low light mixes

WABI SABI by Daniel Hawkins

 

I've been super busy lately so it's perfect timing for another wonderful guest mix from friend of the feed, Daniel Hawkins. Daniel has done 4 mixes for LLM, each of them a great ambient journey. You can find them here:

Amiably Ambient
The Silence Between
Dark Woods
Metallic Memories

 

"This one takes some thoughtful curating to come up with such a cohesive set. Here what Daniel has to say about the mix:

 

"Wabi Sabi conveys feelings of desolation and solitude. Within Mahayana Buddhism these can be considered positive traits, representing release from the material world and the possibility of transcendence to a simpler life. As Mahayana philosophy emphasizes direct experience over verbal explanation, Wabi Sabi may be best understood in a non-verbal, experiential way.

According to Richard Powell, "Wabi Sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."

Many forms of Japanese art have been influenced by Zen and Mahayana philosophy over the past thousand years. The contemplation and acceptance of imperfection, as well as the awareness of constant flux and impermanence, have been particularly important to Japanese arts and culture.

Awareness of the transience of all things heightens appreciation of their beauty, and evokes a gentle sadness at their passing.

So I’d been working on this mix for months - adding metallophonic cuts that caught my fancy - as a follow up to last year’s Metallic Memories mix.  The mix got to over 3 hours - and I wasn’t sure Dave would be amused.  They were all good pieces of music - but I thought maybe a tighter focus would make a more cohesive mix.  As I trimmed it down the Wabi Sabi theme seemed to fit the mood and I think makes a nice set.  I hope you agree."

 

Thanks for another fantastic mix, Daniel.

 

Cheers!

 

[ s t r e a m ]    [ d o w n l o a d ]    [ a p p l e _ p o d c a s t s ]

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   Anaamaly - I Am Inspired by Possibility (Urban Metta, Vol. 2 2017)
• 06:10   Masayoshi Fujita - As Dusk Falls(Feat. NATURE) (As Dusk Falls 2025)
• 09:45   Luis Miehlich & Marty Hicks - Upon the Winds of Change (Reflections Vol. 2)
• 14:15   Zheleznyak - Water Talk (Attenuated In Ambient)
• 18:42   CSillagkod - Kettoscsillag (Silent World 2014)
• 21:55   Jogging House - Fingers (The Ambient Zone: Collection 006 2020)
• 25:45   Steve Good - Infinite Rainbows (Arise, Decay, Sustain, Release 2024)
• 32:05   Robot Koch - Kassel(Foam and Sand rework) (The Next Billion Years - Foam and Sand reworks 2022)
• 36:00   Marsen Jules - Yara 4 (Yara 2009)
• 43:10   Tapes and Topographies - Holograms (Partial Holograms 2025)
• 47:50   Heavenchord - Field Recordings #19 (Field Recordings #4 2022)
• 56:05   Calm Whale - Flower of Transformation (Flower of Transformation 2025)
• 65:17   end

Hushed Whispers by Roquen Lómë

 

I am listening to this guest mix as I type this and I am loving this set. Curated by Roquen Lómë, this is a wonderful collection of tracks for slowing down, for introspection. You can find some of his stuff on Mixcloud - https://www.mixcloud.com/roguenlome/

Here's what he has to say about the mix:

"There's something magical about listening to music late at night. You can dim the lights or turn them off entirely and immerse yourself in the sound. Your perception shifts just enough to highlight subtle noises, making any voices feel intimately near, though sometimes they may not be real. At times, they exist, and other times, they arise from your imagination or the onset of sleep. Most of the used tracks feature some form of vocal or whisper-like quality, though they may not always be tied to a human voice. I still tend to include vocal-driven songs into my mixes to provide an engaging contrast to the predominantly ambient and electronic sounds, ensuring the listener remains alert throughout the journey."

Thanks for a lovely mix!

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00  Colin Stetson - Morning Of (The First 2018)
• 02:13  Anne Müller - Solo? Repeat! (Heliopause 2019)
• 07:50  Sjors Mans - Big Ballad (Noord 2019)
• 14:27  Malibu - Cheirosa '94 (Palaces of Pity 2022)
• 16:05  Mowg - The Way Home (Burning 2019)
• 19:04  Brombaer - Cosmo Pollen (Stars 2013)
• 21:40  Ben Lukas Boysen & Sebastian Plano - Winding And Unwinding (Everything 2017)
• 24:08  Sonmi451 - Brenta (Panta Rei 2017)
• 28:34  The Phonometrician - We're Burning (Mnemosyne 2019)
• 31:54  Ólafur Arnalds - Particles (Island Songs 2016)
• 35:39  Otto A. Totland - Pinô (Pinô 2014)
• 38:03  Glåsbird - Austfonna (Svalbarð 2019)
• 42:51  Marek Kamiński - Long Hands (Not Here 2019)
• 46:29  Rauelsson - Split (Vora 2013)
• 51:52  Sven Laux - Fisher (Schachmatt 2018)
• 56:00  Deaf Center - Yet To Come (Low Distance 2019)
• 58:22  Lana Del Rey - Hope Is A Dangerous Thing For A Woman Like Me To Have - But I Have It (Norman Fucking Rockwell! 2019)

Current Ambient Obsessions April 2026

 

We've had a few guest mixes recently with a couple more on the way so I figured we needed a straightforward ambient mix in between all the guest sets. This mix features all music from 2026, except the track by Slow Dancing Society & zakè which is from 2025. This also features some of my favorite ambient albums of the year so far:

> Six Missing - drift, sway

> James Murray - Solitude and Silence

> Clariloops - As The Light Fades

> David Cordero - La Imagen Muda

 

LINKS TO ALL THE MUSIC USED IN THIS MIX:

• https://norayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/la-imagen-muda
• https://sixmissing.bandcamp.com/album/drift-sway
• https://slowcraft.bandcamp.com/album/solitude-and-silence
• https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-below
• https://arborescence32.bandcamp.com/album/bouquet-sauvage
• https://zakedrone.bandcamp.com/album/stars-silence
• https://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-and-unbound
• https://kordelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/les-id-es
• https://davidcordero.bandcamp.com/album/how-to-make-sense-of-downtime
• https://anthene.bandcamp.com/album/great-plains
• https://secretdomainlabel.bandcamp.com/album/heavenchord-infinity-dots-armenia

 The mix is very chill, very ambient. I hope you like it.

Cheers!

( ( ( ( ( ( T R A C K L I S T ) ) ) ) ) )

• 00:00   David Cordero - Aion (La Imagen Muda 2026)
• 03:24   Six Missing - afternoon walk (drift, sway 2026)
• 07:07   James Murray - All Mountains Are Blue (Solitude And Silence 2026)
• 10:56   Clariloops - As The Light Fades (The Quiet Below 2026)
• 15:15   Arborescence - The Fine Grains of Memory (Bouquet Sauvage 2026)
• 21:15   Slow Dancing Society & zakè - The Quiet Of First Light(excerpt) (Stars & Silence 2025)
• 28:40   Dirk Serries - Everything Is Known, Part Two (Infinite And Unbound 2026)
• 36:20   Phloe - Le Départ (Les Idées 2026)
• 43:13   Wil Bolton & David Cordero - And Strange the Wind Lifts (How to Make Sense of Downtime 2026)
• 47:00   anthéne & far away nebraska - miles to go (reat plains 2026)
• 50:55   Heavenchord & Infinity Dots - Lament (Armenia 2026)
• 58:50   Six Missing - peaceful sleep (drift 2026)
• 61:55   end

Sleep comes like a drug

 

 

I was listening to some U2 tunes recently and in the song "In God's Country" there's a line - "Sleep comes like a drug in God's country." I liked the "sleep comes like a drug" part and thought it would make a good title for a sleep mix. So I got right to work and found some great, recent tracks that are perfect for sleeping.

Cue up the mix, climb into bed, and drift off to sleep.

 

LINKS TO ALL THE MUSIC USED IN THIS MIX:

https://homenormal.bandcamp.com/album/great-plains

https://www.beatport.com/release/glass/5926376

https://aliodie.bandcamp.com/album/vimana-ascensional-waves

https://sixmissing.bandcamp.com/album/drift

https://tonepoet.bandcamp.com/album/radiant-pastures

https://thelonelybell.bandcamp.com/album/time-lost

https://phelios.bandcamp.com/album/dyson-sphere-beta-2

https://steveroach.bandcamp.com/album/sentient-being

https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/cellular-universe-6

 

CHEERS!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   anthéne & Far away Nebraska - meet me in saskatchewan (great plains 2026)
• 05:11   SVLBRD - Glass (2026)
• 07:20   Alio Die - Unknown Oceans And Starry Seas (Vimana Ascensional Waves 2026)
• 15:43   Six Missing - drift: sandcastles (drift 2026)
• 18:40   Tonepoet - A Land Of Eternal Spring (Radiant Pastures 2026)
• 25:45   The Lonely Bell - Elsewhere (Time Lost 2025)
• 30:45   Martin Stürtzer - 22:27 (Dyson Sphere Beta 2026)
• 36:33   Steve Roach - Angels At Rest (Sentient Being 2026)
• 43:50   Eguana - Cellular Universe 6 (Cellular Universe 6 2026)
• 66:10   end

From Dusk Till Dawn by Fragile X

 

Whoa nelly we are in for a treat with this guest mix! This new set comes from John McFadden who records as Fragile X. John has done two other mixes for us that you can find here:

https://www.mixcloud.com/lowlight/aquadream-by-fragile-x/

https://www.mixcloud.com/lowlight/being-human-by-fragile-x/

I'm kind of jealous of this mix as there are bunch of tracks that I would love to have used in my recent undersea mix. So this is a perfect time for this set because it will play off of my "Alien Sea" mix and lead us into other ambient directions. John has a couple of new EPs out and you can find Fragile X music here - https://fragilex.bandcamp.com/

Here's what John says about "From Dusk Till Dawn"

"I've been getting up early a lot so far this year, especially in midweek, for the day job and I've also been making the most of my weekends by trying to stay up late and be creative when I can.

So, with that in mind, I've put together a mix to soundtrack the wee hours. I tried to make it dream-like and hazy. Like an escape into the hush of night and through to break of morning. Albeit crammed into 70 mins!

It's got some dubby and experimental ambient stuff then slowly unfurls into more melodic ambient pieces over time. Very minimal percussion and the focus more on atmosphere and texture.

Hope you enjoy!" 

Thanks, John, for a great mix!

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 01. Erik M. - Half Sleep (00:00)
• 02. Squu - Essence (03:54)
• 03. Distant Echoes - Buried Into Ashes (07:03)
• 04. Jerod S. Rivera - Seamstress Clock (feat Cat Lauigan) (10:35)
• 05. Lee Gamble - She's Not (15:20)
• 06. Sonoj - Deal (18:26)
• 07. Tokyo Bedroom Orchestra - Mori (24:37)
• 08. Martin Allin - Play For The Slow World (28:56)
• 09. nthng - Two People (33:13)
• 10. Xenia Reaper - You Really (37:09)
• 11. Number One - Press 1 For Ever (39:48)
• 12. Aion Lazura - Fractal Conscientia (42:43)
• 13. Fragile X - Cielab (48:12)
• 14. Kaito - Rainbow Circles (Beatless version) (53:45)
• 15. Vertical67 - Peace of Mind (60:11)
• 16. Fernie - Subtle (64:44)
• 17. Yaka - Slow Reaction (68:20)

Deep Ambient Explorations in an Alien Sea

 

This mix is the perfect combo of two of my favorite mix themes - sea/ocean motif and ambient dub. I wanted to make an ambient dub mix and while searching for tunes I ran across several that had that great ocean vibe that some ambient dub can have. Then a few more had this odd sort of alien quality to them so I decided on a mix of deep ambient dub that sounds like it should be played in the oceans of Jupiter's moon, Europa.

Mot of the tracks are fairly new, from the last few years. But there are some older tracks from 2013, 2012, and all the back to 2002. Everything combines for the perfect undersea exploration. I really love this one.

LINKS TO ALL THE MUSIC USED IN THIS MIX:

• https://sahkorecordings.bandcamp.com/album/sysivalo
• https://earthensea.bandcamp.com/album/grass-and-trees
• https://westmineral.bandcamp.com/album/rv-lights-ouest082
• https://otherfacts.bandcamp.com/album/you-are-eternity-sacd003
• https://vibrantmusic.bandcamp.com/album/fluxion-ripple-effect
• https://signer.bandcamp.com/album/low-light-dreams
• https://ullastraus.bandcamp.com/album/hometown-girl
• https://avantroots.bandcamp.com/album/deep-sea-exploration
• https://scale-limited.bandcamp.com/album/stasis-grscl06
• https://aufabwegen.bandcamp.com/album/lichth-fe
• https://leegamble.bandcamp.com/album/diversions-1994-1996
• https://silentes.bandcamp.com/album/grotto-of-the-sun
• https://sohaso.bandcamp.com/album/binding-elements
• https://echospace313.bandcamp.com/album/analogue-oceans-double-cd-edition-w-digital-exclusive

Cheers!

 

( ( ( T R A C K L I S T ) ) )

• 00:00   Mika Vainio - Etude 4 (Sysivalo 2025)
• 02:40   Earthen Sea - Spatial Ambiguity (Grass And Trees 2019)
• 06:15   Sleepdial - Icarus Rising (RV Lights 2025)
• 08:39   Dadub - Vibration (You Are Eternity 2013)
• 10:40   Fluxion - Moving On (Ripple Effect 2018)
• 14:10   Signer - Post Obsession (Low Light Dreams 2002)
• 16:29   Ulla Straus - Night Loop (Hometown Girl 2025)
• 17:36   Dublicator - Deep Sea Exploration (Deep Sea Exploration 2013)
• 22:25   Faded - Warhawk (Stasis 2017)
• 27:07   Asmus Tietchens & Thorsten Soltau - Lichthof 2 (Lichthöfe 2025)
• 28:10   Lee Gamble - Emu (Diversions 1994-1996 2012)
• 32:15   Mika Vainio - Sylvannus (Sysivalo 2025)
• 34:20   Rod Modell - Part 2 (Grotto Of The Sun 2026)
• 42:50   Bas Dobbelaer - Ray (Binding Elements 2023)
• 45:42   Asmus Tietchens-Thorsten Soltau - Lichthof 8 (Lichthöfe 2025)
• 47:15   cv313 - Analogue Oceans(Variant's conduction) (Analogue Oceans 2018)
• 62:23   end

The Silence Between by Daniel Hawkins

 

When Daniel wrote that he had a new mix based around silence I knew it would be good. Then I saw the tracklist and I knew it would be great. He includes cuts from some of my favorite artists - Halftribe, Innesti, Sonmi451, Loscil, and A Produce. The A Produce track is one of my favorite ambienbt tracks of all time.

Here's what Daniel says about his new mix:

Claude Debussy once wrote: “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between them”, suggesting that music's emotional impact, beauty, and expression come from the pauses and spacing between sounds.  The first thing I think of is Eno’s classic Music for Airports - man did I fall in love with that album.  Roach’s Dream Circle comes to mind - low and slow - the music just seems to breathe.  Of course you have the steady state drone stuff from Grassow and friends, which I like - but there is no real structure - that’s the point I guess.  I tried to pick work for this mix that had at least a bit of melody, but plenty of silence to define the notes.  There is a sweet spot that when achieved sends me at least into a deep peaceful space.  I’m thinking we all need to spend some time in that space these days to recharge and nurture our sanity.  Hoping this mix might help with that my friends.

 Thanks, Daniel, for another excellent mix.

Cheers!

 T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   Halftribe & Spinnet - A Minimal Resolution (Patterns of Sync 2020)
• 09:09   Snufmumriko - Mot Nattens Hjärta (Sekunder, Eoner 2019)
• 12:12   ASC - Find Yourself (Tales Of Introspection 2025)
• 22:48   Innesti - Nothwithstanding (Filament and Place 2021)
• 28:00   Sonmi451 - Oxygen Is Flowing (Oxygen Is Flowing single 2025)
• 33:12   Loscil - Stella (Clara 2021)
• 42:23   A Produce - A Smooth Surface(Edit) (White Sands 1995)
• 47:40   Hipnotic Earth - Repose (The Waters of Home 2017)
• 57:00   Lab's Cloud - Rising (The Structure of Emotions 2021)
• 63:58   end

Frozen Landscapes

 

I haven't had much time or been motivated to create new mixes so far in the new year. But there's nothing like sub-zero temperatures and being cooped up indoors to get one in the mood for a good wintry mix. The temperature as I type this is -15 degrees with a wind chill of -40. 🥶

I've done these frigid temps themed mixes before and I'm always surprised at how well they come together. I start by simply searching for tracks with certain keywords - frozen, cold, frigid, ice, wind, winter, etc. and then try to use mostly tunes from 2025. This mix is a bit different than others because it turns toward warmth in the last few tracks - "Warmer Light," "Threads of Warmth," and "Warmth". I hope that by ending the mix on a warmer note that I may manifest higher temps.

Stay warm and cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :
00:00   Hainbach & Ensemble Recherche - The Cold Settles In (Retold 2025)
03:40   Valotihkuu - The Frozen Landscapes (Drifting Between Seasons 2025)
06:15   Science Of Sleeping - The Coldest Winter (Samsara 2025)
06:57   Jeff Pearce - A Long Winter'S Sleep (From the Darker Seasons 2017)
16:12   Erik Wøllo & Ian Boddy - Ice Station (Transmissions 2025)
20:30   Philippe Deschamps - Wind Secrets (Wind Secrets 2025)
22:39   Dirk Serries - Weathering The Gale (Treasure Of Stars 2025)
29:43   Seaworthy & Matt Rösner - Cold Weather (Deep Valley 2024)
32:27   Chihei Hatakeyama - Wind From Mountains (Lucid Dreams 2025)
37:00   Tokyo Ambient Collective - where the fireplace is (Winter Ambience 2025)
42:35   Pete Kvidera - Warmer Light (2025)
45:40   Valotihkuu - Threads Of Warmth (Drifting Between Seasons 2025)
51:25   Sebby Kowal - Warmth (Deep In Our Hearts 2023)
59:04   end

Favorite Ambient Albums of 2025 Part 2

 

 

Not much to say in this post other than here is part two of my favorite ambient albums of 2025. I'll also repost the full list here with links.

1. Alexander Knaifel - Chapter Eight

2. Almost An Island - Almost An Island

3. Andrew Heath - Signals and Codes

4. Anthéne & Simon McCorry - Wellspring

5. Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill - Dreaming In Gamelan

6. Byron Metcalf - Spiral Exchange

7. Clarice Jensen - In holiday clothing, out of the great darkness

8. Dictaphone - Unstable

9. Emily A. Sprague - Cloud Time

10. Erik M - Soft Wish

11. Florian TM Zeisig - A New Life

12. Lab's Cloud and Flavio Salvaje - Kalima

13. Loneward - Musings of a Painted Sky

14. M. Sage - Tender / Wading

15. Martin Stürtzer - Nexus-6

16. offthesky - form.radio

17. offthesky - Nocturnas

18. Peter Gregson - Peter Gregson

19. Rod Modell - Northern Michigan Snowstorms

20. Seabuckthorn - A Path Within A Path

21. Six Missing - Without Mind

22. Steve Roach - The Reverent Sky

23. Taylor Deupree & Zimoun - Wind Dynamic Organ, Deviations

24. Xu - Murmurs of the Machine

25. Yorkshire Modular Society + Peter Digby Lee - Beneath the Hanging Sky

26. zakè - Silentium

Here's to more excellent ambient music in 2026.

 

Cheers!

 

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   Lab's Cloud and Flavio Salvaje - Sandwhistle (Kalima)
• 04:12   Byron Metcalf - Voices Of Vision (Spiral Exchange)
• 09:25   Seabuckthorn - Shadow Of The Land (A Path Within A Path)
• 12:15   Steve Roach - The Nuturing  Ground (The Reverent Sky)
• 20:10   Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill - Reverie (Dreaming In Gamelan)
• 23:35   Almost An Island - Perfume Gloves (Almost An Island)
• 27:40   Andrew Heath - Delegate 24 (Signals and Codes)
• 33:00   Anthéne & Simon McCorry - Summer's Glow (Wellspring)
• 37:20   Taylor Deupree & Zimoun - Deviation V (Wind Dynamic Organ, Deviations)
• 42:55   Xu - Echoes from the Ether (Murmurs of the Machine)
• 45:50   offthesky - form.radio 3 (form.radio)
• 50:12   zakè - Pax Animi [ft. Tyresta] (Silentium)
• 53:20   Loneward - Shrouded Sighs (Musings of a Painted Sky)
• 59:48   end

Favorite Ambient Albums of 2025 Part 1

When end-of-the-year list season began I wasn't sure if I was going to do a favorite ambient albums list. I wasn't as locked into ambient as much this year as in the past. I spent most of my listening time in indie, jazz, and berlin-school. I had several ambient albums that would for sure make my list so I started with those and the next thing I knew - I had a list of 26 albums that are my 2025 favorites.

Here are my favorite ambient albums of 2025, in alphabetical order:

1. Alexander Knaifel - Chapter Eight
2. Almost An Island - Almost An Island
3. Andrew Heath - Signals and Codes
4. Anthéne & Simon McCorry - Wellspring
5. Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill - Dreaming In Gamelan
6. Byron Metcalf - Spiral Exchange
7. Clarice Jensen - In holiday clothing, out of the great darkness
8. Dictaphone - Unstable
9. Emily A. Sprague - Cloud Time
10. Erik M - Soft Wish
11. Florian T M Zeisig - A New Life
12. Lab's Cloud and Flavio Salvaje - Kalima
13. Loneward - Musings of a Painted Sky
14. M. Sage - Tender Wading
15. Martin Stürtzer - Nexus-6
16. offthesky - form.radio
17. offthesky - Nocturnas
18. Peter Gregson - Peter Gregson
19. Rod Modell - Northern Michigan Snowstorms
20. Seabuckthorn - A Path Within A Path
21. Six Missing - Without Mind
22. Steve Roach - The Reverent Sky
23. Taylor Deupree & Zimoun - Wind Dynamic Organ, Deviations
24. Xu - Murmurs of the Machine
25. Yorkshire Modular Society + Peter Digby Lee - Beneath the Hanging Sky
26. zakè - Silentium

I made two mixes so it will be a little easier to digest. This post is for part one. I hope you enjoy this look back at 2025.

Cheers!

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   Erik M. - Tall as Grass (Soft Wish)
• 03:55   Offthesky - Poised Above A Place (Nocturnas)
• 08:06   Rod Modell - Snowstorm In Munising (Snowstorm In Munising)
• 13:40   Emily A. Sprague - Osaka (Cloud Time)
• 19:23   Florian T M Zeisig - Earth Loop (A New Life)
• 21:00   M. Sage - Fracking Starlight (Tender / Wading)
• 26:18   Dictaphone - 122 (Unstable)
• 29:50   Six Missing - Sit Down and Play (Without Mind)
• 35:38   Peter Gregson - Prism (Peter Gregson)
• 38:37   Clarice Jensen - From A to B (In holiday clothing, out of the great darkness)
• 44:05   Alexander Knaifel - Chapter Eight: Stanza XXIII-XXXII (Chapter Eight)
• 49:15   Martin Sturtzer - Nexus-6 (Nexus-6)
• 55:30   Yorkshire Modular Society - Beneath the Hanging Sky (Beneath the Hanging Sky)
• 01:09:28   end