Rhucle appeared on Soundwave in March of 2021 with a mix became the soundtrack to my walks with my dog. Today’s show promises to be as intimate and magical as the last.
Rhucle
Rhucle is an electronic music producer from Japan. His music is a blend of ambient, lo-fi, and field recordings featuring the sounds of nature. Rhucle’s music evokes a sense of calm and introspection and is perfect for relaxation or contemplation.
Today’s mix is like a dream of reuniting with long-lost friends and never wanting to wake from that dream.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Luke Entelis.
Robert Koch is a German, Los Angeles-based artist, composer, and record producer. Koch made a name for himself as a member of the band Jahcoozi before launching a solo artist. His electronic music sound has been called “Wonderful and strange – pop music from the future” by John Peel.
Robert has woven a gorgeous mix that includes music from artists such as the late Harold Budd; Berlin-based musician, composer, and producer Midori Hirano; and Canadian instrumental music producer Jay Cliffen and select tracks from Robert’s new project Foam and Sand.
Foam and Sand is an ambient soundscape and visual endeavor inspired by Robert’s daily meditation habit.
The project took shape during the pandemic lockdown of 2020. Robert used tape recordings of slowed-down pianos, modular synths, and other sonic sources. The signature sound is created with loops that magnify the irregularities and imperfections of cassette recordings and that are then shaped by Robert into hazy meditative journeys. Through the process, the grainy subtleties of sound give way to vast and lush atmospheric soundscapes, making audible the complex interplay of micro and macro and highlighting the interconnectedness of these two spheres in life.
Rhucle is yet another amazing talent I discovered on Bandcamp.
Typically I’ll do a deep dive on Spotify to discover musicians who explore ambient, classical, experimental, and instrumental music. The last few months, I’ve been searching for new music on Bandcamp. The original reason was that I know Bandcamp is one of the platforms where musicians and labels can get a more significant percentage of money from sales of songs and albums (nearly all the tracks on today’s show can be purchased on Bandcamp, by the way). While I stream my share of music through Spotify, I still purchase music to support the artists, so I decided that as long as I’m buying music on Bandcamp, I should see what they have to offer.
It’s been a rewarding experience because I’ve spent many hours listening to fantastic music. Bandcamp seems to attract musicians and labels who offer a higher caliber of releases. I don’t know why that is so, but in general, it appears to be true.
As I delved into Bandcamp, I came across Rhucle and his lovely music.
Rhucle’s albums will forever feel like a Sunday winter afternoon walking my dog in Sacramento because that’s how I first experienced his music.
There’s a bike path not far from where I’m living. One Sunday, I took my dog, Blossom, for a walk down the path so we could play ball. I listened to Rhucle’s albums on my phone, and his music became the soundtrack for our stroll. We went through fields, saw ducks and egrets in the stream and turtles sunning themselves. At some point, I stopped being aware of Rhucle’s music, it was simply part of the environment.
Naturally, I invited Rhucle to guest deejay on SOUNDWAVE. It’s beautiful and taps into the same magic I got listening to Rhucle’s album that Sunday spent walking my dog. I hope you’ll have a delightfully similar experience when you listen to it.
Rhucle had a few words about his mix below.
Before I wrap things up, I wanted to share my last weekend with you.
My wife and I met some friends in Napa Valley to celebrate her birthday. We ate some great food and drank some spectacular wine. Everyone was having such a great time. It was undoubtedly due to the wine and the beauty of Napa Valley. I can’t help but think that there was a certain buoyancy because we all know we’re turning the corner on this pandemic.
The last year has been long and hard. Some of us were ill. Some of us lost family and friends to the virus. But we’re close to the end. While we can’t yet congregate and be with our loved ones, that day is near.
These tracks get close to my feelings recently. When I am tired of my work and any bad news, these sounds help me with my stress. I think that ambient music is more important for people than ever. This mix applies to a contemporary person.
Jason was on the list of people I wanted to interview for solipsistic NATION after being introduced to his music through Bluetech’s Somnia music label and featuring Jason’s music on my show (here and here).
Ambient and instrumental music that leans towards the ambient tends to sound indistinguishable. It’s difficult to have a unique sound and in fact that is the point for many artists who create music in this genre. But this is not the case with Jason, His music is very organic. Burnished, you might say. It feel’s worn-in, like a jacket you’ve owned for decades. Jasons music is very much his own and instantly recognizable.
I know you’re going to love this mix. I know I certainly have. I had the pleasure of listening to it again today as we were driving out of Palm Springs. It's not an environment I thought would be conducive to this mix but it fit right in there.
Imperial Valley
Before I get out of Dodge I wanted to tell you about a release from one of my favorite music labels, the Other Forms of Consecrated Life that came out earlier last week. It’s a self-titled LP by Imperial Valley and I purchased it without even listening to the preview tracks. Other Forms of Consecrated Life releases music only of the highest quality so I did not hesitate to buy the album. I was not disappointed. I love the album and have listened to it easily a half dozen times already. It represents everything I love about the label: it’s haunting and minimal but deceptively rich and layered. Give the album a listen and while you’re at it, listen to Other Forms of Consecrated Life’s mix for SOUNDWAVE.
Join us again next week when our guest deejay will be Melorman.
