I met Tim through Sanderson Dear, who get deejayed on Soundwave a few months ago (listen to Sanderson’s mix here). As is my want, I asked Sanderon who he thought would share a mix on Soundwave and he highly recommended Tim.
As it happens, both Tim and I are fellow devotees of the Excursions in Ambience compilation album series (listen to my Excursions in Ambience compilation retrospective here). That may explain why Tim’s mix, which features songs completely new to me, feels so familiar. It’s a delight to share Tim’s mix with you.
Tim has words about his mix below.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Raziel Panic.
My 2021 album Excursion was a release born through influence. It was inspired by improvised live electronics, a deep love of electronic music from the 1990’s, and even the compilation series Excursions in Ambience, of which the album was named after. I wanted to revisit those influences for this mix, crafting a similar sonic tapestry, through a different lens. I’ve included the inspiring music that influenced me to start making music, as well as some new works that elicit that same emotional frequency. Enjoy the journey.
Welcome to Soundwave, where we dive deep into the experimental, electronic, and ambient soundscape.
Today’s episode takes us on a nostalgic journey with a retrospective mix of the groundbreaking Excursions in Ambience compilation series. These albums played a pivotal role in shaping the ambient music genre. From the first volume in 1993 to the final fourth installment in 1996, the Excursions in Ambience series explored the intersection of dance music and ambient sounds, capturing the essence of a musical movement that continues to influence artists today.
As a former deejay at WMFO 91.5 FM, these albums were a constant presence in my playlists, providing the perfect soundtrack to my late-night walks home after spinning records at the radio station.
We dedicate this week’s show to the memory of Michael Kandel, who made several appearances on the Excursions in Ambience series and passed away in 2015.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Hekla.
Each track from Sanderson’s mix carries its distinct tone and texture, yet they all resonate with a shared melancholy and longing.
Sanderson has over a decade of experience pushing the boundaries of electronic music. His productions are like a carefully crafted time machine, transporting the listener to otherworldly realms of sound and sensation. At least, that’s what my experience is like.
If you enjoy today’s mix, as I’m sure you will, and want to hear more music from Stasis Recodings, you can look forward to an album from Glo Phase this Where We At…, the label’s third compilation, will be released this May. Don’t want to wait that long? SubDan’s 12” EP, They Shine, is fresh off the presses.
Sanderson has some words about his mix below.
Join us next week when for our Excursions in Ambience compilation retrospective.
See you then.
Sanderson Dear
It’s often difficult to distill the ethos and mantra of an imprint into 60mins while still maintaining a purposed ebb and flow. That was my challenge with this mix. My name is Sanderson Dear. I’m the label manager for Stasis Recordings, a Canadian electronic label operating out of Toronto with an international cast of musicians lending their talents to shape our sonic character. We’ve been releasing music since 2010. This mix highlights and focuses heavily on the chilled-out side of the music ledger. Most of the tracks are from our catalog, but I’ve also snuck in a couple of gems from the crew on other labels I am a fan of.
“After” is one of those pieces by Louis which never fails to leave me speechless. The strings, the spatial dynamics, and just the overall emotional tone. Appears on his vinyl release for Indigo Aera, in my opinion it is the standout track.
“Breathing-In” is Louis’ contribution to our 2020 7” box compilation. The compilation is a decade celebration of releasing music. It’s a project we took 4yrs to organize, and it’s the release I’m most proud of us realizing.
“Entwine (reprise)” is from our upcoming 2023 vinyl LP by Glo Phase.
“Rising Tide” to this day, Urenga’s “Floating Island” release is my favourite out of all the titles we’ve released by him on Stasis Recordings.
“Caju (extended version)” is part of a special vinyl companion to our Time Capsule compilation we’re organizing and planning to calendar soon. It’s a tune by Adriano Mirabile which describes his downtempo chillin’ sound.
“Mistpouffers” a new Off Land jam, appears on our next label compilation hitting digital shops this May.
“Flow” is from our recent vinyl release by SubDan. a 4-track EP bonding 90s D&B elements with ambient chillage vibes.
“Ambrosia” label debut by Mellonius One. Best way to describe his sound, ambient scapes, and soundtrack composing meets downtempo breaks.
“Horizons” by Diahgonal. The production alias of Ruben Alonso Tamayo.. super proud to have some Mexicali techno representation on our little international imprint.
“The Detective” is a jazzy, downtempo track from my first long player.
I met Petter through his brother Jakob Lindhagen. After Jakob shared his mix on Soundwave I asked him who he thought should guest deejay on the show and he highly recommended Petter and I’m so glad he did. Jakob also mentioned that
Petter recently released an absolutely incredible album, Thing. The production is top-notch, with a perfect balance of nostalgia and modernity. Thing showcases a wide range of styles, from downtempo and IDM, to house, techno and experimental music, much like today’s show! Petter’s mix has been the much needed kick in the ass to get my day started.
Petter has some words about his mix below.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Rhucle.
See you then.
Petter Lindhagen
This is a mix of music that inspired my latest album, Thing (released March 2022), and also a couple of songs from that album. My earlier albums with TiredTape Machine were more about harmonies and atmosphere, but for the last few years, I’ve been more interested in beats, rhythm, and sampling.
I had the pleasure of meeting Enrico through Giulio Aldinucci, who also guest deejayed on Soundwave (listen to Giulio’s mix here). Enrico’s work combines beautiful and challenging sounds, and I’m excited to have him on the show today to share his unique perspective on music.
Enrico’s mix takes us on a journey through a diverse array of experimental and ambient music. It’s a beautiful mix that evokes different emotions and landscapes and is a lovely way to start the new year.
Enrico is an environmental sound recordist and sound artist from Italy. His work has been featured by some of the most respected labels in the genre, such as Crónica, Gruen Rekorder, taâlem , and many more. He also runs the digital label Galaverna, with Leandro Pisano, Nicola Di Croce, and Vernalis, in collaborate with Krisis Publishing.
Enrico has some words about his mix below.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Petter Lindhagen.
See you then.
Enrico Coniglio
Here is a mix I made some time ago on a CD-R that has yet to be released on the internet anywhere. A selection of post-folk & ambient songs coming from the past, with a strong, wintery, and intimate vibe and some evanescent vocals here and there.
I met Peter through Harrold Roeland and I invited Peter to guest deejay on the show (listen to his mix here). I did not anticipate that a mix from Peter would be something of an event. Peter’s mixes are more like epic tone poems that contain both the cosmic and the mundane in one listening experience.
Cloudwatching Sequence
Furthermore, Peter meticulously crafts his mixes. Peter might use a passage once from a song or as a leitmotif. His mixes are dense and multilayered. Peter’s skill is that despite the complexity of his mixes, they are seamless and fluid. You don’t need to know the immense effort that produced the mix you are listening to appreciate its beauty and artistry.
Because Peter mixes feel like an event, it felt appropriate to release today’s show for Halloween as we celebrate the darker half of the year.
Peter has some words about his mix below.
Join us next week when out guest deejay will be Mike Lazarev.
See you then.
Cloudwatching
Most (if not all) previous Ambientblog mixes always had some dark moments; they are never “just” relaxing. You can only feel release if you also feel tension.
This time, I wanted to avoid the darkness and create a “lighter mood mix.” Not of the “Ibiza Chillout Lounge” kind, but one that can be played in the background and is still exciting enough to listen to. I hope I succeeded, but of course, you’re the one to decide about that!
With two hours, Cloudwatching is longer than usual. Only a few tracks are included in their full length, but most are heavily edited or even just short fragments. Also, they are often overlayed, so you’ll hear the music in a different context. The extensive playlist below may help you track down the original in their full-length versions.
I hope you’ll enjoy watching these -imaginary- clouds!
Having Joseph on the show is a bit of synchronicity. I became aware of Joseph’s music a few years ago while searching for music on Bandcamp. What immediately struck me was the sense of intimacy I experienced while listening to his music. Yes, I’m aware that the genres Joseph expresses himself through lend themselves to that kind of feeling. And I’m also aware that this is a complete projection, but I got the sense that a movement of thoughts and emotions conveyed in his music.
Joseph Kamaru, AKA KMRU
Shortly after conning across Joseph, guest deejays on Soundwave began including tracks from his album in their mixes. So, of course, I reached out to him to share select tracks on the show.
Joseph’s mix, like his releases, has that sense of interplay between thoughts and emotions. And, perhaps, sympathetically, Joseph’s mix stirred up thoughts and feelings in me, which is the whole point.
Join sun next week when our guest deejay will be protoU.
See you then.
Tenka “Nutrition ~ Microorganisms In The Darkness Of Life ~”
Today’s guest deejay is Michael Jakucs, AKA Sunwarper.
After hearing Michael’s music in both Brian Sangmeister and Forest Robots’s mixes for Soundwave, I invited Michael to share a mix. Based on Michael’s music, I knew we were in good hands. But I did not anticipate the surprising directions he took his mix and yet felt utterly familiar.
Let me explain.
The focus of Soundwave is ambient, classical, experimental, and instrumental music, with an emphasis on the ambient. And that’s fine. I’m all about that ambient life. But for me, it’s always a delight when a guest shares a mix that leans into the show’s classical, experimental, and instrumental aspects. Christian Sager’s doom metal/math rock/hip hop mix comes to mind. As does Charles Hazlewood’s mimimalist/modern classical/free jazz mix.
What makes today’s show special, for me, is that it’s very much steeped in shoegaze and dream pop. So while I only know several of the artists in Michael’s mix, I already feel well acquainted with the music I’m unfamiliar with. It’s very déjà vu. I keep asking myself, “Isn’t this a 4AD release?”
Michael Jakucs, AKA Sunwarper
Michael just released a track composed for the season finale of the webcomic The Eagle and the Snake called “Forever Becoming.” He also has a full-length album, Radiant Visage, that will be released on October 14 and available for pre-order on September 9.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be n5MD founder Mike Cadoo.
Today’s guest deejay is Johan de Reybekill, AKA Phaedrus.
I discovered Johan through Quasi, the album collaborated on with Dronny Darko (listen to Dronny’s mix for Soundwave here). I was swept away by the experience and listened to Johan’s projects and concerts. Of course, I invited Johan to guest deejay on Soundwave, and he’s shared something wonderful with us.
I have a routine for my four-year-old grandkid when it’s time to sleep. I tell him a story that includes events from his day and his friends, the Little Old Mouse and Purple Monster. Then I play some ambient music for him to drift away to, usually Brian Eno, whom we call Uncle Eno. My go-to’s are Eno’s Ambient 4: On Land and The Pearl, an album he recorded with the late Harold Budd. I’ve listed to a lot of Brian Eno since becoming a Dziadzia (that’s Polish for “grandpa”), and as much as I love Eno’s music, sometimes that means switching things up. Johan doesn’t know it, but I’ve used today’s mix to send my grandkid off to Sleepytime on more than one occasion.
Johan has words about today’s mix below.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Sunwarper.
See you then.
Johan de Reybekill, AKA Phaedrus
In this mix I have worked with subtle contrasts like: “noisy / minimalistic”, “melodic / droning”, “dark / gentle”, “static / volatile”. A majority of the pieces on the mix is from some of my favourite Scandinavian artists.
The process of creating the mix made me realise just how much I love listening to music in that special way, where I am actively listening to the music in depth; its composition, qualities and details.
I found myself going for long walks just to listen to the mix in its entirety, go home and make adjustments, go for another walk, and so on. I loved the process of working with my own and others’ music as an integral part of what came to be the mix. It was a pleasure and an honour to contribute to Soundwave.
Today’s guest deejay is Matt Donatelli, AKA Survey Channel.
I met through Francisco Dominguez. After Francisco shared his fantastic mix earlier this year, I asked him who he thought would want guest deejay on Soundwave. Francisco recommended Matt, and after doing a deep dive on Matt’s music, I wholeheartedly agreed.
If you love today’s mix, and you will, then you’ll be happy to know that Matt spins on CAMP Radio. His show is called Aural Dogma. Tune in!
Matt has some words about his mix below.
I am increasingly grateful for Soundwave. I initially launched the show to help cope with the stress and isolation of the first months of the quarantine lockdown. I told myself that I would wrap the show up once the pandemic was reasonably under control: Soundwave would have severed its purpose. But the pandemic is not done with us. Over the last few months, I’ve seen more and more people who are frayed and exhausted. I’m a bit worn out myself, and Soundwave continues offering respite and delight. I hope you feel the same.
The Metallic Ratio by Eva Kierten
Before I go, I want to let you know that Other Forms of Consecrated Life (listen to their mix for Soundwave here) just released Eva Kierten’s new album, The Metallic Ratio. Kierten continues to gently plumb emotional depths.
Lately, I’ve been seeking out a variety of cleansing soundwaves in countless flavors. From the oddly contemporary sounds of “early” electronic group Syrinx, the the folksy-pivot of ex-Sneaker Pimps vocalist Kelli Ali, to the wonderfully weird Iasos. I find myself constantly visiting old favorites, as well. This mix is a snapshot in time of the tunes that spoke to me; working through me as I built it. I’ve added a few minor soundbytes to a couple of the tracks — I find the mixes with a personal touch that can tell a story to be the most successful.
Overall, I hope this mix acts as an inspiration for listeners to continue to seek out music in any genre; there is always something waiting to be heard.
