Jason Van Wyk - All This Time

DR-83; DAVID CORDERO & MIGUEL OTERO - A Possible Distance is due out on CD / DL October 14th

dronarivm.bandcamp.com

The world is undergoing severe social and political changes in a short time that has taken individualism to the far extreme.

For this reason Possible Distances is a reflexion on the gap between human relations and everyday life; distance and closeness. The immediacy and the small personal moments that make us feel even more alone.

Written in the distance, Cordero and Otero build a bridge between their recording studios with minimalist melodies wrapped in luminous skies to enhance common places while nature takes its course.

After Salinas (Archives, 2020) and Distension (Playneutral, 2021), this work together brings us the kindness of small daily details.
credits
releases October 14, 2022

Written and produced by David & Miguel in Cadiz, south of Spain
Mixed & mastered at Nada Nueva Studio
Illustrations by Eva Arango

A Possible Distance

Buy CD / DL

DAVID CORDERO & MIGUEL OTERO - Everyday Things

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

We can start talking about the gloriously entangled futurist nostalgia appearing on Twin Color‘s debut Extended Play No 1, and then, maybe, we can start guessing about the origin of this project and the man behind it, or I can simply come out and tell you that it’s actually Fernando Corona, whom you already should know as Murcof. Yes, it’s Murcof, folks, and he’s back, with his take on time-warping retro-forward leaning music, which is somewhat like post-[insert your favourite style of “synth wave” in here], or really, sitting in a genre of its own – reminds me of when Richard Chartier first cautiously explored his now monumental Pinkcourtesyphone project. I say this because I think [I hope] that Twin Color is here to stay! Everything on here has that delicious tint of oozing sentimentality [even the font of the cover art has a bit of that Stranger Things vibe], for those late 80s late night belated radio stations, that played music by bands such as OMD, Depeche Mode, Thompson Twins, Book of Love and Ultravox. Across the four tracks “melodic lines eddy and whorl together while moon rays of Blade Runner synthesis shine brightly across the shadows; at times it is stately in its melancholia, at others driving with the exhilarating rhythm of final boss levels.” But beneath the surface of these reflective genres, there is that unmistakable sound of Murcof, with his intelligent sound design and a plethora of tasty ear candy. The first few minutes of the track I am premiering for you today should be enough to get you drooling. Enjoy!

Extended Play No 1

Fight Part I

TRACK PREMIERE : Twin Color - Fight Part. I

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

Shelter

Artifact

Christian Balvig is a Danish composer known for his score for the Scandinavian drama series Cry Wolf [with the Copenhagen-based electropop group, When Saints Go Machine], as well as his work with orchestras like The Royal Danish Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic and The Danish Chamber Orchestra. To be completely honest, this is the first time I am listening to Balvig [although I noticed him being credited on a few Efterklang albums], and it's exciting for me to discover his music from the upcoming solo debut, Night Poem. "The album is an ode to and from the night, a rebellion against constant stimuli, and a meticulous hunt for ghost notes and the almost imperceptible sound of piano keys." The piece I am premiering for you today, titled "Where All Is", features a closely mic'ed piano with all of its beautiful mechanic sounds, just enough bass to give it the platform it needs to sustain the sparkling synth arpeggios and backing acoustic percussion. This is a lovely track to wake up to in the early morning as the darkness quietly recedes to light, and we find ourselves faced with another brand new day full of possibilities and welcome prospects. All we have to do is float throughout it all and let it be, as the universe will set its course for us to follow.

Night Poem

Where All Is

TRACK PREMIERE : Christian Balvig - Where All Is

The Haunting 幽霊

https://soundcloud.com/imberbe1

No center
Only echoes and erosion
Half-lit
Slowly dragging

Recorded, composed and produced by João Mineiro
Painting by Gil Bentes
Mastered by Rashad Becker
Design by Alex van Dorp

Imberbe - it's indifferent like water

Ambient Dreamscapes for you to enjoy. Relax, unwind, meditate and chillout

DARK AMBIENT - THE DARK PLACE

~ IIKKI 011 ~

music : Seabuckthorn
photography : Sophie Gabrielle
album/book : Through A Vulnerable Occur
duration : 38.55 mn
date : March 2020

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All music by Andy Cartwright : Guitars, Saz, Charango, Effects. 
Gareth Davis : Clarinet on 'Through A Vulnerable Occur' and 'Place Memory'. 

Recorded & mixed in Veynes, France between summer 2019 – Winter 2020. 

Mastered by James Plotkin
Artwork by Sophie Gabrielle
Design by sprflxgrfzm

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edition : 
vinyl : limited to 300 copies hand numbered 
cd : limited to 200 cd (glass mastered) hand numbered
book : limited to 300 copies hand numbered + hand stamped

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pre-order : March 02th, 2020 / official release : March 30th, 2020

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Links :
https://seabuckthorn.bandcamp.com/
https://www.sophiegabriellephoto.com/
https://www.iikki-books.com/
https://iikki.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/iikki.books/
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℗ & © 2 0 2 0 - I I K K I - I I K K I 0 1 1

Seabuckthorn - And Bickers Into Colour

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!