Category: Listen

What makes today’s such a special show—aside from the music, which is great, by the way—is that today’s show comes to you from Ty, who is both a listener and a friend of solipsistic NATION.

Ty emailed me a few months ago and suggested that I might consider doing shows featuring Calima Shatiday and Elastic Bond. After checking out their music on iTunes I knew Ty was absolutely right, I had to have them on the show. Calima will appear on solipsistic NATION in the next few months, but today we’re going to hear Elastic Bond’s live DJ Mix!

Andres and Sofy join me from their studio in Miami. We’re actually did today’s interview by video, which seems to be happening more and more on solipsistic NATION. Too bad you can’t see it, Miami looks lovely. Elastic Bond’s live DJ mix is fantastic and is chock full of their music and various remixes. Elastic Bond is a band and and electronic music is just one element they weave into their music. They’re currently hard at work on their forthcoming album and you can bet I’m going to have them back on the show when their new LP drops.

The other thing that makes today’s show so special is Ty himself.

solipsistic NATION has always been a communal effort. I may be at the helm of the show but a lot of people behind the scenes make the show happen. There’s the bands and musicians, the music labels and promoters, the people who provide the artwork for the website and the album artwork you’re looking at right now, as a matter of fact. And then there’s you. None of this would be possible without you, all of you.

I’ve wanted more listener involvement in the show for a long time and I’ve decided that 2013 is the year to push and really make that happen. It helps that solipsistic NATION has more listeners then ever before, so if you have an idea like Ty for future shows on solipsistic NATION, email me and let’s see if we can make it happen. I’m at solipsisticnation@gmail.com. Or you can reach me on Twitter at solipsistic.

There are a lot of exciting changes in store for solipsistic NATION this year and I’d really like you to be a part of it.

Join us again next week when we’ll showcase Naboa Music. We’ll listen to select tracks from Naboa Music and talk with the label’s founder, Laskfar Vortok.

1. Elastic Bond “You …Ay! (feat. Locos por Juana)”
2. Elastic Bond “Pierdo el Control”
3. Interview with Andres Ponce and Sofy Encanto of Elastic Bond
4. Elastic Bond “Live DJ Mix”

If James Joyce was a DJ from America living in the 21st century then Ulysses just might have sounded like Mister Wi$E‘s Narrative Mixing: First Movement, Land.

That explains everything, right?

No?

Brett Wise is Mister Wi$E and Narrative Mixing: First Movement, Land is his epic, sonic, surrealistic, psychedelic tale of our protagonist, making his way in the world using a vocabulary of a staggering amount of samples, songs and found sounds.

Tell you what, why don’t I just quote Brett wholesale.

“What is the fundamental task of a DJ?

“The idea for this sound project began with that question. My answer? Creating an experience tailored specifically to the context. Different contexts should equal entirely different listening experiences. More often than not DJs create mixes that are a mirror of what they’ve been doing in the club. That can be interesting and I’ve done it myself but I wanted to do something more suited to the solitary listener.

“So in exploring the extremes of what I believed a headphone listening experience demanded I created something entirely different from what I’d done in the past.

“So what is this? A mix? A mixtape? A sound collage? It’s not exactly a mix because I don’t actually beat match any songs together. It’s not a mixtape because it’s more than just a collection of songs played one after the other. And it’s not a sound collage because it’s more than just a collection of sounds.

“I’m calling it a narrative mix. It’s music as we find it most of the time, out in the world and thoroughly situated in a context: a hospital, in a car driving down the road with the windows down, in a bar, through an MP3 player whilst walking down the street, etc. And often it is the context that gives the music it’s magical quality. That’s what I’ve tried to do here.

“There’s a story to be found in the sounds if you let your imagination go, but each section stands on it’s own as a vignette designed to impress wonder, curiosity, surprise and a sense of voyeuristic beauty.

“This is the first movement of three.”

Actually, Brett will explain it all in his own words during today’s show. Brett will also return to solipsistic NATION once he completes movements one and two.

Quick note: on today’s show we were going to celebrate 300 episodes of solipsistic NATION. I had big plans and lots of guests. But as long as I’m being completely honest about how solipsistic NATION works, then I have to tell you that producing multi-segmented shows are time consuming and take a lot out of me.

Problem was my epic show just wasn’t coming together the way I wanted. I could either take another week off to get it right, like I did last week, or I could go on with the show. I didn’t want to keep you or Brett waiting any longer, so I opted for the latter.

Join us again next week! By special listener request we’ll hear a live DJ set from Elastic Bond!

See you then!

Photo Credit: ©Mister Wi$E

Interview with Mister Wi$E

Sound Credits

1. Passing a Guitar Player out.aif by happyband | License: Sampling+
2. Security Door 2 by ultradust | License: Attribution
3. Footsteps on wooden flooring.wav by Rickmk2 | License: Creative Commons 0
4. 110728_CitySoundScape_SusukinoSapporoHokkaido.wav by snotch | License: Attribution
5. Cologne Station.WAV by inchadney | License: Attribution
6. binaural station.WAV by inchadney | License: Attribution
7. trainjourney from Wuerzburg.WAV by inchadney | License: Attribution
8. crowded train.WAV by inchadney | License: Creative Commons 0
9. On board an ICE train in Germany.wav by inchadney | License: Attribution
10. Railway platform Frankfurt station pt1.WAV by inchadney | License: Attribution
11. Munich station platform 22.WAV by inchadney | License: Attribution
12. train leaving.WAV by inchadney | License: Attribution
13. lunch_college_street.wav by sagetyrtle | License: Creative Commons 0
14. 20091216.going.wav by dobroide | License: Attribution
15. Kobe-train-announcement-and-arrival.wav by xserra | License: Attribution
16. trein-coupe-stop-wait-start.wav by klankschap | License: Attribution Noncommercial
17. slurping_then_an_ah.mp3 by morgantj | License: Attribution
18. belch_sample.wav by jppi_Stu | License: Attribution
19. cansound.wav by BranRainey | License: Creative Commons 0
20. shaken.not.stirred.wav by dobroide | License: Attribution
21. Swallowing Water.wav by Razzvio | License: Attribution
22. trainride.wav by sagetyrtle | License: Creative Commons 0
23. beepbeep.wav by leviclaassen | License: Attribution
24. from_train_to_street.aif by bulldozia | License: Attribution Noncommercial
25. Footsteps Wooden Stairs Squeaking 1.wav by RutgerMuller | License: Creative Commons 0
26. Steps on a wooden floor by jop9798 | License: Creative Commons 0
27. Door 16.wav by LG | License: Attribution
28. queen_street.flac by Corsica_S | License: Attribution
29. Opening & Closing Regular Sized Umbrella — Slight Pause In-between.WAV by Ndheger | License: Attribution
30. Footsteps – concrete – OD – A.wav by FreqMan | License: Attribution
31. open and close front door and lock.wav by rockstar_not | License: Sampling+
32. apartment-building outdoors 01.wav by klankbeeld | License: Attribution
33. Bar ambience 2.flac by sdfalk | License: Attribution
34. barNoisyAmbience.wav by oniwe | License: Attribution Noncommercial
35. Guy retching water and gasping for air.wav by Tonsofpaperbrokenpen | License: Creative Commons 0
36. chair_sitting_4.wav by FreqMan | License: Attribution
37. 01659 underwater sinking.wav by Robinhood76 | License: Attribution Noncommercial
38. Bubbles.wav by erkanozan | License: Creative Commons 0
39. scuba_dive_underwater_01.wav by m_O_m | License: Attribution Noncommercial
40. Water1.aif by pushtobreak | License: Attribution Noncommercial
41. South-Florida – suburbs – night.WAV by eric5335 | License: Attribution Noncommercial
42. whippoorwill3.wav by imonacan | License: Attribution Noncommercial
43. Bedroom_Windows Unlock, Open, Close, Lock Sequence.mp3 by CGEffex | License: Attribution
44. Door Opens and Closes by ultradust | License: Attribution
45. Door-Wooden-Squeak-0007.wav by D W | License: Attribution
46. door.wav by sagetyrtle | License: Creative Commons 0
47. Man Sniffling by SteveOShore | License: Creative Commons 0
48. Match lighting 3.wav by Adam_N | License: Creative Commons 0
49. Charles Street Bus Station 10.03.2012(24-bit 44.1kHz).wav by LeicesterSoundmap | License: Creative Commons 0
50. Traffic.wav by inchadney | License: Attribution
51. NYC_street leve02l.wav by gezortenplotz | License: Attribution
52. Footsteps on Wet Pavement_1-2.aif by SteveMannella | License: Sampling+
53. raindrops.umbrella.flac by dobroide | License: Attribution
54. umbrella.wav by Corsica_S | License: Attribution
55. cardoor.wav by jessestephens | License: Sampling+
56. Explosion.mp3 by Omar Alvarado | License: Attribution
57. USAT BOMB.wav by sandyrb | License: Attribution
58. 20061105.gunshot.01.wav by dobroide | License: Attribution
59. Driving in Streamwood IL with the windows down (05-04-2009).mp3 by audible-edge | License: Attribution
60. Bee on flower, some background talking.wav by lolamadeus | License: Creative Commons 0
61. FootSteps in a Concrete Corridor 1 by cris | License: Creative Commons 0
62. ekg.wav by guitarguy1985 | License: Creative Commons 0
63. Hospital sounds 2.wav by ERH | License: Attribution
64. baby_laugh1.wav by reinsamba | License: Attribution
65. Small-Jet-Flyover.wav by rickbuzzin | License: Creative Commons 0
66. hospital_lobby.flac by Corsica_S | License: Attribution
67. MMP-300906-014.wav by martypinso | License: Creative Commons 0
68. CarArriveAndStop.wav by jmdh | License: Creative Commons 0
69. windshieldwipers_no_rain.wav by morgantj | License: Attribution
70. tg_on windshield from inside car.wav by Tristan | License: Creative Commons 0
71. driving_in_rain.03.22.2009.MP3 by vhsvhs | License: Sampling+
72. bm_carongravel.wav by cmusounddesign | License: Attribution
73. click02.wav by fonogeno | License: Attribution Noncommercial
74. small_radio.flac by lorenzosu | License: Attribution Noncommercial
75. hospital_tv_channel_change.wav by gezortenplotz | License: Attribution
76. Hospital sounds 3.wav by ERH | License: Attribution
77. TVonoff.aif by orehek | License: Creative Commons 0
78. citystreet3.wav by sagetyrtle | License: Creative Commons 0
79. Breath_Woman.wav by audione | License: Creative Commons 0
80. Caropeningclosing.wav by mikaelfernstrom | License: Attribution
81. 011 Door opens and shuts.wav by FreqMan | License: Attribution
82. footstep on wood foley.wav by martian | License: Creative Commons 0
83. gravel walking.aif by tigersound | License: Attribution Noncommercial
84. elevator trip .wav by Zbyhek | License: Attribution
85. Security Door 3 by ultradust | License: Attribution
86. Town amb – summer, day.WAV by eric5335 | License: Attribution Noncommercial
87. Town or suburbs amb – spring, day.WAV by eric5335 | License: Attribution Noncommercial
88. Car start and drive.mp3 by han1 | License: Attribution

Tracks Used (in order of play)

1. Nest “The Twelve”
2. Tchad Blake “Mr. Green Speaks”
3. Nest “Charlotte”
4. Trus’me “Can We Pretend”
5. Nils Frahm “Less”
6. Headphone Commute “For Nils”
7. Erik Satie “Gymnopédies Lent Et Douloureux”
8. Rhye “The Fall”
9. Guitar Crusher “When a Man Loves a Woman”
10. Sing Wei “Latch”
11. Erik Satie “Gymnopédies Lent Et Triste”
12. Todd Terje “Inspector Norse”

A few years ago I showcased Bak$hish Music, a collective of like-minded artists modeled after Hakim Bey‘s Temporary Autonomous Zone. Bak$hish Music was also indebted to the musical stylings of Bill Laswell, although they were a thing unto themselves with a roster of artists that included the likes of Lingua Lustra and Mauxuam.

Some time afterwards I started seeing releases by a label called Spiritech Records. The label’s name raised an eyebrow and when I looked further I noticed Spiritech Records predominantly featured music from Lingua Lustra. I really dug Lingua Lustra’s music on Bak$hish Music and as much as I wanted to showcase Spiritech I decided to wait until they had filled out their own roster of artists.

A few weeks ago spacesfm did a feature on Spiritech Records, which prompted me to check out how their catalog had grown and I was floored to see that the label had exploded! I wasted no time inviting the label’s founder, Albet Borkent, to join us on today’s show. Turns out he also records and performs under the name Lingua Lustra. Who knew?!

solipsistic NATION covers all of electronic music in it’s many, many forms but there’s a special place in my heart for electronic music that explores the mystical and the psychedelic. That’s something that Spiritech Records does very well. During my chat with Albert I told him that I believed that music from Spiritech Records can experience a heightened state of consciousness. I wasn’t entirely kidding about that. There were several times today’s mix that took me to some interesting places when I let go and my imagination go wild while listening to while listening to music from Spiritech Records. It can happen to you if you let it, so kick back and kiss the sky!

Special shout-out to Andrew from Apple‘s iTunes Store Customer Support.

Last month solipsistic NATION got over a million downloads so I thought I’d check out our page on iTunes. I admit it, I was being vain. I wanted to see if there were any new reviews of the show. But you know what? Apple was no longer displaying my podcast in iTunes. I was upset! Did I lose all my new and regular listeners just like that? And why?

I sent an email to the iTunes Store Customer Support to find out what was going on, not really expecting an answer. But I got a response right away, and that’s how I met Andrew. He helped figure out my problem and within a few days solipsistic NATION was back on iTunes. Not with going into what caused the problem, I’m just glad it got resolved so quickly.

Look, I already love Apple, and this was yet another reason to love them even more, and it’s just another example why they are such a phenomenon.

So, Andrew, if you’re reading this, thanks!

Join us again next week. I’ll be celebrating 300 episodes of solipsistic NATION. I’ll talk about where we’ve been, how the show has exploded in the last year, and where I’ll take the show in 2013. Big news! And of course, great music!

See you then!

1. Rainbow Vector “Newsflash”
2. Textural Being “+”
3. Interview with Albet Borkent, founder of Spiritech Records
4. Lingua Lustra “Journey With The Flower Mobile To The Central Temple Of Bliss”
5. Data Rebel “Rifflekt”
6. Olexa “Wanderer”
7. Enoruos “Yggdrasil”
8. Lingua Lustra “Caravan To Utopia”
9. Interview with Albet Borkent, founder of Spiritech Records
10. Snufmumriko “Rites Of December”
11. Lingua Lustra “Fluxon (excerpt)”
12. Interview with Albet Borkent, founder of Spiritech Records

Welcome to the 300th edition of solipsistic NATION!

Today on solipsistic NATION we’ll hear a special live in-studio performance from CRL Studios recording artists, Psykkle. Evan Collingwood is Psykkle and we’ll talk about his upcoming album and what his live shows are like.

Before we talk with Evan, I want to welcome all of you who are new to the show. solipsistic NATION got well over a million downloads last month so I know there are a lot of you who are just tuning in for the first time. Let me give you the lay of the land.

The first weekend of the month I feature a live performance from an electronic musician. Some of the live sets are recordings from concerts or, like today’s show, recorded live in-studio.

Recent live shows have included Dope Records recording artist Tokeee performing live from Moscow, an in-studio performance from Michael Maricle and Ad Noiseam recording artist Raoul Sinier, live from Toulouse.

It’s not all live music, though. The second week of each month I showcase a label that’s putting out such amazing releases that it’s my duty as host of this show to turn you on to those labels.

Recently I’ve showcased the aforementioned CRL Studio and Dope Records and Elephant Records. Next week I’ll showcase Spiritech, which I’m excited about.

The rest of the month is up for grabs. Sometimes I’ll have several guests on the show. That include festival organizers, writers, bloggers, movie makers, software developers-anyone who is connected to the electronic music community. Sometimes I’ll have guest DJs on the show and sometimes I even get to get behind the virtual wheels of steel and play the best of all genres of electronic music.

I’ll release a show later this month celebrating the big Three-Oh-Oh. It would make more sense to do that on today’s show but like I said, the first weekend of every month is dedicated to a live performance and I’d hate to break that tradition.

If you enjoy today’s show then give us a quick review on iTunes. Every review helps turn someone on to solipsistic NATION and hopefully I can turn them, and you, on to more of the best of electronic music.

Join us again next week when we’ll showcase Spiritech Records and talk to the label’s founder, Albert Borkent.

See you then!

1. Psykkle “Chemtrail Lullaby [feat. Mechanical Garden]”
2. Interview with Evan Collingwood of Psykkle
3. Psykkle “In The City of Nodes [Uprising Mix by Blast Radius]”
4. Psykkle “Live”

In the six years of producing solipsistic NATION I’ve never done a “best of show.” There are a couple of reasons for that.

One reason is because there are already enough record stores, magazines and blogs doing a much better job of curating music from the last year than I am. Hell, the Headphone Commute blog dedicates an entire month looking back at the last year alone.

But honestly, I could never care enough to get my act together to do this kind of show. I normally don’t keep track of things like this. Besides, I play the best of electronic music on each show, so I’m doing it do already.

There are times, however, where I did make the effort to stay on top of what I thought was hot for a given year. But those were also the years where my computer would die and I’d lose all the meta data that I used to keep track of music I thought was noteworthy. But this year the stars aligned and I’m here to present to you the best electronic music of 2012.

At least according to iTunes. I created a smart playlist to select music from 2012 with three simple criteria: the music had to have been released in the last year, and I had have given it a high rating and, most importantly, I had to have played the hell out of it. Does that make it the best electronic music of 2012? Maybe not, but it’s good enough for me.

By the way, when I give a numerical ranking all it means is that I played that particular song or album a lot last year and also gave it a high ranking. I didn’t give it any more thought than that.

Show the artists some love by buying a couple of tracks, or albums, if you’re feeling especially extravagant.

Check back again next year and we’ll do it again. And check back next week, we’ve got a special live set from CRL Studios recording artists, Psykkle!

See you then!

1. Shawn Lee “Tiger Style”
2. Emsy Prank “Backside”
3. DJNSM “XYZ”
4. Piotr Kurek “Heat”
5. Leaving Richmond “Tiny Things”
6. Renart “Conte D’Eté”
7. Tomas Barfod “Broken Glass”
8. Dorit Chrysler “Winther Glow”
9. Blockhead “Meet You At Tower Records”
10. Clark “The Pining Pt3”
11. Brambles “Reflected Consciousness”
12. Maps and Diagrams “Oblonga”
13. DJ Food “A Trick of the Ear (Album Edit)”
14. wAgAwAgA “phaseyphase”
15. Deadbeat “Dub Des Erables”

Top 10 Songs of 2012

1. Blockhead “Meet You At Tower Records”
2. Clark “The Pining Pt3”
3. DJNSM “XYZ”
4. Emsy Prank “Backside”
5. Leaving Richmond “Tiny Things”
6. Piotr Kurek “Heat”
7. Renart “Conte D’Eté”
8. Shawn Lee “Tiger Style”
9. Tomas Barfod “Broken Glass”
10. Underhill “Hiding The Light”

Top 10 Albums of 2012

1. Headphone Commute …And Darkness Came
2. Dorit Chrysler Avalanche
3. Electronic Explorations EE Compilation
4. Clark Iradelphic
5. Futuresequence SEQUENCE3
6. Shawn Lee Synthesizers In Space
7. Digital Graffiti Volume/One
8. Piotr Kurek Heat
9. wAgAwAgA midnight sampler
10. DJ Food The Search Engine

Good grief! I had a four-day weekend and it took all four of them to produce today’s show, never mind the hours spent arranging and preparing for the interviews featured on today’s show! That’s the problem with the star-studded-ultra-mega-cool editions of solipsistic NATION, they’re totally worth it but that still doesn’t make producing the show any less backbreaking. Okay, I’m working on a computer—it doesn’t make producing the show any less carpal tunnel inducing. And, hey, have you heard? Sitting can kill you!

Sorry, A little woozy. I’m still spent from producing today’s show. But I crushed it. Let me tell you how.

Like the dark electronic sounds of Tympanik Audio? Guess what? It’s their five year anniversary and to celebrate they’ve released their Accretion compilation album featuring everyone from their roster of artists—from Access to Araska to Zeller! Paul Nielsen is founder of Tympanik Audio and he was my guest on solipsistic NATION when we showcased his label back in 2009. Tympanik Audio continues to deliver the best in IDM, industrial, shoegaze, etc so I asked Paul to join us on today’s show to catch up with each other and look into the future.

You know who else is celebrating their five year anniversary? The Centrifuge! Same deal. Wassim is the cofounder of The Centrifuge and we showcased his label back in 2011. They’ve just released Turbulent Topographies, the second volume of a three-part compilation celebrating five years of The Centrifuge. Extended an invitation. He accepted. Hear us talk. Better yet, listen to some beautiful music. And then go download the album because it’s free!

King Deluxe is also celebrating their two year anniversary with the release of their King Deluxe Presents: Year Two compilation album. They celebrate their anniversary by giving you free music. Nice! I celebrated King Deluxe’s first year on solipsistic NATION so I thought we’d do it again by chatting with PK, the label’s founder, and see what he’s been up to. Not a fan of phones, apparently.

Now we shift from labels to musicians.

I got a hold of Johan Ess‘s Vltrahex album a few weeks ago. While I’ve always been a fan there was something about Vltrahex. It was more then just Johan’s mind blowing music, it was something else. Vltrahex sound familiar? That’s because it’s a nod to Generation Hex and Ultraculture, and book and a movement—both of which are about magic and community in the 21st century. How many more reasons did I need to get Johan on the show?

[tlr] is one of my net friends. He also records and performs under the name NVR-NDR and blogs at Magicore along with his partners in crime: Johan Ess, tooth_eye, A Beautiful Lotus and Joshua Decker. He’s also released his latest album, Homunculus. [tlr]’s music is usually pretty exuberant but Homunculus took a darker turn. I still dug it but I wanted to check in with him and find out how this album came to be. Were there hidden, darker depth’s to [tlr]?

About a month ago Lukasz Polowczyk emailed out of the blue to turn me on to Julian Sartorius‘s Beat Diary album. Julian recorded one beat, every day, for a year. No loops, no effects. Just Julian, his surroundings, his drum kit and a fieldrecorder allowing overdubs. The concept was cool but that didn’t matter if the music wasn’t worth listening to. Julian’s our final guest on today’s show so the answer is obviously yes, his music is definitely worth listening to. Playful, inventive and thoughtful.

That’s the show. Come back again next week and we’ll do it all over again. But completely different. Next week I do something I thought I would never do: I’ll be playing the best songs and best albums of 2012.

How am I doing? Tell me what you think at solipsisticnation@gmail.com or Tweet me @solipsistic.

See you next week!

Photo Credit: ©schillaci70

1. ESA “The Shape Of Hate To Come”
2. Opposite Exhale “Stare Into The Sun”
3. Interview with Paul Nielsen, founder of Tympanik Audio
4. Access To Arasaka “Fragments Of A Hologram Rose”
5. Integral “Empty”
6. Lodsb “Cyan”
7. Zan Lyons “Devil’s Advocate”
8. Interview with Wassim, cofounder of The Centrifuge
9. Vaetxh “Resonant Bridge”
10. Alphabets Heaven “Darma (Kwala’s Headshotboyz Reremix)”
11. Muta “Movie Hour”
12. Interview with PK, founder of King Deluxe
13. Johan Ess “Spastick Witchcraft (featuring Gianna Love)”
14. Johan Ess “Gematria”
15. Interview with Johan Ess
16. [tlr] “Crystalline Space Entity”
17. [tlr] “Gzngztrzm”
18. Interview with [tlr]
19. [tlr] “Jungular”
20. Julian Sartorius “October 2011”
21. Julian Sartorius “May 2011”
22. Interview with Julian Sartorius
23. Julian Sartorius “September 2011”
24. Julian Sartorius “December 2011”
25. Julian Sartorius “January 2011”
26. Julian Sartorius “May 2011”
27. Julian Sartorius “November 2011”
28. Julian Sartorius “March 2011”

Today on solipsistic NATION we’re going to listen to select tracks from CRL Studios and talk with the label’s founder, James Church. You may be more familiar with him as Lucidstatic.

If you’re new to solipsistic NATION you might be under the impression from last week’s and today’s show that all I play is IDM and industrial, and you’d be wrong. I play the best from all genres of electronic music.

It just so happens that a few months ago I had Fariz Suliman from Dope Records on the show. He raved about CRL Studios. Up to that point I had know about Lucidstatic but I had never made the connection that he also ran a label, and once I started listening to tracks from CRL Studios I knew I had to have him on solipsistic NATION to showcase his label. The music is just that great!

It’s just coincidence I scheduled Dope Records recording artist, Tokee, and today’s show featuring CRL Studios, back to back.

Today’s mix was lovingly crafted by Chris Lacroix, AKA, DJ Siborg.

Funny thing about the mix. Behind the scenes I listen to a lot of music in order to present to you the very best in electronic music. I do a lot of this on the go so I’m constantly pulling out my iPhone and rating and noting songs that I might play in future editions of solipsistic NATION. Whenever I played DJ Siborg’s mix I’d get lost in the music and get so excited about what I was listening to that I’d pull out my phone to rate the track I’m listening to and realize “Oh, right, right, this is a mix, not an individual track.” That’s how I knew this was a great mix and I’m thrilled to share it with you!

Before I get out of Dodge, I want to apologize if I sounded kind of like a douche bag on last week’s show for talking about how quickly solipsistic NATION is growing. I’m just just excited. I always thought there was a larger audience for the show and it’s gratifying to see how many people are downloading solipsistic NATION.

Oh, and, uh, we’re at 342,116 downloads for January so far. Just in case you were wondering.

Look, I realize that Pete Tong or Tiësto probably get over 342,000 downloads a week for their podcasts. But I’m not them and I do a very different kind of show and 342,000 downloads is a big number for me. Bigger than I ever expected. So let’s keep this thing going, tell a friend, tell a stranger about the show.

I’ll make it worth your while. Join us again next for next week’s mega-ultra-awesome show featuring Mark Johnson from Zite, a beautiful news aggregator that’s become essential in producing this show! We’ll also talk with Julian Sartorius about his Beat Diary project! We’ll chat with _TLR_ and Johann Ess about their new albums they just released! We’ll also celebrate King Deluxe‘s two year anniversary and The Centrifuge and Tympanik Audio‘s five year anniversaries!

Whew. I think I just burned through my exclamation point quota for 2013.

See you next week!

1. Cloud Roots “Nome (4 am)”
2. Interview with James Church, founder of CRL Studios
3. Glue On Smile “G_os”
4. Sleepless “The End”
5. Mono Penguin “Reaching Heaven”
6. Adonikam “Perpetual Symmetry”
7. Cryogenic Echelon “You’re Still Lonely (ft Sabine Snaps, Studio-X, and Martin Veress)”
8. Human Error “Puppetshow”
9. Interview with James Church, founder of CRL Studios
10. Lithia “Tarnish (Interface Remix)”
11. Angel Of Violence “Mr. Sleep”
12. Viscera Drip “Suspiria”
13. Scrap/Grinder “To Make A Ring”
14. Virtual Terrorist “Gridwalkers (ft Psykkle)”
15. Tokee “Black Joy”
16. Interview with James Church, founder of CRL Studios

On today’s show we’re going to hear a recording of Tokee performing live in Moscow. It’s bracing stuff and I just know you’re gonna love it!

I’m actually new to Tokee’s music. I found out about him when I read a blog post about Dope Records. I thought the label’s name sounded cool and downloaded a few tracks from their website expecting to hear some hip hop jams. Instead what I got was everything from IDM to dubstep to metal. Tokee is actually one of the founders of Dope Records and his music encompasses all those styles of music and more. I was so impressed and invited Fariz Suleiman, the other founder of Dope Records, to showcase his label on solipsistic NATION back in November.

I kept in touch with Fariz and extended an invitation to the roster of artists on his label to feature their live sets on future shows. I was delighted when Fariz sent me a recording of Tokee performing in Moscow to me earlier this week. I quickly got a hold of Tokee and arranged an interview. Quick note: Tokee used his iPad to speak to me over Skype during the interview and it doesn’t sound half bad. Most of the time I’m talking with my guests over their phones or desktops or laptops. This may be a first. Affordable tech continues to create opportunities.

Anyway, you’re in good hands with Tokee. He’s going to rock your free world, straight from Moscow!

Join us again next week when we’ll talk with James Church, and play select tracks from his label, CRL Studios. Speaking of CRL Studios, Tokee released his Feeling Alive album on CRL.

Dope Records, Tokee, CRL Studios… see how it all comes together?

See you then!

1. Tokee “The Edge”
2. Interview with Tokee
3. Tokee “Intro, Live”
4. Tokee “PA, Live”
5. Paindonor “Loneliness of … (Tokee 2012 Version), Live”
6. Human Error “Satcom (Tokee Remix), Live”
7. Tokee “AM, Live”
8. Tokee “Exodus, Live”
9. Tokee “Coma (Tokee Versus Human Error Remix), Live”
10. Tokee “Conquistador, Live”
11. Tokee “Genesis, Live”
12. Tokee “Ode to Winter, Live”
13. Tokee “BK, Live”
14. Tokee “Pink Bliss, Live”
15. Paindonor “Shell shock (Tokee 2012 Version), Live”
16. Tokee “Leviticus, Live”
17. Tokee “Black Joy, Live”
18. Tokee “CM, Live”
19. Bouquiniste “Stormtrooper Waltz, Live”

2012 has been a fantastic year for solipsistic NATION!

In 2012 began streaming on taintradio. At first glance it seems like an off fit—taintradio is primarily a jazz station, but that also include jazz on the fringes like Naked City and Last Exit. If you kind of squint your eyes you can see how solipsistic NATION might fit into taintradio’s overall format. Whatever, I don’t care. I’m just thrilled and honored to be included on taintradio’s roster. Check out my interview with Bob Rogers, the founder of taintradio, here.

Rob Birch from the legendary Stereo MCs was a guest on solipsistic NATION in 2012 and rocked the show with select tracks from some of the Stereo MCs best shows! I’m such a huge fan of Stereo MCs that it was a relief that I didn’t turn into an absolute drooling fanboy and say things like “You know that song you did? ‘Connected?’ Yeah, that was cool!” Fortunately for me, Rob was a gracious guest. So now I can check having the Stereo MCs on my list of solipsistic NATION milestones. You can listen to that show here.

While I’m in fan boy node, I also got to chat with notorious noisesmith Boyd Rice of Non. Boyd was one of those guys that really changed my perceptions of what noise and music could be. Through his music he also taught and encouraged me to embrace harsh frequencies and use them to occasionally fuck with my listeners. Hey, I was your typical angry punk at the time, so sue me. I’ve mellowed out since then and it seems like Boyd has too because he was absolutely charming. Check that show out here.

Look, a lot of cool stuff happened in 2012. I got to help support Headphone Commute‘s …And Darkness Came compilation album, which is HC’s effort to help those affected worst by Hurricane Sandy. The lads from the Magicore blog came on the show with another awesome mix! I got to showcase labels like Metal Postcard Records and Robot Elephant Records, taking solipsistic NATION further out into charted territories!

But what truly blew my mind in 2012 is how much solipsistic NATION has blown up. As I write this solipsistic NATION has gotten 302,597 downloads from the month of December alone. That’s an all-time best for solipsistic NATION in a string of months of already fantastic downloads. Who knows how big solipsistic NATION will get in 2012? I’m not kidding myself, those are pretty modest numbers but they are far more than I ever expected the show to get. And it also confirms what I knew would happen with I first relaunched solipsistic NATION as a podcast—solipsistic NATION is not for everyone. It’s for people who don’t get caught up on genres, who simply want to hear the best that electronic music offers. Given the number of us who live online then if only a fraction of a percent of that population tuned in, that number would be huge. I knew that then, I just didn’t expect to look it in the face in 2012.

There are a lot of new listeners to solipsistic NATION this month and if that’s you, welcome aboard. You’re probably wondering what this show is all about so let me get you up to speed.

The first weekend of each month I feature a live performance by an electronic musician. This month our guest was Michael Maricle, and that show got over one 144,624 downloads, so that may be how you found out about solipsistic NATION. The second weekend of each month, as I mentioned earlier, I showcase a record label that’s putting out such amazing releases that it’s my duty as host of this show to turn you on those labels.The rest of the month on solipsistic NATION is chock full of interviews and music and from time to tine, a guest DJ comes to town.

On today’s show we’ll bring in the new year with our guest DJs Juan Diego Borda and Andres “Popa” Erazo. Together they are Palenke Soultribe!

Palenke Soultribe is a loose-knit collective of musicians based out of Los Angeles. I’ve been a fan of their music since the release of their Tropic N Heaven album back in 2007. Such a fan that I was kicking myself earlier this year for not having them on the show yet. I sent them an invitation to cone on the show to play live. They declined because they are hard at work on their forthcoming album but they were generous to put together an awesome mix to close out 2012 and bring in 2013! Toss this mix onto the stereo at the next party you go to tonight!

On that high note, I want to thank all the bands and musicians, labels and festival organizers, filmmakers and documentarians, photographers and artists who make solipsistic NATION. And of course I want to thank you for listening. I’m stunned at how many there are of you. Tell a friend about the show, let’s see how big solipsistic NATION can get in 2013.

See you next year!

1. Palenke Soultribe “The Sierra Brothers (Wilcox Remix)”
2. Interview with Juan Diego Borda and Andres “Popa” Erazo of Palenke Soultribe
3. La Makina del Caribe “Levemente Obsceno”
4. Munchi “Sandungueo”
5. ETC!ETC! “Temblando”
6. Palenke Soultribe Remix “Bonkers”
7. Frikstailers “Cumbia Kamisama”
8. ETC!ETC! “Fresh”
9. Palenke Soultribe “Oh Mama! (Kaddyn Palmed Remix)”
10. Palenke Soultribe “Oh Mama! (DJHD Remix)”
11. Shanti Roots “Cumbia Nightlife”
12. Gregor Salto/The Flexican “Maldita Cumbia”
13. Andy Von Paramus “La Cumbia (Dutchworx Rmx)”
14. Sidney Samson “Riverside (Palenke Soultribe Remix)”
15. Palenke Soultribe “La Tierra No es Mia”
16. Palenke Soultribe “El Cocuyo”
17. Hatiras, Nom De Strip “Roman Bromanski”
18. Palenke Soultribe “Africa is the Mother of the Beat (feat.Scrip)”

Each edition of solipsistic NATION is evergreen because they rarely make any mention of current events. There’s no talk about the latest tragedy, the latest scandal or the latest war because solipsistic NATION is place for at least an hour every week where you can get away from all of that, where it just about the music. When you listen to solipsistic NATION you join a temporary nation of solipsists. Don’t worry, all those worldly matters will still be waiting for you when the show ends.

But on today’s show were going to listen to select tracks from Headphone Commute’s …And Darkness Came compilation album, an album that would not exist if not for Hurricane Sandy. I can’t simply not talk about it.

…And Darkness Came features 87 tracks of beautiful music, all for e mere $10! But …And Darkness Came is more than just beautiful music. It also benefits all of those affected by Hurricane Sandy, the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, which has devastated portions of the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States in late October 2012. 100% of all the proceeds generated from the sale of this album will be donated towards two charitable organizations: Doctors Without Borders and The Humane Society. The artists on the release have been hand-picked to showcase the world’s top talent in ambient, modern classical, and experimental music and features many unreleased pieces composed exclusively for the cause.

HC from the Headphone Commute music blog invited me to put together a mix of my own featuring tracks from …And Darkness Came. Unfortunately, I was waylaid by a cold last weekend and couldn’t get that show out. In fact, I’m still under the weather but fortunately HC put together a mix of his own, which we’ll listen to today. You can also listen to the mix without my blathering here.

If you’re a long time listener of the show then you already know I’m a big fan of HC. If you’re new to the show, then today’s edition of solipsistic NATION serves as a great example of the kind of music HC blogs about: it’s beautiful, yes, but it’s also luxurious, breath taking, intimate but at the same time, larger than life.

You can purchase …And Darkness Came at headphonecommute.bandcamp.com or go to headphonecommute.com for more information. If I know HC, he’s hard at work putting together his list for the best music of 2012 so you’ll want to subscribe to his blog just for that. It usually takes him the entire month of January to get through it all.

Join us again next week when we’ll wind down 2012 with a special mix from the Palanke Soultribe.

See you then!

1. Gen Ken Montgomery “Sandy Drain”
2. The Frozen Vaults “A Year Without Summer”
3. Clem Leek “A Modern Hymn For NYC”
4. Good Weather For An Airstrike “Fred’s Song”
5. riverrun “Maallinen Kuu”
6. Roel Funcken “Trideo Vaperz”
7. Pinkcourtesyphone “pixels came and broke your heart”
8. Julien Neto “Los Cien Enamorados”
9. Jóhann Jóhannsson “Melodia (iv) (Live at Ancienne Belgique)”
10. Nils Frahm “Sol”
11. Ólafur Arnalds “Tomorrow’s Song”
12. Dustin O’Halloran “Fragile N.2”
13. Clint Mansell “Merry Christmas (It’s The End Of The World)”
14. Somatic Responses “Fear Chasing Hope (Zombie Subway HC Edit)”
15. SaffronKeira “Endless Agony of Being Sick (Edit)”
16. Valgeir Sigurðsson “Big Reveal”
17. Dakota Suite & Quentin Sirjacq “Now I Am Lost”
18. Ben Lukas Boysen “16°”