low light mixes

Kosmische Musik - A Starter's Guide Vol. 1

 

 

For some strange reason I have not been listening to as much pure ambient music as I normally do. I've been playing a lot of jazz lately. And I am still devouring a ton of electronic/berlin school music. So it's perfect timing that friend of the show, Erwin Broers, has come up with a pair of awesome mixes in the genre.

I'll let Erwin tell you all about this new mix:

"Here's a follow-up on my Fall 2024 mix "Back To The Roots Of Berlin School". As you recall it featured a collection of electronic music tracks from the 1990s, that were inspired by the patterns, sounds and analog instruments of the 1970s and early 1980s. Back then, nobody talked about "Berlin School Electronic Music". That label would only appear somewhere mid 1990s, probably to honour the place where the genre was born. Fans in the early days would rather use the term "Kosmische Musik" (German for "Cosmic Music"). An explanation for the "cosmic" element is to be found in the use of the step sequencer, which made it easy to create hypnotic rhythm loops with up to 32 notes or steps, set a tempo, and mix them over electronic drones, soundscapes, soloing, washes, white noise and space sounds. The effect was to “float” the listener through endless terrestrial or cosmic space. For those not keen on using illicit substances, it was an interesting and harmless alternative "trip"!

So I thought about creating a mix of some classic pieces from that first era, but soon found out one mix would not be enough to do justice to all the fantastic "Cosmic Music" that was made back then."

This is an amazing trip that couldn't be contained in a normal hour-long mix so we get 2hours of electronic bliss. Thanks Erwin!

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00:00   Harald Grosskopf - So Weit, So Gut (Synthesist, 1980)
• 00:05:12   Jean-Michel Jarre - Arpegiator (The Concerts In China, 1982)
• 00:11:45   Michael Garrison - The Search (In The Regions Of Sunreturn, 1979)
• 00:17:14   Tangerine Dream - Invisible Limits (Stratosfear, 1976)
• 00:28:33   Bernd Kistenmacher - Ferne Ziele (Kaleidoscope, 1989)
• 00:46:23   Kraftwerk - Spacelab (The Man-Machine, 1978)
• 00:52:08   Klaus Schulze - Nowhere/Now Here (Body Love Vol. 2, 1977)
• 01:12:05   Wolfgang Bock - Cycles (Cycles, 1980)
• 01:30:36   Rolf Trostel - Dis Moll Adagio (Musique Intemporel, 1988)
• 01:35:46   Zanov - Lost Message (In Course Of Time, 1983)
• 01:41:41   Neuronium - The Neutron Age (Chromium Echoes, 1982)
• 01:59:39   end

Berlin School Electronic Music 2025 Spring Update

 

 

More Berlin School goodness from Erwin Broers. There's not much I can say about this mix, other than being totally psyched for it, so I'll let Erwin give you the lowdown.

"This mix is an overview of some of the interesting Berlin School Electronic releases of the current calendar year. There's a wide variety of styles, ranging from minimal and retro to loungy/chilled and bombastic/cinematic. Actually, this selection covers the whole spectrum of electronic music between ambient and synth pop. So maybe the label "Berlin School" is not adequate anymore. But hey what's in a name! In any case, unless you're a hard core ambient fan, you will certainly discover something to your liking. Check the links below and support the artists!" 

Thanks, Erwin, for another great Berlin School set.

 

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00:00   Ian Boddy & Harald Grosskopf - Diodengesang (Doppelgänger)
• 00:07:35  Daniel Coppens - Nocturnal (After The End)
• 00:15:34  State Azure - Vortices (The Light That Remains)
• 00:21:05  Gate Eleven - Fly By Night (First Contact)
• 00:26:55  Dino Pacifici & Brannan Lane - Amazon Mist (Imaginary Horizons)
• 00:31:50  Chuck van Zyl - Denkmal (Transience)
• 00:42:16  Brendan Pollard - Corollary (Strands)
• 00:48:53  Grauglanz - Collaborations (A Grim Moon Rising)
• 00:59:50  Leopards Of White - Through The Front Door To Then (Forest Edge)
• 01:08:47  Paul Ellis - Winter Garden (Warmth From Other Suns)
• 01:17:12  Stefan Erbe - Metamorphosys (Metamorphosys)
• 01:23:02  Colin Rayment - As Light Tiptoes In The Darkness (Penumbra)
• 01:31:04  Rene De Bakker - Cosmic Equilibrium (Cosmic Equilibrium)
• 01:47:58  end

Electronic Gems From The Lowlands by Erwin Broers

 

Another electronic gem from Erwin Broers. He has become my go to guy for berlin-school music and I'm totally here for it. I've said many times that I like hosting guest mixes from artists and listeners because I always discover new music. And this set is a perfect example - other than Ron Boots, every artist in this mix is new to me.

 

Here's what Erwin has to say about this mix:

"The theme this time is "Electronic Gems From The Lowlands", the lowlands being Belgium and the Netherlands. Both countries are neighbours of Germany, where Electronic Music took off in the early 1970s. It was therefore inevitable that many local progressive artists became fascinated by synthesizers and inspired by this new genre known as "Kosmische Musik" (cosmic music). Influence of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze is obvious, but there's also a hint at prog rock and a few tracks come close to melodic synth pop similar to Vangelis and Jean Michel Jarre."

Thanks for a great set, Erwin!

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00:00   PeRu - Out Of Time (Constellations, 1981)
• 00:09:01   Pillion - Enigmas (Enigmas, 1980)
• 00:22:36   Par Example - Flarepath (Pharos, 1989)
• 00:31:57   Patrick Kosmos - Mindscapes part 1, 2nd movement (Mindscapes, 1987)
• 00:41:00   Johan Timman - Trip Into The Body (Trip Into The Body, 1981)
• 00:46:31   Walter Christian Rothe - Solitude (Solitude, 1982)
• 00:50:34   Ton Scherpenzeel - Heart Of The Universe (Heart Of The Universe, 1984)
• 00:58:02   Frank Van Bogaert - A Picture of You (Closer, 2004)
• 01:01:45   Ron Boots & John Kerr - Oceans Of Emotions (Offshore Islands, 1990)
• 01:15:11   end

Berlin School Electronic Music 2024

 

I have continued my recent bingeing of berlin-school electronic music. Devouring old and new music. So I was very excited when guest mixer Erwin Broers reached with a new berlin-school mix. Woo hoo! It's all new music, some of Erwin's favorites from 2024. I was familiar with about half of the artists some it was great to discover new music.

 

I'll let Erwin tell you about the mix:

"I was inspired by LLM end of the year mixes on ambient and jazz. I came up with the idea of doing something similar for the Berlin School subgenre. So I checked a few blogs and searched specialized web shops for the most interesting releases of 2024. The result is a near-2hr foray with lots of different styles and atmospheres, ranging from dark to uplifting, retro analog to modern digital, occasionally with a touch of electric guitar and percussions, but almost always with typical layers of sequencers and soundscapes. The influence of the pioneers of the genre, Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream, is still very much alive in some tracks, almost 50 years after their prime. Filtercafe and Sequentia Legenda obviously draw from that heritage. Most listeners will not like all the tracks, but it is a good introduction to what is being created in the contemporary Berlin School."

 

Thanks for another great electronic mix. Look for another mix from Erwin coming next month.

 

LINKS TO ALL  THE MUSIC USED IN THIS MIX:

http://paulellisperthomhav.bandcamp.com/album/orpheus

http://perge.bandcamp.com/album/la-roue

http://gertemmens.bandcamp.com/album/elektra-25th-anniversary-edition

http://manikinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/106

http://cosmicground.bandcamp.com/album/area-24

http://thombrennan.bandcamp.com/album/othadiegra

http://pyramid-peak.bandcamp.com/album/kontinuum-2

http://sphericmusic-shop.de/de/schroeder-robert/1816-schroeder-robert-observer.html

http://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/solastalgia

http://moonsatellite2.bandcamp.com/album/motions-of-ethereal-lunar

http://awenson.bandcamp.com/album/awenson-faith

http://cyclicaldreams.bandcamp.com/album/veiled-portraits-cyd-0118

http://sequentia-legenda.bandcamp.com/album/galactic-crystals

http://emmensboots.bandcamp.com/album/lost-in-dephts-of-desolation

 

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00:00   Paul Ellis & Per Thomhav - Orpheus (Orpheus)
• 00:06:11   Perge - La Roue (La Roue)
• 00:11:21   Gert Emmens - Elektra Part 1 (Elektra 25th Anniversary Edition)
• 00:18:38   Filtercafé - Kaltwasserhahn (106)
• 00:32:00   Cosmic Ground - Area 24 Part 4 (Area 24)
• 00:37:02   Thom Brennan - Othadiegra Part 5 (Othadiegra)
• 00:43:51   Pyramid Peak - Aquamarine (Kontinuum)
• 00:51:13   Robert Schroeder - Observer (Observer)
• 00:58:57   Erik Wöllo - Forever River (Solastalgia)
• 01:06:42   MoonSatellite - Motion Part 3 (Motions Of Ethereal Lunar)
• 01:15:00   Awenson - Van Halen (Faith)
• 01:25:58   Paul Ellis & Pabellón Sintético - Synonymous (Veiled Portraits)
• 01:31:31   Sequentia Legenda - Crystal Of Light (Galactic Crystals)
• 01:41:40   Gert Emmens & Ron Boots - Lost In Dephts Of Desolation (Lost In Depths Of Desolation)
• 01:56:09   end

Back To The Roots Of Berlin School by Erwin Broers

 

At the beginning of September when I posted my "Sequencer City" mix, I said I'd been on a berlin school bender. Well, now three months later I'm still on that sequencer synth kick. At the end of October the analog synth itch was scratched by a stellar guest mix from Erwin Broers called "Capturing The Voice Of A Galaxy." It featured tracks from the Klaus Schulz label, "Innovative Communications.

Now we have have a follow up mix from Erwin called "Back to the Roots of Berlin School." Oh man, this is some good stuff! Erwin tells me that "there's a whole sub-category of "Berlin School" out there called "Retro Berlin School". In the mid 1990's "Berlin School" was revived by nostalgic electronic artists who benefited from technological innovations to make the iconic analog synths such as the Mellotron, the ARP 2600 and the big Moog Modular more playable. The result was a huge resurgence of mid 1970's style Berlin School EM which was dubbed "retro" to mark the difference with the classics such as Tangerine Dream's Stratosfear, Klaus Schulze's Timewind and Ashra's New Age Of Earth."

I hope my current obsession with this genre continues because I am loving every minute of it. Thanks for another great mix, Erwin.

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L S I S T :

• 00:00   Redshift - Redshift(excerpt) (Redshift, 1996)
• 09:20   Cosmic Hoffmann - Shiva Connection (Shiva Connection, 2000)
• 15:00   Free System Projekt - And Then There Were Two (Impulse (reissue), 2005)
• 29:00   Brendan Pollard - Aquarius (Expansion, 2005)
• 31:17   Ramp - Phasenverzerrung (Nodular, 1998) 
• 42:50   Javi Canovas - North Of Circle (Impasse, 2005)
• 56:42   Arcane - Dystopian Fictions (Gather Darkness, 1999)
• 71:02   end

Capturing The Voice Of A Galaxy

 

Another stellar guest mix comes our way courtesy of loyal listener, Erwin Broers. He asked if I was interested in a mix of  electronic music from Innovative Communication, the label founded by Klaus Schulze in the late 70s. Yes, please!

Here's what Erwin says about this fantastic mix:

"I was in my teens when I got in touch with Electronic Music by means of well-known artists such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk and Vangelis. Searching for more similar music in the local library, I came across an LP with on its sleeve just a mysterious picture of a huge radio telescope. The album was Robert Schroeder's "Galaxie Cygnus-A" ! Liner notes on the back of the sleeve explained that the music was commissioned by the Austrian Broadcasting Service (ÖRF) and performed live at the 1982 ARS Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. The idea behind the project consisted of capturing sound waves coming from the Cygnus-A galaxy with the help of the Effelsberg 100 meter radio telescope, the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world at that time. Schroeder used those sound waves as basis and inspiration, and created a magical soundtrack for stargazing and floating in outer space. Needless to say, I was blown away by this album, and from then on I fanatically sought out other releases on the Innovative Communication label, which - by the way - was founded in 1978 by the late Klaus Schulze, one of the godfathers of Electronic Music.

To honour my memory of that exciting period, I chose to start this label retrospective with the first two tracks of this special album - including some of the white noise straight from space ! The mix is rather heterogeneous and gives a good impression of the kind of EM that was published on IC in its heydays, ie. the 80s. From the early 90s the label quickly became more commercial edging towards mellow new age and average electro-acoustic instrumental fusion (aka NAM)."

Thanks, Erwin, for this trip back in time.

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00   Robert Schroeder - Galaxie Cygnus-A Part 1 & 2 (Galaxie Cygnus-A, 1982)
  12:08   Klaus Schulze - Silent Running (excerpt) (Trancefer, 1981)
  19:26   Peak - Nightmist (Ebondàzzar, 1982)
  25:30   P'Cock - The Prophet (The Prophet, 1980)
  31:15   Peter Seiler - Serengeti (Sensitive Touch, 1987)
  36:00   Mind Over Matter - Paradise: 1st. Movement: Being One (Air) (The Colours Of Life, 1988)
  42:09   G.E.N.E. - Taste Of Dawn (Life Is A Melody, 1988)
  47:42   Software - Syn-Code-Z: 1st. Movement: Code-Ocean (Syn-Code, 1987)
  53:45   Patrick Kosmos - Airgasm (Cosmic Resonance, 1991)
  63:16   end

Sequencer City

 

I have been on a huge sequencer/Berlin-school bender for the last few months. I think it goes back to Paul's train mix back in May. Through that mix I found the music of Gert Blokzijl - https://gertblokzijl.bandcamp.com/.  I gobbled up a number of his albums immediately. Then last month I discovered the music of Martin Stürtzer - https://phelios.bandcamp.com/  He's got a ton of stuff out there and it's all good. I'm not sure how I missed him until now, but I'm glad I found him. 

While listening to all this music I just knew I had to create a mix full of sequencer or Berlin-school tracks. Most of the tunes are new with 5 of them from 2024, a few more from 2019 to 2022. And one golden oldie from 1983 by Edgar Froese. I really enjoyed putting this one together so look for another before the end of the year.

Here are links to all the music used in this mix:

https://gertblokzijl.bandcamp.com/album/upgraded-from-the-past

https://phelios.bandcamp.com/album/dyson-sphere-alpha

https://www.amazon.com/Pinnacles-Edgar-Froese/dp/B000025JRO

https://jfitoussi.bandcamp.com/album/plein-soleil

https://open.spotify.com/album/5RRCLKU2zA5aUV68mFdeXV?si=b9G9HLZFShq3DgesJXyDEw

https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B09GW384VC?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_cjTbSCQAjo8lzOi3OXvrbvGhh

https://thombrennan.bandcamp.com/album/eventide

https://synphaera.bandcamp.com/album/wave-interference

https://tronestamjohan.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-far-away

https://phelios.bandcamp.com/album/lander-modules

https://the-rosen-corporation.bandcamp.com/album/icy-nights-awakening

 

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00    Gert Blokziji - Upgraded From The Past 1 (Upgraded From The Past 2019)
• 06:52    Martin Stürtzer - Uncharted Systems (Dyson Sphere Alpha 2021)
• 14:00    Edgar Froese - Specific Gravity Of Smile (Pinnacles 1983)
• 22:00    Jonathan Fitoussi - Rayons solaires (Plein Soleil 2020)
• 27:12    Just a Human - Pulse (2024)
• 29:37    Pye Corner Audio - Earthwork (Entangled Routes 2021)
• 33:24    Thom Brennan  - Eventide Pt. 3 (Eventide 2022)
• 38:20    Lars Leonhard - Wavelength Dreams (Wave Interference 2024)
• 44:22    Johan Tronestam - The Castle Above The Clouds (Somewhere Far Away 2024)
• 50:00    Martin Stürtzer - The Last Outpost (Lander Modules 2024)
• 57:42    The Rosen Corporation - Part Two (Icy Night's Awakening 2024)
• 63:23    end

More Train Tracks by Paul Asbury Seaman

 

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

Train No. 8: Autumn Excursion by Paul Asbury Seaman

 

I have been having a hard time keeping up my mix output lately. There are many reasons, from too much work to too many concerts and social things to a pennant run in baseball. Also playing a part is me getting a little burned out on ambient music. There is so much of it released every week, every month that it becomes a bit overwhelming and it all starts to blend together after a while. I end up with little motivation to find another theme for yet another ambient mix. 

I'm sure I'll snap out of this funk but for now, Paul Asbury Seaman comes to the rescue! Just when I needed it, Paul delivers a fantastic berlin-school, train themed mix. As I've said many times before, I like Paul's mixes because sometimes they go in directions I normally don't go with my own mixes. That's the case again here with these berlin-school tracks. I like sequencer-based music but it's not a style I reach for often. And then I hear one of Paul's mixes and I'm like - "Why don't I listen to this music more often?" Whatever the reason, I'm glad Paul is here to remind us about how cool this style can be.

Here's what Paul has to say about this collection:

“No powerful locomotives this time. No high-speed rail or epic cross-country journey. Just a relaxed excursion through autumn foliage. All but three of these tracks are from 2023. Watch for the REAL guitar on ‘In the Fading Starlight.’ Synth Replicants was one of my big/happy discoveries this past year. (This was one of the milder tracks!) Enjoy.”

Thanks Paul!

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00    Wil Bolton - Yellow Morning (So​̈​dermalm In Autumn 2023)
• 09:09    Erik Wøllo - Motion Picture (Cloud of Strings 2023)
• 12:50    Thom Brennan - Wavemaker pt. 2 (Wavemaker 2023)
• 21:12    Mac Of Bionight - Memory Has No Conscience (COORDINATES volume 11 2023)
• 28:12    Nils Frahm - #2 (All Melody 2018)
• 36:25    Steve Roach The Weaving Way (The Weaving Way 2023)
• 42:18    Node - The Traveller (Node 2 2014)
• 47:18    Synth Replicants - In The Fading Starlight (Time of Legends 2023)
• 53:30    Alpha Wave Movement - Lattices of Light (Cerulean Skies 2017)
• 61:20    Larkenlyre - Sometimes Hope Comes Wrapped In Dark Skies (You and I and Every Sky 2023)
• 65:18    end
  

Last Train Home by Paul Asbury Seaman

 

Photo by Alan Seaman (Paul’s father) in Raiwind, Lahore District, Pakistan, c.1966.

Another train-themed mix? Yes, because they are awesome! This one comes from the mind of Paul Asbury Seaman, as have several other train mixes. As per usual, it's a great collection of familiar and unfamiliar artists, to me at least. 

Here's what Paul says about this latest trip down the tracks:

“On this one—my seventh train-themed mix for LLM—I’m going for the feeling of exhilaration and weary melancholy of travel, as much as the clickety-clack rhythm associated with trains. Plus a twinge of the mystical that can be experienced while crossing between worlds. Once again, drawing from 40 years of music… a couple of new artists, some perennial favorites (of mine), and some classics of the genre.”

Thanks, Paul, for delivering once again.

Cheers!

 

T R A C K L I S T :

• 00:00    Christian Fiesel - A Train And No Final Destination (The New Voyages Of Little Nemo 2023)
• 03:29    Frolin - Afterthought (Morrowtide 2022)
• 07:26    Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene 7 (Oxygene 7-13 1997)
• 15:05    Johan Tronestam - Reveals the Invisible (Cosmic Drama II 2023)
• 22:14    Fritz Mayr - Breath of the Wind (Mythical Worlds 2022)
• 28:40    Cristian Richet - Sansucy (Life Is But A Dream 2023)
• 35:05    Cosmic Ground - Phasing 76 (Entropy 2023)
• 42:40    The Soviet Space Dog Project - Star City (Star City 2021)
• 51:45    Vangelis - Life Of Antarctica (Antartica 1983)
• 57:19    LAD - Starburst (Andromeda 2023)
• 62:42    Robert Rich - Loom Of Origins (Travelers' Cloth 2023)
• 69:30    Patrick O'Hearn - Traveler's Rest (So Flows the Current 2000)
• 75:33    end