Contemplative Classical Mixes

A collection of tracks exclusively premiered on Headphone Commute

Exclusive Track Premieres

A collection of Mixes appearing on Headphone Commute Podcast

Select Podcast Mixes

In January of 2006, I launched my very first series of mixes, which I called "liftmuziek", focused on IDM, modern classical, and ambient electronica. The sixteen volumes eventually became a podcast, and then, somewhere along the way, Headphone Commute was born. The rest, as they say, is history. 

I nearly forgot about these mixes, as the remnants of poorly encoded files slowly disappeared from the internet archives. That is... until now... Nearly by accident, I was able to locate all of the 16 Volumes in their original lossless resolution on one of my dusty hard drives!!! 

These are now being released, one at a time, for all your guilty pleasures, to celebrate the sounds of electronica from the good ol' days :)

liftmuziek sessions

Mike Lazarev plays...

Excited to announce the release of a new single which I composed exclusively for #PianoDay. This is music for a "Portrait of a Lady with a Fan" whom I found looking back at the artist with heartache in her eyes. I am not a painter, but this is what I saw.

Portrait Of A Lady With A Fan

Mike Lazarev plays Portrait Of A Lady With A Fan

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Gaspar Claus, a French cellist out of Paris, who has a number of collaborations, performing appearances, and soundtrack work under his belt (some names include Bryce Dessner, Sufjan Stevens, Jim O’Rourke, and Ryuichi Sakamoto), with the upcoming Tancade being his first solo album. I have covered plenty of music featuring the cello as the main instrument, and I can’t seem to get enough of its low, raspy textures, deep melancholy sighs, and soft fluttering sails. I do love the violin, but the cello still holds a very special place among the favourite timbres of my mind. And so the music from Tancade hits the spot, with the cello being the only instrument on the entire album, layered, processed, and orchestrated to sound as if numerous Claus clones are spinning a complex braid of sound all at once. On the first single of the record, which I am happily premiering for you today, the instrument is “rubbed with a bow, plucked, brushed, bumped, caressed, jostled, and transfigured,” for all its “rich harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic potential,” but even if you don’t zoom in on the technicalities, it is a piece of music that sounds grand. “Une Foule,” which means “a crowd,” refers to the “wild and marvellous parties that take place at ‘Tancade’, a small and difficult to access cove.” 

More here: https://hcdi.gs/UneFoule

Tancade

Une Foule

TRACK PREMIERE : Gaspar Claus - Une Foule

Yes, I have already premiered two tracks this week (see Plïnkï Plønkï and Resina), and yes, this is another premiere of a track, and yet it is immensely needed, wanted, and necessary during these somewhat anxious times. “Rjóður” comes from the Icelandic composer Snorri Hallgrímsson, whom I’ve profiled on many occasions before (see also his In the Studio with… feature), as well as celebrated for his film music, which has been backed by the wonderful Moderna Records (home to many fantastic modern classical and solo piano composers, such as Jacob David, Ed Carlsen, Tim Linghaus, Tambour, and even yours truly). This particular piece appears on Hallgrímsson’s second EP titled Landbrot II – the first having been released last November with five pieces, and now, a year later, with five more. “The collection takes its name from the location of Hallgrímsson’s family cabin in rural Iceland, which he describes as his ‘happy place’. Landbrot translates to erosion or ‘land fractures’, and from this, we can imagine the search for inner calm and acceptance amongst the many obstacles of daily life.”

Read more about this release here: https://hcdi.gs/Landbrot

Landbrot II

Rjóður

TRACK PREMIERE : Snorri Hallgrímsson - Rjóður

... recorded at 6am on this Saturday morning as the sun rays were gently caressing the piano keys...

A Model of the Universe

Mike Lazarev plays Jóhann Jóhannsson's "A Model of the Universe"

I seem to be able to find some quiet time on Sundays to record more piano...

Mike Lazarev - Impromptu 03.09

Sometimes the universe has its way of reminding you of what’s important in life. You get caught up in all your bullshit, and then, one morning, you wake up and suddenly hit that point which truly makes you take a step back, look around, and reassess everything you have been “building” up until this moment. That nagging, stressful, and upsetting thing right over there? Well, that can wait. Perhaps you’ll get to it another day. And if not, well, it will still be there. But for now, you can give yourself permission just to breathe. In and out. Ah… That’s so much better. Thankfully for me, I have this thing that I call music, which I can turn to for an hour every morning and spend some time, like with a friend. And in the end, this post with words that you are reading right now is just my way of sharing those precious single moments with you, when we can simply breathe. Today I am spending sharing my time in the company of a Norwegian composer and pianist, Ole-Bjørn Talstad, who just got signed to the beloved Moderna for his debut, titled Ferd. The album collects eight miniature solo piano pieces that add up to just a bit over 19 minutes in length, and their elegant, intimate, and emotional narrative truly resonates with every cell of my being. As I do with most solo piano compositions, I listen to them in my headphones. This somehow transports me to my own recording sessions in front of an upright piano and close-placed microphones next to the hammers, slightly caressing the strings through the felt. Suddenly, just as I felt with one of my favourite records by Otto A. Totland, it’s as if I’m playing this music myself. I’m hearing the music the way Talstad is hearing it. One simple note at a time. And in between the keys, in all of their ease and purity, is where I find my peace. I hope that you will find yours too.

Ferd

Utsikt

TRACK PREMIERE : Ole-Bjørn Talstad - Utsikt

Fields We Found is the moniker of an artist and the newly-launched quiet details label founder, bathing our ears with ambient bliss. In the last few years, we were gifted with deep-evolving soundscapes appearing on Ambientologist, Seil Records, and Handstiched Recordings, with the most recent album, Paths, “… exploring the routes we all choose and where they take us” on Facture. Late in 2022, Alex also put out music on the beloved Home Normal, run with tremendous devotion by the one and only Ian Hawgood. Today’s mix on Headphone Commute Podcast is essentially a love letter to our mutually adored ambient imprint, showcasing a lot of the beautiful music appearing on the label. Please support the label, check out the full tracklisting and more words from Alex on the mix directly on the site: https://hcdi.gs/trees

Mixes

Fields We Found - Looking Beyond the Trees

In this mix, I focused on exploring the very edges of the sonic landscape, where beauty and destruction lie on opposite sides of the dynamic spectrum. Between them, one can hear the transmutation between organic and synthetic, fragile and brutal, beauty and fright. I really love the distorted build-ups originating in the gentle and soothing melodies, climaxing to their concerted peaks and then collapsing into beauty once again. It’s in this contrast that we find ourselves forever bouncing between the darkness and the light, only to accept that there is no middle ground and that this journey.

Full tracklisting and more details on the mix can be found here: https://hcdi.gs/Soundwave

Soundwave Mix

Download

Mike Lazarev - Soundwave Mix

Good morning, and welcome to your Tuesday. I have a special entry in Headphone Commute’s Podcast series for you today. And if you’re just getting around to enjoying these, let me remind you that we have 325+ others available directly when you subscribe to the podcast, or you can download them from our offline archive (going back to 2009!). Anyway, it is not just a mix but an entire label showcase of Mathias Van Eecloo‘s amazing LAAPS imprint, covering releases in the last two years (2022-2023). I’ve hosted the first such showcase two years ago, so be sure to check out LAAPS 2020-2021 mix as well. Oh, and Mathias was generous enough to throw in a few IIKKI releases in there as well (just check out this tracklist!), so this is truly a compilation of some of the best experimental ambient albums from both of his fantastic labels, continuously mixed exclusively for you! As always, if you enjoy what you hear, please support the featured artists, and in this case, the labels as well!

LAAPS+IIKKI (2022-2023)

Mathias Van Eecloo - LAAPS+IIKKI (2022-2023)

For today’s program I’ve invited Orla Wren, an artist from North England releasing music on Flau, Facture, Home Normal, and most recently Oak Editions, to share with you his favorite pieces, which happen to be from film. It’s a beautiful chronicle, with its own special plot and emotional journey: 

"For this mix I collected many fragments of music, dialogue and foley sounds which were taken directly from the films themselves and which I then arranged variously and carefully placed to construct some possible narrative. I always feel drawn to the most intimate moments within a film, most often I find it’s where the music and story hold the most emotion and poignancy. This mix is made with love and respect for the film makers, actors and the musicians, thank you for the beautiful moments." - Orla Wren 

Orla Wren - Filmscores Two

Steve Luck is from Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK, and he composes quiet, emotional, and beautifully pure solo piano music. Besides releasing these heartfelt vignettes, Luck has also composed for film and television, and in 2007, he won two awards from the Royal Television Society for professional excellence in music. A few years ago, I featured his piece on the Contemplative Classical playlist, which I have been curating on and off [hmm, I really should get back into updating it]. Today, he is appearing on this sincere platform recommending honest music with his piece called "Be Curious", which will be released on the same-titled album tomorrow, November 24th. I've got a quote from Steve where he shares some thoughts about the track, but frankly, all you have to do is play it, and you would not need any words.

Be Curious

TRACK PREMIERE : Steve Luck - Be Curious

Good morning, and welcome to the quietest week of the year. Did you have a good holiday? Before I sign off for the year, I think I’ve got one more gem to share with you. Here's a wonderful label showcase and a reflection on this past year from a lovely independent Valencia-based imprint, Archives, curated and operated by Agustín Mena, aka Warmth. I’ve profiled plenty of its releases since its inception in 2015, and I must admit that Warmth’s Parallel (2018) has been on repeat more than others. If anything, it is only rivalled by Glow, which is his collaboration with Fionnlagh, recently released on December 8th, 2023 (you’ll hear a few tracks on this mix). In any case, enjoy the mix, and please support the featured artists! For full details and tracklisting, visit Headphone Commute's main site.

Archives 2023

Warmth - Archives 2023

Yes, folks, I am still rejoicing in last year. What can I say – I love to listen to great music, especially when it’s picked by someone else. And not just anyone – a trusted source! Ryan Griffin and I go back more than a decade now. Secretly, I’m even jealous of his capacity to operate one of the best labels on the scene today. At times, I toyed with the idea of starting a label too – but then, when would I have the time to write these words and share this music? And so, I leave it to the rest. For this annual entry in the Reflections series, we spend three hours (!) in the company of 42+ tracks selected by your reliable guide of A Strangely Isolated Place, where you will surely find new gems and inspirations. I’ll drop a short quote here, but you should check out a detailed write-up on this mix on ASIP’s dedicated page.

More details here: https://wp.me/paziFt-hmB

Reflection on 2023

Tracklisting

A Strangely Isolated Place - Reflection on 2023

Italian producer and master synthesist Guido Zen has mesmerised my mind with his incredibly rich tapestry of sound since he appeared on the scene as Abul Mogard. He's got a particular sonic aesthetic that I tried [and failed] at replicating - something soft and slow-burning is rising and evolving into a velvety, faint and fuzzy vibration, perfectly sculpted to hold it all in one place. If there were just a bit too much reverb it all would be blurry, and if not enough, it would be just dry. And yet, in the hands of Guido, the frequency spectrum is dense and alive, "shaking kosmische synth fantasies into post-industrial ambience and blissful shoegaze memories." His most recent release with Rafael Anton Irisarri, for which I premiered "Place of Forever", was a fantastic example of all of the above, plus an amazing showcase of what a collaborative production may bring to the fans, combining Raf's distorted layers of bowed guitar with a myriad of perfectly saturated effects. On June 21st, Guido returns with yet another collaboration, this time with Berlin-based Dutch-Italian composer and sound designer Aimée Portioli, known as Grand River. Released via Caterina Barbieri's light-years imprint, this new work, which Guido admitted to me has taken him into new territories, is indeed yet another captivating dimension of a multi-faceted composition that truly unites both artists as one. Here, we are gifted with Aimée's strong sense of sensual organic soundscapes that develop into nearly overpowering tide crests, static washes, and serene expense, all carried by the widescreen cinematic tension and resolve in the hands of the fictitious synth factory worker. A truly enjoyable journey, which I hope you'll explore. I recommend turning up the volume a bit beyond your usual setting...

In uno spazio immenso

Sulle barcane

TRACK PREMIERE : Grand River And Abul Mogard - Sulle Barcane

What can I say about Carsten Nicolai that I have not said before? It feels that only just the other day, I revisited his catalogue and sang high praises for his album HYbr:ID II, which I then highlighted in my Best of 2023 list, Music For Synergizing The Synapse Of Ideas. You should check out that write-up, where I quickly go over his monumental contribution to electronic music (it's up on my site). And here we are again, with an anticipated follow-up, the third entry in Alva Noto‘s series initiated in 2021. For this instalment, Nicolai explores the Noh.  “Drawing inspiration from Noh, a traditional Japanese musical drama dating back to the 14th century, the album reflects the genre’s distinctive rhythmic movements and its nuanced expression of emotions through subtle gestures.” Just as with the previous two volumes, the compositions on the album capture the music commissioned to a ballet score by an American choreographer, Richard Siegal – the first two came from Ectopia, and this third one is for the Ballet of (Dis)Obedience (check out a teaser here). And, just like the first two releases, it comes with a fantastic graphical score for each piece. I’m trying to follow this visualisation along with its sonic incarnation, and it’s like deciphering an alien script. This wonderful mystery adds a touch of fascination to the piece. And yet, the music is enthralling on its own…

HYbr:ID III

HYbr:ID Noh Talk

NOTON Shop

TRACK PREMIERE : Alva Noto - HYbr:ID Noh Talk

This piece has been donated to a Hibernate Recordings benefit compilation, titled "Dayalu / for Nepal" to raise money for the victims of the earthquake disaster in Nepal. This very first official HC release is appearing alongside my all-time favorite artists, such as Machinefabriek, Clem Leek, Autistici, Field Rotation, Isnaj Dui, Antonymes, Olan Mill and many others, so I couldn't be more happier to contribute to this wonderful cause. 

I hope that you support this compilation (digital + 2xCD edition), and of course, dig my humble composition. Pre-order your copy at the below link, with many more musicians to be announced soon!!!

http://hcdi.gs/Dayalu

Accidental (03.01.15)

Recently, I've been going through my older posts, circa 2009 or so, re-reading my thoughts on the music of yesteryear. It is slightly self-indulgent, I'll admit, but this _is_ indeed a blog of mine, and this was its purpose all along—to capture a moment in time with words and music. It's interesting to note how my tastes evolved, how familiarity with the artists I covered, and my experience in music production have coloured my perception of these sounds. I can tell you that mostly they have stayed the same. And as the genres evolve and musicians move on, others fill in the void with the sounds that allure me in my particular corner of the universe. For example, I see that Nils has announced yet another live album, capturing the energy he brings to the stage with the performance. Although I appreciate documenting these events, I always return to the early studio albums. Meanwhile, Augsburg-based composer Linus Alberg captures my heart with his unique essence of modern classical warmth and sensibility. While I cannot deny the influence of giants in his music (I hear Jóhann Jóhannsson, I hear Max Richter... of course, I hear Frahm), there is indeed sentimentality that is uniquely him. This is only his second release for the beloved Moderna label, with the debut, Elements, premiering here in 2023. It gently drifts from the upright piano, inviting strings, Wurlitzer, Harmonium and synths to carry you along. There are only five pieces on this 23-minute EP, and yet it perfectly conveys an intimate moment that Alberg cares to share. That's all I ever want... that's all I ever ask of music...

Read more on Headphone Commute:
https://headphonecommute.com/2024/11/08/linus-alberg-signs-from-outer-space/

Signs from Outer Space

TRACK PREMIERE : Linus Alberg - signs from outer space

Mike Lazarev - Accidental (04.26.15)

For almost two decades, I have been tirelessly seeking honesty in music. I aim to find the sounds with which the artist speaks. Soundscapes that make you feel. Atmospheres that not only fill your room (and headphones) but truly transport you into another time and place. I will never forget the first time I heard Abul Mogard’s music. I was mesmerised. His intricate attention to sound design, rich textures, and manipulation of the created environment instantly transformed me into an avid fan. His music didn’t just augment my mood; it seemed to seep into my being, altering the code behind the perception of my mind. I didn’t just listen to his music, I invited it to be a part of my condition. In an effort to delve deeper and spend more time with such music, and more importantly, the composers themselves,  I created Headphone Community, where I feature an artist for an in-depth exploration. In the last three months, I’ve highlighted the sounds of James Murray, Ben Chatwin, and Erik K Skodvin. Today, I am honoured to announce that Abul Mogard will be the featured artist for the entire month of June! I invite you to join us on this journey, with the knowledge that your financial contribution will go directly to the artist!

Join here: https://www.patreon.com/c/HeadphoneCommunity

TRACK PREMIERE : Abul Mogard - In a studded procession

After decades of chasing, accumulating, and then sharing new music with you, I think I've hit some saturation point. I think I'm done spinning in the vortex of the "new", being pulled in all directions, catching up on all the "fresh" and "innovative" tracks. I'm not saying that I will stop covering new music. No. But I think I'll focus the virtual lens of my listening on a very narrow point, investing my time and attention over more extended periods. I think I will turn inwards... towards music and the artists that genuinely make me feel. This is the case with Rafael Anton Irisarri's A Fragile Geography, an album from 2015, which captured my attention then as it does now, triggering memories, triggering thoughts, and emotion. A decade ago, during a move between coasts, Rafael lost his possessions - stolen with the moving truck - along with all his audio archives, forcing him to rebuild his studio and sound from the ground up. The pain of this loss is reflected in almost every single track on the album. This music is slightly dark and melancholic. It's visceral, and it gets under your skin. And there it stays with you for ages. Becoming part of you, becoming part of your existence.

On September 19th, the album will be reissued, beautifully remastered by Stephan Mathieu at his Schwebung studio, along with a limited edition cassette of remixes by the most renowned artists, handpicked by Rafael. "This record has always been about letting go of one life and rebuilding another", says Irisarri, "It feels fitting to return to it now - ten years later, in a different country, a different world." These reworks are worthy of your precious awareness as well. I know that there are more than a few in the pipeline (at least six), which will be revealed one at a time. As of this writing, there is already a gorgeous rework by the one and only William Basinski, with his version of "Secretly Wishing For Rain" with Gary Thomas Wright, which incorporates field recordings of Reseda rain and birds captured by Basinski himself. You can check out a digital stream of that track here. *BUT!* Today, I am premiering for you a second rework by Abul Mogard! This piece bears not only the original elements of "Persistence" but, of course, Guido's extremely personal touch that breathes new life into this sound.

Head over to headphonecommute.com to read more about this release, including a quote from Abul Mogard on the rework.

TRACK PREMIERE : Rafael Anton Irisarri - Persistence (Abul Mogard rework)

There are a few collaborations that work really well. And, when something works well, why not double down? Two years ago [I almost said last November], Markus Guentner and Joachim Spieth came together for a full-length release on Spieth's own Affin imprint. This was more than just their initial conversation, which appeared on Kompakt's Pop Ambient's 2022 installment. Overlay was full of lush texture and ambience, which gently tickled the sensitive nerve endings in my ear canal, leaving my brain to decipher the signals into analgesic pleasantries. This year, the duo returns with a follow-up full-length release, delving deeper into atmospheric soundscapes, punctuating them with a dub-inspired heart-pounding beat. Fans of hypnotic, kaleidoscopic, and sonically rich environments will surely want to lose themselves in the caverns of this all-encompassing sound. If you are a fan [as much as I am] of their solo works, you will find that here, together, the multiplier is higher. They're truly at the top of their art here, so let's put on a heavy ADS for a fully submersible voyage. A subwoofer is recommended. 

TRACK PREMIERE : Guentner + Spieth - Chrysalis

Here’s an exclusive sneak peek at what’s been happening over at Headphone Community during October. If you missed it, we’ve been spending the entire month with Dennis Huddleston (aka 36) talking about his music, production techniques, and even art design. And of course, he shared plenty of music. There were Bandcamp codes for his past releases (some are still available for you to grab, if you join!), previously unreleased tracks, alternative mixes, and, yes, even some premieres, like this beautiful piece from the upcoming album titled A Warm Static Sphere, released via Quiet Details on November 12th. Huddleston has been releasing music for over 15 years on influential labels such as A Strangely Isolated Place, Past Inside the Present, and his own 3six Recordings. He is without a doubt “a master of wide-eyed cinematic soundscapes and beautifully crafted worlds that are as harmonically rich as they are polychromatically abstract.” It’s a pleasure to see (and hear) him being selected as the next monumental entry in Quiet Details’ impressive catalog.

"A Warm Static Sphere is about finding peace through isolation. It’s a record doused in gentle hum/static, which, when played quietly through headphones, acts like a warm, enveloping sphere around the head. It’s like a private isolation zone between the listener and the outside world, which feels warm and safe inside. The music opens up slowly, revealing its Quiet Details purposefully, often hidden deep within the loops."

Headphone Community: https://www.patreon.com/c/HeadphoneCommunity
Quiet Details Bandcamp: https://quietdetails.bandcamp.com/

A Warm Static Sphere

HEADPHONE COMMUNITY EXCLUSIVE: 36 - A Warm Static Sphere (Part 6)

Following his debut Dolere (2024) and a collaboration with Joachim Spieth and Markus Guentner on Arcadia (2025), zakè returns to Joachim's Affin imprint with an intensely captivating work that explores the resonance of low frequencies and subsonic vibrations. There are only three pieces on this 55-minute release (the first track runs for over 28 minutes!), and you get to preview one of them before the album is out. This is music shaped for your deep, immersive, and glacial listening sessions. Good headphones and a subwoofer (yes, at the same time) are recommended. Perfect for my slowly-waking, frazzled mind this morning!

"Low Harmonics builds upon the reflective world first introduced by Zach on Dolere, which explored how time stretches during periods of sorrow and how sound can create a brief shelter from that weight. The predecessor fluctuated between ache and relief, and now its follow-up dives further into the inward, existential space beneath those emotions. Here, the use of deep and subterranean tones feels both intimate and vast, pulling you deeper into the lower spectrum of sound, shaped by heavy bass ebbs, low-frequency flow, and slow-moving drift. This album echoes the textural gravity of artists like Thomas Köner and the cold Arctic brush of Geir Jenssen, while remaining rooted in Affin’s commitment to sound that lives outside the expected."

HEADPHONE COMMUNITY EXCLUSIVE: zakè - Low Harmonics, Part 3

You don’t have to read the press release for Rafael Anton Irisarri‘s latest opus, Points of Inaccessibility, to know all of its conveyed emotion. It’s already all there. That is the power of music when it’s delivered through the heart and mind by an amazing artist. Sure, there is an interesting background behind this work [and one which you can read on Bandcamp anyway], but for me, it doesn’t matter. When I listened to this album for the first time, I was immediately overwhelmed with its immersive poignant arc, and then I listened to it again, and again, and again… until the four pieces became not just the sounds for the story to be discovered later through these words, but they became the sounds for the story of my own, the one where words are not enough, the one that only speaks in music. This music touches something deeply personal, and then these words come out in abstract. But when you read them, you will know at least one thing: they have been written by a human. They have been triggered by a human. And when two humans speak without words, there is a true and genuine connection. One, which we can’t replace with a digital domain. And as we sink a little deeper every day into a world of artificial emotion, remember that you can return to music. Remember that this music is the key.


Points of Inaccessibility came from thinking about how disconnection feels in an age obsessed with connection. We are constantly online, constantly visible, yet we drift further apart. The real distance isn’t geographic anymore, it’s emotional. We mistake connectivity for community. The more we share, the less we seem to feel. This album is about that strange loneliness that hides inside constant communication, a loneliness that hums quietly beneath the surface of everything. The record isn’t nostalgic. It’s about the way the present is haunted by all the futures that never arrived. We live inside systems that promise connection but deliver repetition. Everything loops, nothing resolves.

— Rafael Anton Irisarri


The album is scheduled to be released on February 6th, 2026, via Irisarri’s own Black Knoll Editions. Preorder the beautifully mastered limited edition 12″ by Stephan Mathieu at his Schwebung Mastering, with a bleak yet stunning cover art by Jaco Schilp. Once again, you can grab the digital and vinyl versions directly from Irisarri’s Bandcamp. Don’t sleep on this one.

https://irisarri.bandcamp.com/album/points-of-inaccessibility

Points of Inaccessibility

Breaking the Unison

TRACK PREMIERE : Rafael Anton Irisarri - Breaking the Unison

The following track originally premiered on Headphone Community. Join us now for as little as $1 a month and get early access to unreleased music, in-depth interviews, and exclusive download codes for lossless albums. Plus you get to spend time with a community of music lovers and the musicians themselves!  https://www.patreon.com/HeadphoneCommunity

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Joachim Spieth is a German electronic music producer known for his deep, highly textural, atmospheric ambient music and deconstructed, sometimes dubby, hypnotic techno. His sound encompasses everything I love about Kompakt, where he initially appeared as part of the celebrated Pop Ambient series. In 2007, Joachim founded his Affin imprint, on which he showcases many of his own works, collaborations (with Markus Guentner, warmth, and, yes, zakè), and other solo artists (Gustavo Lamas, rhubiqs, Droneghost, to name a few). 

I covered plenty of Affin releases on HC, and I highly recommend getting lost in the discography on Bandcamp. I also interviewed Joachim exactly a year ago (in December of 2024) and published this In the studio with Joachim Spieth on Headphone Commute. But today I want to share with you his latest piece, titled Rephrase, a single track (for now), which Joachim offered up exclusively to this community [and yes, he's lurking here in the background].

"This piece emerged during preparations for a live set. It is composed of fragmented elements drawn from various previously released tracks, intricately interwoven and transformed through a series of modulators evolving over time. While certain passages may sound familiar, the result is not a “version” of any existing work, but rather a hybrid composition — a fusion of multiple fragments recontextualized into a new and autonomous form."
 -- Joachim Spieth

HEADPHONE COMMUNITY EXCLUSIVE: Joachim Spieth - Rephrase

DNGLS may initially sound like a new or previously ‘undiscovered’ artist, but behind the alias, you will find Maxime Dangles, a French producer whom I’ve showcased before. I wish I could attribute the music on La route des Alpes – 1921 to a specific genre. But, as usual, there are no categories here. Suffice it to say that if you like Burial, you will enjoy this journey through the Alps. Yes, one would think that once Burial ripped the band-aid off his particular take on garage meets dubstep meets ambient, distilled through a nocturnal and emotionally-haunted electronica, everyone would jump on that bandwagon, and follow through. But, for one reason or another, this wasn’t the case. And yet, when you listen to Dangles’ second track on the album, “Ascension” or “Rouche & Glace”, you’re immediately transported to those murky days of Untrue (and damn, Burial’s self-titled turns 10 years old next May!). But back to La route des Alpes. This album is actually a film score, and was commissioned by the Scène Nationale du Lux in Valence for a cine-concert on André Bayard’s 1921 silent film. This is a journey through the regions like Évian, Col du Galibier, and Mont Blanc. And although we don’t have the silent film, we’ve got this music for you. “Epic flights echoing the grandeur of the landscapes, a deep sense of nostalgia, darker tracks shaped by the harshness of the elements, later contrasted by the lightness of clearings traced by his synthesizers, a fragile, skin-deep composition elevated by immersive and masterful sound design.” I liked this album a lot, and I was initially planning to premiere a track for you on here, but time slipped by, as I got swallowed up by Headphone Community, where I am spending most of my time and energy these days. And that’s all good, since now you get a dedicated write-up. Pick this one up from the French Lifeguards / IFT imprint.



DNGLS - Roche & Glace

Every year since about 2010, Mike Jedlicka and I have kept up a tradition: he creates a vinyl-only mix of his favourite records, and I share it on Headphone Commute as part of our end-of-year celebrations. And yes, this is his 15th installment! As always, Mike keeps me in check by navigating the releases of the past year across a variety of genres, even throwing in a hip-hop track or two, which makes this journey all the more exciting. It’s always a great pleasure to experience his deep knowledge of eclectic selections in a long-form continuous mix, and I’m always happy to share it with you!

If you like these choices, check out the Optic Echo Presents archive. Enjoy the sounds, and please support the featured artists and labels! Pick up their releases on Bandcamp, even if you still intend to play them on Spotify on the go! 

Full Tracklisting is on Headphone Community:
https://www.patreon.com/c/HeadphoneCommunity

Optic Echo Presents Best Vinyl of 2025

Another Sunday piece, when everything is shimmering and still... If you like this, check out my mini-album on  1631 Recordings, titled "Unhinged" : https://1631recordings.bandcamp.com/album/unhinged

Mike Lazarev - Sunday

Today we are happy to share with you an exclusive premiere of a track by Oleksiy Sakevych, also known for his project, Endless Melancholy, featuring Matt Finney. Available as a free downloadable single.

Bandcamp

TRACK PREMIERE : Endless Melancholy - We Found Love

James Maloney studied music at Oxford University and after graduating in 2011, found his own voice in minimalist composition and songwriting, which led him to the sounds and style present on Gaslight. The album is a vibrant piece of work that is built around an old piano, accompanied by a trumpet, vibraphone, glockenspiel, and subtle electronics. This is a music defined by spacious atmospheres, vibrant tones, and comforting chords, a bold soundworld crafted by Maloney on his debut record that make it a triumphant and original foray into minimalist territories. Maloney adeptly weaves a broad range of styles and influences into his compositions: gentle nods to cinematic orchestrations meet hints of post-rock sonorities, with infusions of mellow jazz and modern classical germs.

Gaslight is released on CD and digital on July 7. Pre-order: http://hcdi.gs/2s5lU8E

Gaslight

Blink

Pre-Order

TRACK PREMIERE : James Maloney - Blink

On this mix, originally appearing on Headphone Commute podcast in May of 2017, we celebrate some of the pioneers of early electronic ambient music, with the help of a long-time contributor, Fingers in the Noise. Here are all of the first explorations into the then unnamed genre, sometimes referred to as avant-garde, new-music, or simply electronic music. Pictured for the cover art of this mix is Laurie Spiegel, an American composer, who, while working in Bell Laboratories in the early 70s, composed with analog synthesizers using interactive software she wrote herself. Some of this music is hard to come by, with the early experiments a bit difficult to digest, so I thank Laurent Bisch for his wonderful selection of tracks for this very special tribute.

Full track listing and more details on the mix can be found here:
http://hcdi.gs/PioneersTribute

And as always, please enjoy responsibly and support the featured artists!

Fingers In The Noise - A Tribute to the Pioneers of Electronic Ambient Music

So… this is slightly awkward… When it comes to promoting my very own music, I seem to be at loss for words. And yet, I accept that self-promotion is part of every composer’s journey, at the end of each release. This album has been in the making for a very long time. In fact, it was complete before I even left New York, and I’ve been “sitting on it”, afraid to let it out, too weak to let it breathe. And yet here it is, fulfilling the unavoidable and at times desirable closure to something I meant to leave behind.

Beneath the dark veil of the night, covered in an intoxicating somber solitude, somewhat sorrow and slightly sweet, ‘Dislodged’ is a place of isolation, melancholy, and a bit of heartache. Composed and intended to be listened to as the second half to the ‘Unhinged’ mini-album, this intimate recording of my beloved instrument explores the outer reaches of spatial and reductionist pianism, occasionally echoed by the song of a lonely cello, contributing to the detachment, displacement, and dislocation of a damper pedal, controlling the felt rail which muffles the hammers against the strings. This is where my music lives…

The ten-piece mini-album, beginning with the same-titled “Dislodged” track, which is being premiered exclusively today on Headphone Commute, is out on November 10th, on 1631 Recordings. Recommended for fans of solo piano music, and my all-time favorite composers who inspire me, such as Nils Frahm, Otto A. Totland, Julien Marchal, Goldmund, Dustin O’Halloran, Fabrizio Paterlini, and Sophie Hutchings, and many, many more…

Dislodged

TRACK PREMIERE : Mike Lazarev - Dislodged

Sometimes I find great music, and sometimes music simply finds me. In this case, it was a dear friend, Luke Howard, who pointed me to a piece by Marty Hicks which completely captivated me, and now, here we are, premiering a track to a worldwide audience. I have a lot to say about this piece, but, after getting in touch with Marty to bring you “From Afar, Unhindered” he’s had a lot to say himself. So instead of my usual words, you will find the words from the composer here: hcdi.gs/MartyHicks

TRACK PREMIERE : Marty Hicks - From Afar, Unhindered

London-based Matt Emery is mostly known for his solo piano pieces, which are delicate, nostalgic, and a little bit sad. Last year (right about this time), Emery released his debut on Injazero Records, titled Empire, which immediately shot up to my top piano records, and inevitably made it on the Best of the Year lists, in the "Music For Watching The Snow Slowly Fall In The Moonlight" entry. Emery also shared his selections with us on his Eternal Bliss mix, put together exclusively for the Headphone Commute Podcast. This Friday, September 7th, the composer returns with a new single, titled “I Put a Flame in Your Heart”. I’ll leave the full band version and the edit for you to discover in all due time, but today I wanted to share this very special Vessels remix, premiering on these pages alone.

As you can hear from this piece (and the remix itself), we’re now in a more gritty territory, with percussive and electronic treatments to the track that puts it more alongside Jon Hopkins, Kiasmos, and Moderat, rather than the softer side of Nils Frahm, and even with the up-front expedient vocals, the track ticks all of the right boxes for this fan and follower. Speaking of which, I’ve witnessed Emery sing during his sold-out live performance (on the very last track) and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of his voice [which you will hear clearly on the “Vocal Edit” of the release], and that’s a rare event for me notice, as I’m mostly an instrumental kind of fiend.

The single features a piano-only original of the piece, alongside a more post-rock[y] epic edit, which showcases the versatility of this UK artist. “The full band version sees Emery’s music swell with frantic drums, throbbing synths and a full choir culminating in an expansive interpretation, more aggressive in comparison to his gentle and intricate modern classical piano and string repertoire.” A very nice rework of the original, with the “Vessels Remix”, definitely hitting the spot.

Once again, the single is out this Friday, September 7th, 2018, on Injazero Records, available on all of your favourite digital platforms.

I Put A Flame In Your Heart

TRACK PREMIERE : Matt Emery - I Put A Flame In Your Heart (Vessels Remix)

"Good Bye Forever" is one of my favourite tracks from one of my all-time favourite albums, "Lilies," released by Arovane on City Centre Offices in 2004. This short piece is an improvisational piano vignette on that beautiful theme, with special atmospheric treatments by Uwe Zahn himself. It marks the beginning of our musical conversation that we have begun in December of 2017 and continue to this day... Stay tuned for more!

Mike Lazarev plays Arovane's "Good Bye Forever"

Ladies and gentlemen, I have discovered an old hard drive with some of my old mixes, and I found them all in FLAC! Among these is an entire "liftmuziek" collection of volumes, which was the very first podcast I ran more than a decade ago (way before Headphone Commute was even born). These will be released, one at a time, on here, so watch this space for some amazing classic electronic music circa 2006! But before the unveiling, I figured I'd publish yet another beautiful selection that I dug out from the archive. This mix was made to celebrate two Native State albums from Rena Jones and Shen, which I put together to promote an event at an art gallery in Chicago. I hope you enjoy!

asmadeus - resplendent

Tom Hodge & Franz Kirmann pair up once more to work on a gorgeous soundtrack for a documentary about the most popular musical star in Tunisian history. Being a work about a man and his music, the choice for a film score is carefully made, not just by the composers, but by the producers who chose to invite Hodge and Kirmann into their very personal work - British-Tunisian filmmaker Claire Belhassine’s feature The Man Behind The Microphone revolves around her discovery in her 30s that it is her grandfather, Heidi Jouini, who is a worshipped superstar in her home country, known as the "Frank Sinatra of Tunisia". Headphone Commute, in partnership with 1631 Recordings, on which this OST will be released, is proud to premiere the opening track.

The Man Behind The Microphone OST

TRACK PREMIERE : Tom Hodge & Franz Kirmann - The Man Behind The Microphone Part 1

This is the very first volume in a series of liftmuziek sessions (2006) showcasing a selection of Delikatessen pieces, a short-lived imprint (2002-2004) spun out from Ant Zen, featuring experiments in IDM and Electronica from some of my all-time favourite artists, that remain such till this day. 

01 [00:00] Beefcake - GV-003-2003
02 [02:49] Crunch - Karot
03 [08:03] Deru - Din (Logreybeam Remix)
04 [11:31] Metamatics - Byeway (Rewired)
05 [16:42] Funckarma - Velvet
06 [22:33] Lilienthal - Compactor
07 [25:28] Crunch - Boy.Rek
08 [32:08] Metamatics - The Pod (Parallactic)
09 [37:01] Deru - Flux of Humor (Ginormous Remix)
10 [42:21] Lusine Icl - In Flight
11 [48:44] Deru - Soulik (Lusine Icl Remix)
12 [52:24] Funckarma - Noir
13 [56:02] Lilienthal - Shadows
14 [65:05] Deru - You Haunt Me (Xela Remix)

Click on https://headphonecommute.com/liftmuziek-sessions for a download link.

asmadeus - liftmuziek vol 1 - a taste of delikatessen

The subject of the second volume in the 2006 liftmuziek sessions is clear - it's a celebration of the now sadly defunct Merck records, which was run and operated by Gabe Koch from 2000 to about 2007. I am one of the lucky few to own a sizeable collection of these records, which I spun fairly often, and then, captured in this, now 'classic', mix. 

01 [00:00] Landau - Independence
02 [06:00] Mr. Projectile - You Need
03 [11:33] Quench - Vexx
04 [15:52] Tiki Obmar - Seasons (Tim Koch Remix)
05 [20:13] Adam Johnson - Trinity
06 [25:20] Mr. Projectile - I Am Back
07 [30:01] Landau - Steppen
08 [33:46] Blamstrain - Linja
09 [39:00] Adam Johnson - Anex
10 [44:14] Frank And Bill - MA03
11 [47:11] Mr. Projectile - Sinking
12 [51:06] Tiki Obmar - Seasons (Proem Mix)
13 [55:16] Quench - Scud
14 [59:20] Adam Johnson - Version02
15 [63:23] Mr. Projectile - Resistance Is Fertile
16 [68:22] Landau - You Are A Commodity

Click on https://headphonecommute.com/liftmuziek-sessions for a download link.

liftmuziek vol 2

asmadeus - liftmuziek vol 2 - mercky merck

Earlier this year, Icelandic composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Snorri Hallgrímsson released his debut album on Moderna, titled Orbit. I’ve spent more than just a few hours with this wonderful album, often reminding me of more vocal works from Ólafur Arnalds, with whom Snorri has collaborated on many occasions (the album was primarily recorded at Arnalds’ studio in Reykjavik). It was still on the list of albums to share with you, my readers, when an opportunity to premiere this beautiful rework presented itself. Orbit Reworked is an upcoming four-track release on Moderna, featuring remixes and re-imaginations of pieces by Luke Howard, Tom Adams, Slow Meadow and, the focus of this exclusive premiere, London-based cellist, Peter Gregson.

At some time, between all the firm work, and his very own release on the esteemed Deutsche Grammophon, titled Recomposed By Peter Gregson: Bach – The Cello Suites [stay tuned for an in-depth write-up on that, folks], Gregson found a moment to add his beautiful cello touch to the already gorgeous “… og minning þín rís hægt” track (which loosely translates to “and your memory rises slowly” from Icelandic), with its moody swaying passages lamenting over the sparkling piano glimmer. And at only a bit over three minutes in length, this gentle piece manages to capture the weather and the scenery of the internal brewing storm, even without the words to prompt us of the story.

"… the songs on Orbit explore the difficulties of living in and moving between vastly different places: from Mexico’s sunny days to Iceland’s long winter nights and their emotional toll. Orbit is also about people met along the way, of friends and family whose absence is bittersweet. The concept of ‘home’ is replaced by an ‘orbit’ the composer circles from place to place.”

While the full-length was mastered by Ian Hawgood, Orbit Reworked is backed by a touch from Taylor Deupree at his 12k Mastering studio. The artwork is courtesy of Elín Elísabet Einarsdóttir   who also produced the cover for the Orbit. The release is out this Friday, and I highly recommend that you pick up the album as well. You can pre-order it now on Bandcamp.

Orbit Reworked

…og minning þín rís hægt (Peter Gregson Rework)

TRACK PREMIERE : Snorri Hallgrímsson - …og Minning Þín Rís Hægt (Peter Gregson Rework)

More archived electronica from the likes of Secede, Deaf Center, Claro Intelecto, Bichi, Skyphone, Funckarma, Dabrye, Kettel, and many more... 

01 [00:00] Secede - Leraine
02 [06:26] Deaf Center - Dial (Helios Remix)
03 [12:12] Claro Intelecto - Your Trophy
04 [15:50] Bichi - Whirl A Stream Of Comfort
05 [20:43] Skyphone - Kinamands Chance
06 [24:18] Skipsapiens - Doctor Silla
07 [28:45] Funckarma - Dredge
08 [35:34] Thomas Fehlmann - Slinky
09 [39:29] Erast - Minimissing 7
10 [44:50] Dabrye - The Lish
11 [48:13] Chronomad - Masmoudi
12 [53:02] Kettel - Shinusob
13 [59:15] Claro Intelecto - You Not Me
14 [64:25] Dijf Sanders - Woefull Wombdream
15 [68:12] Skipsapiens - Dilataccion Neuronal

Click on https://headphonecommute.com/liftmuziek-sessions for a download link.

liftmuziek vol 3

asmadeus - liftmuziek vol 3 - for a warm evening walk

I've been obsessed with death, with passing from this world, with all remaining words, when I no longer be. But what about the sound? Why should remembrance of my life be scored without my hand? I've picked the favourite of mine to be performed at final hour. It's morbid, I admit. But back in 2006, I did not know that music by Jóhann Jóhannsson would resonate so far into the future. That now, a year from his death, it feels so eminent and final.

01 [00:00] Jóhann Jóhannsson - Odi Et Amo
02 [03:02] Deaf Center - Limn
03 [06:33] Coldcut - Autumn Leaves (Irresistale Force Mix)
04 [12:57] Differnet - Settled
05 [18:56] Freescha - Bulb
06 [25:00] Bauri - Undivided
07 [33:13] múm - Please Sing My Spring Reverb (Amx)
08 [38:06] Observe - Shram
09 [42:54] Funckarma - Bent
10 [47:23] Apparat - Riding
11 [51:27] Brothomstates - 24101999
12 [56:11] Proem - Cynical Landlord (Esem Ycialn Clandrol)
13 [61:10] Deru - Tapah
14 [65:21] Xela - Soul In The Machine

Click on https://headphonecommute.com/liftmuziek-sessions for a download link.

asmadeus - liftmuziek vol 4 - music for my funeral

In a new series of solo piano recordings, I introduce you to a selection of my favourite pieces which I simply play for your pleasure. No other words are required. This is a composition of by Corey Fuller, which appeared on his 2019 album "Break" on 12k. Corey has kindly given me the required permission to host this track so that I can share it with him and you. We hope you enjoy!

Mike Lazarev plays Corey Fuller's "Lamentation"

In this latest entry of solo piano recordings, I pay tribute to my dear friend, Julien Marchal, by playing a slight rework of his "Insight I" piece from his similarly titled debut album "INSIGHT" released back in 2015. This was actually recorded back in 2016, while I was procrastinating with "Unhinged". The photo is from May of 2018, of me playing alongside Julien who is using Instagram Live to stream his new music.

You can check out Julien's INSIGHT here: https://julienmarchal.bandcamp.com/album/insight-2

Mike Lazarev plays Julien Marchal's "Insight"

Fabrizio Paterlini's exclusive contribution towards Headphone Commute's benefit compilation "... and darkness came"

Please help us raise funds for our humanitarian cause by purchasing a 67 track compilation for only $10 through bandcamp:

http://headphonecommute.bandcamp.com


Fabrizio Paterlini - There's a light we might see

@DougThomasOffical curates our latest guest mix with a beautiful selection of tracks which has inspired his new record 'Portraits' a collaboration with @music-affan and released on @ lonelyswallow. The album is a collection of eight modern classical piano sketches by Doug Thomas conceived as “portraits” of his composer heroes. 
On his guest mix you can hear tracks from Tamar Halperin, Jóhan Jóhannsson, Nils Frahm, Bruce Bubaker, Max Richter and much more.

Purchase Portraits here: https://lonelyswallow.bandcamp.com/album/portraits

"I once read that Tarantino stole from every movie he had ever seen. An autodidact composer, I follow a similar approach; each of my projects is an attempt at growing and learning from those who inspire me. This is a playlist with some of the pianistic influences for Portraits and previous projects Angles, Cassiopeia, Ballades and The Seasons. Welcome to my world of nostalgia".

01 Tamar Halperin, “Gymnopédie No. 1” — Inspired Angles (00:00)
02 Gonzales, “Gogol” (03:24)
03 David Greilsammer, “Les Barricades Mystérieuses” — Inspired Portraits (05:27)
04 Youhwa Lee, “Spiegel im Spiegel” — Inspired Cassiopeia (07:38)
05 Jóhan Jóhannsson, “Flight from the City” (17:28)
06 Maria João Pires, “Piano Sonata No. 2” — Inspired Portraits (23:59)
07 Yann Tiersen, “Penn ar Lann” — Inspired Ballades (28:43)
08 Edouard Ferlet, “Harpsichord Concerto No. 5” (32:41)
09 Murray Perahia, “Lieder ohne Worte No. 6” — Inspired Portraits (36:46)
10 Nils Frahm, “Ode” — Inspired The Seasons (39:40)
11 Max Richter, “Written on the Sky” (44:15)
12 Bruce Brubaker, “Metamorphosis No. 2” — Inspired Portraits (46:03)

Contemplative Classical Mix

Doug Thomas - Contemplative Classical Guest Mix

@Shida-Shahabi provides us with our latest Contemplative Classical Guest Mix with a lovely selection of tracks by Mica Levi & Oliver Coates, Johnny Greenwood, Hildur Guðnadottir & Arthur Russell and much more.

Shida releases her beautiful new EP 'Shifts' via 130701 available on Vinyl and all digital stores too. https://shida-shahabi.bandcamp.com/album/shifts

Tracklist:
Esther Suarez - Noche Desolada
Bo Hansson - Funderingar På Vinden
Arthur Russell - Answers Me
Deep Listening Group - Seven-Up
Mica Levi & Oliver Coates - Pre-Barock
Jonny Greenwood - Time Hole
Jenny Hval - Conceptual Romance
Sarah Davachi - Buhrstone
Viktor Orri Árnason & Yair Elazar Glotman - Life 
Lamine Konte - Mama Tamba
Tujiko Noriko - Rooftop
HVAD & Pan Dajing - Zhao Hua
Hildur Guðnadottir - Bridge of Death

Shida Shahabi - Contemplative Classical Guest Mix

@juliagjertsen curates our latest mix with a beautiful selection of tracks featuring Bersarin Quartett, Dmitry Evgrafov, Daigo Hanada, Jim Perkins, Daniel Pemberton and much more. 

Julia released her album 'Fragile' on @modernarecords in November which you can listen to and purchase here: https://modernarecords.bandcamp.com/album/fragile 

Tracklist:
Bersarin Quartett - Wenn wir nur wollen             00:00
Jonas Meyer - Strömung                                      04:40
Dmitry Evgrafov - Anthem                                   11:59
Daigo Hanada - En                                               14:39
Mette Henriette - Passé                                        18:11
Jim Perkins - Enfolding                                         22:58
Niklas Paschburg - If                                             27:04
The Seven Fields of Aphelion - Michigan Icarus   32:00
Chris Watson - El Divisadero                                 37:04 
Daniel Pemberton - OSR I - I                                 42:15
Nuojuva - Hämärään                                             45:57

Julia Gjertsen - Contemplative Classical Guest Mix

Olec Mün curates this beautiful new Contemplative Mix for us with music from Terry Riley, Laura Masotto, Marta Cascades Alimbau, Cesar Lerner and much more. (full track list below).

About the mix:
"This was the first time I created a playlist, and it was a beautiful experience, very similar to that of composing. Suddenly I had all the music of the world to choose from and come to only one hour of music. I selected composers that inspire me and bring me joy and introspection. Legendary musicians such as Terry Riley and Dino Saluzzi, and close teachers and friends such as Cesar Lerner and Laura Masotto. Music from Argentina, where I was born and raised, music with African and Indian background, places where I learned a different way of inhabiting music, and music from Spain which is my home today. My intention is to share my musical universe with everyone out there who wishes to listen. Behind each piece, there is a composer with a vast treasure to explore."

Stream Olec's single 'Dora' here: https://open.spotify.com/track/3kJ0HPIHsfHi6hIfb4VpRb?si=wsFvnYgDQhatb4cIQ8vk6g
(taken from Olec's debut Album 'Reconciliation' out via Lady Blunt Records on Sept 25th) 

Track list:
1  Rancho Aparte - Cesar Lerner  
2 Cantos Desiertos_ No. 4, Llanto - Terry Riley  
3 The Philosopher's Hand - Terry Riley   
4 Solus - Laura Masotto
5 Silver Threads - Jacob Cooper & Mellissa Hughes
6 Future - Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal 
7 Antes del sol - Juan stewart 
8 Herio Bichebo From Earth, This Is Your Son - Dino Saluzzi, Gidon Kremer & Andrei Pushkarev 
9 Polissena - Marta Cascales Alimbau
10 Parasol - Rauelsson

Olec Mün - Contemplative Classical Guest Mix

Multi-instrumentalist composer and producer Drexler curates an eclectic Contemplative Mix for us featuring stunning tracks from the likes of Roomful Of Teeth, Nicholas Britell,  Rival Consoles, John Hopkins, Vessel, Nils Frahm to BPMoore and much more.

About The Mix:
"This mix contains a collection of pieces by artists from all over the world, from my hometown Australia to Mongolia to Iceland. I wanted to acknowledge pioneers like Sigur Ros and Nils Frahm in the ambient/modern classical world that have influenced me in the past as well as emerging acts like Alistair Sung and BPMoore that inspire me today. As a composer for film/TV/advertising, I also wanted to share artists I've discovered through movies and TV such as Nicholas Britell, Colin Stetson, Roomful of Teeth. Hearing Roomful of Teeth live at St Giles Church (Barbican) in 2018 was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I even discovered the track by Vessel through the movie trailer for the Korean film, The Handmaiden. Thanks for inviting me to create this mix."

You can purchase a copy of Drexler's debut album 'Handles' out now on @RhodiumPublishing here: 
https://drexler-music.bandcamp.com/album/handles 

Track List:
0:00 Partita for 8 Voices (Allemande) - Caroline Shaw. Performed by Roomful of Teeth.
5:49 Flowers - Hanggai
8:48 Paris - Firekites 
12:27 The Middle of The World – Nicholas Britell
14:21 Chameleon – JQ, Jack Wyllie and Richard Pike
18:31 Recovery – Rival Consoles
23:18 Emerald Rush – Jon Hopkins
28:52 Red Sex – Vessel
34:27 Spindrift – Colin Stetson
40:46 After The Storm – Alistair Sung
43:00 Negentropy – BPMoore
46:53 The Shooting – Nils Frahm
51:38 Glósóli – Sigur Rós

Drexler - Contemplative Classical Guest Mix

Here are some original solo piano pieces...  some mixes from my podcast... some exclusive track premieres...  and some tracks from the albums I review on Headphone Commute... Enjoy!

Headphone Commute

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