1
Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 01.12
2
Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 02.12
3
Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 03.12
4
Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 04.12
5
Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 05.12
6
Christos Stylianides & Loz Keystone - 06.12
Ambient explorers SWIMS come up trumps with the debut record by London musician and visual artist Loz Keystone, and Glaswegian electronics tamperer and jazz trumpeter Christos Stylianides. "Craobh Haven" is the dreamlike product of a week's residency in a little cabin in the Scottish village of the same name. Driving around the surrounding countryside each day to gather field recordings, evenings were spent by the duo assembling their findings into tape loops. These little rotating sculptures - containing stones and the rushing waters of the Craignish peninsula, the voices of locals and the cabin's oven timer - formed the basis for one track per night. While Keystone's whirling touches of Moog, guitar and space echo suggest the murky, placid vastness of the record's setting, the pitch-shifted, probing trumpet of Stylianides soars and stacks countermelodies like vapour trails braided in the atmosphere. For a record made out of loch water, Hebridean slate and mud - it is surprisingly tuneful and sometimes almost groovy. Recommended if you like Jon Hassell, Rome´o Poirier, Spillage Fete.
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More records from SWIMS
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Otto Taimela - Dawn Dance
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Otto Taimela - Microtonal Ghost Piano Song
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Otto Taimela - I Dreamt of the Woods and U Were There
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Otto Taimela - When the Light in Us Shines Through
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Otto Taimela - Theme for Bear Island
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Otto Taimela - Storm Song
7
Otto Taimela - End Melody / The Spell
8
Otto Taimela - When I Think of Us I Think of the Rivers
9
Otto Taimela - Forest Song
10
Otto Taimela - Brothers
11
Otto Taimela - Living in a Lullaby
12
Otto Taimela - Dusk Dance
13
Otto Taimela - Overthink Everything
14
Otto Taimela - The Small Things
The Finnish composer, producer, and pianist Otto Taimela is ticking at 6000+ monthly listeners on Spotify with streams in the 100s of thousands. His discography covers everything from avant-garde piano to breakbeat, ambient-dub techno back to cinematic contemporary classical music, with releases on labels such as Cold Blow, Ultraääni, Cudighi Records, Reflections by Anjunadeep and Finite Source. Otto has performed in festivals such as Ilmiö and Solstice. Kimmeltie LP, the 2020 predecessor to Inner Beauty has become a rare collector's item. His rendition of Clouds together with Olli Aarni received praise from Gigi Masin himself, commenting "Maybe the BEST cover ever". On the 24th of May Otto was the "selector of the week" on the largest radio station in Finland, YleX, playing a track from Inner Beauty.
More
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Otto Taimela - Clouds (feat. Olli Aarni)
2
Otto Taimela - Waterland (feat. Olli Aarni)
"Couldn't find any acoustic covers of these two masterpieces by Gigi Masin from 1989, so decided to give it a go with one of my biggest local musical idols, Olli Aarni who I am proud to call my friend. I consider the original tracks quite holy, so it took me years of courage to ask Olli to record these with me. Never had any goal to release these in any professional way, we just had an idea, for fun, to salute the golden era of YouTube when people made these poorly recorded acoustic YouTube covers. Thanks Pete & Janne for making the record happen and thank you Gigi Masin for the incredible music!"
More
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1
Electric Capablanca - Baltic Variation
2
Electric Capablanca - Zugzwang
3
Electric Capablanca - Karpov Counter
4
Electric Capablanca - Instructive Sequence
5
Electric Capablanca - Capablanca Spin
6
Electric Capablanca - Maroczy Bind
7
Electric Capablanca - The Position You Must Know
8
Electric Capablanca - The Genius Of Mikhail Tal
9
Electric Capablanca - Giuoco Piano
Crucial reissue of the cult Electric Capablanca LP, on SWIMS.
"A mechanical ghost in the corner of our room, The Electric Capablanca spins spectres, shades and sonics while nobody looks.
Lifestyle product for a Dolce Vita dreamer, the device – abandoned by one careless owner – now dreams up probable chaos."
Released September 2019, enjoy these new hallucinations from no known author; a machined mega-puzzle of miscalculated patterns, automatic failures and lost coffee house betas.
Turn the dials to creak splinters of 70s Italian midi classical (Venosta, Musci), imagined mitteleuropa ambient (Froese, Popol Vuh) and spiritual mathematics from the old new world (Spiegel, Hassell, Riley).
CapablancaCapbalancaCapalabancaCapabalanca
“excellent and intriguing”
Nick Luscombe — DJ
“a profound collection of delicate soundscapes and intriguing melodies scattered playfully across an open canvas”
Ransom Note — Blog
“an anarchic dialogue between soul and circuitry, yielding fractal wonders which glimmer in long-forgotten recesses”
If Only — Blog
“pastoral landscapes, innocent lullabies and day dreaming ... this collection is a spellbinding one”
Juno — Vendor
“the blessed matrimony of SWIMS and Kit Records spawns this enigmatic beauty ... hitting a mark of toytronica and pastoral charm somewhere between Isan, Cluster, Laurie Spiegel or Werkbund”
Boomkat — Vendor
“a mysterious series of curious, whimsical #electronic vignettes, marbled with cinematic flourishes & machine shrouded emotional resonance”
The Slow Music Movement — Blog
“simply stunning!”
Picadilly Records — Vendor More
"A mechanical ghost in the corner of our room, The Electric Capablanca spins spectres, shades and sonics while nobody looks.
Lifestyle product for a Dolce Vita dreamer, the device – abandoned by one careless owner – now dreams up probable chaos."
Released September 2019, enjoy these new hallucinations from no known author; a machined mega-puzzle of miscalculated patterns, automatic failures and lost coffee house betas.
Turn the dials to creak splinters of 70s Italian midi classical (Venosta, Musci), imagined mitteleuropa ambient (Froese, Popol Vuh) and spiritual mathematics from the old new world (Spiegel, Hassell, Riley).
CapablancaCapbalancaCapalabancaCapabalanca
“excellent and intriguing”
Nick Luscombe — DJ
“a profound collection of delicate soundscapes and intriguing melodies scattered playfully across an open canvas”
Ransom Note — Blog
“an anarchic dialogue between soul and circuitry, yielding fractal wonders which glimmer in long-forgotten recesses”
If Only — Blog
“pastoral landscapes, innocent lullabies and day dreaming ... this collection is a spellbinding one”
Juno — Vendor
“the blessed matrimony of SWIMS and Kit Records spawns this enigmatic beauty ... hitting a mark of toytronica and pastoral charm somewhere between Isan, Cluster, Laurie Spiegel or Werkbund”
Boomkat — Vendor
“a mysterious series of curious, whimsical #electronic vignettes, marbled with cinematic flourishes & machine shrouded emotional resonance”
The Slow Music Movement — Blog
“simply stunning!”
Picadilly Records — Vendor More
1
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - Eclipse
2
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - The Veil
3
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - Alma's Find
4
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - Lithium
5
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - Seque 1
6
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - Excession
7
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - The Engines Are Dead And So Are We
8
Earth Mother Spectral Pilot - Out Of The Cloud
Bristolian artist, illustrator and toymaker Ed Cheverton debuts as Earth Mother Spectral Pilot with a cosmology-inspired melodic ambient album on SWIMS.
Known for his features in publications like It’s Nice That, Juxtapoz, and The Guardian, Cheverton widens his creative scope to music via a project that borrows its title from a series of comics of his. Influenced by ambient and atmospheric soundtracks, one can hear the connection to Kawai Kenji, Vangelis, and to Japanese environmental music.
The album is a musical accompaniment to visual works that spawned from a period of deep obsession with cosmology, and the sense of wonder, scale and discovery evoked by that journey. The pieces on the album grew from snippets of music, loops and improvised explorations that coalesced into a set of tracks that sat together as one ‘project’.
True to his craft, Cheverton has enhanced the album with thematic art in the form of series of illustrations within the tape insert and postcards accompanying physical orders. More
Known for his features in publications like It’s Nice That, Juxtapoz, and The Guardian, Cheverton widens his creative scope to music via a project that borrows its title from a series of comics of his. Influenced by ambient and atmospheric soundtracks, one can hear the connection to Kawai Kenji, Vangelis, and to Japanese environmental music.
The album is a musical accompaniment to visual works that spawned from a period of deep obsession with cosmology, and the sense of wonder, scale and discovery evoked by that journey. The pieces on the album grew from snippets of music, loops and improvised explorations that coalesced into a set of tracks that sat together as one ‘project’.
True to his craft, Cheverton has enhanced the album with thematic art in the form of series of illustrations within the tape insert and postcards accompanying physical orders. More
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This is a delicious slice of Balearic meets Parisian translation of Italo boogie of the finest degree. A 6-track slab of cosmic disco perfection and crime jazz seductions. TIM ZAWADA's STAR CREATURE continues to unearth these highly skilled scene new-comers like some sort of literal funk monk.
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German beat music at its best! For the first time on 45! A-side is Funk, B-side is Garage-Psych-Rock
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Label:Rochelle Jordan / EMPIRE
Cat-No:ERE1080
Release-Date:07.02.2025
Genre:Soul/Funk
Configuration:2LP Excl
Label:Rochelle Jordan / EMPIRE
Cat-No:ERE1080
Release-Date:07.02.2025
Genre:Soul/Funk
Configuration:2LP Excl
Listen: https://listen.empi.re/301297
2xLP, Widespine Jacket, Double-Sided Poster, Baby Blue Galaxy Vinyl, Marketing Sticker
About:
1021 is the third studio album from Toronto singer/songwriter, Rochelle Jordan. Originally released in 2014, 1021 is the album that forever changed Rochelle's trajectory as an artist. Filled with moments of honest and pure self expression yet still showing signs of who she has eventually become, the album showcases Rochelle's resilience as an indie artist, her unapologetic risk taking, and her drive and uncompromising belief in herself. The album's production is filled with lush, airy, evocative beats, with her vocals drawing comparison to the iconic R&B superstar, Aaliyah - in fact, "Ease Your Mind," was co-produced with Eric Seats, who produced the iconic Aaliyah track, "Rock the Boat." Since then, Rochelle has gone on to become a major player in the R&B and dance spaces, most recently working with Kaytranada on his new album. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary since it's release, 1021 will be making its debut on vinyl for the very first time. 2xLP, pressed on Baby Blue Galaxy vinyl and includes a 24x36 double-sided poster, as well as three additional songs not originally included on the album - this is strictly for the Day Ones.
Key MArketing/Selling:
- 10 year anniversary edition of "1021"
- First physical release
- 2xLP Baby Blue Galaxy vinyl, 24x36 Double-Sided poster included
- 3 additional songs to be included - all of which have never been pressed on vinyl before or appear on the original album
- 3rd studio album from Rochelle Jordan
- Contains the song "Lowkey," which is garnering a lot of attention on Tiktok
- Rochelle Jordan has most recently appeared on the new Kaytranada album, Timeless ("Lover/Friend" & "Spit It Out"), as well as recent releases from Sango and TOKiMONSTA
- Rochelle Jordan previously moved 1500 vinyl units on her last album - Play With The Changes
- Rochelle Jordan regularly performs festivals and tours - most recently she performed at Outsidelands 2024 - and will be touring for the remainder of 2024
- Has been compared to Aaliyah
Tracklist:
A1/1. 1021
A2/2. Day Ones
A3/3. Follow Me
A4/4. Lowkey
B1/5. Good One
B2/6. There You Go
B3/7. 401
B4/8. Back In The Day
C1/9. Only If
C2/10. What The Fuss
C3/11. Playa 4 Life (feat. Iamsu)
C4/12. Return to Sender
D1/13. Ease Your Mind
D2/14. Chain Smoking
D3/15. Lowkey Remix (feat. JMSN)
D4/16. Lowkey (Sped Up)
Socials:
Twitter: 16.8k followers
IG: 43.1k followers
FB: 19k followers
YT: 17.8k subs / 6.5M views
More
2xLP, Widespine Jacket, Double-Sided Poster, Baby Blue Galaxy Vinyl, Marketing Sticker
About:
1021 is the third studio album from Toronto singer/songwriter, Rochelle Jordan. Originally released in 2014, 1021 is the album that forever changed Rochelle's trajectory as an artist. Filled with moments of honest and pure self expression yet still showing signs of who she has eventually become, the album showcases Rochelle's resilience as an indie artist, her unapologetic risk taking, and her drive and uncompromising belief in herself. The album's production is filled with lush, airy, evocative beats, with her vocals drawing comparison to the iconic R&B superstar, Aaliyah - in fact, "Ease Your Mind," was co-produced with Eric Seats, who produced the iconic Aaliyah track, "Rock the Boat." Since then, Rochelle has gone on to become a major player in the R&B and dance spaces, most recently working with Kaytranada on his new album. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary since it's release, 1021 will be making its debut on vinyl for the very first time. 2xLP, pressed on Baby Blue Galaxy vinyl and includes a 24x36 double-sided poster, as well as three additional songs not originally included on the album - this is strictly for the Day Ones.
Key MArketing/Selling:
- 10 year anniversary edition of "1021"
- First physical release
- 2xLP Baby Blue Galaxy vinyl, 24x36 Double-Sided poster included
- 3 additional songs to be included - all of which have never been pressed on vinyl before or appear on the original album
- 3rd studio album from Rochelle Jordan
- Contains the song "Lowkey," which is garnering a lot of attention on Tiktok
- Rochelle Jordan has most recently appeared on the new Kaytranada album, Timeless ("Lover/Friend" & "Spit It Out"), as well as recent releases from Sango and TOKiMONSTA
- Rochelle Jordan previously moved 1500 vinyl units on her last album - Play With The Changes
- Rochelle Jordan regularly performs festivals and tours - most recently she performed at Outsidelands 2024 - and will be touring for the remainder of 2024
- Has been compared to Aaliyah
Tracklist:
A1/1. 1021
A2/2. Day Ones
A3/3. Follow Me
A4/4. Lowkey
B1/5. Good One
B2/6. There You Go
B3/7. 401
B4/8. Back In The Day
C1/9. Only If
C2/10. What The Fuss
C3/11. Playa 4 Life (feat. Iamsu)
C4/12. Return to Sender
D1/13. Ease Your Mind
D2/14. Chain Smoking
D3/15. Lowkey Remix (feat. JMSN)
D4/16. Lowkey (Sped Up)
Socials:
Twitter: 16.8k followers
IG: 43.1k followers
FB: 19k followers
YT: 17.8k subs / 6.5M views
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1
Roland Haynes Jr. & Phenix - Mind Games
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Roland Haynes Jr. & Phenix - Pretty Melody
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Roland Haynes Jr. & Phenix - Donna
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Roland Haynes Jr. & Phenix - Cast Your Fate
Insanely good almost completely unreleased Jazz funk LP from Roland Haynes Jr. (They released just a single 45 included here from the tapes). Think undiscovered James Mason, and you'll be half way there, even by our high standards, this LP is HUGE. Until now, that 1983 single has been the sole material trace of both band and artist. But like many dedicated musicians who follow their own path outside of the music industry, Haynes understood his musical worth, and the quality of his band. He had documented his work at key moments, laying down carefully worked out studio sessions and recording packed-out live gigs. The recordings that we present here are drawn from Haynes' personal archive of studio recordings that were for the most part unreleased.
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In recent years, the introductory texts for the Pop Ambient compilation series, which is released every year on Kompakt as the last release before the Christmas break, often began with the sentence "Every year again...".
“Every year again”, a quiet, almost unnoticed maxim of self-evidentness. Because this is already the 25th issue to be published this year.
25 years in increasingly fast-moving times in the even faster-moving music business is an eternity that doesn't just feel like it. It is all the more remarkable how I, as someone who is always restless and often driven by this fast pace himself, pleasantly almost haven’t realised how - in pop-ambient contexts - time does not pass (or passes differently) in the best sense.
When compiling the 25th edition I was asked, among other things, what it was like that I was still doing this and whether I had a favorite track. In the spirit of bringing all the tracks together I don't have a favorite track, or all of them. But I have a favorite part (moment) that I played. In this case it was a broad chord in a change of key at minute 2:55 in the piece Circles by Max Würden. A moment of majesty and familiarity that, at that moment, contains the entire Pop Ambient cosmos, that just works and doesn't explain anything - and I said: “...that's the reason why I'm still doing this.. .”
Pop Ambient is a statement without demands. Is promise without expectation. Is a path without a destination. Every year again.
Wolfgang Voigt, October 2024
And so to the facts:
01. Leandro Fresco / Thore Pfeiffer – Goldwasserfluss
The intercontinental collaboration between the two long-standing Pop Ambient artists Leandro Fresco from Argentina and Thore Pfeiffer from Mainz is a regular part of the series. They open this year's anniversary edition with the usual filigree.
02. Pass Into Silence – Mirage
The Japanese artist Tetsuo Sakae aka Pass into Silence returns to Kompakt 20 years after his legendary album “Calm Like A Millpond”. A master of tones that are as fine as they are stoic and crystal clear.
03. Tamarma & Sebastian Mullaert – Follow Me
For the first time, the well-known Swedish producer and DJ Sebastian Mullaert will be performing on Pop Ambient in cooperation with the Georgian sound artist Tamara Davitashvili. Their piece “Follow Me” fits confidently into the intimate, familiar sound cosmos.
04. Sono Kollektiv feat. Nathalie Brum – Periadriatische Naht
Sono Kollektiv is now a fixture on Pop Ambient, this time with Nathalie Brum. In particular, Luis Reich's characteristic flugelhorn always gives their sound that special jazzy touch.
05. Thore Pfeiffer – Phase Locked Loop 1
Thore Pfeiffer is a master of shimmering surfaces and hypnotically meandering loops.
06. Andrew Thomas feat. Julia Parr – Sunshine Night
An old friend from New Zealand is back with spherical sounds. Andrew Thomas, in collaboration with Julia Parr, sprinkles finely placed piano tones into distant soundscapes and even more distant voices.
07. Segensklang – Artifacts of Synthesis
We are pleased that Segensklang will be there again this year after his brilliant Pop Ambient debut last year. Deep and beautiful.
08. Ümit Han – Im Delirium
The Cologne producer Ümit Han is back for the third time. While he has so far explored the more emotional, soundscape aspects of the Pop Ambient universe, this year's piece "Im Delirium" rises to a pulsating mountain of sound with pearly, clear, effervescent sound crystals.
09. Würden & Schäfer – Analysis Of Variance II
In their track Analysis Of Variance II, Max Würden and Lukas Schäfer embed a finely placed beat impulse in a soft bed of modulating soundscapes and pleasant psychedelic spaceyness.
10. Max Würden– Circles
Max Würden once again shows his special feeling for one of the core statements of the Pop Ambient style spectrum. The abstract chord and soundscape movement between formal construction and emotional touchability, which seems like “pop music” under the microscope.
11. Blank Gloss – Jennifer’s Convertible
The Californian guitar-ambient duo takes us into their sublimely beautiful sound cosmos with their usual aplomb. Maximum condensed transparency. Lightness - heavy as gold.
12. Hendrik Meyer – Grün War Die Klamm
Another new addition is Hendrik Meyer. The versatile musician, also known for his MYR project distributed by Kompakt, leads us with a glistening, beautiful “wall of sound” determination into the eternity of a sunset that is only ended by the following track. Filmy Music.
13. Triola – Zum Renngraben
Jörg Burger aka Triola combines his typical “handmade” impulses and accents with a multi-dimensional, digital sound scenario in a pleasantly smoky, blurred stonewashed aesthetic.
14. Jens-Uwe Beyer – In Defense Of Symbolic Value 1
Jens-Uwe Beyer, a constant converter between ambient, art, techno and back again, closes Pop Ambient 2025 with a metallic, swinging, abstract sound sculpture with a baroque appearance. The track was created in the context of the exhibition “In Defense of Symbolic Value”, curated by Isabelle Graw at the Max Hetzler Gallery, April-June 2023.
As always, the indispensable final mastering by Jörg Burger ensures that everything is brought together and the sound is fine-tuned.
And like every year, the 25th edition is of course wrapped in an abstract, floral magic creation by Veronika Unland. Over the years, the grace of her imagery has increasingly merged with the musical aura to form an unmistakable magical symbiosis. In addition to the official vinyl and CD edition, there will be a limited edition of 100 pieces in transparent vinyl - including a hand-signed fine art print by Veronika Unland, available exclusively at Kompakt Mailorder. More
“Every year again”, a quiet, almost unnoticed maxim of self-evidentness. Because this is already the 25th issue to be published this year.
25 years in increasingly fast-moving times in the even faster-moving music business is an eternity that doesn't just feel like it. It is all the more remarkable how I, as someone who is always restless and often driven by this fast pace himself, pleasantly almost haven’t realised how - in pop-ambient contexts - time does not pass (or passes differently) in the best sense.
When compiling the 25th edition I was asked, among other things, what it was like that I was still doing this and whether I had a favorite track. In the spirit of bringing all the tracks together I don't have a favorite track, or all of them. But I have a favorite part (moment) that I played. In this case it was a broad chord in a change of key at minute 2:55 in the piece Circles by Max Würden. A moment of majesty and familiarity that, at that moment, contains the entire Pop Ambient cosmos, that just works and doesn't explain anything - and I said: “...that's the reason why I'm still doing this.. .”
Pop Ambient is a statement without demands. Is promise without expectation. Is a path without a destination. Every year again.
Wolfgang Voigt, October 2024
And so to the facts:
01. Leandro Fresco / Thore Pfeiffer – Goldwasserfluss
The intercontinental collaboration between the two long-standing Pop Ambient artists Leandro Fresco from Argentina and Thore Pfeiffer from Mainz is a regular part of the series. They open this year's anniversary edition with the usual filigree.
02. Pass Into Silence – Mirage
The Japanese artist Tetsuo Sakae aka Pass into Silence returns to Kompakt 20 years after his legendary album “Calm Like A Millpond”. A master of tones that are as fine as they are stoic and crystal clear.
03. Tamarma & Sebastian Mullaert – Follow Me
For the first time, the well-known Swedish producer and DJ Sebastian Mullaert will be performing on Pop Ambient in cooperation with the Georgian sound artist Tamara Davitashvili. Their piece “Follow Me” fits confidently into the intimate, familiar sound cosmos.
04. Sono Kollektiv feat. Nathalie Brum – Periadriatische Naht
Sono Kollektiv is now a fixture on Pop Ambient, this time with Nathalie Brum. In particular, Luis Reich's characteristic flugelhorn always gives their sound that special jazzy touch.
05. Thore Pfeiffer – Phase Locked Loop 1
Thore Pfeiffer is a master of shimmering surfaces and hypnotically meandering loops.
06. Andrew Thomas feat. Julia Parr – Sunshine Night
An old friend from New Zealand is back with spherical sounds. Andrew Thomas, in collaboration with Julia Parr, sprinkles finely placed piano tones into distant soundscapes and even more distant voices.
07. Segensklang – Artifacts of Synthesis
We are pleased that Segensklang will be there again this year after his brilliant Pop Ambient debut last year. Deep and beautiful.
08. Ümit Han – Im Delirium
The Cologne producer Ümit Han is back for the third time. While he has so far explored the more emotional, soundscape aspects of the Pop Ambient universe, this year's piece "Im Delirium" rises to a pulsating mountain of sound with pearly, clear, effervescent sound crystals.
09. Würden & Schäfer – Analysis Of Variance II
In their track Analysis Of Variance II, Max Würden and Lukas Schäfer embed a finely placed beat impulse in a soft bed of modulating soundscapes and pleasant psychedelic spaceyness.
10. Max Würden– Circles
Max Würden once again shows his special feeling for one of the core statements of the Pop Ambient style spectrum. The abstract chord and soundscape movement between formal construction and emotional touchability, which seems like “pop music” under the microscope.
11. Blank Gloss – Jennifer’s Convertible
The Californian guitar-ambient duo takes us into their sublimely beautiful sound cosmos with their usual aplomb. Maximum condensed transparency. Lightness - heavy as gold.
12. Hendrik Meyer – Grün War Die Klamm
Another new addition is Hendrik Meyer. The versatile musician, also known for his MYR project distributed by Kompakt, leads us with a glistening, beautiful “wall of sound” determination into the eternity of a sunset that is only ended by the following track. Filmy Music.
13. Triola – Zum Renngraben
Jörg Burger aka Triola combines his typical “handmade” impulses and accents with a multi-dimensional, digital sound scenario in a pleasantly smoky, blurred stonewashed aesthetic.
14. Jens-Uwe Beyer – In Defense Of Symbolic Value 1
Jens-Uwe Beyer, a constant converter between ambient, art, techno and back again, closes Pop Ambient 2025 with a metallic, swinging, abstract sound sculpture with a baroque appearance. The track was created in the context of the exhibition “In Defense of Symbolic Value”, curated by Isabelle Graw at the Max Hetzler Gallery, April-June 2023.
As always, the indispensable final mastering by Jörg Burger ensures that everything is brought together and the sound is fine-tuned.
And like every year, the 25th edition is of course wrapped in an abstract, floral magic creation by Veronika Unland. Over the years, the grace of her imagery has increasingly merged with the musical aura to form an unmistakable magical symbiosis. In addition to the official vinyl and CD edition, there will be a limited edition of 100 pieces in transparent vinyl - including a hand-signed fine art print by Veronika Unland, available exclusively at Kompakt Mailorder. More
Cat-No:ASIP037V
Release-Date:08.11.2024
Configuration:LP
Cat-No:ASIP037V
Release-Date:08.11.2024
Configuration:LP
1
ASC - First Act
2
ASC - Second Act
3
ASC - Third Act
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ASC - Fourth Act
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ASC - Fifth Act
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ASC - Sixth Act
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ASC - Seventh Act
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ASC - Eighth Act
*Vinyl reissue* Now available for the first time on limited edition 12”.
After two albums on A Strangely Isolated Place as Comit, James Clements brings his ASC alias to the label with a completely new and revealing style, focusing on the piano and creating space for the listener to construct their own associations with an imaginary Soundtrack.
Bridging the majority of Electronic styles over the past twenty years, from Autonomic and Jungle, to Ambient, Techno and IDM, James Clements can be held up as a master of these styles by many of us, but when it comes to boiling down his musical intricacies to focus on a single instrument, you’d be hard stretched to find something within his vast catalog until now. In 'Original Soundtrack' the piano is now the focus across eight introspective acts, with the spaces and places left open for further interpretation.
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri and featuring photography by Greg Nunn, Original Soundtrack was originally available as a limited Digipak CD and digital download and is now available as a limited edition 12” pressed on black vinyl. More
After two albums on A Strangely Isolated Place as Comit, James Clements brings his ASC alias to the label with a completely new and revealing style, focusing on the piano and creating space for the listener to construct their own associations with an imaginary Soundtrack.
Bridging the majority of Electronic styles over the past twenty years, from Autonomic and Jungle, to Ambient, Techno and IDM, James Clements can be held up as a master of these styles by many of us, but when it comes to boiling down his musical intricacies to focus on a single instrument, you’d be hard stretched to find something within his vast catalog until now. In 'Original Soundtrack' the piano is now the focus across eight introspective acts, with the spaces and places left open for further interpretation.
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri and featuring photography by Greg Nunn, Original Soundtrack was originally available as a limited Digipak CD and digital download and is now available as a limited edition 12” pressed on black vinyl. More
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay I
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay II
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay III
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Fan Club Orchestra - Parking
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay IV
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Fan Club Orchestra - Very Long Stay
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Fan Club Orchestra - Long Stay V
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Fan Club Orchestra - Void
Fan Club Orchestra (FCO) has its roots in collaborative performances and recordings that began taking place in the late nineties in Brussels. These continued into the second decade of the new millennium around Belgium and neighbouring countries. At a time when large contemporary arts spaces were less professionalised, less obedient to funding and attendance numbers, and Still tuned to their founding DIY impulses, FCO were able to nurture their nebulous cast of players with their unconventional ensemble of instruments to their own ends. The apparent informality of their performances, mixed with the sheer spectacle of their unfolding, transplanted the experimentalism of New York's downtown scene of the 1960s into the cracked consumer electronics period of new media art at the turn of the century. A newly regrouped FCO now present their album 'VL_Stay' on 12th Isle. This iteration of FCO sees Baudoux joined by Ann Appermans on guitar and bass, and Ze´phyr Zijlstra on trumpet. Appermans is an original FCO member as well as a frequent collaborator with Baudoux. Zijlstra is a jazz student at the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels. Recorded in just two weeks, the trio invoke the pedigree with which FCO first toyed, while sketching a continuity with new references.
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H.A.N.K. - Cruise
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H.A.N.K. - A Useful Fever
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H.A.N.K. - Azul's Garden
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H.A.N.K. - Jag Är Jag
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H.A.N.K. - While My Tar Gently Weeps
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H.A.N.K. - No Harm
Veteran producer Nick Höppner and Alex Kassian join Music From Memory's off - shoot, Second Circle for a new collaboration, H.A.N.K.
Born out of the unprecedented circumstances of the global pandemic, 'The Big Melt' represents a departure from the duo's typical club-oriented productions, instead exploring their shared passion for Krautrock, ambient, and guitar-driven music. The album showcases a more introspective and experimental side of both artists, blending elements of Fourth World, New Age, and leftfield electronic music.
Höppner and Kassian's creative partnership began in 2018 when Höppner released music from Kassian's project Opal Sunn on his label, Touch From A Distance. Their friendship quickly evolved into musical collaboration, initially focusing on dance music. However, as the pandemic unfolded, their studio sessions took an organic, freeform approach, embracing spontaneity and intuition.
'The Big Melt' features contributions from a diverse array of guest musicians, adding depth and texture to the album with instruments including guitar, clarinet, and the tar, an ancient Persian string instrument. Höppner's newly acquired drumming skills, developed during lockdown, also play a significant role in shaping the album's sound.
The creation of 'The Big Melt' spans several years, with initial jam sessions evolving into carefully crafted compositions through remote collaboration. This extended gestation period has allowed the music to mature, resulting in what Höppner describes as his proudest release to date.
'The Big Melt' stands as a testament to artistic resilience and creativity in the face of global challenges, offering listeners a rich, immersive journey into new sonic territories crafted by these two respected talents.
SC021 will be released on LP as well as digitally on November 8th 2024. Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis. More
Born out of the unprecedented circumstances of the global pandemic, 'The Big Melt' represents a departure from the duo's typical club-oriented productions, instead exploring their shared passion for Krautrock, ambient, and guitar-driven music. The album showcases a more introspective and experimental side of both artists, blending elements of Fourth World, New Age, and leftfield electronic music.
Höppner and Kassian's creative partnership began in 2018 when Höppner released music from Kassian's project Opal Sunn on his label, Touch From A Distance. Their friendship quickly evolved into musical collaboration, initially focusing on dance music. However, as the pandemic unfolded, their studio sessions took an organic, freeform approach, embracing spontaneity and intuition.
'The Big Melt' features contributions from a diverse array of guest musicians, adding depth and texture to the album with instruments including guitar, clarinet, and the tar, an ancient Persian string instrument. Höppner's newly acquired drumming skills, developed during lockdown, also play a significant role in shaping the album's sound.
The creation of 'The Big Melt' spans several years, with initial jam sessions evolving into carefully crafted compositions through remote collaboration. This extended gestation period has allowed the music to mature, resulting in what Höppner describes as his proudest release to date.
'The Big Melt' stands as a testament to artistic resilience and creativity in the face of global challenges, offering listeners a rich, immersive journey into new sonic territories crafted by these two respected talents.
SC021 will be released on LP as well as digitally on November 8th 2024. Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis. More