAnniversary Collection: “Rope To The Sky”On October 26, 1985, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown arrives in his flying DeLorean time machine and persuades Marty McFly and his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, to come back to the future with him. They arrive on October 21, 2015 Only now we found out why they chose this date! --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ambientblog.net, this mix is a part of a very special Anniversary Project. It's 'special' because it's different: this time it's not compiled from existing tracks, but from tracks that were exclusively submitted for this purpose! 35 brand new exclusive tracks by 30 ar...
2015-10-202h 16Ambientblog MixesAnniversary Collection: “Rope To The Sky”On October 26, 1985, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown arrives in his flying DeLorean time machine and persuades Marty McFly and his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, to come back to the future with him. They arrive on October 21, 2015 Only now we found out why they chose this date! --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ambientblog.net, this mix is a part of a very special Anniversary Project. It's 'special' because it's different: this time it's not compiled from existing tracks, but from tracks that were exclusively submitted for this purpose! 35 brand new exclusive tracks by 30 ar...
2015-10-202h 16
Ambientblog MixesEntropic.... slowly evolving to a state of inert uniformity .... retracing information that was lost from the message ... searching for the uniformity in what seems to be randomly disordered ... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playliststart time sample length Artist – TitleAlbum Title, Release Year, Label details
00:00 2:54 Johnny Jewel - The Dead ZoneLost River OST, 2015, Italians do it Better02:06 1:22 Miharu Koshi & Haruomi Hosono - Halconia VoiceEx Machina OST, 2007, Commons RZCM-45702/B02:35 3:44 Alva Noto - Xerrox MesosphereXerrox Vol. 3, 2015, Raster-Noton RN-15904:43 3:04 Jean-Paul Dessy - O'ClockO'Clock, 2014, Cypres CYP 464207:27 2:10 Jeff Stonehouse - PathwayGhosts, 2015, Taâlem alm10807:45 1:01 Kreng - AngerThe Summoner, 2015, Miasmah MIACD03008:45 1:40 Adam Brya...
2015-07-0758 min
Ambientblog MixesGhost Road StrollThis mix is made to be published in the excellent series of mixes on the "Sounds of a Tired City", part of the larger website with the same name.Inspired by the site name, I decided I wanted to try to create a sonic 'walk' through a 'tired' city. A mix with a lot of scene changes... like walking through an unknown city on a (quiet sunday?) morning - finding hidden surprises and marvels around every corner.. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:start time - sample length - Artist - Title(Album Title, Release Year...
2015-04-2358 min
Ambientblog MixesJam Karet (Elastic Time)"Jam Karet" is Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) meaning "Elastic Time" (or "Rubber Hours"). To me, this concept also applies to mixes that include ambient and drone fragments... where the listener gets immersed in sound in such a way that all notion of time is lost; where music could last for minutes, or for hours. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:start time - sample length - Artist - Title(Album Title, Release Year, Label details)
00:00 04:30 Samora - Uranium(Lontano, 2014, Tranquillo / Psychonavigation TRAN005)03:38 04:21 Witte Ruis - Droon 1.1A(Places, 2014, Lomechanik LOMEK025)06:03 04:56 Orphax - Mantophasmatodea(Oniscus Asellus, 2014...
2015-02-031h 06
Ambientblog MixesSiren SongThis mix is built around mysterious vocals. Vocals that may guide you, or lure you, into distances unknown. Often, but not exclusively, female, and some of them not even human - like the beautiful flute-playing by Jean-Christophe Bonnafous, or the mysterious singing sound of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko that was recently discovered during the Rosetta space missions. With just a little fantasy you can imagine the Philae Space Lander being attracted by the comet's song - ultimately leading it to an untimely death. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Start - Length - Artist - Title (Album...
2014-12-2159 min
Ambientblog MixesMental Health Hotline"Mental Health Hotline" is the second 'collaborative dialogue' created together with Christophe 'Klankschap' Ywaska. (The first was "Both Were Moving", 2012). Each selection a reaction to the previous addition means the story may have some unexpected turns and views... especially with over 50 samples crammed into this adventurous hour of sound! Be prepared for a dazzling - and possibly somewhat disorienting - joyride... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
00:00 Lee Patterson - Between the Erasmus Bridge and the Maastower (A)(Klankstappen - Of Steel and Water; 2012)01:20 Jan Bang - Singers Ashes (A)(Narrative from the Subtropics, 2014)02:22 Valentin S...
2014-07-2357 min
Ambientblog MixesSynaptic ResearchFor this mix I aimed to create a dreamlike and timeless atmosphere - dark (but not too dark). It is calm, yet there are many shifting scenes, many passing landscapes and some conflicting emotions... When it ends, (I hope) it feels as if it was much longer than it actually was ... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist[start] [length] [Artist] - [Title][Album], [Year], [Label#]
00:00 02:28 Alvin Lucier - Elegy for Albert AnastasiaVespers and other Early Works, 2002, New World Records 80604-201:26 02:03 Teho Teardo - Several Tree Huggers Were Found DeadFaith in a Wet Season, 2012, Voxxov Records...
2014-04-091h 00
Ambientblog MixesIncidental MemoriesIf one of the criteria for 'ambient' music is that you can comfortably fall asleep to it, I guess you'd better skip this particular mix. Although it starts quiet and reassuring with soothing vocal chords from Silvestrov's "The Lord's Prayer", the mood disintegrates and sometimes can become rather unsettling - depending on your own personal 'incidental memories', of course. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
For reasons I can't really explain, this mix works better if you listen on speakers instead of headphones - just let the airwaves flow for maximum immersion.
PLAYLIST:
...
2014-01-2600 min
Ambientblog MixesTristesse D’Automne"Autumn is here. Darkness slowly creeps up just a little bit earlier. Clouds get grayer and swell up with rain. Trees shed their colors and tighten their belts. And people begin to prepare for winter. But among all the shadows there’s a small ray of light. And with that glow comes the music… For today’s exclusive podcast, Peter van Cooten weaves in layers of haunting soundscapes spanning the gray-scale of the ambient universe. It’s a gorgeous soundtrack to the season of tears…" (Words by H_C) --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
[Start Ti...
2013-10-0800 minAmbientblog MixesTristesse D’Automne"Autumn is here. Darkness slowly creeps up just a little bit earlier. Clouds get grayer and swell up with rain. Trees shed their colors and tighten their belts. And people begin to prepare for winter. But among all the shadows there’s a small ray of light. And with that glow comes the music… For today’s exclusive podcast, Peter van Cooten weaves in layers of haunting soundscapes spanning the gray-scale of the ambient universe. It’s a gorgeous soundtrack to the season of tears…" (Words by H_C) --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
[Start Ti...
2013-10-0800 min
Ambientblog MixesParallax"I'm not formed by things that are of myself alone" This is the key quote (taken from Stoker) for this mix, which is also 'not formed by things of itself alone'. Every detail, every short sample, has its origin in another context, another musical composition, from which it is taken to find a new place in a completely different context. "My ears hear what others cannot hear." "Parallax" is the visual effect that, when you are moving yourself, objects closer to you seem to move by faster than objects in the distance, which slowly seem to move with you...
2013-06-1759 min
Ambientblog MixesRustThe title of this mix is taken from the beautiful soundtrack it heavily leans on: Alexandre Desplat's "Rust and Bone" ("De Rouille et D'Os"). "Rust" usually refers to 'decay', but in dutch "Rust" simply also means 'rest', ('tranquil - or 'repos' in french). But - as we say in Holland: "Rust Roest" - or: "Too much rest will make you rusty..." In other words: don't expect just 'tranquil' sounds in this mix.. This is nót meant to be your average 'healing session ambient' soundtrack... so be prepared... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
[S...
2013-03-0200 min
Ambientblog Mixes26 Shades of DarknessThe sheer volume of the Headphone Commute’s '…And Darkness Came' compilation – issued as a charity fundraising for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, and boasting 87 tracks (over 6 hours) of music – was also a kind of invitation to create a mix from it. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Presenting a wide range of music from well (and lesser) known artists – covering most of the ambient/electronic/post-classical/improv spectre, the compilation is an overview and 'who’s who' of what’s happening at this very moment. Its diversity of sounds and musical ideas will appeal to everyone with o...
2013-02-1000 min
Ambientblog MixesBroken LinesIf you have ever watched Stanley Kubrick's "2001 - Space Odyssey", you will definitely remember the impressive scene in which the memory modules are slowly taken away from HAL, the ship's main computer, because it started to disfunction and became a threat to the astronauts and their mission. Just before his memory fades completely, HAL remembers being programmed to sing"Daisy", one of his earliest digital 'childhood memories'. With this scene (as well as with HAL's name), Kubrick directly referred to the IBM 7094 computer (used to control the Mercury and Gemini space flights, as well as the Apollo missions) which w...
2013-01-0159 min
Ambientblog Mixes“Both Were Moving”When Christophe Ywaska, creator of the weekly Klankschap radio shows on VillaBota webradio suggested working on a mix together, I knew we were in for a sonic treat. Klankschap mixes are never "just" ambient - or "just" any other genre for that matter. Their tracklistings are a display of a deep knowledge of all kinds of experimental music, both new ánd old. Due to their nature, they dó require some 'active' listening, though: they're never meant to be 'easy listening' background music. And the same is true for this mix, "Both Were Moving": this is clearly no 'ambient' mix - i...
2012-12-1200 min
Ambientblog MixesGathering CloudsThis must be one of the darkest mixes I have created until now. I recommend headphone listening for this mix, but also recommend to avoid late night listening - unless, of course, you know what to expect. The atmosphere is immediately set with the first notes, with a threatening (Boduf Songs) howl , and may even get downright frightening in the end climax. Yet, not all is dark and gloomy. In the middle section, there are also more optimistic sounds to enjoy, some more comfortable moments. So: just let the Machinefabriek track ('Stroomtoon Eén'- about 4 minutes from the start) gui...
2012-09-0900 minAmbientblog MixesGathering CloudsThis must be one of the darkest mixes I have created until now. I recommend headphone listening for this mix, but also recommend to avoid late night listening - unless, of course, you know what to expect. The atmosphere is immediately set with the first notes, with a threatening (Boduf Songs) howl , and may even get downright frightening in the end climax. Yet, not all is dark and gloomy. In the middle section, there are also more optimistic sounds to enjoy, some more comfortable moments. So: just let the Machinefabriek track ('Stroomtoon Eén'- about 4 minutes from the start) gui...
2012-09-0900 min
Ambientblog MixesFlowers and Bones"We were playing Hide and Seek on a Cemetery Hill... ...quiet hiding in the flowers...among the Flowers and Bones..." Atmospheric drones slowly unfold into childhood memories ... Peaceful melancholic romanticism, but gradually overshadowed by fear of something out of control? Remember: all is well that ends well.... --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
start time - sample length - Artist - TitleAlbum, Year, Label
00:00 - 01:14 Paolo Fresu, Daniele Di Bonaventura, A Filetta - Le LacMistico Mediterraneo, 2011, ECM 220300:56 - 02:21 Fovea Hex - Love for the UncertainHere Is Where We Used To Sing, 2011, Janet Records JR...
2012-06-0656 min
Ambientblog MixesSolaris MindsetAndrej Tarkovsky's 1972 movie "Solaris" inspired this mix-collage. This mix includes many different sources. Some parts of the originals Artemyev soundtrack are linked to fragments of the beautiful game soundtrack from Skyrim, by Jeremy Soule. The cinematic parts are alternated with various electronic soundscape fragments - familiar and less familiar. Together with many tiny fragments from your own memory, a new - and strictly personal- alternate reality may be created, which (like in Solaris) may be hard to distinguish from real life... Solaris was originally released in march 1972 - this tribute mix is celebrating this inspiring movie's 40th anniversary...
2012-03-0359 min
Ambientblog MixesStillnessThis mix obviously found its name from the lovely intro (and outtro) track by Nest. Inbetween, there are many moments of 'stillness', too... Moments you may slowly drift off into the drones, letting your mind wander ... to be pulled back again by some of the post-classical 'anchors' in this mix. Maybe it's a small opportunity to retreat from current society's turmoil, and to find some time to 'cocoon' to the sounds (and the sometimes fascinating depths) of 'Stillness'. Some word of warning, however: if this suggests this mix only contains warm, comfortable and pleasurable sounds, be prepared for some s...
2012-01-0100 min
Ambientblog MixesNovember ThoughtsIn the Northern Hemisphere, the November month is the month of Autumn: the month that summer is definitely over, when cold and darkness slowly creeps in. (In the Southern Hemisphere, November is a month of Spring - which means this mix will probably not fit your "November Thoughts" at all). (Northern) November can be rough and harsh, but it's also very beautiful to watch nature prepare for winter and finding ourselves doing the same. It is also a good month to think November Thoughts. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlistfirst time is start-time; second time is sam...
2011-11-1100 min
Ambientblog MixesTeloorgang (Decay and Loss)"Teloorgang" is a beautiful dutch word that can be best translated with "Loss" or "Decay". Some say there is beauty in decay....This may be true, but in fact only when watched from a safe distance - the 'decay' not regarding ourselves or our own environment.. It is, of course, tempting to relate the theme of this mix to the current state of our (western) society. But that may just be coincidence: this word "Teloorgang" came to mind when listening back the mix after it was finished. Sit back, close your eyes and immerse yourself in the beauty of...
2011-09-0200 min
Ambientblog MixesDiscouraging IntrudersThe main theme for this mix (as well as the title "Discouraging Intruders" ) came from the spoken word track by the Dwindlers: "What the Wolves Said": "No two of us on the same note, we sound bigger...our harmony discouraging intruders..." Although generally not sounding like a pack of howling wolves, sometimes the purpose of 'ambient' music also is also is to 'discourage intruders' (such as unwanted sounds) to invade your environment.. From the opening, this mix slowly dwells into long drone soundscapes - some discouraging, others comforting - only to be interrupted by a climactic eruption from Siddhartha...
2011-06-0758 min
Ambientblog MixesAmnesiaAlthough it was created in March, this mix shows little signs of "Spring". There was no intentional relation, but inevitably the devastating Japan Earthquake, and the frightening nuclear disaster following it, somehow found its way into this mix. The result: a rather dark overall atmosphere, which seems to leave little room for hope. But at the same time, in Europe, winter retreats and daylight returns. Nature shows that it can destroy as well as recuperate. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
00:00 Porzellan - Vopar Tar[Parvo] Art, 2009, parvo 00702:15 Max Richter - The Vel D'HivElle s'appelait Sarah, 2...
2011-04-1100 min
Ambientblog MixesArno Peeters – The Peeters PrincipleWhen I started working on this 'single artist mix' featuring music and sounds from Arno Peeters, I did not realise that creating a mix-collage based on soundscapes would be more difficult than one based on single tracks. A soundscape is a collage in itself - and using fragments from soundscapes to build another soundscape is like ripping up a collage and presenting the fragmented details out of their original context, rearranging them to create a new caleidoscopic image. The original context gets lost, and the result feels like an aural stream of consciousness that may not exactly be "easy...
2011-03-2749 min
Ambientblog MixesFovea Hex – Neither Speak Nor Remain SilentWhen I read that a new Fovea Hex album will be released in the "Very-Imminent-Future", this revived fond memories of their 2007 box set called "Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent". Two quotes may introduce this fascinating collection: Brian Eno thought these were "Some of the Most Extraordinary Songs I've heard in Years", and The WIRE aptly summarized it this way: "If Emily Dickinson had ever been allowed to make a record, this is probably what it would have sounded like". These comments are all about the songs, but I was also impressed by the way Fovea Hex combined the (unmistakable English...
2011-01-2756 min
Ambientblog MixesDawn SecretsWhat exactly happens at the moment night changes back into day again, when darkness slowly retreats and light comes back in? Are we aware of what happens outside, at that time of day most of us are still sleeping? What sort of animals or creatures are hiding from the light, and what sort finally dare to come out again? Would we discover “Dawn Secrets” when we’d leave our own safe and familiar surroundings? To be honest, I did not start this mix with this theme in mind…it just ‘dawned’ on me when listening to it when it was almost fini...
2011-01-1600 min
Ambientblog MixesSecret Chords and ApparitionsImagine yourself in deep sleep. Very deep sleep. Unaware of your surroundings, unable to control images built from memories, unable to distinguish your dreams from impressions originating from the outside world. At times, following a gentle sleep cycle, your consciousness slowly raises - almost up to the point of waking up. At these moments, the outside world is more perceptible, you're vaguely aware of what's happening around you. But not for long, because you gradually sink back to the realm of subconscious deep sleep. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
PLAYLIST:
00:00 Susanna and the Magical Orchestra...
2010-12-1000 min
Ambientblog MixesStreets, Dreams and MemoriesI guess I should start with a warning for regular visitors: this mix is different from what you're used to. First: it's definitely not an "ambient mix", although there's quite a lot of ambience involved in this music. Second: it's not a compilation mix, but a mix featuring the music of one artist only: Michel Banabila. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
This mix is not a 'Best of Banabila', neither is it a collection of personal favourites (in that case it would be a lot longer!). Looking back on this mix, I see a painful amount of...
2010-10-0800 minAmbientblog MixesStreets, Dreams and MemoriesI guess I should start with a warning for regular visitors: this mix is different from what you're used to. First: it's definitely not an "ambient mix", although there's quite a lot of ambience involved in this music. Second: it's not a compilation mix, but a mix featuring the music of one artist only: Michel Banabila. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
This mix is not a 'Best of Banabila', neither is it a collection of personal favourites (in that case it would be a lot longer!). Looking back on this mix, I see a painful amount of...
2010-10-081h 03
Ambientblog MixesDivision DialogueA collaborative mix by Muttley (Subversion Weblog) and myself. The mix is divided in 'sets' getting shorter each round. In minutes: 20-20-10-10-5-5. Every 'set' (except the first, of course) is created as an associative reaction to the the preceding one. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
Part 1 - Muttley00:00 David Tagg - Stele (Split with Hakobune, 2009)09:00 Quosp - Pine (Soundscapes I, U-Cover, 2008)14:25 Oneohtrix Point Never - Describing Bodies (Returnal, Editions Mego, 2010)17:03 Kettel - Song From 4PM Herring (Myam James II, Sending Orbs, 2009)Part 2 - PvC19:29 Machinefabriek - Duotoon (Duotoon, self-released, 2009)22:30 Ep...
2010-09-241h 10
Ambientblog MixesInvisible InkThough the title of Arve Henriksen’s opening track (Stille Veg, Quiet Road) was the working title for this mix, I finally decided to call it “Invisible Ink” - referring to the quote from Laurie Anderson’s track from "Homeland", which may describe the confused global state (and - if you wish - the political state of Holland in particular): "Was the Constitution written in visible ink? Has everybody here forgotten how to think? Is this great big boat starting to ... sink?” But apart from this, this journey along the ‘Stille Veg’ may present some interesting encounters - some dark and mysteri...
2010-09-0400 min
Ambientblog MixesVorteXSince 1995, X-Rated (a weekly three hour radio show on dutch alternative music radio channel Kink FM) has been a "platform for 'difficult' music". Experimental, avant-garde, poetry, soundscapes: uncensored and uncompromised. (The FM in the channel's name is somewhat misleading, since it's a cable radio station that can also be received via internet or satellite). X-Rated's existence for more than 15 years is nothing short of remarkable, because Kink FM (daughter of Veronica Broadcasting company) is a commercial station, while the music X-Rated features is about the opposite of "commercial". Since dutch public radio has ended (almost) all of the experimental ra...
2010-06-0455 min
Ambientblog MixesFluid Radio MixIf you check out the Fluid Radio Mixcloud playlist,you'll find a lot of familiar names: it seems that almost all artists working in the contemporary electronic experimental music field have contributed one or more mixes themselves. Most of these have appeared somewhere in one of my earlier mixes. These mixes make Fluid Radio one of the most popular channels on Mixcloud. Fluid Radio Webchannel Apart from that, Fluid Audio represents a label that has released some impressive music in equally impressive packages...! The mix presented here was created specifically for Fluid Radio. It is no 'head-tail' mixtape, but...
2010-05-2200 min
Ambientblog Mixes[R]ecyclopedia [R]emixLet me begin with a warning: this mix is quite unlike the previous ones! Though there are quite a lot 'ambient moments' to enjoy, it cannot be qualified as 'ambient music mix' because it contains a lot of other musical elements too. This mix was created especially for Frans Friederich - a dutch musician currently working on a megalomaniac project he started in 1997: Recyclopedia. One single full CD for each letter in the alphabet. 26 CD's recycling and rewriting musical history associatively...! Frans Friederich's musical history shows a variety of styles: he played in jazz-, ska-, and big-bands, but also in exper...
2010-03-1358 min
Ambientblog MixesSubversion Guest MixNot long ago, Muttley's "Isolate" mix was published on Ambientblog as a guest mix. Muttley's own Subversion weblog hosts a lot of his mixes, as well as the 15 Minutes of Fame series. The SubVersion 15 Minutes of Fame format dictates that any mix should contain no more than 10 tracks and last no longer than 40 minutes. That's an average of 4 minutes per track. So, when asked to do a guest mix for this weblog, I had to change my usual approach. In the 'collage' mix format I mostly use, 4 minutes is about the maximum time any included sample gets played - usually...
2010-02-2840 min
Ambientblog MixesMiserereFirst, let me give my best wishes for 2010 to all of you!! What better way to start the new year than with a brand new mix ánd a brand new design (thanks Ingmar from Planet KL!)? The design change is symbolic, in a way: after publishing a lot of mixes in 2009, all of wich were created for radio broadcast, it is now time to take a further step and start publishing new mixes. "Miserere" is the first of these brand new mixes to be published. "Miserere" has taken its name from the concluding piece: Gregoria Allegri's Miserere, as performed by...
2010-01-0100 minAmbientblog MixesMiserereFirst, let me give my best wishes for 2010 to all of you!! What better way to start the new year than with a brand new mix ánd a brand new design (thanks Ingmar from Planet KL!)? The design change is symbolic, in a way: after publishing a lot of mixes in 2009, all of wich were created for radio broadcast, it is now time to take a further step and start publishing new mixes. "Miserere" is the first of these brand new mixes to be published. "Miserere" has taken its name from the concluding piece: Gregoria Allegri's Miserere, as performed by...
2010-01-0100 min
Ambientblog MixesMark Tamea MixThis is the last upload of the mixes that were created for radio. 2010 will start off with new mixes exclusively created for this weblog. Like "Sounds of Spellborn" (published last week) this mix is different from most previous mixes, in that it does not include many different artists, but concentrates on the music of one single artist: Mark Tamea. Tamea is a composer from England, currently living in Nijmegen (Holland). His music is a fascinating combination of electronics, environmental sounds, musique concrête, acoustical and modern classical music. When I hear the music he creates, I can imagine the wo...
2009-12-2656 min
Ambientblog MixesSounds of Spellborn – Alternate‘The Chronicles of Spellborn‘ came with so much interesting soundscapes, that I decided to create a second mix, an alternate version to the first one published the week before. Basically, the ingredients and the atmosphere are the same, but different tracks and samples are chosen. In fact, both of these mixes can be played together and be listened to as one (two-hour) mix. Read the information in the previous podcast entry for more details about this mix and about the Chronicles of Spellborn game. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
THE SOUNDS OF SPELLBORN - ALTERNATE MIX PLAY...
2009-12-1858 min
Ambientblog MixesSounds of SpellbornIf you have listened to previous mixes on this weblog, you may have grown accustomed to the kind of format that they share. This one has a different approach. I noticed that a lot of people are unfamiliar with ambient music, but still get exposed to it more than ever: in movie soundtracks, and even more: when playing games. It may not be recognised as 'music' at all, but more as sounds to create/enhance an environment - but still: that's what ambient music is about, isn't it? When The Chronicles of Spellborn was released early 2009, I decided to...
2009-12-1758 min
Ambientblog MixesDream CalibrationNonstop Ambient Montage: from Alva Noto to Arvo Pärt, via Arve Henriksen and Jacaszek, with short stops at Christopher Bissonnette, Entia Non, Kraken, Goldmund, and many, many others. This mix was created may/june 2009. Image by Weirena This is the last of the 'ambient montages' that were created for radiobroadcast. Until now, 24 mixes are published on this weblog, counting 26 hours of continuous ambient/electronic/experimental music. In the remaining weeks of this year some 'different approach' mixes will be published additionally: one focussing on game music and another focussing on the work of one composer. Then, in 2010, on to the next...
2009-12-1258 min
Ambientblog MixesUtsura – Utsura“Utsura-Utsura” is a japanese expression indicating the ‘fluctuation between alert wakefulness and a state of half-sleep’. This is exactly what this hour-long mix is about: between being awake and half asleep. Sigur Rós, Arve Henriksen and Helios may be your grip to reality in this somewhat abstract, sometimes hallucinatory sound. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
UTSURA-UTSURA PLAYLIST:
0.00 - FM3 - Loop 3 (Buddha Machine v. 20; 2008)1.07 - Andrey Dergatchev - Piano (The Return; 2005, ECM 1923)3.25 - [none] - 4 Figure Counting 10 Rough Tones(Conet Project; 1997, Irdial ird059)3.58 - Alan Howarth - Into the 8th Dimension (Real Hollywood Sound Effects...
2009-12-0558 min
Ambientblog MixesTrueLike it's companion mix ("Strange Birds", published last week) this mix was also broadcast in April 2008. It's a further walk in the same landscape. Sometimes the tension may rise somewhat, but the view remains spectacular. This mix is concluded by the Soccer Committee song 'True' that also gave this mix it's title. In her search for quietness, Mariska Baars (Soccer Committee) has proven that 'ambient' music does not necessarily involves 'electronics'. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
TRUE PLAYLIST:
Tzesne – By the Dry Sea…By the Falling Leaves– Cliffs under the Mist – Mystery Sea – 2007August Stars – Nor’ Easter– Mi...
2009-11-2858 min
Ambientblog MixesStrange BirdsThe central thematic piece in this mix is Christina Kubisch' "Tea Time (Autumn Leaves Mix)", from Gruenrecorder's "Autumn Leaves" - male singers communicating as if they were birds, twittering words like "Who's awake?", "Me Too!" and "Who cooks for you?". This spring-like chatter evokes a strange and hypnotic landscape sometimes unnerving, sometimes comforting. This mix was created february - march 2008, together with "True". It was definitely an early spring that year! --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
STRANGE BIRDS PLAYLIST:
David Lynch – Untitled 1– The Air is On Fire – Strange World Music – SWM001 – 20071000 Finnish Soundscapes – Parolanummi– Autumn Leaves – Gruenrecord...
2009-11-2159 min
Ambientblog MixesAllegaarAccording to my dictionary, 'Allegaar' translates to 'Hotchenpotch' - but I can imagine there may be a better word for that!? Just like the previous mix ("Leftover Mix"), this 2008 mix has no special theme, it's just a collection of tracks mixed together fairly randomly. But in their new context the tracks seem to start to tell their own new story! --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
ALLEGAAR PLAYLIST:
Spyweirdos - Sixth- (Ten Numbers, 2008, Creative Space CS012)Spyweirdos - Fourth - (Ten Numbers, 2008, Creative Space CS012)Spyweirdos - Fifth - (Ten Numbers, 2008, Creative Space CS012)Lawrence English...
2009-11-1456 min
Ambientblog MixesThe Leftover MixThough the title may give the impression that this mix consists of 'second choice music', that is definitely nót the case! These tracks did not find their way to a 2007 Folio radio show, but were too good to stay unnoticed. So I used them in this '2007 end-of-year' mix. It serves these tasty 'leftovers' as one uninterrupted delicate stew. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
Jeph Jerman - Albuquerque Hotel Room- On Isolation (2006, room40 edrm410(ltd) )Spyweirdos - Portal- Wetsound Orchestra (2007, poeta negra - pn30cd)David Bickley & Tom Green - Polar Sirens- Erebus & Terr...
2009-11-0759 min
Ambientblog MixesFinal SleepNo special theme for this mix...just flowing, quiet music... The title obviously comes from the track by Svarte Greiner. (This mix was broadcast paired with 'Be Still'' in june, 2007, which will be published next week). --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
PLAYLIST:
Fovea Hex - Huge (The Joy of Trouble)- Huge - 2006 - Janet Records / Die Stadt - JR002 /DS86Lustmord - Erie- Juggernaut - 2007 - Hydra Head - HH666123Roto Visage - Spiral Ignite Flesh- La Muse Cachée - 2006 - Kikapu - KPU099Roto Visage - Her Veil Projected- La Muse Cachée...
2009-10-3157 min
Ambientblog MixesBe StillNo special theme for this mix...just flowing, quiet music... This mix was broadcast paired with 'Final Sleep' in june, 2007. In this mix the title is taken from the Adrian Klumpes track. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
PLAYLIST:
Denzel & Huhn - July- Paraport - 2007 - City Centre Offices - Towerblock 036Triosk - Lazyboat- The Headlight Serenade - 2006 - Leaf - 49Peter Andersson - Nature Morte- Music for Film and Exhibition - 2006 - Yantra - YA - 2007 - 09Circle of Pines - Wasser Madrigal- Darkwater Pond - 2006 - Darkwinter - DW030Miasto Ni Spalo - VII...
2009-10-3157 minAmbientblog MixesBe StillNo special theme for this mix...just flowing, quiet music... This mix was broadcast paired with 'Final Sleep' in june, 2007. In this mix the title is taken from the Adrian Klumpes track. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
PLAYLIST:
Denzel & Huhn - July- Paraport - 2007 - City Centre Offices - Towerblock 036Triosk - Lazyboat- The Headlight Serenade - 2006 - Leaf - 49Peter Andersson - Nature Morte- Music for Film and Exhibition - 2006 - Yantra - YA - 2007 - 09Circle of Pines - Wasser Madrigal- Darkwater Pond - 2006 - Darkwinter - DW030Miasto Ni Spalo - VII...
2009-10-3157 min
Ambientblog MixesRing"Ring" is the second part of the two part auditive "guided fantasy" from 2006 ("Wave" being the first part). A mix of ambient music, soundscapes and other musical surprises, created in 2006. The first of these four programs was a compilation of the (magnificent) album 'Spellewauerynsherde' by Akira Rabelais, the fourth part was a compilation of music from Iceland. (Since these programs are not 'ambient mixes' they are not included in this collection). The four parts were called "Spelle", "Wave", "Ring" and "Sharde", which together is also the full title of Akira Rabelais' "Spellewauerynsherde" album. Tracks and fragments of this album are...
2009-10-1757 min
Ambientblog MixesWave"Wave" is the first of a two part an auditive "guided fantasy" ("Ring" being the second part). A mix of ambient music, soundscapes and other musical surprises, created in 2006. No track is played completely, but the interaction of the fragments creates a completely new structure.... Which, in fact, is true for all ambient mixes of course... These two mixes were part of a 4-hour radio broadcast that were thematically related to Icelandic music. At least: the first and the last were mostly. The first of these four programs was a compilation of the (magnificent) album 'Spellewauerynsherde' by Akira Rabelais...
2009-10-1056 min
Ambientblog MixesBeautiful Companions: Dakota Suite'The End of Trying' is not a 'typical' Dakota Suite Release. Unlike most Dakota Suite albums (except 1999's Navigators Yard) it is fully instrumental, with Chris Hooson, David Buxton and Colin Dunkley playing piano and David Darling playing cello. The latter fact may indicate the mood of the music on this album: it is extremely delicate, heartbreaking melancholic music. A 'classic' release that immediately struck me when I first heard it in the beginning of this year. The track titles indicate the overall mood of this music: How Could You Let Me Go, Things We Lost Along The Way...
2009-10-0957 min
Ambientblog MixesThe Hum in the Room"The Hum in the Room" the final part of the three-part mix dedicated to ... the hum in your room! The buzz that you suddenly notice, that appears to have been there forever but unnoticed - until this moment. The sound that will be there forever from now. The hum that appears to come from the inside of your head, and that keeps changing when you turn your head or walk through the room. The noise that can irritate as well as fascinate. Or, to quote John Cage from a 1937 lecture: "Wherever we are, what we hear is mostly noise. Whe...
2009-10-0700 min
Ambientblog MixesAcoustical Illusions"Acoustical Illusions", a part of the "Hum in the Room-trilogy" (2005), is dedicated to the environmental sounds that sound like distant choirs or orchestras. Sometimes when you listen to sounds in your environmental background, they may vaguely sound like a full string orchestra, or like soft whispering voices. An orchestra tuning? Cars passing on the highway?Sound that sound different from what they really are - Acoustical Illusions. Like the other wo mixes in this set ("Mantra of Walls and Wiring" and "The Hum in the Room") this is a very minimal, drone-oriented mix. And probably, you'll also hear some s...
2009-09-0159 min
Ambientblog MixesMantra of Walls and Wiring"Mantra of Walls and Wiring" is the first of a set of three one hour mixes created in 2005. The other two are "The Hum in the Room" and "Acoustical Illusion" (will follow later). As you can read from the titles, these mixes thematically deal with the sound you can hear in your living environment; the 'everyday hum' surrounding you. I got inspired for this theme when I listened to a slowly fading ambient-cd...and finally realised the cd had already stopped for quite a while and I was obviously listening to (and enjoying) the hum of my own refrigerator...
2009-07-1200 min
Ambientblog MixesS.A.D. Sounds – 2Part 2 of the 2-part mix called 'S.A.D. Sounds (Voorjaarsmoe)' (from april 2004). The first part can be found here. (Please listen in sequence...) "S.A.D." is an acronym of 'Seasonal Affective Disorder', otherwise known as 'Spring Fatigue' (and also for the other season's equivalents, like 'Winter Depression'). In Part 2, this theme is reflected in the closing part, a recording of a Kathleen Ferrier's performance of Handel's "Spring is Coming" (From 'Ottone'): Why should I alone be silent, when all nature awakes to life?" --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
Michael Fahres - T...
2009-07-111h 16Ambientblog MixesS.A.D. Sounds – 1The joys of springtime usually get the most attention, but the season has a dark side, too: “Spring Fatique”. The need to eat and to sleep more than usual, inexplicable mood changes, the difficulty to be able to concentrate, etc. These feelings are not strictly limited to the spring season, however. Comparable feelings are also known in Winter and Fall. About 60% of all people will probably recognise these symptoms. About 2% suffer from the more serious “Seasonal Affective Disorder’ (S.A.D.), also known as ‘Winter Depression’. The symptoms described can almost be heard in the strange soundscapes of this mix: not onl...
2009-07-111h 13Ambientblog MixesS.A.D. Sounds – 1The joys of springtime usually get the most attention, but the season has a dark side, too: “Spring Fatique”. The need to eat and to sleep more than usual, inexplicable mood changes, the difficulty to be able to concentrate, etc. These feelings are not strictly limited to the spring season, however. Comparable feelings are also known in Winter and Fall. About 60% of all people will probably recognise these symptoms. About 2% suffer from the more serious “Seasonal Affective Disorder’ (S.A.D.), also known as ‘Winter Depression’. The symptoms described can almost be heard in the strange soundscapes of this mix: not onl...
2009-07-111h 13
Ambientblog MixesPeinzing – Part 2Peinzing - Part 2 (2003) is of course the second part of Peinzing (Pondering; Muse-ing). Since both parts are meant to be listened to as one, please download part 1 first and listen to them sequentially. You can find the full comments with Peinzing - Part 1, so for this edition I'll just stick to the playlist.. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Do nót expect 'New Age' music, despite some whale-, cricket- and other sounds of nature. At times the layers of sounds are dark and threatening, maybe even confronting.There's always the dynamic range between tension and release. T...
2009-07-081h 14Ambientblog MixesPeinzing – Part 1"Peinzing" (pondering, muse-ing) (2003) is the name of the musical collage in which the difference between 'music' and 'sound' will not always be clear to the listener. Over time, this has proven to be one of the most popular mix, especially with listeners that were not exactly familiar to ambient/electronic music. It is indeed one of the more accessible - which does nót necessarily mean this is 'easy listening'. Do nót expect 'New Age' music, despite some whale-, cricket- and other sounds of nature. At times the layers of sounds are dark and threatening, maybe even confronting. Th...
2009-07-081h 17
Ambientblog MixesVergeten Tijd (Time Forgotten)Vergeten Tijd ('Time Forgotten') was not specifically created for the Polderlicht Project (Amsterdam, 2001), but the mix fits in seamlessly with KlankSluis and Eindpunt. Because these three mixes were broadcast in one 'go' on dutch radio in 2002, I like to refer to them as the "Polderlicht Trilogy". To me, good drone/ambient music always has a feeling of timelessness. This mix (like most of my others) combines some of the deepest drones (Thomas Köner, Alio Die, Stars of the Lid) with music that is not even remotely considered 'ambient', yet has a similar feeling (Calexico, David Darling, Kimmo Pohjonen). ...
2009-07-0600 min
Ambientblog MixesEindpunt (End of the Line)One of the reactions on the earlier 4 hour non stop ambient collages broadcast by Supplement (...dutch radio program with a focus on modern/avant garde/experimental music...) in the past years, was an invitation to contribute two sound installations to the location project called Polderlicht (Amsterdam, november 2001). This is the second one: "Eindpunt (End of the Line)" The first one was "Klanksluis" (SoundLock, as in 'Airlock'). --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
Playlist:
Brian Eno - Old Brompton Road, feb 20 - Music for White Cube - 1997Brian Eno - The Oval, feb 24 - Music for White...
2009-07-0600 min
Ambientblog MixesKlanksluis (SoundLock)One of the reactions on the earlier 4 hour non stop ambient collages broadcast by Supplement (...dutch radio program with a focus on modern/avant garde/experimental music...) in the past years, was an invitation to contribute two sound installations to the location project called Polderlicht (Amsterdam, november 2001). This is the first one: "Klanksluis" (SoundLock, as in 'Airlock'). The other one is "Eindpunt (End of the Line)", which will be published next. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
ankSluis Playlist:
zomers platteland in Nederland (dutch flatlands in summer) - Library of vanished soundsMichel Redolfi - Palm Canyon...
2009-07-0659 min
Ambientblog MixesDreamScenes – Part 4DreamScenes was originally created in 2001 for dutch radio. It consists of four one-hour parts that were broadcasted uninterrupted. This is part 4. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
DreamScenes - Part 4 Playlist:
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Sea of Vapours - Mustt MusttZero Ohms - Power of Nothingness - [MP3.com]Bill Laswell / Michael J. Harris - Distal Sonority - Ambient CompendiumDreamState - PM Landscape 1 - [MP3.com]Tim Gerwing - Chikatetsu - [MP3.com]SAO - Grassland - [MP3.com]Thomas Koener - Permafrost - PermafrostChristina Kubisch - Oase 2000 - Sonic BoomVidna Obmana - Evening Chorus...
2009-07-0500 minAmbientblog MixesDreamScenes – Part 3DreamScenes was originally created in 2001 for dutch radio. It consists of four one-hour parts that were broadcasted uninterrupted. This is part 3. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
DreamScenes - Part 3 Playlist:
Biosphere - Le Grand Dôme - CirqueFred Szymansky - It's Hard to Know - A Storm of DronesGiles Reaves - Toward the One - [MP3.com]Michel Redolfi - Palm Canyon - A Swarm of DronesUmlaut Soundscapes - The Sarcophagus part One - [MP3.com]Eliane Radigue - Mila's Journey - Inspired by a DreamKudsi Erguner - SuheylaSteve Roach / Thupten Pema Lama - Prayers t...
2009-07-0500 minAmbientblog MixesDreamScenes – Part 2DreamScenes was originally created in 2001 for dutch radio. It consists of four one-hour parts that were broadcasted uninterrupted. This is part 2. --- originally published on Ambientblog ---
DreamScenes - Part 2 Playlist:
Hassell / Arreguin / Muhoberac / Freeman - Amsterdam Blue (Cortege) - Million Dollar Hotel OSTBill Laswell - Broken Dream - Ambient CompendiumPaul Lansky - 6 Fantasies on a poem by Thomas Campion: Her Song (1978) - OHM - Gurus of Electronic MusicRachel's Handwriting - Full on Night, Full on Night Obscurio - Flow - [MP3.com]Russell Mills - A Swoon in Amber - Pearl + UmbraRothko - Suddenly Becomes...
2009-07-0500 minAmbientblog MixesDreamScenes – Part 1DreamScenes was originally created in 2001 for dutch radio. It consists of four one-hour parts that were broadcasted uninterrupted. To my surprise it led to quite a few reactions, some people even listened to the the full 4 hours in one radio session. This mix actually was the second in the series: in april 2001 the first one, called 'Ambient Mix' was broadcast (also 4 hours). That one was in fact more of a 'live mix' (I had no good setup to pre-listen to the tracks), so I find this mix a bit too messy to publish here. Quite a few of these...
2009-07-0559 min