Radio Mnemosyne

Proxima Centauri

More often than not, a respected label introduces me to a new artist or a project. Sometimes, a rare instance occurs in reverse, where a favourite artist appears on a previously unknown [to me] label. This is the case with the Philadelphia-based Andrew Tasselmyer, whom I’ve been a fan of for his solo ambient releases on imprints such as Shimmering Moods, Constellation Tatsu, Polar Seas, Eilean, Home Normal, and laaps, among the many, but also as a member of Hotel Neon, which I’ve been following via Past Inside the Present, Thesis, Archives, Sound in Silence, and Fluid Audio. All of those are very familiar to me – in fact, you can find most of them in my Labels Directory, but the Las Vegas-based Mystery Circles is definitely new, and I only recognise a few names on its roster. So, more for me to hear! Now, back to the release! Titled Where Substance Meets Emptiness, this 8-piece album features more than just Tasselmyer’s beautiful ambience, with some piano keys and field recordings. There are lots of sparkling and shuffling beats and percussive elements reminiscent of the early IDM era, where harmony met rhythm. The track I am premiering for you today, “Flowers in a Storm”, reminds me of those days when I would listen to Arovane, Dabrye, Metamatics, Deaf Center, and Secede. This makes me want to revisit my very own liftmuziek sessions!

"Beyond the edge of the world there’s a space where emptiness and substance neatly overlap, where past and future form a continuous, endless loop. And, hovering about, there are signs no one has ever read, chords no one has ever heard.
— Haruki Murakami (Kafka on the Shore)

Taking in the magical surrealism of the celebrated Japanese author, Tasselmyer composes music that fades in and out of reality, bridging the atmospheric world of dreams and the present moment, where we find ourselves floating and merging with all the beautiful vibrations. Featuring some sonic postcards from his friends (Steven Kemner, Dave Mantel, and Sean Galloway), Tesselymyer paints a new world to traverse – one that is as imaginary as it is real, where “ordinary methods and immediate results are ditched along with their traditional maps in order to reach uncharted places of the imagination.” It’s an absolute pleasure to wander within this open space, and I find myself pleasantly lost among its many turns and expansive pastures.

The full album is out tomorrow, January 30th, 2024, on Mystery Circles. Mastered by Taylor Deupree, it is available as a digital, CD, or cassette edition. Beautiful album cover by his brother, Michael.

Where Substance Meets Emptiness

Flowers in a Storm

TRACK PREMIERE : Andrew Tasselmyer - Flowers in a Storm

There is something special about that dark and nostalgic music that seems to be echoing from the past, as if breaking through another dimension of time, trembling through the gritty playback on a warped and dusty tape, fading in and out on a crumbling old photograph, shades of colours long gone... long gone. The music of Black Swan has embraced this noir-fi aesthetic throughout the years, ever since I first heard the debut, In 8 Movements, released in 2010. Immersed in chilling ambience, hauntology, and the ephemera left behind, the music of Black Swan captures the eerie essence of the in-between, exploring the shadowed depths that linger at the periphery. Exactly twelve years ago, I invited this mysterious artist from New York to make me a Halloween-themed mix, which I published here as Music For Masquerade. Today, I am premiering two tracks for you from his upcoming album on Past Inside The Present, titled Ghost, to be released, of course, on Halloween. This is now his ninth full-length release, in which the spirits roam in our world, leaving their voiceprints on abandoned reel-to-reels to be discovered and played back. And as the twenty pieces and vignettes recede and fade away, all we are left with are the memories imprinted on our hearts and minds. The memories of those who are long gone... long gone. As we will be some day.

Read more on Headphone Commute:
https://headphonecommute.com/2024/10/29/black-swan-somewhere-but-here-and-time-loop/

Ghost

Somewhere But Here and Time Loo

TRACK PREMIERE : Black Swan - Somewhere But Here And Time Loop

Glacial Movements is an Italian record label which has been reducing the temperatures of our hearts for nearly two decades now. But besides the frosty and desolate spaces, there’s something warming about its approach. Perhaps it’s about paying attention to all of those forgotten, faraway places where nature continues on its course regardless of the insanity that we create and then attempt to sort out. Perhaps things are not as complicated as we make them out to be. Mayhaps the physical simplicity of the colliding icebergs is the answer to our problems. So let’s turn off the televisions and let’s delete accounts, and turn towards the spaces where our minds can rest. One such deep reflection on social themes and existential moments can be found in the fascinating narrative of Italian multidisciplinary artist Lia Bosch and her upcoming debut album, titled Polar Code. There is a darker undertone behind this music, which is just one piece of this conceptual, multi-dimensional and immersive project together with visuals and words [some of which I will share below], provoking thoughts on organic fragility, cosmic expansion, and what it means to be truly human.

Read more on Headphone Commute:
https://headphonecommute.com/2024/11/20/lia-bosch-stepping-beyond/

Polar Code

Stepping Beyond

TRACK PREMIERE : Lia Bosch - Stepping Beyond

The 'Noise Print' project began from a desire to create deep, earthy textures. I had an image of walking along a narrow forest path and being very present in the moment. For this album I changed my usual approach by setting a one-hour time limit for each studio session. As soon as I set this limitation my ‘chattery brain’ started stirring up doubts about my ability to work under these confines- an hour wasn’t long enough to create ‘amazing music’ and that setting such restraints would be stopping me from producing quality work. However, once I started working, a diﬀerent, more grounded version of myself emerged-more sure footed and less neurotic and anxious, focused on the present moment rather than getting anxious over future outcomes. And the outcomes were good, I was really happy with the material I was creating and the whole of Noise Print was made in these sessions.  

While I made the album I started to think about identity, shadow selves, unconscious selves, versions of ourselves that are quite diﬀerent from the everyday person we think we are. In many ways this was quite comforting, the thought that my everyday self could take it’s hands of the wheel and let a grown up much more capable person could get on with the work. On reflection I realise that making music is one situation in my life where I’m able to tap into this state without too much diﬃculty (most of the time) but it was during the making of Noise Print that I actually noticed it was happening.  

This led me to think about the concept of shadow selves-alternate versions of our subconscious selves that operate beyond our everyday distractions and influences. Like the image of the forest track-a space where the noisy mental clutter fades, and a deeper, older self takes over.  

To sum this one up-it’s like a walk along a narrow forest path and the present moment is very much alive-your mind is right in ‘the now’ with past and future losing any meaning. The ‘Noise Print’ title came about by me thinking if you could print to tape the sound of your psyche/consciousness when your are in this present focused, deep state.  

- Phil Tomsett - April 2024

Noise Print

Phil Tomsett - Noise Print (Preview)

Album preview for “Archipélagos” the latest collaborative project from Ghostloop and Henrik Meierkord.

Album link: https://atlantearecords.bandcamp.com/album/archip-lagos

Music by Ghostloop and Henrik Meierkord
Mastering by Tom Lievens
Cover art by Anthony Asher - Yates

Archipélagos [AR035] Preview

Taken from "Hääletu kaos (A Silent Chaos)"

A few copies left:

https://shimmeringmoodsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/h-letu-kaos-a-silent-chaos

Edition of 35 handmade CD packages, wallets, stamped, hand numbered.

Releases February 8, 2025 

Music by Bertil Aas. 
Photos by Annela Samuel 
Mastered by Andrea Porcu 

SHM 330 
Shimmering Moods Records 2025
license


Etüüd - Päikese punane kaja (Red Echo Of The Sun)

not having this body, or not enough, is a great source of anxiety

Love Will Return In Another Way

Whispers of the Forest

From "Pillars". Out on limited LP 1/10/2020

North Atlantic Drift - Astray

Focusing on experimental genres, we aim to provide a space to share in the creative process and spread the experience of inner exploration through musical expression.