By now it's no secret that I'm a fan of Brian Housman's labour and his Stationary Travels site. Two years ago I even unveiled a brand new Best of the Year list, dedicated to his very own selections, appropriately titled "Music For Your Stationary Travels". I suspect that the respect here is mutual since he recently revealed his highlights from music spotted on HC's Best of the Year feature. Yes, in this little corner of this strange and often ruthless "music business" it's less about competition and more about the support. And both of us support the music, at least through mixes or through words. And so, without any further ado, I present to you a reflection on the last year, as put together by Brian for this very special mix. There are lots of beautiful pieces on here, but as usual with this particular feature - less words and more music, yes? And please, be sure to support the featured artists and labels on this mix!

More details, including the tracklisting: http://hcdi.gs/Annum2021

Mixes

Annum 2021

Stationary Travels - Annum 2021

Japanese voice artist Hatis Noit returns with explorative new single Fernweh as a precursor for an Erased Tapes compilation titled Music for kō coming out on April 1.

Fernweh is a hymn for imaginary travel, allowing the music to take you on a journey. This self-produced piece, sung in a universal wordless language, sees Hatis Noit transcend boundaries through eerie, atmospheric sound explorations. Its German title, meaning a longing for exploring faraway places, captures the artist’s headspace at the time of recording.

“During the third UK lockdown in early 2021 I finally challenged myself to self-produce a whole song, which I hadn’t done before. Before, I wanted to focus on just using my voice rather than making music sitting in front of a computer, but the situation of lockdown challenged me to go on this new journey. Whilst making the piece, I felt a sense of missing going on physical journeys, and that sense of wonder that comes with travelling. So the song turned out to be a collage of memories of journeys I had so far as well as imaginary journeys I might have in the future. The whole process of making this healed the painful feeling of Fernweh for me somehow, and I hope it might have the same effect on others.” — Hatis Noit

The track is the opening piece to an upcoming Erased Tapes compilation featuring Rival Consoles, Masayoshi Fujita and Daniel Thorne, originally commissioned by Folie À Plusieurs in partnership with the Noguchi Museum in New York.

Music for kō

Fernweh

Hatis Noit — Fernweh

Stream & pre-order the album on 2LP · DL:
https://idol-io.link/AsSeenThroughWindows

Following the reissue of Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light in December, Erased Tapes are thrilled to announce the reissue of the band’s second album As Seen Through Windows out on April 28 — including a digital Special Edition version featuring three previously unreleased bonus tracks, all featuring saxophonist and friend of the band, Colin Stetson. Expanding further on the foundation that Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light laid, the group refined and tightened their sound on this masterpiece. The dynamic lead single ‘Open Organ’ is one of the pieces that have never been heard before — now streaming everywhere, with the vinyl edition on pre-order.

"’Open Organ’ started as an idea at my and Pietro’s loft “The Bread Factory”, where we used to do Bell Orchestre shows and parties. We recorded some of the song with Mark Lawson on tape at the old Arcade Fire church studio (Petite Église) in Quebec — speeding up and slowing down the tape machine to record all the drum rolls and wood blocks, experimenting with pitches bending upwards and downwards. And then the second half we recorded with John McEntire at Soma in Chicago. Colin Stetson and Andy King came along to add extra trumpet firepower." – Richard Reed Parry, Bell Orchestre.

Bell Orchestre retreated to Banff Centre in the rocky mountains of Alberta to write the follow-up to their debut album. The title As Seen Through Windows is inspired by the rehearsal space where it was written. The room had two exterior walls entirely made of windows, and with the cinematic view of the mountains they saw occasional herds of elks and deers passing by.

The album was produced by John McEntire (Stereolab, Jeff Parker), drummer and producer of the legendary Chicago post-rock band Tortoise. McEntire had been the group’s dream producer to work with. “I think I was more starstruck around John McEntire than I’d been around anyone before,” says violinist Sarah Neufeld. McEntire was up for trying anything in the studio, and inspired the band endlessly.

Now looking back at the recording sessions, lap steel guitarist Michael Feuerstack remembers “I don’t know how aware we were of the uniqueness of our bond and the resulting methods of music making, but they are very evident across this recording.”

Following the original release, they went on to tour the world, from festivals and theatres to small venues and squats.

“It crystallizes Bell Orchestre as a group whose talented players voraciously consume the world around it and re-channel its varied histories into the works” — Pitchfork

“Triumphant and majestic… Windows bends each instrument to its will, distressing, texturizing, and squeezing out every sonic option” — AllMusic

“Joyous, triumphant” — Drowned in Sound

As Seen Through Windows (Special Edition)

Open Organ

Bell Orchestre - Open Organ

Good morning. I hope that you are well. Today I have another beautiful track to share with you via this exclusive premiere. Or maybe it's a video premiere. I actually couldn't decide, so I've asked Cedric Vermue if I can publish both. I think it was a good decision and I hope you will agree. I first got introduced to this Dutch pianist, composer and producer of fragile, nostalgic, and serene neoclassical-meets-ambient music [the cross-over genre] when I premiered a piece titled "We Came and Left" from his Left Upon Us album on Piano and Coffee back in 2019.  Besides playing the piano, Vermue also plays the church organ as well as analogue synths which he incorporates with Rhodes during his live performances. He returns early in March, this time on a fairly new to the scene, Utrecht (The Netherlands) based independent imprint, mylja. I have previously introduced this boutique record label started by Yaron Cohen and Daniël Leseman in 2020 with this writeup of Alchi's Full Of It. I am happy to see that the label continues to persevere in its output of absolutely gorgeous music [this crazy world demands more beauty!]. And Vermue's upcoming album is a perfect addition to the catalogue! "Perpetua is the Latin word for infinity, referring to the Christian tradition that played an important part in the inspiration for this album, taking inspiration from Gregorian melodies and old organ music." The piece I'm featuring today is a recomposed Gregorian Sanctus melody (Sanctus XI) played on a piano and clarinet. The captivating video, directed by Victoria Ushkanova, and "shot on a cold wintery day in a forest near Almere", features Nicolo Zanotti, interpreting cascading arpeggios complemented by Lex Houtermans (clarinet and contra-clarinet) and Rudi van Hest (clarinet). There is a lot more I can say about the production, credits and approach, but instead of lifting the veil of mystery, I'd rather let the music do the talking... and let emotion sweep away...

Perpetua

Aether

TRACK PREMIERE : Cedric Vermue - Aether

Sofia Nystrand is a Stockholm-based composer with an anticipated new album M​å​nens Hav, due out on June 2nd, 2023, via the German LEITER imprint. This follow-up to her 2019 record Hav, is deeply influenced by her childhood experiences growing up in the Swedish archipelago of Roslagen. With her music, she explores the duality of beauty and brutality in nature, "awe and fear, magic and sorcery," and how it shapes our emotions and creative expressions. For this Headphone Commute Mix, Sofia compiles a selection of pieces that she listened to while composing her album. Here, we can find all of our favourites, from Grouper to Nils Frahm, from Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres to Tim Linghaus and his collaboration with Nystrand as Vargkvint. Sprinkle in a bit of This Mortal Coil, and you will get a sense of the influencing themes that permeated the music on her upcoming release, which in Swedish means "Oceans of the Moon".

More details and full tracklisting here: http://hcdi.gs/vargkvint

Vargkvint Mix

Vargkvint - Headphone Commute Mix

Mix by Hior Chronik

There is a sense of humble intrigue about the musical outpouring of Martyn Heyne. The German producer has done well to craft a niche for himself within a world which is often so restrictive in the perception of genre and place. A classically trained musician he is more capable than most, however it his attention to the conceptual which makes him such an interesting prospect as an artist. Next month he will releasehis first full length album in the form of "Electric Intervals". Set for release on the newly launched 7K! imprint he has recorded an album with divine promise, a lengthy composition which was recorded at his studio next to Tempelhof airfield.

We welcome him to contribute as part of our Monday mix series, a platform which allows artists to dig through the eclectic reaches of their back catalogue, music collections and beyond.

Read & Download

Martyn Heyne: The 'Monday Is Okay' Mix

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY SCOTT MONTEITH AKA DEADBEAT AND MAARTEN VOS. 
P+C BLKRTZ 2019
PHOTO BY MAARTEN VOS

Maarten Vos & Deadbeat - 2020 (Ambient mix)

@jan-platek provides us with our latest guest mix featuring the likes of Bill Lawrence, Neil Cowley, Ben Lukas Boyson, Hania Rani, Luke Abbot and much more. 

You can listen and purchase Jan's music via his band camp page here: 
https://jan-dirkplatek.bandcamp.com

Message from Jan: "Hello, I really feel honored that Matt from Contemplative Classical asked me to create this little, one hour long mix of my favorite songs from the past months. I hope you`ll dig it. If you like what you hear - please support the artists and buy their music. Thanks for listening."

Track List:
(00:00) BILL LAURENCE - The Keeper
(06:00) NEIL COWLEY & BEN LUKAS BOYSEN - Solitary Refinement
(11:54) ELUVIUM - Recital
(15:34) HANIA RANI - Hawaii Oslo
(19:44) LUKE ABBOTT - Tree
(23:00) TOM BLANKENBERG - Oktober
(27:28) LTO - Deja Reve Part 1
(31:54) LAMBERT - Sweet Apocalypse
(35:02) JOHANNES HIRSCHMANN - Winter In An Empty Church
(38:52) ARNOLD KASAR - A Million Miles From Silence
(42:48) 36 - D.R.E.A.M Link
(46:56) JOEP BEVING - Unus Mundus
(51:00) KUBA KAPSA - Exciting The Last Flight

Contemplative Classical Mix

Jan-Dirk Platek 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

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

Olec Mün - Contemplative Classical Guest Mix

Headphone Commute

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