the black keys (and the white ones, too)

Being a guitarist, I give my piano playing musician friends a hard time. I accuse them of having no soul since they can't get vibrato, sustain notes without the aid of machinery, and can't bend notes. In other words, they can't do all the cool stuff that guitarists do (keyboards are another story). But to say that they don't emote is a bold statement. Piano covers a lot of ground, even if you can't take it to a campfire (still got them beat!). Just put on most amazing soundtracks and you can feel piano wire delicately gluing the mood to the scene. 
I remember being a young guitarist and sitting in a piano practice room with a big hollowbody guitar. I'd rest the end of the neck somewhere up on the piano, hold down the sustain key, and play really nice add 9 sus 11 chords and listen to the overtones that formed like a cloud, barely dissipating. That could be my first dive into real, live ambient, and those moments have defined a valuable moments in my life.

mind over matter

[DOWNLOAD MIND OVER MATTER] [ITUNES]

TRACK LISTING

• “The Electric Hydrometer” by Coelecanth from The Glass Sponge (23five), Released 2003 (Start Time 00:00)

• “Kelvin Balance” by Kent Sparling from The Under New Manna (Purling), Released July 12, 2000 (Start Time 00:00)

• “Aging Core, Aging Periphery” by Terre Thaemiltz from Soil (Instinct Records), Released July 25, 1995 (Start Time 10:19)

• “Bioelectrical Plasma” by Robert Rich from Humidity: Three Concerts (Hypnos Recordings), Released November 16, 2000 (Start Time 19:57)

• “Hi Energy Proton Accelerator” by Cliff Martinez from Solaris (Trauma), Released Novermber 27, 2002 (Start Time 29:56)

• “Liquid Air” by Robert Rich from Below Zero (Soleilmoon), Released July 20, 2004 (Start Time 38:38)

• “Voice Over Wire” by Building The Cathedral from Building The Cathedral (Building The Cathedral), Released March 7, 2007 (Start Time 47:10)

• “Stones (Instrumental” by Anne Garner from Trusting A Twirled World (Instrumental) (Magnatune), Released October 30, 2011 (Start Time 51:30)

magnatunes mix

[DOWNLOAD MAGNATUNES] [ITUNES]

TRACK LISTING

• “Haunt Me” by Anne Garner from Trusting A Twirled World (Slowcraft Records), Released February 1, 2011 (Start Time: 00:00)

• “Lumiere” by Davide Viterbo from Distant City (Magnatune), Released June 4, 2011 (Start Time: 3:20)

• “Sweet Sound Of Escape” by Dave Preston from Soundtrack For Motion (CDBY), Released July 20, 2010 (Start Time: 9:51)

• “Kedarika (Excerpt)” by Amelia Cuni and Werner Durand from Nada Yoga, Vol. 1 (Magnatune), Released October 8, 2009 (Start Time: 14:41)

• “T 4 05 (Vinyl)” by Petar Alargic from Classient Vinyl L 1 (Magnatune), Released March 22, 2011 (Start Time: 30:16)

• “Star Maker (Excerpt)” by Robert Rich from Below Zero (Solielmoon/Side Effects), Released September 1, 1998 (Start Time: 33:29)

• “Only The Names Change” by Rapoon from What Do You Suppose (Solielmoon/Staalplaat), Released November 16, 2000 (Start Time: 41:59)

• “Day Dreams – And Thirst Is Quenched (Excerpt)” by Paul Avgerinos from Balancing Spheres (Round Sky Music), Released July 13, 2004 (Start Time: 45:45)

• “The Tower (Instrumental)” by Anne Garner from Trusting A Twirled World (Instrumental) (Slowcraft Records), Released October 30, 2011 (Start Time: 52:32)