Time bends for Imaginary Softwoods, the solo guise of producer, songwriter, and synthesist John Elliott. Though he’s working on new recordings daily, Elliott’s process for the construction of his albums moves at a much different interval, stretching out over months of considerate listening, revision, and waiting patiently for the right combinations and clashes of elemental forces to materialise on their own. The Notional Pastures of Imaginary Softwoods continues Elliott’s practice of zeroing in on what he wants to say with an album over the course of countless sessions that span multiple years, this time paying even more attention to locating the emotional through-line that connects the various pieces.

The eleven-piece album vibrates at a low, unbroken cycle through all of its articulations. The bubbling neon dots of “North of Roswell,” double vision stumble of “Mr. Big Volume,” underwater music box trickle of “Portable Void,” and clear headed Arctic daybreak drones of “Diagram of the Universe” are all linked by a gentle, fluid hum. The brief moments of anxiety and long stretches of calm both feed back into the same center of gravity, becoming conjoined reflections of one another as they cycle through.

After bending to find this specific universal frequency, time evaporates altogether, and longer zones like the glimmering “Almond Branch” become indistinguishable from Elliott’s signature miniatures, some of which stick around for less than a minute. The Notional Pastures of Imaginary Softwoods is a document of the universe as we comprehend it, designed to vanish as soon as it is felt.

Bandcamp

Imaginary Softwoods - Air Statue

Filipovich is one of a kind. The Belarus-born, Paris-based artist works in a multitude of media - found footage films, painting, silkscreening and performance to name a few. It’s her musical output that has caught the attention of late, though, with Filipovich dropping a run of releases in recent years which began with 2021’s Magnificat on Time Released Sound. Filipovich takes as much of a novel approach to her music-making as she does with her other artistic endeavours - Magnificat was centred around treated samples of Sergei Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, and she’s also combined classical composition with contemporary electronic techniques on her subsequent drops.

For Idealized, Filipovich’s debut on Sheffield’s Central Processing Unit, she maintains the gothic air which characterised her previous releases and applies it to a record of widescreen contemporary techno joints. These tracks represent something of a gear shift for CPU, a label which has long made its name by delivering top-quality electro and machine-funk jams, but such is the quality of Idealized that these superbly-executed techno productions are sure to win over label fans both old and new.

Idealized is very much schooled in the German tradition of minimal/dub techno. Tracks like ‘Physical’, ‘Wave’ and ‘Dance Minor’ all anchor themselves on single, steady drum pulses and delay-drenched single-chord loops. Filipovich generally lets the central idea of these tracks play out across several minutes while introducing increasingly disorientating elements into the rest of the mix - wiccan atmospherics, clashing chords, spiralling delays and so forth. It’s an approach at once respectful of Filipovich’s predecessors - Basic Channel, Deepchord, Ellen Allien and so on - but also full of idiosyncrasies and individuality.

Many of the club cuts here hardwire us into the moody, murky environs of the darkest Berlin Basements. ‘Ultra Red’ rides forward on a crisp drum machine snap, a menacing burble of bassline and an eerie single-note synth whistle in the upper end of the mix; ‘Dance Minor’ shows off a bit of KiNK in the brain-bending modular loop that waxes and wanes at its centre; the second-half run from ‘Wave’ to closer ‘Small Cave’ travels ever-further out into deep space - the kick drums remain insistent, yet the textural elements are delivered with an edge and flair that evidences Filipovich’s ability to think outside the box.

Filipovich’s unusual methods, and the influence of sound art and electroacoustic composition on her music, are drawn out further when Idealized steps away from the dancefloor. ‘Hydra’ comes off like a more gothic version of Pole - its central pulse draws from dub techno but never quite settles into a danceable groove, and this beat is combined with the kind of unnerving keyboard work that would make John Carpenter proud. Although closer ‘Small Cave’ eventually locks into another dark-room techno roller, the opening section of the track delivers a weightless soundscape of bright, tinny chords and a scene-setting field recording.

Idealized, the first drop on Central Processing Unit from Paris-based Belarusian Lina Filipovich, broadens the label’s horizons with a selection of finely crafted minimal/dub techno joints.

RIYL: Andy Stott, Deepchord, Ellen Allien, Moritz von Oswald

Idealized

Lina Filipovich - Idealized

Planisphère is a French collective founded in 2018 that showcases artists from the vast spectrum of experimental music. With a unique blend of abstract soundscapes, cinematic synths, glitch melodies, and altered voices, Planisphère positions itself as a key actor in the contemporary electronic music scene. Since its creation, the collective has organized numerous multidisciplinary events where music and visual arts intersect, providing audiences with immersive and unique experiences. By fostering synergy between various artistic forms, Planisphère contributes to the emergence of new perspectives within the sonic landscape it represents. In 2019, Planisphère expanded its mission by launching an independent label with the compilation Liquid/Solid. In line with the collective's vision, the label seeks to innovate by highlighting diverse yet resolutely experimental aesthetics. Currently, its discography includes fourteen releases featuring artists such as Amelie Nilles, Thea Soti, Prōtokol, Ausgang 256, Richard Francés, DLGHT, Camoufleur, and Please Babe, among others. With Aa. Vv. Planisphère expands their catalog, further extending its ongoing commitment to sonic exploration at the boundaries of contemporary experimental music.

To celebrate its fifth anniversary, Parisian label presents "Aa. Vv.", a bold new compilation that showcases the cutting edge of experimental music today. Featuring 13 tracks from 19 international artists, the release captures a global sonic journey across continents and genres. With contributions from international experimental talents musicians such as Aho Ssan, KMRU, Tryphème, Frédéric D. Oberland and Youmna Saba, this collection offers a deep dive into the diverse and innovative sounds shaping the future of music.

KMRU releases a new track in collaboration with Hungarian experimental vocalist Thea Soti. It is the first time, the two artists have worked together. The track explores ambient and drone sounds with vocals, which are treated as field recordings. Alumnis of the SHAPE+ platform, they presented their works internationally. They are both interested in recycling materials, field recordings, archives and the re- contextualization of sound. This track of the compilation represents well the whole album: ambience, vocals, experimental approach and confident musical explorations.

Release date: November 21st, 2024.

Premiere: KMRU & Thea Soti - Vacuum [Planisphère]

This compilation unites music from Mutant Radio’s friends and residents, with all proceeds directly supporting political prisoners, their families, and activists across different regions of Georgia. The struggle continues until every political prisoner is freed and new elections take place.

Whether on the streets, in our space, or through the airwaves, we remain firmly alongside the movement. Without true freedom, creativity is silenced, culture fades, and Mutant Radio cannot exist.

We extend our gratitude to our friends and residents for their unwavering support and for sharing their music in these challenging times for Georgia.

Special thanks to TBZ and Alex Michalski for their invaluable contribution to mastering.

Curated by: Mike Tansella Jr., Robert Bergman & Jaba Ujmajuridze
Mastered by: TBZ and Alex Michalski
Photo by: Marika Kochiashvili
Artwork: Tako Skripnichenko

Chris Mitchell - Him Research

I Have A World

igmine

Introducing our new Hohm Series, short for "Homunculus".

It's a pleasure to kick start the series with Heavenly Bodies - Wine & Flowers. Long circulated in mixes this beautiful ambient piece finds a home, 5 years has past since Heavenly Bodies launched 'Starry Earth' followed by the odd single here and there.

@heavenly_bodies

FREE DOWNLOAD

HOHMFREE001: Heavenly Bodies -  Wine & Flowers

Gates of Hell

Ancêtres (Instrumental)

Buy on bandcamp

Blaise Amoussou - Ancêtres (Instrumental)

Dear soundcloud squad, 

here is a new mixtape for you. Thanks for the kind words i received lately and a massive big up for making trax available! 

Its nice to see where the genre and its community are going at the moment :) 
Lots of people making mixes, remixes (e.g. lipid funk), doing radio shows and some getting their trax released on wax. I hope it continues this way! :) 

Stay safe

Hendrik 


Trax by:

Boxcutter
Titch Thomas
Foply Mono Franz
Brainwaltzera / Guavid
Faceculler
Rhys Celeste
MetaComplex
Steinvord
Global Goon
Richard Devine
Cignol
Fah
XY0815
Tysk Raider
p1nkf1re
aeroniq
Jodey Kendrick
Wisp
Untrkmind
Bromic
boat hemp
Polykrome
J.Wiltshire
Jidomatix
The Tuss
Odan 
Rognvald
Isla Phisher
Human Action Network
caddybay

Braindance III

Recorded Live at @Timedance 5th Birthday Party, Bristol Trinity Centre on @sinaisound

Noods Radio - Anina Live at Timedance - 5 Years (Bristol, 8th Feb 2020)

My other Account: https://soundcloud.com/peter-lolowitz

Braindance III

TB or not TB 303