beautiful....I think its a different an amazing approach to the feeling there...something grandiose yet lost, very true...with some sadness and beauty...

A beautiful place, but a place where a lot of the original culture and knowledge that created the pyramids has been lost, and replaced with a rebuilt, tourist trap. Unfortunatly...

A mix of loss and sadness but you realize what's been lost or, that something has been lost altogether. That counts, I think.

Rise again

This track started with a visit to the pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico. A beautiful place, but a place where a lot of the original culture and knowledge that created the pyramids has been lost, and replaced with a rebuilt, tourist trap.

So it's a mix of loss and sadness and beauty with an edge of modern misuse, which I tried to capture in the original strings from which the track was built. I also made some binaural recordings of the sounds there, and a storm which came in, to give a real layer of atmosphere from the actual location. Tom Hodge then played piano to these elements, bringing the whole piece to life.

I loved the piano on it's own in addition to the strings version, so as well as the Part 2 on the EP, we also created a Part 1 piano solo version with the piano sent into a feedback matrix with lots of randomising to create unusual textures. This part 1 version can be downloaded for free from www.maxcooper.net as part of the Quotient Series.

Teotihuacan (Part 2) with Tom Hodge

2. track of my upcoming debut "Window Gazer" to be released 18th of september via Hellbig Music



Afloat

Taken from his forthcoming album 'Spells' out June 10 on Erased Tapes.

Pre-order the LP/CD/DL here: www.erasedtapes.com/store/index/ERATP085
iTunes: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spells
Spotify: http://snip.ftpromo.net/goldentimes
Bandcamp: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spellsbc
or any other good record store worldwide

"It's just incredible" – Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6 Music
“Strangely upbeat nocturnes" – The Wire

‘Spells’ merges programmed piano pieces with live instruments, combining the controllable technical world and the often unpredictable aspects of live improvisation. In some ways it continues where his underground debut ‘Gravity’ left off, though a lot of weight is lifted, making room for a lighter and more energetic listen. Friend and fellow Erased Tapes artist Nils Frahm mixed and mastered both albums. Ben is not a master pianist like his dear friend, but his sound collages are so meticulously designed that after hearing the result an impressed Nils declared: “from now on, if anyone asks – this is a real piano”. 

His intricate, humanised programming – enhanced by drummer Achim Färber, cellist Anton Peisakhov and harpist Lara Somogyi, and a considerate selection of echoes, delays and compressors – has been used to create a hybrid sound that intends to deceive, question and challenge existing listening habits. Utilising the contrast between reduction and decoration, ‘Spells’ can be seen as a quest to find out how much or how little composition is required to constitute a song. Why the ear can and should be deceived about the authenticity of instruments. What significance these instruments have within this process, and why the personal perception of balance and sound exclude ultimate truths. 

Linking the two albums are the four movements of ‘Nocturne’, an ever-developing conversation that on occasion flirts with the grandeur of compressed rock drums. The first single, ‘Golden Times 1’, received a world premiere by BBC 6 Music’s Mary Anne Hobbs, proclaiming it as "incredible." An alternative version of ‘Sleepers Beat Theme’ – composed for the soundtrack to a short film about the Trans-Siberian Express – opened Jon Hopkins’ Late Night Tales album from 2015, who noted “I thought it was such a calming and sensitive piece that sounded to me like the beginning of something...the warmth and depth of the sound entrances me every time”. 

Though ‘Spells’ and ‘Gravity’ are his first albums recorded under his own name, as acclaimed electronic producer HECQ he’s released nine albums since 2003, exploring everything from ambient to breakcore. He has simultaneously established himself as a trusted composer and sound designer, working for a wide array of clients including Amnesty International and Marvel Comics; composing for feature films, games, art installations and convention opening titles.

After embracing this demanding line of work, in 2010 Ben felt the need to explore his roots and early education, which inspired these albums under his own name. Born in 1981 as the third child of opera singer Deirdre Boysen and actor Claus Boysen, his classical music training on piano and guitar began when he was seven years old; the works of Bruckner, Wagner and Bach laid an important foundation. Rediscovering this music shared with his parents – united with the sounds of Autechre, Cristian Vogel and Jiri.Ceiver to Pink Floyd and Godspeed You! Black Emperor – brought back an understanding of why he wanted to write music in the first place.

“Finding my views understood, reflected and welcomed by Erased Tapes was an encouraging experience, crowned by the offer to release ‘Spells’ and re-issue ‘Gravity’ with them. Through many caring conversations with Robert I felt that there’s no better home for the existing ideas and no better cradle for new ones.”  – Ben Lukas Boysen 

TRACK LISTING:  	

01. The Veil  02. Nocturne 3  03. Sleepers Beat Theme  04. Golden Times 1
05. Nocturne 4  06. Keep Watch  07. Golden Times 2  08. Selene

Spells

Golden Times 1

Buy LP/CD/DL

Ben Lukas Boysen – Golden Times 1

The original motion picture soundtrack to ‘Salero’ will be out on November 11th.
Pre-order the (Ltd. Clear) LP/CD/DL here: http://phonofile.link/salero

Having channelled some of the most iconic drift music of our time through A Winged Victory For The Sullen and Stars of the Lid, 2016 has already seen Erased Tapes luminary Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie provide original scores for a number of feature films including Jalil Lespert’s ‘Iris’ and ‘The Yellow Birds’ by Alexandre Moors.

It’s on the non-fiction film ‘Salero’ however, that we see Wiltzie weave some of his finest work and deliver an expertly distilled accompaniment to director Mike Plunkett’s sprawling, uncompromising visuals. Set in Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, the narrative follows the region’s ‘Saleros’ – those who have for generations gathered salt and earned enough to somehow carve out an existence in such a barren landscape. It’s with the discovery of huge Lithium reserves – a mineral used frequently throughout the tech industry – under the scorched earth that acts as a catalyst for exploitation of the environment and its people; holding a microscope to the drastic effect industrialisation has on local culture and tradition.

“I have always said that composing music is infinitely easier when you have beautiful images to be inspired by. It was a pleasure to write a score over this captivating place of endless, glimmering salt before its impending demise. I was fascinated by this mythical space and its ability to define the identities of the people who live in its vicinity, where this vast salt flat itself would be a central character” – Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie

Recording took place in Adam’s Belgium-based studio for the guitars, percussion and small string ensemble tracking. Hungary was chosen for the final large string orchestra recordings at Magyar Radio Studio #22 with the Budapest Art Orchestra.

Adam will be touring his Stars Of The Lid project across European cities this autumn including a performance at The Barbican in London. Tickets and more information can be found here: http://www.bandsintown.com/StarsOfTheLid

TRACK LISTING:  

1. Armstrong Opening/Closing 2. The Premonition 3. Potosi 4. Marcelo Intro 5. The Few Of Us Left 6. They Dream Of More 7. Bring This Place To Life 8. Transforming The Country 9. Wealth Baby 10. Using Magnifico 11. It Ends With Me 12. Colchani Is Changing 13. Lithium, The New Era 14. Salero End Credits (For Moises)

WEBSITES:  artificialpinearchfailures.org · facebook.com/adam.wiltzie · twitter.com/adamwiltzie · erasedtapes.com

Salero (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Lithium, The New Era

Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie - Lithium, The New Era

Buy DL | 12" LP

Bayern 2 NACHTMIX x Niklas Paschburg

‘blind’ is a reflection about human limitations. Interviewed about agnosticism, David Attenborough brilliantly stresses the point whether we’re missing senses to perceive and understand the world around us - what a pretension it would be! Built as a subtle transition from acoustic to electronic, the piece blends genres, deconstructs categories, pushes back boundaries alongside a spectrum reflecting human’s potential to self-transcendence. Might we be blind at night, at least we aren’t deaf.

'blind' est une réflexion sur les limitations humaines. Un jour interviewé à propos de l'agnosticisme, David Attenborough s'interrogeait à savoir si nous possédions tous les sens nécessaires pour percevoir et comprendre le monde qui nous entoure - quelle prétention ce serait d’y croire! Construite en subtile transition de l'acoustique vers l'électronique, la pièce métisse les genres, déconstruit les catégories, repousse les limites en proposant un spectre reflétant le potentiel humain à l'autotranscendance. Bien qu'aveugles la nuit, au moins ne sommes-nous point sourds.

jeanmichelblais.com

Dans ma main

Jean-Michel Blais "blind"

'Colorado' from Aukai's album Branches Of Sun remixed by Parra For Cuva

www.aukaimusic.com

Branches Of Sun

Follow

Colorado ( Parra For Cuva Remix )

single taken from the Robot Koch Album Sphere.
Out October 5th
Movement III written by Robot Koch and Julien Marchal

Movement III

Nils Frahm - More & Less (Skyphos Remix)

https://brambles.bandcamp.com/album/half-gramme-holiday

-

Brambles - Half-Gramme Holiday

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Max Cooper has carved a unique space as an audio-visual artist with a science PhD & an international reputation as a leading electronic musician. 

His work carries an emotional resonance & sensory immersion, often focusing on humanity’s place in the world. He merges electronic music & visual art with scientific enquiry through installations, live performance, immersive audio-visual experiences, a range of digital media & award-winning music videos. 

Unspoken Words is Cooper’s 6th studio album & the latest in an impressive back catalogue that dates back to 2007, when he juggled studying Computational Biology with being resident DJ at a local techno club. 

He recently supplied the music for a powerful video narrated by Greta Thunberg & Pope Francis & played at COP26, urging world leaders to consider climate and environment in Covid recovery plans. 

Last year, he became the first techno artist to play at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. 

Other work includes commissions from The Barbican, France TV & collaborations with Zaha Hadid Architects, The Babraham Institute, & L-Acoustics. 

Remixes include contemporary classical musicians including Philip Glass, Nils Frahm, Terry Reilly & Michael Nyman, & pop artists Hot Chip & Moby. 

His label, Mesh, is keenly placed to explore the intersection of music, art & science through interdisciplinary creative collaborations.

Teotihuacan (Part 2) with Tom Hodge

Max Cooper

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