My First Playlist

A collection of tracks exclusively premiered on Headphone Commute

Exclusive Track Premieres

A selection of the best tracks discovered in September 2019. Chosen by the Danish music blog Musik Mig Blidt
www.musikmigblidt.dk

Guldkorn september 2019

Novità e di tendenza: Ambient

New & hot: Ambient

For over two decades, the Osnabrück duo of Stephan Otten and Oliver Klemm has inhabited the sacred intersection of Krautrock's motorik pulse, ambient's expansive consciousness, and contemporary electronica's limitless possibility. Their approach to composition mirrors the architectural precision I've celebrated in my previous coverage on HC, where each element serves both structural and emotional purposes. In the liminal hours between consciousness and dream, Sankt Otten crafts sonic territories that feel both ancient and impossibly futuristic. "Die Gute Fee War Schon Da" (The Good Fairy Was Already There) emerges from their forthcoming album Tote Winkel like a meditation on synthetic breath. Long sighs and deep breathing from a machine that carries an undercurrent of foreboding beauty. This particular piece unfolds with the hypnotic inevitability of oncoming headlights—mesmerizing yet tinged with existential unease. Recorded predominantly live with Martin Schmeing spontaneously contributing DX7 textures, the track embodies Sankt Otten's evolution toward more organic creation methods. The fairy tale reference in the title suggests narrative completion. As their fourteenth album approaches on Denovali, Sankt Otten continues to prove that the most profound electronic music emerges not from technological innovation alone, but from the spaces where human vulnerability meets synthetic precision. Fans of synth-based explorations of future-retro sound will agree.

TRACK PREMIERE : Sankt Otten - Die Gute Fee War Schon Da

I don't think I will ever forget the first time I heard m.=addiction. I can also confirm that every time I played out that record, folks waltzed over to me to find out the name. Something mystical and enigmatic brought them over to music, making me feel like I was a snake charmer enchanting a cobra with the sounds of a pungi. The music of Dictaphone often evoked hazy spaces, full of jazzy smoke, lo-fi textures, and noir voices, occupying those distant corners of your memory where you felt glamorous comfort, charming enchantment, and warming delight. Since the 2002 debut, the Berlin-based duo of Oliver Doerell and Roger Döring released five more albums, all of which I think I have covered on Headphone Commute. And, in my humble opinion, their latest upcoming release is the closest to that special aura I felt nearly two decades ago. Unstable is Dictaphone's 6th full-length, where Doerel and Döring are also joined by Alexander Stoze (on violin) to mesmerise us with that special scent of future-retro nostalgia that seems to drift in the air like thick incense in a temple of soporific ghosts.

TRACK PREMIERE : Dictaphone - Desplendor

Jason van Wyk is a Cape Town (South Africa) based electronic music producer whose music I often wish could have been my own. From cinematic soundscapes to soft piano keys and mesmerising passages, the elements of his pieces are all the necessary ingredients that I often try to combine in my music. And that is basically the highest sort of praise that I could give. There are many incredible ambient musicians who truly inspire me with their ability to create and transport me to their fantastic sonic worlds. And plenty have contributed to my growth as a musician - I am permanently indebted to many of them, whom I am honoured to call friends. But in my soul, I am a pianist, and the instrument [or its echoes] inevitably make it into my tracks. And this is what I love about Jason's music. His most recent release on the beloved n5MD, Inherent, is a more upbeat, forward-driven progression, combining his skills of crafting dance-oriented grooves with atmospheric soundtracks. For his upcoming EP, Jason reworked three tracks into pure ambient pieces. To truly appreciate the transformation, start by hearing the original track, followed by this alternative version. If you want to dig deeper into the process behind the composition (including the details of the actual effects chain used, like the Space Echo, etc.), you can read up on Headphone Community, where Jason revealed it all when he was a featured artist for the entire month of July [the content is still up there!]. Deep listening and focus are essential to truly appreciate the textures here...

https://www.patreon.com/HeadphoneCommunity







TRACK PREMIERE : Jason van Wyk - Inner (Horizon)

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)

I may not trust the intarwebs, but I will surely trust my label. When it comes to discovering new music (to pop me out of my echo chamber and insistent feedback loop), it’s easy to get lost among the new releases. There’s just too much of everything, and it’s only getting harder to discern. Anyone can share their latest content. And anyone can upload with a click. There’s a reason for that. The companies that host it all have made it easy for a reason: to monetize your music. To turn your content into cash. On the flip side, the labels take their time. They are, in turn, investing in the artist. So when you buy into the label, you buy into their world. Past Inside The Present has been curating my journey since 2018, and I have learned to trust Zach’s choice in music. So when he backs North Carolina-based vocalist Angela Winter for her slightly avant-garde solo debut release for the label, I’m all ears. I write “solo” because in 2024, we’ve already heard her voice on a collaboration with the label boss himself, titled Mid Sky. Together, the duo navigated “a realm between the terrestrial and cosmic with organic drones and ethereal vocals“. In August, Angela returns with a full-length titled Forbidden Questions In Space, centered around ambient and drone improvisations, and of course, her voice, for a koan-inspired drift into the endless cosmos. If you’ve been following Headphone Commute, you know that I tend to focus on mostly instrumental music, often with a darker tint of sonic experimentation. Today, I select one of those pieces from her upcoming album to give you a taste.

TRACK PREMIERE : Angela Winter - Saturn, lightly

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)

Miracle performed by Pinemoon - the second single from Pinemoons debut album (coming out in the fall 2019)

Miracle

The fifth track is called Fünffleck-Widderchen or New Forest Burnet, a diurnal moth with five red spots per forewing. This so cute looking butterfly is highly toxic because it can release hydrogen cyanide. Because of that it is inedible for predators and signals this unmistakably by its metallic-blue colour and the widely visible blood-red spots. I wanted to interpret this toxicity by a hypnotic trip which may encourage you to transcendental thoughts. For that I created polyrhythmic sequences which are sometimes playing triplets, but their transpositions are still in the classic 4/4 scheme. In interaction with its broken beats and the wide Oberheim theme with no clear start or end, it develops its own mental maelstrom.

Das fünfte Lied heisst Fünffleck-Widderchen, ein tagaktiver Nachtfalter mit fünf roten Flecken je Vorderflügel. Dieser so niedlich wirkende Schmetterling ist giftig, da er Cyanwasserstoff freisetzen kann. Dadurch ist er für Fressfeinde ungenießbar und signalisiert dies unmissverständlich durch seine metallisch-blaue Färbung und den weithin sichtbaren blutroten Flecken. Mein Bestreben war es, seine Toxizität durch eine hypnotische Reise zu interpretieren, welche auch zu transzendentalen Gedanken anregen darf. Im Zusammenspiel mit den gebrochenen Beats und dem breiten Oberheim-Thema, ohne klaren Anfang und Ende, entwickelt sich auf diese Weise ein ganz eigener mentaler Sog.

Mannigfaltig

Fünfleck-Widderchen

Fünffleck-Widderchen

Sunset - an evocative improvised new age piece by Paul Landry #SCFIRST 
Over 1 million plays on Apple Music

Track: Sunset
Artist: Paul Landry - Synthesizers, keyboard
Recorded 2009. 

♫ www.paulssounds.com
♫ www.youtube.com/channel/UC4oiRhX2e51zhvzHQwmVt0A
♫ itunes.apple.com/us/artist/paul-landry/id287800079
♫ paullandrymusic.bandcamp.com/

Composed, performed, recorded and produced by Paul Landry
©2009 Paul Landry Music
All Rights Reserved

Sunset

Get Downloads

Sunset | Paul Landry

🎧 Cat Paw - shady place
🌺 Stream / DL ► https://fanlink.to/b5vc

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🙌 Check out Cat Paw
https://soundcloud.com/iamcatpaw

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The sound of Pueblo Vista is an amalgamation of carefully selected relaxing and soothing beats. Perfect for background music, study, relax, chill, sleep or that cozy morning coffee. The style is chill out music to lofi hip hop, chillhop, jazzhop, and sometimes indie. We created our creative label and streaming collective in order to put out purposeful music and provide a solid foundation to up-coming as well as established artists.

#pueblovista #lofihiphop #chill 

Music submissions ► https://goo.gl/VTSp6S
Copyrights ► pueblovistasound@gmail.com

🌺 Stream / DL ►

Cat Paw - shady place

Originally released on 2016. Remastered version.

Written and Produced by Robert Farrugia
Remixes by SineRider and Warmth
Mastered by Ian Hawgood
Photography Alexander Kopatz
www.go70north.com
Archives60 // ArchivesCD41
Archives / 2019

Buy CD/Dig

Robert Farrugia - Tines (Reissue 2019)

TERRACE

"By The Dawn" is a collaboration between Mood Majestic Machine & Semler. It's gonna be an angsty autumn.

Semler profile : https://soundcloud.com/semlermusiclol
MMM: https://soundcloud.com/mood_majestic_machine

By The Dawn

By The Dawn Ft SEMLER

Right now
Relax your shoulders
Release your jaw
Take a deep breath 
Live where your feet are



This is a mix I listen to when I practice yoga or I need to center myself
(You're going to be okay)

THE SOUNDS OF LIFE

Released September 6th 2019 - ONEINST003

A1. Fahmi Mursyid - Hening (Saron) - 03:12 
A2. Fahmi Mursyid - Wirama (Kendang) - 03:30 
A3. Fahmi Mursyid - Denting (Rösler Piano 50’s) - 03:36 
B1. Fahmi Mursyid - Halaman (Karinding) - 04.29 
B2. Fahmi Mursyid - Dentum (Bonang) - 05:37 
B3. Fahmi Mursyid - Alunan (Pan Flute) - 04.30

For the next One Instrument Session series, we’re pleased to present the Indonesian artist, Fahmi Mursyid. 
This mini-album, limited to an edition of 200, includes 6 tracks that take the listener on a warm, experimental journey of varying timbres.

The artist has always had a personal interest in traditional Indonesian instruments, specifically from Sundanese culture, the second largest Indonesian ethnic group, native to the western part of the Island of Java.

Paying homage to this source of inspiration, he has chosen to use Indonesian instruments for almost all of the tracks on the 12’’. Considering the strict guidelines One Instrument gives the artists, Mursyid has succeeded in getting the most out of his chosen instruments.

With each of the 6 different acoustic instruments he has eluded clichè and surpassed physical limitations to shape a bold, alternative musical language.    
All tracks are recorded with only one condenser microphone.

______________________________________

Composed and produced by Fahmi Mursyid 
Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci at Enisslab Studio, Rome 
Original artwork by Alejandra García and Marco Ciceri 
Layout by Marco Ciceri

© 2019 One Instrument

ONEINST003

ONEINST003 - Fahmi Mursyid - One Instrument Sessions 03

Mysteries of the Deep Podcast, Chapter CVIII by Israel Vines (@israel-vines)

'Jeff Mills has been a hero of mine for a quarter of a century, but around 6 or 7 years ago I realized that I had lost touch with his world.  Part of the reason is his prolific nature (which makes it hard to keep up) and the other factor is that Jeff just wasn't producing "hits" like i9 or Gamma Player at this point, so if you weren't paying close attention, some of what he was doing was easy to miss. Jeff was going deeper and more conceptual, stretching his recurring themes to their limits and exploring new territory that wasn't necessarily geared toward creating dancefloor mayhem. As I caught up with the releases I had missed and started keeping up again, I was drawn in particular to his ambient and experimental efforts, which I think are somewhat overlooked because of his legendary status as a dancefloor DJ. With this in mind, I got the idea to compile a mix of my favorite tracks of his in the more abstract style. Here is the result of that idea. Enjoy, and long live Jeff Mills.'

Tracklist:
Dreams - (One Man Spaceship)
Common Space - (Emerging Crystal Universe)
Raindrops of Truth - (“And Then There Was Light” Soundtrack)
The Secret - (2087)
Infinite Effect - (One Man Spaceship)
Reversing The Cosmic Theory - (Emerging Crystal Universe)
Blue Print - (“Metropolis” Soundtrack)
Flying - (Every Dog Has Its Day)
Unnatural Star Arrangements - (Emerging Crystal Universe)
Medians - (Free Fall Galaxy)
Dream Mechanics - (The Jungle Planet)
Descending - Micro Terra - (The Jungle Planet)
The Hunted - (Free Fall Galaxy)
Parallelismin Fate - (“And Then There Was Light” Soundtrack)
Free Thinkers (The Reality) - (2087)
Arrangements of the Past - (“And Then There Was Light” Soundtrack)
Transformation In The Virgo Constellation - (Free Fall Galaxy)
Transformation A - (“Metropolis” Soundtrack)
New Beginning - (“Metropolis” Soundtrack)
Landscape (Utopian Dream) - (“Metropolis” Soundtrack)
Eve - (The Occurrence)
Dreams Of Dreams - (2087)
Gravitational Lensing - (Free Fall Galaxy)
A Secret Sense - (“And Then There Was Light” Soundtrack)

Mysteries of the Deep Podcast, Chapter CVIII

Mysteries of the Deep CVIII - Israel Vines | Mills Exploratory

Sebastian Plano is a composer and cellist from Argentina, currently residing in Berlin. His work for Denovali Records, collaboration with Ben Lukas Boysen for "Everything" game (which subsequently was released as a soundtrack on Erased Tapes) and the most recent solo album, "Verve" on Mercury KX, has captivated fans of cinematic, ambient, and modern classical music. For this premiere, Plano reworks a track by Tom Adams from his 2019 release, Particles, on Moderna Records, a gentle yet confident, complex yet playful, nostalgic yet hopeful, and brief yet memorable sonic piece.

Particle V (Sebastian Plano Rework)

TRACK PREMIERE : Tom Adams - Particle V (Sebastian Plano Rework)

icarus (MACS J1149)

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!