tape – Synecdoche

SOUNDWAVE : 157 : zakè

Today’s guest deejay is Zach Frizzell, AKA zakè.

I was introduced to zakè's captivating music by the talented Luke Entelis (listen to Luke’s mix four Soundwave here), and I'm excited to share his unique sonic tapestries with you.

Zach is the stateside label boss of the Past Inside the Present record label. Zach is also a multi-talented musician, composer, and sound artist. With a deep passion for exploring the intersection of sound and emotion, zakè weaves intricate sonic landscapes that transport listeners to ethereal realms. His musical journey began at a young age, as he discovered his love for experimenting with various instruments and sound manipulation techniques.

The songs in this collection share a common thread of introspection, contemplation, and a sense of profound emotional depth. Each composition invites the listener into a world of deep reflection, where silence and subtle nuances create powerful moments of introspection. Zach’s mix has been my companion during grey mornings. With my cup of coffee in hand, his music eases me into my work day, infusing even the most mundane tasks with intrigue.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Tim Dwyer.

See you then.

T.R. Jordan “Unsaid”
Pausal “Truth Symbol – False Idolatry”
Dustin O’Halloran “Quartet N.2”
Arvo Pärt “Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten”
Eluvium “Indoor Swimming at the Space Station”
willamette “Buried Presidents”
William Basinski “Melancholia II”
Rafael Anton Irisarri “Watching As She Reels”
Stars of the Lid “Even If You're Never Awake”

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SOUNDWAVE : 156 : ANNE CHRIS

Today’s guest deejay is Anne Chris.

Anne’s music is a beautiful blend of ambient, experimental, and modern classical styles. I was introduced to Anne’s through Soundwave guest deejay Peter van Cooten (listen to his mix here and here), host of Ambientblog and DreamScenes on Concertzender.

Based in the Netherlands, Anne Bakker is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer. Her music often incorporates field recordings, found sounds, and electronic elements to create unique and immersive soundscapes.

Anne has released several albums and EPs on labels such as Dronarivm, Whitelabrecs, and Rusted Tone Recordings. Her music has been described as “a delicate and hypnotic work that shines with an inner light” and “a moving and atmospheric experience.”

Many of the tracks in Anne’s mix feature minimalistic arrangements and slowly evolving textures, often exploring the sonic nuances of single notes or simple harmonic progressions. Using drones and sustained tones is also prevalent, creating a sense of sonic stasis or timelessness. Several pieces also feature acoustic instruments, such as piano, guitar, and strings, woven into the electronic soundscapes to create a delicate interplay between the organic and synthetic elements.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be zaké.

See you then.

Mirrorring “Silent From Above”
Windy & Carl “Btwn You + Me”
Celer “The delay of intolerance”
Akira Rabelais “i”
Oren Ambarchi “Fever, A Warm Poison”
Morton Feldman “1”
Hildur Guðnadóttir “Leyfðu Ljósinu”
William Basinski “The Garden of Brokenness”
soccer Committee “Moi & Mon Coeur”

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SOUNDWAVE : 145 : RHUCLE

Today’s guest deejay is Rhucle.

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 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.

See you then.

Ian Hawgood “Fractural”
Jogging House “Champion”
Ki Oni “Life At The End Of The World”
KENJI KIHARA “Hayama Ambient 045”
Gallery Six “Kodama”
Zeze Wakamatsu “Coalsack Nebula”
Peter Bark & fredrsngrn “melankolske ferdamenn dansar i regnet”
David Cordero & Kenji Kihara “The Entrance to Segen Mountain”
Rhucle “My Pace (Remix)”

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SOUNDWAVE : 140 : BENOÎT PIOULARD

Today’s guest deejay is Thomas Meluch, AKA Benoît Pioulard.

Thomas’s music kept popping up on Soundwave mixes. It wasn’t until I asked Andrew Tasselmyer whom he knew, who might share a mix on the show, and he said Thomas that I understood the universe was trying to send me a message: get Thomas on Soundwave. At least, that’s how I interpret it.

Oh, and listen to Andrew’s mix here.

Thomas’s music is warm and intimate. I’m listening to the Communiqué album he recorded with Jogging House as I write this, and it’s perfect listening for a crisp winter night. I was curious to hear who’d include in his mix. When I saw Jason Corder’s offthesky project in his playlist, I knew I was in good hands. Whereas Thomas’s music is warm fire to rub your hands to, his mix feels like stepping out to a bracing day with magical side quests. Again, my subjective interpretation.

I’m glad I listened to the universe.

Speaking of Thomas’s music, he has a new vocal album called Eidetic coming out on Morr Music in March 2023. He also has a Bandcamp subscription with lots of exclusive music, and it is constantly evolving.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Ian Wellman.

See you then.

Clever Austin “A11”
zaké & T.R. Jordan “Shoreline”
marine eyes “cedarwood”
SYMBOL “Hyperballad”
Freescha “Kid Brother”
Jogging House “Renewal”
Offthesky & The Humble Bee “We Were The Hum of Dreams”
Otto A. Totland “Grow”
Raum “Walk Together”
Henrik Lindstrand “Syrsor”

SOUNDWAVE : 133 : KMRU

Today’s guest deejay is Joseph Kamaru, AKA KMRU.

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.

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 ~”
Gylden “Bug light”
Emily A. Sprague “Water Memory 2”
Félicia Atkinson “Our Tides”
Julia Reidy “World in World”
anthéne “Cedar Point II”
Emilía “Layover II”
naemi “rast”
LB Marszalek “Sorrow”
Hiroki Takahashi “Seed”
Belong “Vowel (Digital Bonus)”

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SOUNDWAVE : 126 : JOHAN DE REYBEKILL

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.

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.

Thanks, Joseph.

Deru “1979 (On a Snowy February Day)”
Badun “SP-0 (Space Leslie Lovers)”
Maulex & Phaedrus “Ouatim”
Phaedrus “Lnog”
Fieldhead “Sky Peals”
Sofie Birch “Begin Sync End”
Kiloton “Disarray”
Signelykke “Wetlands”
ROSYAN “Retaw”
Maulex “Reijka”
Dronny Darko & Phaedrus “Ptolemy’s Parable”
Phaedrus “Rooibos”

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SOUNDWAVE : 113 : JAMES VELLA

Today’s guest deejay is James Vella.

We have Robert Farrugia from Complex Holiday to thank for James’s mix. I asked Robert who he knew who he thought would share a mix on Soundwave, and he recommended James. Oh, listen to Robert’s mix for Soundwave here.

Robert had not steered me wrong. James runs Phantom Limb, a record label, a music publishing, and touring and label management company. I dipped into his roster of artists, which ranges from everything from experimental hip hop to music inspired by Pre-Columbian Central and South American myths and folktales.

James’s mix explores a lot of terrain and includes a song he recorded under the name A Lily that’s beautiful. There’s also a track in James’s mix that is almost too painful to listen to. You’ll know when you hear it.

I know you’ll love today’s show. If you’d like to hear more music from James, you’ll be delighted to learn that he has new music coming out soon on the Bytes label.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Raziel Panic.

See you then.

Visible Cloaks & dip in the pool “Valve (Reanimated Feat. Miyako Coda)”
UCC Harlo “Lyricist of Panic”
Tralala Blip “Castles of Golden Sound”
Waclaw Zimpel “Lines”
Nate Scheible “With Any Kind of Luck”
Wayne Phoenix “I Gave You Power”
Dear Laika “Ubi Sunt”
A Lily “Mbira Heart”
NIAGARA “Dia 1, Parte 2, Música 3”
David Darling & The Wulu Bunun “Mataisah-hik Sagan”
Ki Oni “Dream World”
Volkan İncüvez “Black Hole”
Ulla “leaves and wish”
Throbbing Gristle “Still Walking”

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SOUNDWAVE : 85 : JOSÉ SOBRANES

Today’s guest deejay is José Sobranes.

I met José through Mauricio Sotelo, AKA Haiteku, who I met through Axel Arturo Barceló, who guest deejayed on Soundwave here and here. Soundwave has been around just long enough that it is beginning to form a rhizome-like network. I like that.

I also like José’s mix. I’m never quite sure where one song ends, and the next begins. The only boundary is the start and end of his mix. It exists in some liminal space that is akin to being awake and being asleep. I’m doing my best to describe José’s mix, but really, you need to let it wash over you and take you where it may.

José is a self-taught composer and recordist based in Mexico. His compositions explore the balance between electronics and environmental sounds, chaining narratives, context, and movement, all based on the felt of direct presence.

He is the current label manager and founder of Nova Fund Recordings an independent label focused on contemporary arts and music. All his productions was released in many countries around the globe for mention some: Whitelabrecs (UK), Faint (ES), Ediciones Éter (CO), Blaq Records (MX), WOS Colectivo (MX), Frente Pulquero (MX), Shimmering Moods Records (NL), USON (ES) and more…

José has some words about his mix below.

Because Soundwave was borne out of the isolation and stress of the pandemic, I feel obligated to mention it on the show. But what is there to say? The pandemic has become part of our lives, and we’ve come to expect the peaks and valleys of infections and deaths. We go about our days trying to maintain some semblance of normality while at the same time incorporating the disruption across the world as part of our new routine. We simultaneously desire to return to our lives before the pandemic while re-evaluating what’s important in our lives and where we want to go next. What will happen?

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Alisú.

See you then!

Thanks to Joseph for the invitation, Mauricio Sotelo for trusting in my project, and all my listeners and artists friends who encourage me every day to keep going. Thanks to my girlfriend Brenda for inspiring me every day to keep going ahead on this path.

José Soberanes feat. Kiiote “Fallaos”
Dzyan “Orquídeae”
Alex Bober “Shielded”
Darren McClure “Smooth Manifold”
Francesco Giannico “Litania”
Kate Carr “Under An Ancient Fort”
Machinefabriek “Entrance ”
PCCL + Through “Ehécatl”
William Ryan Fritch “Floats feat. Powerdove”
Booka Shade “Moonstruck”
Brett Nauke “Executable Dreamtime”
Pepo Galán & Lee Yi “Zaragoza Rosa”

SOUNDWAVE : 75 : COMPLEX HOLIDAY

Today’s guest deejay is Robert Farrugia, co-founder of Complex Holiday, an itinerant label for inside-out ambient and sound art tomfoolery.

I’m usually fastidious about tracking how I come to know guest deejays on Soundwave. Unfortunately, my initial conversation with Robert began on Facebook Messenger and that chat is lost to the ether. Well, really, Facebook has that conversation stored somewhere. But it’s as good as gone for me.

Whatever lead me to Robert, I’m glad I invited him to join us.

What you may or may not know is that I get the mixes you hear months in advance. I usually enjoy it for a week or two before I move on to listen to the next guest deejay’s mix. I’ll also re-listen to the mix a few weeks before their show is released. I listen to the mixes a lot.

Robert Farrugia, *Photograph by Chris Vella / Storbju*

Robert’s mix was a welcome companion for the last week. Nationally, the U.S. is caught between wildfires and hurricanes. Internationally, the U.S. has left Afghanistan. And on a personal note, the was my kid’s first week at high school. While our area is 75% vaccinated, I’m still anxious about how this will work out. Within the first week there’s already been a report of a student with COVID-19. Robert’s mix felt like an echo of how I’ve been feeling about all of it.

There’s a tension that builds up early in Robert’s mix that unravels nearly halfway through before exploring different sonic territory. The mix ends hauntingly and somberly.

That feels right.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Michael Donaldson.

See you then!

Dylan Henner “I Was Reading the News But I Felt So Sad I had to Stop”
Snap Dragon “Breathe”
Benoît Pioulard “Whose Palms Create”
Robert Farrugia “Tlellix”
Warmth “Cirrus”
David Cordero “Sevredol (Sight Below Remix)”
Marsha Fisher “Chapter House”
Kurt Buttigieg “Confiance en quoi”

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SOUNDWAVE : 44 : ISHMAEL CORMACK

Today’s guest deejay is Ishmael Cormack.

To date, nearly all the guest deejays on SOUNDWAVE are people I have relationships with or introduced to me through the guest deejays. Ishmael is different.

These days I purchase nearly all my music on Bandcamp. Yes, I said purchase. I’m old fashioned that way. Oh, I do more than my fair share of streaming, but if I find music I genuinely love, I’m happy to spend money on it. Bandcamp is my favorite platform to purchase music because the artists and labels are treated fairly, and they receive a higher percentage of money from sales than most other platforms. So I’m on Bandcamp a lot. And because of SOUNDWAVE, I tend to peruse releases from ambient, classical, experimental, and instrumental musicians.

If you enjoy music from any of those genres, you know from experience that most of it are dreck. The music tends to be bland or outright terrible. It isn’t easy to compose music in those genres that’s engaging and take you on an emotional journey. It’s refreshing to find musicians who do it well, and Ishmael is one of those artists.

I'm not a musician myself, so it’s difficult for me not to fall into clichés to describe Ishmael’s music using words like delicate, pretty, or sonorous. I’m reminded of an interview I once heard with Ben Frost where he complained of this very thing. I believe he said something to the effect that sommeliers have many metaphors to describe wines’ taste, but we lack the same when talking about music.

It’s almost a shame, then, that today’s mix from Ishmael does not feature his music. Almost, because Ishmael has lovingly selected tracks that are, sigh, delicate, pretty, and sonorous, but it’s true. It’s a wonderful mix.

If you enjoy today’s show, and I have no doubt you will, then support the artists by following my example and purchasing their music. And while you’re at it, listen to Ishmael’s releases on Bandcamp, and if you hear something like it, show him your appreciation by spending some money on his music.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Tim Six, founder of ΠΑΝΘΕΟΝ Records.

See you then!

Ishmael Cormack

Andrew Chalk “The Flood”
Taylor Deupree & Marcus Fischer “On Branches”
Richard Ginns “Faded From The Winter”
Tom Scott “Ribbon Glass”
Jens Pauly “Licht”
Cyril Secq “Huitiéme Branche”
Morimoto Naoki “Nod”
Suda Norihito “The Weather Of The Day Was To Calm Almost As If Nothing Had Happened”
Melissa Pons “Screeching Dawn”
Jodi Cave “For Sine And Breath Tones”
Federico Durand “IIu Wouter”
Van Veldhoven “First Lullaby”

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