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Ambient music mixes for a chaotic world

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Thursday Apr 24, 2025

Berlin School Electronic Music 2025 Spring Update

Thursday Apr 24, 2025

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 (DoppelgÃ¤nger)
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

Wednesday Feb 19, 2025

Berlin School Electronic Music 2024

Wednesday Feb 19, 2025

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

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025

THE BOTTNA MIX by Dött ljus

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025

We have a special treat for this mix - an upbeat collection with an ambient house music vibe. I have a folder on my hard drive that is labeled "gentle house music." It contains tracks that have a definite 4-on-the-floor style but aren't hardcore, fill-the-dance-floor tunes. Something like Kiasmos. I have avoided making a mix of these tune because, truthfully, I suck at beat matching. I don't use professional software that would do it for me and I don't have quite the musical ear to pull it off on my own, at least for an entire mix.

That's where Johan Kisro and Petter Lindhagen come to the rescue. Johan and Peter record as Dött ljus and they have a new EP coming out on February 5th called Bottna. You can find it here - https://slowcraft.bandcamp.com/album/bottna The EP is on Slowcraft Records which says "the irrepressible energy of their hybrid electronica finds itself subtly grounded in a tenderly ambient melancholy."

I was immediately taken by the vibe of the new EP so I was over the moon when Johan suggested doing a mix for LLM. Perfect! I've always wanted a mix that sounds like this.

Here's what Johan says about this collection of tracks:

"This mix is a collection of songs we love—some of which may have influenced our upcoming EP, Bottna (out February 5th via Slowcraft Records). Bottna is a refuge, a place where anything can become something, where color breaks through the cracks in the pavement, hidden from the intensifying hum of a world unraveling. The songs exist at the intersection of rhythm and droning textures, and we wanted this mix to follow that same path—from fragments to flourish."

Thanks to Johan and Peter for curating this excellent mix.

Cheers!

T R A C K L I S T :

00:00 Kejser audiovisual - EMO TREE 3.0, pt.1 (EMO TREE 3.0 2024)
00:46 Bonnie Beecher - Come Wander with me (1964)
02:21 Dött ljus - Förr (Bottna 2025)
07:06 The XX - VCR (Four Tet Remix) (2010)
15:22 Sofia Kourtesis - Vajkoczy (Madres 2023)
19:14 Radiohead - Everything in its Right Place (Gigamesh Remix 3.0) (2024)
23:40 Menke - Nattskärran (Christian Löffler Remix) (2018)
26:56 Kelly Lee Owens - Dreamstate (Dreamstate 2024)
32:16 Colin Stetson - All the days I’ve missed you (ILAIJ I)
(New History Warfare Vol 2: Judges 2011)
33:09 Brian McBride - Prelude (When the Detail Lost its Freedom 2005)
34:46 Fred again…, Delilah Montegun - Delilah (pull me out of this)
(Actual Life 3 [January 1 - September 9 2022] 2022)
38:50 Caribou - Honey (Honey 2024)
43:13 Abul Mogard - Half Light of Dawn (Circular Forms 2015)
49:20 Donnie & Joe Emerson - Baby (Dreamin’ Wild 1979)
52:48 Dött ljus - Bottna (Bottna 2025)

Friday Jan 03, 2025

We Did It Again by Andy McNeill(Maple Mountain Sunburst)

Friday Jan 03, 2025

we%20did%20it%20again%20cover%20Watercolour%20Lines%201600x1600%20copy.jpg

What a great way to start off the new year! Jumping right in with this excellent mix from friend of the show, Andy McNeill. Andy records as Maple Mountain Sunburst and he released a wonderful album last year - https://maplemountainsunburst.bandcamp.com/album/ecstatic He also did a guest mix for us last year which you can find here - Mixcloud & Low Light Mixes Blog.

My favorite discovery in this mix is the third track, "My Dog's Eyes" by Zammuto. I am blown away each time I hear it. One of my favorite track of 2024 is also included in the mix - Andy's own "Pop-a-matic." So good! The rest of the mix a great as well.

Here's what Andy says about his latest creation:

"Cycles, patterns and joy in repetition. I’ll paraphrase redditer Waves_of_awesome who said strongly repetitive music has the ability to transport the listener to a meditative state. “… repeating passages echo like a mantra, almost hypnotizing you”. It’s a fundamental yet unpremeditated element in my musical endeavours.

A lot of different genres represented here — not really intentionally, I just wanted to include some favourites and influential tracks. But wait where’s O Superman? It’s Gonna Rain? I guess we’ll have to do a part two. I hope you all enjoy the journey." - Andy

>>>Links to all the music used in this mix<<<

Thanks Andy, for creating this most excellent mix.

Cheers!

T R A C K L I S T :

00:00 Chapterhouse/Global Communication - Gamma Phase edit (Pentamerous Metamorphosis 1993)
05:01 Uakti - Japura River (Philip Glass) (Aguas da Amazonia 1999)
09:51 Zammuto - My Dog’s Eyes (Veryone 2016)
12:50 George Mukabi - Kuoa Utaoa (Furaha Wenye Gita 2017)
15:38 Maple Mountain Sunburst - Pop-a-matic (Ecstatic 2024
19:37 The Books - Cello Song ft. José González (Music For A French Elevator… 2013)
23:28 Sobanza Mimanisa - Kiwembo (edit) (Congotronics 2 2005)
27:15 Juana Molina - Salvese Quien Pueda (Tres Cosas 2004)
32:41 Christina Pluhar and L’Arpeggiata - Ciaconna (Youtube)
36:40. Maple Mountain Sunburst - Age of Steam (MMSTO 2010)
39:52 Faust - Lauft… (aka Giggy Smile) (Faust IV 1973)
43:06 Maple Mountain Sunburst - Without Fear (Ecstatic 2024)
47:51 Seefeel - Climactic Phase 3 (edit) (Quique 1993)
53:38 Soft Machine - We Did It Again (Soft Machine 1968)
55:50 Air - Universal Traveler (Talkie Walkie 2004)
60:09 Maple Mountain Sunburst Triolian Orchestra - The Ruby Yacht (MMSTO 2010)
62:25 Leo Kottke - Doorbell (My Father’s Face 1989)
67:24 end

Wednesday Dec 04, 2024

Back To The Roots Of Berlin School by Erwin Broers

Wednesday Dec 04, 2024

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

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024

Jazz-ish

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024

I'm not exactly sure how this mix started. I think I was listening to the track, Outlook Remains Untouched, by |||||||||||||||||||| , yes that's the actual name the artist goes by.

|||||||||||||||||||| on bandcamp

I like the jazzy vibe the tune has. It reminds me of similar tracks from the heyday of glitch and idm that also have a jazz feel to them. Sort of Jazz-ish.

So I grabbed some older tracks from 2001, 2002, 2006, and mixed them with new tunes to come up with this electronic mix that isn't really jazz...more like Jazz-ish.

Links to all the music used in this mix:

Cheers!

T R A C K L I S T :

00:00 |||||||||||||||||||| - Outlook Remains Untouched (Outlook Remains Untouched 2021)
05:06 Robag Wruhme - Tulpa Ovi (Thora Vukk 2011)
09:00 Iso68 - Catzen (Mizoknek 2002)
13:40 Triosk - Lost Reprise (The Headlight Serenade 2006)
19:00 Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling, Andreas Werliin - II (Ghosted 2022)
25:36 Prefuse 73 - Clean Up Scene Apprentice (New Strategies For Modern Crime Vol. 1 2024)
28:30 Josiah Steinbrick & Sam Gendel - Mouthfeel 1 (Mouthfeel, Serene 2021)
30:00 Nala Sinephro - Space 5 (Space 1.8 2021)
33:10 Andrew Pekler - you are here (Station To Station 2002)
34:10 Oblong - sketches of staines (Indicator 2006)
37:21 Four Tet - So Blue (Three 2024)
42:02 El Fog - Smoke and Satellites (Reverberate Slowly 2015)
44:35 I’m Not A Gun - Soft Rain in the Spring (We think as instruments 2006)
49:20 Laurence Pike - Prophecy (Prophecy 2020)
53:09 Eli Keszler - Copenhagen Part III (LIVE 2 2024)
60:00 end

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

Capturing The Voice Of A Galaxy

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

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

Wednesday Sep 11, 2024

Sequencer City

Wednesday Sep 11, 2024

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

Wednesday Aug 14, 2024

Communiqué '77 - '86

Wednesday Aug 14, 2024

When I was in college, a million years ago, I worked at the student radio station. There were some cool people there that turned me onto all sorts of new music. I had cassette tapes of several of the albums they introduced me to and I played them for years. I can't remember to put my garbage out on time but I can still picture the handwritten spines of cassette cases for albums like David Sylvian - Gone To Earth and Tangerine Dream - Hyperborea.

A few of my prized cassettes were from more obscure artists such as the 3 that start this mix - Clara Mondshine, Baffo Banfi, and Bernard Szajner. After listening to these albums recently, I decided to make an entire mix of artists from that cassette era. The result is a nostalgic trip back to the late 70s and early 80s for some electronic goodness.

The tracks range from more obscure artists like Lilienthal, Clara Mondshine, Baffo Banfi, and Bernard Szajner to more well known like Phil Mazanera & Richard Pinhas to the very well known Jean Michel Jarre & Al Di Meola. This collection takes me back to a specific time and works well as a cohesive mix. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did.

Cheers!

T R A C K L I S T :

00:00 Clara Mondshine - Landing At Full Moon (Luna Africana 1981)
05:19 Baffo Banfi - Astralunato (Ma Dolce Vita 1979)
09:00 Bernard Szajner - The Memory (some deaths take forever 1980)
13:15 Richard Pinhas - Melodic Simple Transition (L'Ethique 1981)
16:45 Al Di Meola African Night (Scenario 1983)
21:00 Craig Leon - Region of Fleeing Civilians (Visiting 1982)
25:20 Phil Manzanera - Criollo (Primitive Guitars 1982)
30:10 Jean Michel Jarre - Magnetic Fields Part IV (Magnetic Fields 1981)
35:40 Michael Shrieve & Klaus Schulze - Communique (Transfer Station Blue 1986)
48:15 Roedelius - Weilchenwurzeln (Wenn der Südwind Weht 1981)
52:55 Michael Brook - Midday (Hybrid 1985)
58:41 Lilienthal - Gebremster Schaum (Lilienthal 1978)
64:50 end

Wednesday Jul 03, 2024

A Letter From Home - 2000s Nostalgia

Wednesday Jul 03, 2024

While playing random tracks from my hard drive full music, I stumbled upon several tunes I hadn't heard in forever. I was filled with feelings of nostalgia. That can happen quite a lot when you're as old as I am, certain albums will always remind me of times and places. I remember wearing out a cassette copy of Tangerine Dream's "Hyperborea" on an old boom box when I first started my current job 30 years ago.

I started collecting a few obscure, nostalgia-inducing tracks as I listened to music over the next few months. As I sat down to make a mix from these tunes I noticed that I could separate them into two time periods - one is tracks from roughly 1976 to the late 80s. And the other turned into this mix, focusing on electronic/idm music from the 2000s.

The mix starts with three of my all time favorite cuts from that period. It felt so good to hear these again and then work them into a mix.

Here are links to all the music used in this mix. Because these are about 20 years old I used Boomkat to source the ones that did not have Bandcamp links.

Enjoy this electronic trip down memory lane.

Cheers!

T R A C K L I S T :

00:00 RF - Ladder in Place (Views of Distant Towns 2006)
05:21 B. Fleischmann - A Letter From Home (Welcome Tourist 2003)
10:18 Styrofoam - Make It Mine (Nothing's Lost 2004)
19:00 Ulrich Schnauss - Between Us And Them (Far Away Trains Passing By 2005)
25:22 The Album Leaf - The Outer Banks (In a Safe Place 2004)
29:30 ISAN - Trois gymnopedies No.1 Lent et douloureux (Trois gymnopedies 2006)
31:55 Komëit - Acme (Komëit(blue record) 2000)
34:34 Xela - Through Crimson Clouds (Tangled Wool 2004)
39:39 Arovane - Windy Wish Trees (Lillies 2004)
42:49 Rena Jones - Helix (Indra's Web 2009)
47:53 B. Fleischmann - Take Your Time (Welcome Tourist 2003)
62:00 end