Chapter II

The next chapter begins…

We are so pleased to welcome one of the most prolific artists in the field of ambient and experimental music. An unstoppable creative force, whose music has deeply inspired us over the years..... Ishq…

A mix composed entirely of his own music, and mostly forthcoming releases, Ishq takes us on a mind-bending journey through unknown environments.

“In the winter months, as darkness falls, I tend to gravitate more towards deeper and immersive music. Often themes based around space, science fiction, the other-worldly, and the imaginary.

I tend to work on a lot of music this time of year that’s more about painting a landscape or creating a journey, and it’s also an excuse for me to explore the synthesis of sounds, and in particular, the idea of other dimensions of mind or reality. 

It’s all in the imagination, and the mind is free to explore these things. Thats what art is about, in part, and so there is some escapism to the music, as well as a focus on creating moments of peace for the listener.

This mix ends a long period of working on this particular form of sound, as I now move back into more structured music and other forms, so it's been a nice way to bring an end to a phase of creative work. I'm now ready for the new year, and a new energy." - Ishq

Thank you, Matt. It’s truly an honour <3

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

Bandcamp: https://ishq.bandcamp.com

The Observatory - Ishq

For our second offering of the year, we welcome a very talented artist and event organiser, based in Osaka, Japan..... Loe...

After meeting Loe in Osaka last year, and witnessing her perform a mind-bending techno set at a beautiful Muzan Editions x Astral Industries event, we connected through our mutual interest in the power of ambient music and its unique way of processing emotions. A form of therapy, if you will…

This mix is a beautifully woven narrative for cold nights and deep introspection…

Thank you, Loe <3

~~

“My hometown, where I was born and raised, is Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The city is rich in nature, with a view of the Japanese Alps mountain range.

It is a cold area, and when I was a child, it was not unusual to have heavy snowfalls. At night, when there is a lot of snow as far as the eye can see, it is quiet. The snow reflects the moonlight, and the sky becomes bluish and faintly bright.

The big tree that I could see from my room, which was usually swaying in the wind, was covered with snow and quiet on such a day.

It was a very lyrical scene, even to my childish mind, and I felt a sense of awe and fear mixed with affection, which made me wonder. But I felt somewhat lonely, and I didn’t want the morning to come. I was more inclined to bury myself in the silence forever.

I put the original landscape of my heart into this mix. Please enjoy.” - Loe

~~

Mix mastered by Yori
Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

~~

~~ About Loe ~~

Loe was born in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and is the grandniece of avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama. She started her career as a techno DJ in the Kansai region in 2005, and after appearing at DOMMUNE supporting techno heavyweight Reeko's first solo gig in Osaka, she expanded her activities to the whole of Japan. She organises an ambient event known as "SLOWMOTION", in collaboration with AOKI takamasa and Endurance. Her storytelling development and layering techniques are her specialities, and her play style, which maximises the trippy immersive feeling that is the real appeal of techno music, has gained enthusiastic support from the scene.

The Observatory - Loe

So pleased to welcome our next guest...

An incredibly talented producer and DJ, who captured our heart and has gifted us with so much inspiration over the years..... ma lo...

“A collection of personally significant & beautiful works from various incredible artists. Layered with field recordings from time living in the mountains on magical Dharug & Gudungurra Country”

This mix is very special to us. Feelings of nostalgia. It takes us back to when we first fell in love with ma lo’s sound… <3

Dive deep…

Composed and recorded on Dharug Country 🌱

https://soundcloud.com/mahlomusic

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

The Observatory - ma lo

Our mid-week listening session comes courtesy of multi-disciplinary Japanese artist, Makiko Iwaki, under her DJ alias, Iwamaki.

Aside from gracing the world with beautifully woven, introspective DJ sets, she performs live, and produces stunning drone and deep techno sounds under her alias, Menou. Having performed live at Barcelona’s Mostra festival, and releasing music on a string of labels, such as Orbitando, Initiate, and Accents, Iwamaki’s journey as an artist is one to keep your eyes on.

This mix is a live DJ set, recorded just three-weeks ago from MIMINOIMI at Polaris Tokyo, where she layered many sounds, and a unique fusion was born in that very moment.

Tracklist:

Abul Mogard & KMRU - Drawing Water on Matching Teal Surfaces
VAGALLY VAKANS - 852Hz + Pink Noise + Womb Sounds + (宮崎・天安河原の自然音)
Anthony Child - Turn on to the Hall of Perpetual Rotation
Patricia Wolf - Lay to Rest
Night Sea - Off Grid
Material Object - Exit
Rod Modell - Side B
William Selman - Frigidaire Idylls
Celestial Seed Sound - Pain and Tension Relief (174hz)
Individuo Atemporal - Abyssal Rhythms
Kali Malone - Living Torch II
Ancestral Landscapes - Old Timer
Ishtadi - Subheccha 01
Respira - Luminescent Lunar Master

https://soundcloud.com/makiko-iwaki

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

The Observatory - Iwamaki

Very excited to welcome our next guest…

Timnah is one of our favourite artists, and a true master of her craft. Not a week goes by without listening to one of her immersive sonic creations. They hold a special place in our heart <3

Over the years, she has crafted a very unique sonic language that transcends the dance floor, into subliminal rhythmic, ambient, and experimental territories. She has a gift for conjuring dynamic narratives that evoke powerful emotions and otherworldly visualisations.

Timnah has a unique way of drawing the listener into her world, rather than guiding them through their own….. and it’s a beautiful place to be.

https://soundcloud.com/timnah-sommerfeldt

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

The Observatory - Timnah

For our next offering, we welcome Experiment Intrinsic founder, Nathalia, who takes the reins of all four channels, seamlessly layering field recordings, spoken word, delicate textures, and subtle electronics.

https://soundcloud.com/nathaliapetkova
https://soundcloud.com/experimentintrinsic

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

The Observatory - Nathalia

Nestled away in the heart of Osaka, Japan, lies a very special community of artists who nurture the cities unique ambient and experimental sound. It is here that you’ll find Andreas Holderbach, aka Dérive, co-founder/ curator of one of our favourite labels and biggest inspirations, Muzan Editions.

Last year, we had the pleasure of seeing Dérive perform a stunning ambient DJ set in the early hours of the morning at a Muzan Editions x Astral Industries event. Listening to this mix has been a really special way of revisiting that moment <3

https://soundcloud.com/derive_ambient
https://soundcloud.com/muzaneditions

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

The Observatory - Dérive

So happy to welcome Osaka-based ambient musician, co-founder/ label curator of Muzan Editions, and one of the loveliest humans on the planet… Joshua Stefane, aka Endurance, who has gifted us with a very special live recording.

“This set – like a lot of my material – was recorded in a single take. At home in the studio, I have been trying to work on tight, focused sounds that I could recreate in a live setting at a festival or ambient party, and this set is the result of those efforts. I like how the initial intensity of the set slowly recedes, evolving into other, more serene forms of the same sound.
Recorded in March 2024 with a Moog Mother 32, modular synths, and processed field recordings.”

Mastered by Yori
Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

https://soundcloud.com/joshua-stefane
https://soundcloud.com/muzaneditions

The Observatory - Endurance (Live)

We are honoured to welcome Lynne to The Observatory. An immensely talented DJ and producer who is known for bending the minds of dance floors and listening rooms, traversing the outer realms of DnB, ambient, experimental, and obscurities.

Music for a voyage through frozen waters, under a new moon…

https://soundcloud.com/lynne-tokyo

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

The Observatory - Lynne

"One day, without thinking, I mixed and recorded what I felt..."

For our next offering, we warmly welcome Tokyo-based DJ, Qmico, who gifts us with a very special listening session. Pure emotional expression through sound. Something that words cannot describe...

Last year, we had the pleasure of hearing Qmico perform an incredible techno set at Annahme festival in Japan, surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Kochi, and bathed in the bright light of the hunter's full moon. A very profound, psychedelic experience. Listening to this mix over the past week has been a really special way of revisiting those memories. It's an honour to now welcome her to the series <3

https://soundcloud.com/qmico

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac

The Observatory - Qmico

We are honoured to welcome one of the most remarkable minds of modern electronic music... Samuel van Dijk, aka Multicast Dynamics.
--
Artist Support:

https://soundcloud.com/multicastdynamics
https://soundcloud.com/mohlao
https://languageofcolours.bandcamp.com/music
https://chaindata.bandcamp.com/
https://www.patreon.com/chaindata
https://www.instagram.com/vc118a/
--
Artwork by Clayton Ciolac
https://www.instagram.com/cccccclaytonciolac/

The Observatory - Multicast Dynamics

For our next offering, we warmly welcome Mara, a remarkably talented musician, composer, curator, and prominent member of Eora/ Sydney's experimental community. 

Mara recently released a stunning new album on https://soundcloud.com/purespacefm, "At Every Corner", which is absolutely worth treating your ears with.

Tracklist:

Fursaxa – Bells of Capistrano
Lyra Pramuk – Witness
[Field Recording] Tour of Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, September 2024
gi – knots
Laurie Anderson – My Right Eye
[Field Recording] Street movements, Jakarta, September 2024
Mara – Code Switch
Arvo Pärt – My Heart’s in the Highlands
[Field Recording] Morning in the garden, Bingie, July 2024
R.Beuzeville – Earthside
Smerz – Craig
[Field Recording] Listening to tapes at M Bloc, Jakarta, September 2024
Waljinah – Dadi Ati
Caterina Barbieri – How to Decode an Illusion
[Live Recording Excerpt] Tobira Records, 07 October 2023
[Field Recording] Street movements, Jakarta, September 2024
Tashi Wada – Revealed Night
Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld – And still they move
ugne&maria – Healing
Mara – Tokyo in 30,000 Steps
Astrid Sonne, Hvad – Light and Heavy (Hvad Edit)
[Field Recording] Bells in the wind, Itoshima, September 2023

Artist Support:

http://maraschwerdtfeger.com/
https://maramaramara.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/maramaramusic
https://www.instagram.com/mara.mara.mara/

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac
https://www.instagram.com/cccccclaytonciolac/

The Observatory - Mara

It's an absolute pleasure to welcome one of the most prolific members of Madrid's electronic music community... Alfonso Pomeda, aka F-on, who gifts us with a special long-form masterclass, traversing the deepest of experimental oceans.

Artist Support:

https://soundcloud.com/f-ondj
https://www.instagram.com/apomeda/
https://www.heed-agency.net/roster/f-on
https://alpengluhen.bandcamp.com/

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac
www.instagram.com/cccccclaytonciolac/

The Observatory - F-on

Drawing the curtains on 2024 with a gentle, introspective entry, courtesy of Emile Facey, aka Plant43, who has spent the past 20-years gifting the world with some of the finest electro and ambient records.

Tracklist:

Matthew Bourne - This Is Not For You (self-released, 2024)
https://matthewbourne.bandcamp.com/track/this-is-not-for-you

Main - Liquid Reflective (Kling Klang) (Psychedelic atmospheres in Ambient, 1994)
https://psyambient.bandcamp.com/track/liquid-reflective-kling-klang

Bea Brennan - Rushing In (self released, 2024)
https://beabrennan.bandcamp.com/track/rushing-in

Luz1e - Sensory Perception (Mechatronica, 2023)
https://mechatronica.bandcamp.com/track/sensory-perception

Doltz - Akatsuki (Doltz Remix) (Muzan Editions, 2023)
https://muzaneditions.bandcamp.com/track/akatsuki-doltz-remix

Loula Yorke - the stream sent forth such sallies of glad sound (quiet details, 2024)
https://quietdetails.bandcamp.com/track/the-stream-sent-forth-such-sallies-of-glad-sound

KMRU - moving sleep (Seil Records, 2024)
https://kmru.bandcamp.com/track/moving-sleep

Jo Johnson - Inside Eyes Sparks Fire Under Ice (Castles In Space, 2024)
https://jojohnson.bandcamp.com/track/inside-eyes-sparks-fire-under-ice

Michael Tanner - Charioteer (Objects Forever, 2022)
https://iamplinth.bandcamp.com/track/charioteer

William Selman - Outshone the Sun (Old Technology, 2024)
https://old-technology.bandcamp.com/track/outshone-the-sun

Galya Bisengalieva - TULPAR (NOMAD Music Productions, 2018)
https://galyabisengalieva.bandcamp.com/track/tulpar-2

Wanz Dover - The Morning Walk (Stereo on Strike, 2017)
https://stereoonstrike.bandcamp.com/track/the-morning-walk

Teleplasmiste - Radioclast (House of mythology, 2017)
https://teleplasmistehom.bandcamp.com/track/radioclast

~~

Artist Support:

https://plant43.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/plant43
https://www.instagram.com/plant43/

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac
https://www.instagram.com/cccccclaytonciolac/

The Observatory - Plant43

Really happy to welcome our next guest... Adam O'Hara, aka The Vision Reels, whose 2020 ambient-drone debut, "Eyes Open" (Kizen Records), captured our heart <3. 

Over the years, Adam has crafted a very beautiful sonic language, with releases on re:st and Huinali Recordings, and a more recent collaboration with UK's Barefoot as CVOIA. Together, they also run Captured Visions, a label exploring the liminal spaces between ambient and dance music (highly recommended !)

~~

https://thevisionreels.bandcamp.com/
https://capturedvisions.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/thereelvison
https://soundcloud.com/captured-visions
https://www.instagram.com/thevisionreels/
https://www.instagram.com/capturedvisionslabel/

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac
www.instagram.com/cccccclaytonciolac/

The Observatory - The Vision Reels

Curated by @jaykeegan

Artwork by Clayton Ciolac
https://claytonciolac.com
https://www.instagram.com/cccccclaytonciolac/