It’s been a very challenging semester. The shutdown of face-to-face classroom instruction caused no end of headaches, compromises in the quality of teaching, and some serious doubts about tests and grading. I just finished grading 55 final exams in one […]
With a humidifier, an aroma diffuser and a robot making appearances.
Japanese artist and curator Nozomu Matsumoto has released his soundtrack to Nile Koetting’s 2016 installation for Les Liaisons Ambiguës, titled Sustainable Hours, via The Death of Rave.
Read more: Sound Fields: Adventures in Contemporary Field Recordings
Koetting’s installation at Ginza Maison Hermès saw the Berlin-based artist using a series of objects – including a humidifier, an aroma diffuser and a robot – to explore the nihilistic side of punk philosophy.
For Sustainable Hours, Matsumoto condensed the original 6-hour soundtrack into five shorter compositions, shepherding punk lyrics recited by an artificial voice through new age-esque ambient and animal recordings.
Sustainable Hours follows Matsumoto’s Climatotherapy LP – one of our favourite soundtracks from 2018.
Head here to purchase Sustainable Hours, and check out the tracklist below.
Tracklist:
Side A
1. Sustainable III
2. Sustainable II
3. Sustainable I
Side B
1. Evening / Civil Twilight to Nautical Twilight
2. Night / Disco
8K-Fernseher mit HDMI-2.1-Ports sind zu 8K/60p-Quellen kompatibel. 8K-Übertragungen der Olympischen Spiele 2020 waren aus Tokio geplant, fallen aber leider wegen der Corona-Pandemie aus. Doch die 7.640 x 4.340 Pixel der neuen Display-Generation sind schon länger ein Segen für alle Foto-Enthusiasten, die ihre Bilder via USB in voller 8K-Qualität (33 Megapixel) im Vergleich zu UHD-TVs (8,3 …
Glenfiddich, a family run distillery which has been making globally revered single malt Scotch whisky since 1887, has partnered with Dumbarton’s own state of the art production team – Skapade Studios.
The new documentary reveals how Glasgow DJ and Skapade director Stephen Kirkwood worked alongside Glenfiddich ambassador David Allardice, to produce an ambient-electronic masterpiece using only sounds recorded from the Highland distillery. As it turns out, Skapade and one of the country’s oldest distilleries share a very similar approach to production – using a blend of carefully selected elements to create one, perfectly balanced product. Whisky barrels, copper pot stills and huge industrial machines were all used as original sounds in the project. However, perhaps the most significant and unique addition to the track was the voice of whisky making legend Dennis McBain, who has worked in the industry for almost 60 years.
The coppersmith’s lifelong passion for Glenfiddich runs throughout the track, providing an authentic listening experience that perfectly encapsulates the love that has gone into 130 years of making Scotland’s favourite whisky. Based in the village of Dufftown, The Distillation of Sound celebrates Scottish heritage with a glimpse into one of the country’s most beautiful distilleries; and the creative process behind the production of a piece of music like no other.
Dave Paradice, Glenfiddich ambassador and project creator said: “The idea came to me a couple of years ago to fuse my passion for electronic music and whisky by creating a unique track using sounds recorded at the whisky distillery. I needed to find the right partner. Someone that could bring their own creativity to the project and that had an appreciation for all the elements involved – whisky, music and Scottish heritage.”
An old friend of mine, Andy Begg suggested that I connect with Stephen on Instagram. I was already aware of Stephen’s reputation as a DJ/ producer and we started to message via social media. Within a few months we had built a rough plan. We lined up an amazing video production partnership with Enterprise Screens and off we went to the Scottish Highlands to record the sounds of distillation!”
DJ/producer and Director of Skapade Studios Stephen Kirkwood said: “I was approached by Dave about a project that involved two of my favourite things – music and Scottish Whisky! As soon as we got chatting about the idea, I knew I was the person for the job. Ideas started flowing between us and before we knew it, we had Glenfiddich’s distillery booked out for a couple of days to record sounds of the whisky making process. What an honour it was to get the chance to go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most popular and sought-after whiskies!
“The documentary we produced gives a window into the traditional process of whisky making, a beautiful distillery and its people, as well as a unique look at how everyday sounds can be creatively transformed into a piece of music. What a truly amazing experience.”
Skapade Studios is a state-of-the-art studio space that’s tailored to give students’ a boost in all areas of electronic music production – from mixing and mastering, to developing business skills.
The post An audio-visual project by Skapade Studios and Glenfiddich Distillery appeared first on Decoded Magazine.
Apollo / R&S are delighted to welcome back The Primitive Painter, aka the duo of Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke for a timely reissue of their 1994 lost classic self-titled album of sonorous IDM.
Growing up in Frankfurt, in the 80s and 90s the duo met at an indie rock club in their home town of Darmstadt, bonding over their shared obsession with the first wave of acid, Chicago house and early Detroit techno as well as their patronage of now iconic Frankfurt club nights like The Omen or Dorian Gray or the infamous Delirium Record shop run by scene stalwarts Ata (Robert Johnson) and Heiko MSO (Playhouse). Taking inspiration from the likes of The Black Dog and Transmat as well as seminal compilations such as Planet E’s Intergalactic Beats and Warp’s Artificial intelligence compilation the duo honed their inventive take on the Detroit techno blueprint under the moniker Acid Jesus, debuting on their freshly minted Klang Elektronik label. The label was started in conjunction with Ata and Heiko after Fluegel & Wuttke (regular patrons of the Delirium store) pressed a demo on them, muttering the immortal line; “Please listen to the tape, we are big Mr. Fingers fans.”
Through the mid ’90s the project flourished giving rise to a classic album and a brace of singles that number amongst the best of the era’s techno, winning them influential fans most notably Sven Väth, David Holmes and Andrew Weatherall who invited them to play live at one of the legendary Sabresonic parties in London. Alongside the success of the Acid Jesus project, the duo found great inspiration in outside of the club, including an ambient happening when the KLF came to play Frankfurt; “There were live sheep eating grass on stage while they played at Mark Spoon’s club XS”, as well as cinematic influence from the likes of Jim Jarmusch and Wim Wenders. It was however the euphonic IDM grandeur of Apollo Recordings self titled compilation of 1993 that really got their creative juices flowing:
“It was a ten track compilation with artists like David Morley, Model 500, Aphex Twin which still sounds so good today,” Jörn enthuses. “ It was really the trigger to go away from the Detroit sound and more towards the big melodies of B12 etc.”
Deciding to make their tribute to this style of music the duo turned out 10 tracks of gauzy, melodious electronica in a white hot fever, one after another over the ensuing months. Settling on a name for the new project they picked ‘The Primitive Painters’ taking inspiration from the band Felt. “We are both children of the C86 movement,” explains Jörn. “this attitude of noisy art school influenced rock like Primal Scream, MBV, The Jesus & Mary Chain really inspired us to take a DIY approach to our music.” They sent the resulting demo cassette to Renaat at R&S / Apollo. “We really had no expectations,” Jörn explains. “So we were shocked and delighted when we received a fax saying that he wanted to release it”
The resulting release was bungled by an R&S mix up that attributed the album to the duo’s own Klang Elektronik label which confused both fans and distributors alike, denying the release the critical boost and attention that it so richly deserved. Accordingly the release slipped out without much fanfare, with a chastened Fluegel & Wuttke returning to their Acid Jesus activities which would eventually lead to their blockbusting success as Alter Ego. Over the ensuing years the reputation of The Primitive Painter album has only grown, with second hand copies (only 500 vinyl were pressed) changing hands for exorbitant amounts on Discogs, leading us to this opportune moment of a richly deserved ‘first’ release on the label for which the project was started, Apollo / R&S.
“This really brings us full circle,” says Jörn. “Apollo / R&S meant and means so much to us as artists and so it was bittersweet to not have the official release – to put that right all these years later feels really good.”
This new vinyl release comes in re-created original gatefold artwork and includes all original 10 tracks (Stoned Soul Picnic was previously on the CD only). It also contains an exclusive previously unheard track ‘Testing’ on the digital release.
Tracklist:
01. Hope
02. Disfigured Phantasy
03. Levitation
04. Psycho Kinesis
05. Cathedral
06. Invisible Landscapes
08. A Pagan Place
09. Orgon Akkumulator
10. Stoned Soul Picnic
11. Testing
The post Roman Flügel’s lost 1994 IDM collab with Jörn Elling Wuttke reissued on Apollo/R&S appeared first on Decoded Magazine.
Matador returns to the foreground of electronic music’s vast landscape with Tuesday; his debut album contribution to the ambient realm. Offering an immersive montage of stories that pay tribute to Ireland’s idyllic vistas, the multifaceted producer’s breath-taking LP echoes a tenacious dedication to his craft. Following its soft launch in March, Tuesday now celebrates its official release – available to stream and download via Matador’s esteemed RUKUS imprint.
Following Matador, aka Gavin Lynch’s recent Astralwerks Records White Label release ‘Bush’ and vinyl-only ‘Cyclone’ series, the talent’s Tuesday project presents as a seminal down-tempo addition to his ever-flourishing back-catalogue. Proposing a fresh perspective on both concept and sonic sensibilities, the ambient-led electronica opus takes an alternative stylistic route from its predecessors, welcoming nature as its muse.
Perched in a tucked-away spot mere metres from the water, Matador’s Dublin-based workspace is enveloped by an abundance of nature and wildlife that serves as an endless source of inspiration for his production output. Harnessing field recordings from the untainted seascape, the album’s 20 cuts are replete with organic sentiment; from indigenous birdsong, to breaking waves and blustery storms; each composition stimulates a period of reflection for the listener, serving as an intimate retreat from every-day noise. Founded on a love for the free-flowing progression of music and an authentic composition process, Tuesday is designed for start-to-finish listening and is available as a continuous mix.
“My idea was to create a soundscape that connects and fills in the spaces; the physical spaces around us, the silences in between, and the space amongst our thoughts, actions and reactions” – Matador
The conceptual anthology of productions highlights a new dimension of scope for the Irish musician, as he references a myriad of musical styles from his repertoire. Restless in his forward momentum and pursuit of news sounds, Matador’s tastemaker qualities and deep-rooted musicality are firmly on display in this compilation, as is his long-standing love affair for modular synthesizers and drum machines. Galvanised by sublime melodies and delicate percussion, the rich sonic tapestry is a compelling and thought-provoking study of life’s own soundtrack, capable of soothing, exciting and reinvigorating in equal measure. With an approximately three-hour runtime, the sonically entrancing album, in its entirety, stands as a firm testament to Lynch’s pioneering musical vision and artistic vibrancy.
A true artist in every aspect of the word, the Model 1 ambassador’s wholly versatile and refined approach to producing riveting house and techno has propelled him into a league of his own, attracting continued support from the likes of Adam Beyer, Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, and Richie Hawtin. With pivotal performances at venerated dance destinations like DC-10, Sonus Croatia, Space Ibiza, and Stereo Montreal, and releases on benchmark labels Cocoon, Minus, and Perc Tracks, it’s safe to say that Lynch’s dedication to his craft is palpable. Just four years after launching his RUKUS imprint, the genre-defying producer’s label has chartered releases from industry titans like ANNA, ARTBAT, Coyu, Hot Since 82, and Skream to name a few.
‘Tuesday’ Album Tracklist: – Stream
1. Leaf (Original Mix) – Matador
2. Duster (Original Mix) – Matador
3. Ruffles (Original Mix) – Matador
4. Boing (Original Mix) – Matador
5. Mars (Original Mix) – Matador
6. Opal Fruit (Original Mix) – Matador
7. Boarders (Original Mix) – Matador
8. Seven (Original Mix) – Matador
9. Inserts (Original Mix) – Matador
10. Doyley (Original Mix) – Matador
11. Bankers Gout (Original Mix) – Matador
12. The Final Staple (Original Mix) – Matador
13. Marathon (Original Mix) – Matador
14. Solo (Original Mix) – Matador
15. Levelled (Original Mix) – Matador
16. Bracketman (Original Mix) – Matador
17. Shoestrings (Original Mix) – Matador
18. Kitmen (Original Mix) – Matador
19. Palms (Original Mix) – Matador
20. Divil (Original Mix) – Matador
The post Matador presents new ambient & electronica album appeared first on Decoded Magazine.
The Hackney Wick-based music shop is world-renowned and the go-to for everything modular synth. For the last five years, owners Simon Lynch and Phil Ventre have regularly joined forces as London Modular Alliance, performing their signature electro sound at some of the world’s biggest clubs and festivals.
New label Longhaul is their latest venture and will focus on physical releases right across the electronic music spectrum. Electro, IDM, techno, bass, garage, as long as it’s got quailty, it’ll get a look in. The first release is a cheeky, forward-thinking electro EP. No artist or track titles are listed and the artwork is a simple white label. But there’s a heartfelt reason for this understated approach. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross, who provide vital support to those most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The emphasis of the release is about the amazing work they’re doing during this crisis. Limited to 250 units on heavyweight, 180g vinyl, Longhaul #001 will be released on 27th May via the longhaul bandcamp page.
The post London Modular launch new record label Longhaul… appeared first on Decoded Magazine.
JVCs native 4K-Projektoren DLA-N5, N7 sowie das Topmodell NX9 analysieren seit dem letzten Update jedes einzelne HDR-Bild in Echtzeit. Wir informieren hierüber im Detail, beleuchten aber auch die generellen Unterschiede der drei Modelle bezüglich Technik und Ausstattung. Rund zwei Jahre beherrschten die nativen 4K-Projektoren der N-Reihe von JVC statisches HDR10. Wahlweise nutzten sie zudem Metadaten …
RØDHÅD has continuously pushed the boundaries of modern techno to new hypnotic and theatrical heights on his Dystopian party-turned-label imprint, where he released his debut Anxious back in 2017. This time, RØDHÅD tunes into a place of reflection and reformation on his most avant-garde project to date: WSNWG – BACK TO ZERO. Intended to provide a space for solo releases, the imprint comes at a crucial turning point, as society circles in on itself during the pandemic.
RØDHÅD christens the label with MOOD, his first ambient experimentalist release, comprised of his own solo archival material mostly from 2017/2018, working on a plane of spontaneity, devoid of set structures. The result is a life-giving, intimate and solipsistic work. Awash with field recordings, droning loops and subtle granulations, the sparse soundscapes on the 18- track album are deeply profound and satisfying. Crafting emotive textures through detailed layering of ethereal pads and simple synth melodies on ‘When They Returned After Midnight’ reflects the producer’s meditative sensibilities, whilst more beat-driven tracks such as ‘He Didn’t Seem The Kind of Guy Who Would’ and ‘Pigeons Dancing On The Roof’ employ trip-hop beats atop washed synths and textural loops for a more downtempo affair. The album often has the dynamics of a sci-fi film score; the slow-building distortion on ‘A Huge Plume of Ash Rose From a Volcano’ carries a profound weight and substance, whilst the eerie ‘Like Sleepwalkers Ghosting Through A Dream’ breathes as if it had a life of its own.
Collating a myriad of emotions through this sonic venture, RØDHÅD demonstrates his kaleidoscopic nature as a producer of atmospheric and ambient soundscapes, as well as his legacy provider of dance floor energies. The album will have unique artwork contributed by DJ & producer Silent Servant.
MOOD will be available to download digitally for free on May 7th, with a vinyl pressing following later on July 10th. As an illuminating gesture in these times, this album will be free to download for all, ensuring a sense of unity through the release.
1. A Huge Plume Of Ash Rose From A Volcano
2. Flying Between The Clusters Of Trees Without Buoyoant, Floating Wing Beats
3. He Was Beginning To Despair Of Ever Knowing
4. Like Sleepwalkers Ghosting Through A Dreamscape
5. Lions In The Supermarket Don‘t Sound Like Humans
6. Misty Fog Covering The Side Window
7. That Appeal Has Been Put Into Suspense By Reason
8. He Or She Will Then Drill Into The Pulp To Reach The Root Canal
9. Into Your Brain – A News Report Said The Line Carried 13,000 Volts of Electricity
10. No Forms To Fill Out, No Instant Check, No Waiting Period
11. The Film is About A Clown Who Leaves His Circus And Lives In A Building Near The Railway Station
12. She Wanted Her To Grow Up In A Nice House With A Backyard, So She Could Play
13. The Drawings Were Rearranged, As If By Magic
14. He Didn‘t Seem The Kind Of Guy Who Would Just Get Talking To A Stranger
15. Pigeons Dancing On The Roof
16. When They Returned Home After Midnight
17. I Wanted To Hold Her Close And Whisper In Her Ear That She‘d Be Fine
18. Good Bye My Love
Download here
The post Rødhåd shares ambient album as free download appeared first on Decoded Magazine.
UK DJ and producer WEISS marks his first release of 2020 with new single ‘First Sight’, out 1st May via Island Records.
An infectious 80s-infused house cut, ‘First Sight’ brings new life to retro-tinged synths, delivering a sound that’s simultaneously nostalgic and fresh-sounding. It acts as the first installment of a multi-track story exploring themes of creative expression, unity, love, and positivity inspired by memories and impressions of formative raving years with good friends, new friends and strangers alike.
After emerging onto the scene in 2013, WEISS has ascended through the dance music ranks at an impressive rate, releasing hit records such as ‘You’re Sunshine’ and ‘My Sister’, receiving support from a host of legends ranging from Armand van Helden, Eats Everything and Carl Cox to Elton John. His 2018 hit single ‘Feel My Needs’ took the world by storm, reaching #1 in both the BBC Radio 1 Dance Chart and ARIA Club Chart (also being voted the #1 track for the year), and winning ‘Best Track’ at the DJ Mag ‘Best of British’ awards.
WEISS has circled the globe countless times to complete tours worldwide, in the latter part of 2019 he embarked on his biggest ever tours of North America and Oceania covering 30 dates across 7 weeks including performances at EDC in Mexico City, Electro Zoo in New York, All My Friends in Los Angeles, Harbour Life in Sydney, Petting Zoo in Melbourne and many more, ending the year at London’s coveted Brixton Academy on New Years Eve.
Marking the start of a new chapter, ‘First Sight’ is a masterful release that sees WEISS delve further into his musical roots. With plenty more music (and easter eggs) to come, watch this space in the coming months as WEISS’ story unfurls.
The post WEISS drops retro-tinged new single ‘First Sight’ appeared first on Decoded Magazine.