London-based Slowcraft continues to craft... slow, and quiet, beautiful music... the type of music that I love waking up to and observing the dark sombre sky open up to the world for another short day. For the latest release on this boutique label curated by James Murray, we are gifted with a six-piece album by a Czech composer and field recordist, Tomáš Šenkyřík, titled Hajú, which is an old Moravian word that loosely translates to “hush hush”. Today's track premiere of "Advent" is as appropriate as ever, with the seasonal preparation for the holidays, which began yesterday, November 27th. The word is a Latin adoption of "adventus" which means "arrival," and whether you are of Christian faith or not, the approach towards this time is sensed by everyone. For me, it's like a ramp down off the highway of the year, about to enter through the tunnel, where night and quietude surround a slow transition in-between, before a ramp-up into busy January, where somehow everyone exhales anew. This journey is perfectly soundtracked by Hajú, with its "subtle weaving together of acoustic elements, soft synthetic manoeuvres and evocative field recordings to spellbinding effect." These gentle, minimal, and fragile sounds are cradled further by warm strings and piano keys, concluding with a lovely lullaby, with vocals by Marie Puttnerová, "a modern-day framing of Moravian folklore guided as much by ambient minimalism as the ghosts of Dvořák and Janáček, one in which the family hearth forever glows with unmistakable warmth and generosity of spirit."

Hajú

Advent

TRACK PREMIERE : Tomáš Šenkyřík - Advent

Somehow I feel that artists of all media [and particularly, musicians] have always dealt with the concept of the "end of time". Whether it's through the destruction of our own planet, some unknown apocalypse, or the universe as we may never know it, post the inevitable human existence [it all will end, after all, right?]. These thoughts, and the resulting output, are then brought on by a blip in our own very linear timeline that makes us wake up for a moment from the cycle of being and ask, "Is this it?" Perhaps a bit of existentialism never hurt anyone to refocus their energy on what truly then matters. [What truly matters to you?]. We've all experienced this, especially with our own latest global crisis, which still continues to ripple, mutate, and destroy, even as I type out these words [my friends in Shanghai are particularly distressed]. It's no wonder that so much latest output from musicians across the globe has been reflecting this temporary state of humankind [just check out the themes of the many new posts on Headphone Commute, like this Requiem or We Will Live On]. So I'm not surprised, and indeed, a bit delighted, to be bathed in an expression of human extinction by the Montréal-based Tunisian composer, multi-instrumentalist and sound designer Haythem Mahbouli, with his second album for the Japanese Schole label, titled Last Man On Earth. Across the eight pieces, "the album envisions man's final journey on our home planet and invites its listeners to immerse themselves into his last harrowing conquest." This is a beautifully produced and orchestrated journey, which leaves me aching with memories of Jóhann Jóhannsson again [and I do not just mention his name lightly], with its cinematic tendency to blend elements of electronic and modern classical genres, featuring synthetic and organic instrumentation, including a choir by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra. Today I'm giving you a taste of what you can experience on the entire album with this short track, titled "The Great Flood."

Last Man On Earth

Last man on earth

TRACK PREMIERE : Haythem Mahbouli - The Great Flood

Taken from upcoming DR-85 : anthéne - Shelter CD / DL
due out on February 28th
dronarivm.bandcamp.com

Shelter

Artifact

DR-88 : ARIA ROSTAMI - 'Siren' CD / DL
releases August 4, 2023 

Over the last few years, Rostami has been playing with new ideas using field recordings, improvised piano, and tape processing. Already having made a few records experimenting with these ideas, "Siren" sets itself apart as a concentrated approach to illustrate abstract environments and landscapes through sound. On songs like "Cold Stream" and "The Recent Past" you will hear literal field recordings of nature mixed with composed musical emulations of environments, whether it be a representation of running water or the quiet nostalgia of suburban life. Songs like "Landscape" and "Today and Tomorrow" take field recordings of field recording records played in Rostami's studio space along with multiple recordings of the same piano performance. The piano is recorded with a field recorder, as midi and as a D/I recording and woven together, in and out, blending the soundscapes of field recordings and studio recordings into an undefined grey area.

Music written and recorded by Aria Rostami
Cover image by Dylan Tushar
Mastered by Ian Hawgood
Thank you Pepper, Afshin, Abbas, Nasrin, Dylan Tushar, Daniel Blomquist, Ashkan, Evan Scott, David August, and Sean Raji
license

Buy  CD / DL

The Recent Past

Tracklist

01. Stijn Hüwels - Midtown
02. The Inventors of Aircraft - Waiting For Something To Break
03. Ian Hawgood & David Cordero -  Singular in the afterthought alone
04. Darren Harper - Traverse
05. Ambalek - Heage
06. Blochemy - Maze
07. Danny Clay - 02 12.21.2022
08. Hummingbird - West
09. Observatories (Ian Hawgood & Craig Tattersall) - Our Recently Acquired Knowledge

343. Sleepy Sunday Podcast (Elm Records)

Tracklist

01. Tomotsugu Nakamura - Tiger Lily
02. David Cordero & Rhucle - In the Mirror
03. Celer - In The Intimate Hours
04. Emily A. Sprague - Mirror
05. Francisco Sonur - Another way
06. Glacis - Seven
07. Szymon Kaliski - And Belong
08. Thme -  Under red
09. Forest Robots - Over The Drainage Divide
10. Minamo & Moskitoo - Palm Fable
11. Michael Grigoni & Stephen Vitello- Slow Machines - A Clearing

346. Sleepy Sunday Podcast (Elm Records)

Tracklist

01. Tatsuro Murakami - Swimming in the Dark
02. Taylor Deupree - Something That Looks Like Stars (Sleep Version)
03. Solo Andata - Diffused
04. The Lifted Index - Sinking Backward Toward the Earth Again
05. Danny Clay - Part 5
06. Observatories (Ian Hawgood & Craig Tattersall) - Snow And Stars Danced Through The Night
07. Hummingbird - Alder
08. FernLodge - Telempath
09. Jeannine Schulz - Gm
10. Miguel Otero - The White Swan
11. América Analógica - Cortezas (i)

350. Sleepy Sunday Podcast (Elm Records)

Tracklist

01. Tomotsugu Nakamura - Heliotrope
02. Suisen - Sunken Moon
03. Tapes and Topographies - Reflections in a glass eye
04. The Seaman & The Tattered Sail - Dusk
05. Andrew Tasselmyer - Perspectives
06. Ciro Berenguer - Lago
07. M. Grig - Form
08. r beny -  Echo's verse
09. Simon Scott - Nigh
10. Rafael Anton Irisarri - Daybreak Comes Soon
11. Stijn Hüwels - Tomodachi (patrick)
12. Foresteppe - s01e04

351. Sleepy Sunday Podcast (Elm Records)

Hey, you remember the Icelandic independent imprint called INNI Music, yes? It opened up with Atli Örvarsson's You Are Here back in 2020, and then there was Rose Riebl's Do Not Move Stones in 2021, followed up with Jónsi, Sin Fang, Alex Somers, Kjartan Holm's Sounds of Fischer Vol. 1 a year after, all of which have consistently made to my Best of the Year lists, in every single year. Right. So, yes, this is the same Holm from that Jónsi (of Sigur Rós fame) collaboration, this time with a solo release. Hailing from Reykjavik, Kjartan Holm is a musician and a film composer with half a dozen scores under his belt. This album, titled HORIZON, was originally written for a same-named documentary about the late Icelandic painter Georg Guðni, "whose innovative interpretations of forms and ideas paved the way for a renaissance in Icelandic landscape painting." The music, as conveyed in a piece I am premiering for you today, is capturing the vast and sprawling atmospheres, blending abstract textures with ethereal melodies in pastel haze, shifting tones, and wide brushstrokes. You don't even need to look up the paintings to see the resemblance (but I recommend that you do). Lovely tonalities to get lost in on this one, and I recommend that you pick up the album, in just a few days...

HORIZON

Limitless Pt. II

TRACK PREMIERE : Kjartan Holm - Limitless Pt. II

All links ► https://band.link/mysticfrequencies

Hoova Returns with "Mystic Frequencies": A Sonic Sanctuary for the Soul:

Mexican artist Hoova makes a triumphant return to the music scene with his latest offering, "Mystic Frequencies," released under Altar Records. This highly anticipated album serves as a testament to Hoova's dedication to creating immersive auditory experiences that transcend mere listening, positioning his work as a form of meditation for both the mind and body.
This soothing collection of nine tracks is more than just music—it's an auditory meditation, designed to heal and rejuvenate both the mind and body.

Each track on 'Mystic Frequencies' is meticulously crafted using Solfeggio frequencies, ranging from 174 Hz to 963 Hz. These frequencies are known for their therapeutic effects, helping to alleviate stress, enhance focus, and promote emotional balance. Hoova’s mastery lies in blending these healing tones into deeply immersive soundscapes, offering listeners a unique, transformative experience.

'Mystic Frequencies' is not just an album; it's a sonic journey that guides you into a state of relaxation and tranquility, making it the perfect accompaniment for meditation, yoga, or simply unwinding after a long day. Hoova has once again proven his ability to create music that resonates on a profound level, making this release a must-listen for anyone seeking solace in sound.
Enjoy
♪♫ W&P by Ivan Meyer, Mexico
► www.facebook.com/hoovamusic
► https://hoovamusic.com

Mastering by Chronos
► www.facebook.com/Chronosomusic/
► www.chronos-music.ru

Offered in 24bit studio master quality only in Bandcamp :
► https://hoova.bandcamp.com/album/mystic-frequencies
► https://altar-records-europe.bandcamp.com/album/mystic-frequencies

|ARCDA150|

Mystic Frequencies

Buy | Listen

639 Hz Bring Love And Compassion (extract)

Languorous Lullaby

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!