Still Audio: Calm, Free Electronica

Just prior to compiling Still Audio #31, I recieved an email from Gustavo Caldas, of Beyond Absence, letting me know about their latest release over on Webbed Hand. Beyond Absence are rapidly becoming one of my favourite artists with their free-form ambient acoustic style. So, I’m delighted to feature a track from their latest release “Complacency” on this podcast.

We also feature old-school electronica from Mikael Fyrek courtesy of newly formed Nordic netlabel Soft Phase, and some relaxed IDM from Raoul Santos on the Cubiculum netlabel.

Track 1

• Artist Country: Sweden
• Netlabel:Soft Phase
• Artist: Mikael Fyrek
• Release: Directors Cut
• Track: 4/A dream I never had
• URL: http://softphase.org/netlabel/releases/sfp02

Track 2

• Artist Country: Netherlands
• Netlabel: Cubiculum
• Artist: Raoul Santos
• Release: Sleeping Dogs EP
• Track: All Big Blue
• URL: http://www.archive.org/details/RaoulSantos

Track 3

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Webbed Hand
• Artist: Beyond Absence
• Release: Complacency
• Track: 07/Space Trip
• URL: http://www.webbedhandrecords.com/wh113-beyond-absence-complacency/

 

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We hit #30 with a short but decidedly sweet episode. An eclectic mix of light hearted poppy playfulness. Nothing too deep, and it’s all over far too quickly.

Track 1

• Artist Country: Canada
• Netlabel: 12rec
• Artist: Matt Chisholm/Various Artists
• Release: 051/Through The Mirror: adcBicycle Revisioned
• Track: 8/Living Room Player
• URL: http://12rec.net/Release_adcBicycle_051.htm

Track 2

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Kahvi
• Artist: Curious Inversions
• Release: Whom
• Track: 7/Voluntary
• URL: http://www.kahvi.org/releases.php?release_number=254

Track 3

• Artist Country: Estonia
• Netlabel: Bump Foot
• Artist: Kapten
• Release: All Around EP
• Track: 4/Federation of Light
• URL: http://www.bumpfoot.net/foot084.html

 

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Subtle, slightly up-tempo pace for this episode. Jazz references, ambient melodies, interspersed with occasional vocal samples.

Track 1

• Artist Country: Russia
• Netlabel: Groovecaffe
• Artist: Stanislav E. Rasovsky (Irokez)
• Release: Enfeeblement [EP]
• Track: 3/Enfeeblement
• URL: http://groovecaffe.com/releases/view/112/

Track 2

• Artist Country: Finland
• Netlabel: Sonetika
• Artist: Deymare
• Release: Design Your Life
• Track: 3/Rune Stones
• URL: http://www.sonetika.com/Releases/son009.html

Track 3

• Artist Country: Germany
• Netlabel: Kreislauf
• Artist: He-Lux
• Release: Native
• Track: 1/Essentials
• URL: http://kreislauf.org/v10/?p=498

 

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Three tracks for this podcast, two from the release entitled “Rarified” by Beyond Absence, recently made available on the excellent Webbed Hand label. The two-man team comprising Beyond Absence (Gustavo Caldas and Mauro Longordo) describe themselves as having a traditional musical background including, amongst others, jazz and bossa nova. These influences are clear in tracks 1 and 3 of Still Audio #28, but the whole release has a beautifully light, melodic touch. Subtle chord progressions (more than slightly jazz-influenced) are improvised throughout to create an electroacoustic beauty that compels you to slow down, and listen carefully.

Track 2 is a previously unreleased piece from Audio Gourmet, in advance of his forthcoming album. A tropically intense drone incorporating field recordings as well as Harry’s own rapidly emerging, dense, layered style. I think we can expect to see more of his work coming to a netlabel near you very soon indeed.

Update: Harry tells me that since the original was recorded, he has re-mastered this particular track to include some original field recordings that will find their way on to the forthcoming album. Follow the link for track 2 below for more information.

Track 1

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Webbed Hand
• Artist: Beyond Absence
• Release: Rarified
• Track: 03/Ophio
• URL: http://www.webbedhandrecords.com/wh109-beyond-absence-rarified/

Track 2

• Artist Country: UK
• Netlabel: n/a
• Artist:Audio Gourmet
• Release:n/a
• Track: Untitled Drone
• URL: http://www.archive.org/details/AudioGourmet-SevenMinutesOfPeace

Track 3

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Webbed Hand
• Artist: Beyond Absence
• Release: Rarified
• Track: 04/Air and Rain
• URL: http://www.webbedhandrecords.com/wh109-beyond-absence-rarified/

 

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It’s experimental, but it’s working. Point your media player here (Windows Media Player & iTunes will work) to listen to the MP3 streaming version of the podcast.

The World has gone completely mad this week. What better then, than to forget about it all for just a few minutes. Special thanks to Dominique Jacquinet who dropped me a line to tell me about his new EP “Echoscapes”, a track from which we feature on this very podcast.

Track 1

• Artist Country: Italy
• Netlabel: Phantom Channel
• Artist: Elisa Luu
• Release: Floating Sounds
• Track: 01/Starry Night
• URL: http://www.phantomchannel.co.uk/webreleases.html

Track 2

• Artist Country: Russia
• Netlabel: Netaudio Russia
• Artist: Zolotu vs Katya Chehova
• Release:Yet Another
• Track: 1/Po Provodam
• URL: http://www.netaudio.ru/weird-elements/releases/we004

Track 3

• Artist Country: Lithuania
• Netlabel: Plainaudio
• Artist: SoulSonic
• Release: Evil Side EP
• Track: Itau
• URL: http://www.plainaudio.com/experimental/releases/pp028mx.html

Track 4

• Artist Country: The Netherlands
• Netlabel: Schall
• Artist: Dominique Jacquinet
• Release: Echoscapes EP
• Track: 4/echoscapes [zzzzra remix]
• URL: http://www.schall-netlabel.com/schall_017.html

 

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Transient Universe refers to the universe not being fixed, as most imagine. It is the idea that the universe is constantly expanding and contracting at a varying rate. With this, the theory has it that our moods and emotions change in accordance with these contractions. Everybody will remember times when they felt they had more energy, more confidence and optimism in a particular situation…and equally they will remember the times when they just haven’t felt up to it. Often, these feelings are unexplainable, as there is not necessarily a reason for us being suddenly optimistic/pessimistic. Think of a human striving for a dream or goal and whilst usually remaining confident, the next day they wake up feeling they’re just not good enough to make the grade. The Transient Universe theory explains that this sporadic fluctuation in mood is a completely natural process.

[Audio Gourmet Field Recordings]
Track 3

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Musica Excentrica
• Artist: Kenneth Kirschner
• Release: Magnificentia Naturae (Compilation)
• Track: 5/”January 25th, 1997″
• URL: http://excentrica.org/releases/1/

Track 7

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Kurzwellen
• Artist: Pocka
• Release: Sampled Guitar
• Track: 5/Dao
• URL: http://www.archive.org/details/kwn004

Track 8

• Artist Country: Italy
• Netlabel: Zymogen
• Artist: Con_Cetta
• Release: Sclerosis
• Track: 1/”2.53″
• URL: http://www.zymogen.net/releases/zym019/

 

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Melodic, glitchy, minimal. A short podcast this time around, but as I’m sure you’ll agree, perfectly formed.

Track1

• Artist Country: Russia
• Netlabel: Materializm
• Artist: D-Noise & Mr.Pips
• Release: Viaje En Barco
• Track: 5/Firmament
• URL: http://materializm.webs.com/releasesfreemp3sart.htm

Track 2

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Camomille Music
• Artist: Transient
• Release: Feel Good Inside
• Track: 16/Love Story
• URL: http://camomille.genshimedia.com/cam102.htm

Track 3

• Artist Country: Spain
• Netlabel: Miniatura Records
• Artist: Cesar Chamero
• Release: Comienza la funcion
• Track: 4/Titiritero (Alex Medina remix)
• URL: http://www.miniaturarecords.com/netreleases_miniatura016.html

 

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Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you all.  I have another podcast in the pipeline and it will be with you soon.

Cheers - Simon.

This episode grows to a gentle crescendo, starting off with acoustic melodies, piano and guitar. These relaxed ambient sounds finally give way to a more intense, hypnotic conclusion. Brief but joyful.

Track 1 © Copyright The Sundog Project 2008. Download for free at www.vorbic.com

• Artist Country: England
• Netlabel: Vorbic
• Artist: The Sundog Project
• Release: At Night EP
• Track: When You Wake
• URL: http://www.vorbic.com/releases/vrb027/

Track 2

• Artist Country: England
• Netlabel: 12rec
• Artist: Crepusculum
• Release: So Much Achieved. So Much Left To Do.
• Track: 7/Sleep At Sunrise
• URL: http://www.12rec.net/12rec.050_Downloads.htm

Track 3

• Artist Country: USA
• Netlabel: Test Tube
• Artist: Gordon Tebo
• Release: Patina Turner
• Track: Phone Home
• URL: http://www.monocromatica.com/netlabel/releases/tube120.htm

 

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