guest mix: silas (part III)

I've been fortunate to have the honor of once again presenting a session by one of my favorite storytellers: SILAS. Silas returns with a beautifully weaved mix of subtle bliss and dark melancholy. I'm honored that Silas keeps in good contact with me and has been churning out a plethora of epic mixes. Rather than to mentally coast through any sessions that Silas creates, I choose to ingest his pure musical vision completely undeterred by outside influences. Mixes like his are the reason I spent a lot on headphones, and between that small universe that exists in my mind, he unfolds a story of beauty and wonder on a grandiose scale. When he presents music to me with enthusiasm, I believe that his inspiration is sincere. TEULU is one such mix that came to me from Silas, and I'm confident that you will be taken in by its intense orchestration and development just as I am.

guest mix: michael gaida

Greetings from the ethereal universe and welcome to Spaceman's Transmissions. It's known that I spend a bit of my listening time on Mixcloud, and it's extremely gratifying when I get positive feedback. I often try to return favor, but checking out all sorts of mixes (as much as my ear and brain will allow), and hearing positive comments from those that create magic is the highest form of praise. I save what I can in a my NEW STUFF TO REVIEW folder and pay if a visit first and foremost. Needless to say, it's very overwhelming and ambitious. 

I had gotten the opportunity to come across a mix entitled THE JOURNEY OF A PAPER BOAT from listener MICHAEL GAIDA and was completely floored by the sonic offerings. I took it in as an early morning session to get my head right, and it pretty much did the trick (very well). I asked Michael if I could host this on Spaceman's Transmission (so that everyone could take in the vibe) and he was happy to oblige. Michael has built up such a deep, subtle mix that will take you in and give you a soothing mental de-fragmentation. His balance of  colorful melodic drone and harmonic soundscapes is perfect. This is easily one mix that will put you 1 1/2 hours into the future with a clear mental tapestry. I find Michael's music choices and sessions to be very, very inspirational. I asked Michael to shed some light on himself, and while humble about it all, he provided some great insight to his mastery of the sublime.

Michael Gaida was born in 1966 ("....yes, i broke the "wall of 40"...") in Dusseldorf, Germany. His initial love for electronic music cam in the late 90's beginning with Liquid Drum & Bass artists such as LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad, Tayla, Blu Mar Ten, PFM, as well as other artists from the Good Looking Records Family. This turned him onto his future fav's Dave Seaman and Nick Warren at Global Underground.

guest mix: spinnet

Welcome to another episode of Spaceman's Transmissions. As your host, I'm responsible for providing a very intensely tranquil journey to those places in your mind that wake your imaginative synapses and clear the fog. With this latest guest mix, I'm confident that we will accomplish this.

I have graciously received a session a (very long) while back from a DJ named SPINNET who hails from Greece. While I had many things to deal with this summer, I am finally able to get this mix out to the world, and extremely happy to do so. If you are craving deep space that nonetheless draws you into a universe of minimal soundscapes but still leave your harmonic indulgences satisfied, you've come to the right place. Spinnet is another crafty DJ that is adept at finding perfect balances between 'felt' pulses and tapestries of melodic flow. Listening to his session brings a sense of Steve Roach-ish vibe balanced with subtle Global Communication colors. To top it off, I'm really digging on his editing and shifting of mood color. This mix will serve not only as background music but equally as foreground. Some of the best mixes that I get have me pulling the headphones off as I think that something is going on outside, as if my ears have tricked my mind into diving almost too deep. That's the way I like it.

guest mix: chasing sleep

It's not often (enough) that I get gifted with exclusive mixes that come from individual DJ's that seem to catch wind of Spaceman's Transmissions and honor this site by desiring to be a part of the ambient family. CHASING SLEEP (Scott Nyce) is actually one of those rare few, and I'm extremely blown away by the set that he sent in. I actually got my first full listen on a bike ride in July and actually got goosebumps about 6 miles into the ride (didn't realize that this was possible, given that it was close to 100 degrees outside). Now that's an indication of a killer set. While I'm not always about publishing beats (with the exception of a few that bring it in nicely, such as FACTION), Scott balances the beat with the beatless and his ability to glue his elements together create a gravity that is as intense as it is beautiful. He is able to still keep alternating profiles active: as a dance/bass music DJ (Headunit), one of more ambient/minimal/experimental structure (Chasing Sleep), and as Scott Nyce when DJ'ing sets. Such a mix like this can only come from a chameleon-like DJ that strives to be prolific in all things musical and whose accomplishments are monumental. That said, it is indeed Scott who manages to bring his depth of experience into presenting this unreal set of sounds to your ears. Here's what Scott had to say (I chose to do very little editing as his story is a fascinating read!): 

as the world comes into focus (collaboration with dj seroton)

Now that we are fully into summer, I have regained my full momentum of enjoying the ride on Mother Earth's forgiving surface. I've made sure that the necessary pieces of my life's puzzle have been put together with precision (Tuned up the bike for amazing rides? Check. Bought new Frisbees? Check. Got supplies to fly kites with the kids and made sure the bubble machines had fresh batteries? Check and check.). Completing vitals tasks such as this allow me to get my head right with some great musical interludes.

I created the 3 prior mixes in the span of a few days in very early January, as I knew that the winter for me would be terrible. And it was. It was full of homework, and non-stop travel to the snowiest places in the US at the time (I was HERE during this time), and traveling through the mid-West during equally terrible weather for the entire month of March (spending my birthday on tour, bleh.). During that time, I didn't take in too much new music, but did release WE'VE COME UNDONE. This allowed me to take that money earned and buy new music off of Bandcamp which really got my mind in motion for new sounds. So I'm presenting a lot of new music bought there in this mix, and I hope that you like it. But enough about that.

drifter v6 (collaboration with dj seroton)

I'm really pleased and honored to be able to present a collaborative mix (the first of two that we have planned) between DJ SEROTON and myself that will grace his DRIFTER SERIES  sessions. These series of mixes are probably the best that I've come across in quite a while so I'm really stoked to be a part of this. I'm inspired by him not only musically, but also by his professionalism and presentation. You could definitely say that this is his testament to the music that he loves as well as his artistic approach to creating sessions. 

Music speaks across boundaries of time, distance, and language, and what we present here is proof of that. We had some really great communication in getting this together (thankfully in English, I appreciate that, man!) and our mindsets were in line with each other in that we wanted to construct a seamless journey for your mind to bathe itself within. In creating this mix, we became completely taken in by each others concepts, and that friendly competition only stoked a passion to deliver our finest moments to your ears. We truly believe that we accomplished this.

guest mix: dj seroton

The family of ambient mixers all come from a common thread, and a core belief of us all is that music has the capacity to be a moving and uplifting force. We create moments within a wide range of color and sound through what others have done. Our goal is to give your thoughts a place to go, letting the negative vibe that forms the dark cloud around you to be lifted and released, even if only for a moment. 
In discovering DJ SEROTON (short for serotonin, a very fitting moniker), I found those moments within his mixes. What initially captured my ear were his monumental ambient structures (aptly named as the DRIFTER sets). But to rest his laurels on just one type of music to mix, he also hosts additionally phenomenal sets within separate series called UNWIND (chillout music) and TRANCE NCHANTMENT (vocal and uplifting trance). I caught wind of his mixes and was guided to his WEBSITE, which is so very well done, informative, and impressive to say the least. Needless to say, we've developed a few collaborations. I'm really stoked by what he's stirred up in the pot for me to finish and will be posting our mixes in the near future. In the meantime, I'm very happy to be hosting 3 of my favorite mixes from his DRIFTER (AMBIENT) SERIES.

guest mix: grani radioshow

A while back, I was attending a sensational mix by GRANI RADIOSHOW entitled GRANI RADIOSHOW #42 (AUTUMN SEA), taking it in, and floating among the blissful sounds created by these DJ's. Needless to say, it's safe to say that this particular mix was one that pulled me into the world of Grani Radioshow. Not only are the music selections amazing, but the crafting is breathtaking. This mix has a life of its own, exhaling warmth and a deep intensity that seeps into the mind of listeners that crave color and clarity. It took a bit to get in contact with them, but once I did, I was richly rewarded with downloads of every mix available from them through a hosting site (that's 60 mixes so far). I was pretty overwhelmed (and still am) to find the best of the best within these mixes, so I'm hosting 3 mixes from them that resonate with me.

Grani Radioshow (grani translates to 'edge' or 'side') consists of 2 individuals (Alexy Moned & Denis Disia) that create these mixes while geographically separated in Belsarus & Russia. While they have worked on a few mixes together, their preferred method is that each submit a mix for hosting individually. The best part of actually hosting this mix is the response that I got from Denis when requesting a bio.

"I'm not sure that our biography is important. The important thing is the music :)"

guest mix: gosh snobo

For this episode of Spaceman's Transmissions, I'm very fortunate to have given permission by a deservedly accomplished DJ goes by the name DJ SNOBO in presenting THIS WAS OUR LAST CHANCE (BEFORE WE SLEPT). Gosh hails from Riga, Latvia, and has a very extensive bit of involvement in the DJ scene, as well as in music overall. I asked Gosh quite a while back to host his mix. We had lost communication, but persistence allowed us to reconnect. While I try to do the most justice in doing write-ups for people, DJ Snobo says it best. Therefore, I pulled a bit of the bio off of his website.

guest mix: junkyard angel (part V)

It goes without saying that when Paul Simmonds creates a session, it's an aural journey that is ever so carefully and meticulously designed to enhance the senses. This is my 5th guest mix for JUNKYARD ANGEL, and they just keep getting better and better. This one came as an early Christmas present, and I welcome that. I could easily go on and on about the incredible music that Paul stirs into the pot, or how he adds a touch of madness to glue the sonic ingredients, or what-have-you. Suffice it to say that you will find peace and mental renewal within this set.

I CAN HARDLY BREATHE RIGHT NOW is a peaceful (as well as somber and reflective) trip that evolves in colorful ways from dark to light. There is no one better than JA to balance those variables with extremely careful precision. Like all of his mixes, I was drawn into its depth and reassembled as a slightly more aware human. I'm very grateful that I get to take in new music via his channeling of artistic introduction. I hope that the same sensations and sense of elation are gathered by you after taking in this colorful creation. Follow JA on MIXCLOUD and allow him to light your way to new and amazing mixes.

guest mix: the silent project (part III)

I've been dragging my feet on this way too long as I've been wrapping things up on my latest release, I've been on tour, and I'm taking a class on technical business writing that is keeping my mind humming. Now I'm ready to bring you one of the most amazing pieces of ambient- and mood-enhanced sonic pleasures brought to you by none other than THE SILENT PROJECT.

MÉANDRES by The Silent Project is the new standard by which all mixes will (and should be) measured up to. It becomes increasingly difficult for many (myself included) to not be humbled by such a perfect piece that is laid out so logically, with each color lining up to set up the next. It's almost depressing to hear something that is so above and beyond that will inevitably send me to the drawing board wondering how I could even hold a match to one of the greatest things ever. The opening is dark, and the gravitational pull of it takes in your full mental awareness, twisting your mind around and around while dropping bits of shadow and light onto it without stopping its momentum. 

guest mix: mantraman

I'm very proud to be bringing the music of MANTRAMAN to the masses for this outing on Spaceman's Transmissions. I've been digging on Mantraman's mixes for a bit now, and I finally get a chance to show the love. I've been blessed with having the opportunity to host 3 mixes. 

Within his mixes you will find a colorful mindtrip of perfectly balanced moods, reflecting his quest for peace and solitude. Even his profile picture exudes tranquility and is the epitome of chill. When I'm in need of a deep mental massage or that escape pod that houses my turbulent mind for intergalactic travel, I look no further than Mantraman's mixes. His quest for the perfect mix to calibrate the soul is not without merit.

guest mix: faction (part II)

I got contacted recently by FACTION (Ben Selby) about a new mix that he's created. Out of all of the artists that I follow, Ben is probably one of the guys that blow my mind in the biggest way. His sonic tapestries are a huge journey into the subconscious, stopping at the various synapses which bring light and sound into focus. Given the vast amount of influences and music, Faction flawless (and consistently) pieces together the most seamless mixes ever.  I can never seem to find edits in his mixes. His canvases are a perfect blend of light and dark colors that are pleasing, challenging, and ever shapeshifting. Not only are they musically gratifying, but the work ethic that he displays is unrivaled and unparalleled.

For this guest mix, I am absolutely honored to be a part of hosting [ TIME IS WHAT KEEPS THE LIGHT FROM REACHING US ]. Make sure that you are well prepared with open ears and open mind. This will allow the music to ebb and flow into your mind's ether, penetrating the pores that drink color and taste sound. If you choose to only listen, you will miss the finer points of the mix. The best option is to experience the mix while fully disengaging distractions and fully engaging undivided attention. Upon taking in the mix, your sense of gravity will calibrate, your senses will be renewed with extreme precision, and you mental state will have increased to absolute efficiency. Or your money back.

collaboration: fading light (part I & 2)

Tonepoet: 
I can say that for me, it's a dream come true to have finally been involved in a collaboration with a mix-artist that is without a doubt one of my favorites. I've been digging on JUNKYARD ANGEL's mixes since he first started uploading mixes on Mixcloud. I've hosted his mixes here quite a bit (more than anyone else), and have had such candid and (dear I say?) brotherly contact with him despite our differences in time, culture, and location. All of his music lives on my media player, and accompanies me on my bike rides, in my car, or anywhere else that I use it (which is everywhere) for getting my fix of great new music. I save his comments, and mark his emails as 'unread' so that I can take in his wit and gather the positive vibe that he exudes again and again. 

We've talked long about our musical interests, and lives in general. We've actually bounced a few original ideas (that we'll get to at some point) back and forth. This, hopefully, serves as a springboard for that. I have to say, that after listening to so many of his mixes repeatedly, I would definitely have to bring my 'A' game with a mix. His vision for melding the bizarre, accentuating the awe-inspiring, and conjuring the twist of fear is something that marvels me. I brought the suggestion of a sort of final swan song or opus, as I've had mostly lighthearted mixes, and I knew that he would be able to pull out his magic wand and develop such a great story. Hence the name 'fading light'. It could mean the close of a day, a final breath, a dying thought, or a moment that has expired. While I could ramble on with all of this, I'm passing the torch over to Junkyard Angel for the remainder of the narrative. One last thing: if feels good to ride on the backs of angels.

mixcloud charts

It came to a bit of a surprise that recently Mixcloud started charting releases. With each tag, there is a weekly rating of how each mix is with reference to the ratio of plays to likes (or some such sorcery and math, it all confuses me). FOR THE LONELY SOULS somehow has ended up on the chart for electronic music and also for ambient music. Not only that, it's doing well (not as many plays as everything around it, but the likes per play make a huge difference, I assume). I've reached 12th on the electronic charts (with Mixmaster Morris leading the march!), and 13th on the ambient charts. Very, very happy and stoked to be supported like this from listeners in the biggest way. It really makes my day, no doubt, and I thank everyone that listens and likes. I have some great things planned this year, and glad to be a part of the Mixcloud family! Peace.

//tonepoet//

(edit: as of the 2nd of June, the mix reached 10th in the Electronic charts and 11th in the Ambient charts...........so very cool!)

guest mix: silas (part II)

It seems as though the best mixes that I come across happen when I should be in bed, and have a lot of stressful stuff on my mind. Those mixes seem to break through the ice of turmoil, keep me awake in anticipation, and cause me to drift into the scene that they've created. There are checkpoints within the flow that develop themes and alter moods on a whim. With my mind engaged, I am able to reassess the balance of negative and positive vibe, and more often than not, I realize that music is just a great big part of my life that permeates my soul like a sponge picking up water. I am the sponge. I want you to be the sponge. Or something like that.

I cannot express the feeling that I get from listening to SILAS' newest mix entitled SCORE ONE. Every song has got me digging through the track listing, searching the artists, and eager to flesh out my music collection with new sonic morsels. There are points within the mix that seem to almost dissolve, surrounding delicate sounds with dissipating clouds of tones. While it would seem like the mix could end (and it would be perfect as it was), Silas picks it up, fills it out, and brings the whole thing back to life as if he were blowing up a balloon. And the world begins anew for another ride. If Silas had just made only BREATHWORK and Score One, I would easily have said that he was above and beyond one of the best at doing what he and his peers do, but with a larger wealth of music than most, and a much better sense of how to connect the dots than the rest of us. Ah, jealousy sets in! Hahaha!

guest mix: the silent project (part II)

I've had the opportunity to host some music by THE SILENT PROJECT (which you can see HERE), and I was pretty sure that I'd have that chance to do something more in the future. Well, it's the future. I was playing one of the many things that I have in the PREVIEW PLAYLIST on my Mixcloud account, and THÉURGIE comes along that stops time completely while it's spinning. I actually had to concentrate to keep from holding my breath. There are many classical influences throughout this mix that create the tension and release of harmonic depth that pull me in. While I'm listening to this, I keep thinking 'it can't be this amazing for the entire piece of music, it has to taper off'. But luckily, I'm wrong. There is no real zenith to this mix, it keeps climbing and taking me right along with it. By the time it does end, I'm ready to listen to it again. Like a good book or movie unfolding, I never stop to look at the time or even have the urge or ability to let my mind wander. My thirst for finding the perfect mix is quenched.

pretty amazing news via low light mixes

If you've been keeping up with me (or not) on this blog, you know what a huge amount of debt that I owe to Dave Michuda at LOW LIGHT MIXES. He got me set up in every way, answering each and every one of my annoying questions in great detail about how to host MP3's, starting a site with Blogger, all about Mixcloud, and a whole slew of other great resources. He was incredibly cool about everything, and offered his extensive knowledge freely. Because of him, my bike rides are colorful with sounds, my waking moments are engulfed in taking new sounds, and my ears are enriched with fresh vibe. That's why I love to host mixes; while I can't repay him directly, I try to pay it forward and lift up others. Yep, Dave is like my Papa Bear! Ha!

Well, he recently posted on his blog a spot on MIXCLOUD FAVORITES. I don't know if he intentionally put me at the top of this list, but I'm going to take a moment to stroke my ego and imagine so. Haha! But seriously, being a mention as one of his Mixcloud favorites is HUGE to me. Kind of like Elvis calling my dad. Only not as strangely morbid. Because we all know that Elvis lives on Mars with the Bat Boy. Thanks, Dave! Peace.

**we'll get that beer we had planned, I'll make my way back at some point, I promise!**

guest mix: halftribe

I have received an incredibly amazing mix-gift from an artist known as HALFTRIBE. This will blow your mind in a very non-abrasive and tranquil sort of way. I'm really lucky to have been contacted by Halftribe (aka Ryan Bissett) asking to host a mix. Normally, I contact the DJ and am (luckily) always given a green light to host the mixes. I have to say, I was really happy to have received contact from Ryan to host this mix. It's not often that I get goosebumps from being taken in by such intense sets, but this one is one of the rare ones that did the trick. This one sits where I want, in the foreground, in the background, bathing in the aura of its intense harmonic vibe. Halftribe has been very busy, creating amazing mixes as well as churning out some original music (links for everything are below).

Halftribe got into electronic music long ago through way of New Order (1986 on CD and Technique on Vinyl), which opened a gateway to the rave scene in the UK during the late 80's and early 90's. It was at these raves that Halftribe gotten taken in by the post rave chill music, and his fascination for ambient music sparked an interest in exploring its history. As with many frustrated creative artists with an ear for music but without means to create, that path seemed to be expensive and inaccessible. When DAW's became available, Halftribe finally had the opportunity to begin producing deep house, techno, and (mainly) ambient and downtempo. He has released on VENT SOUNDS, ATRIUM DIGITAL, and ASSEMBLY FIELD. When not creating original compositions, he spends his time remixing and has been fortunate, through his links within the industry, to be asked to do a remix for Karl Hyde from UNDERWORLD for his solo album (as well as commissioned for other remix work).

guest mix: junkyard angel (part IV)

It goes without saying that I'm a huge fan and follower of Paul Simmonds aka JUNKYARD ANGEL. Every time I find out that he's posted a new mix, I have to plan WAY ahead to prepare the uninterrupted space in which to take in the flow of his vision. If I'm bothered in the least bit during one of his mixes, it upsets the life cycle of his mix and takes me back to square one. That's not cool. But when I do finally settle down and take it all in, he puts me in a time machine where time has stood still for my entire listening session. Voodoo? Maybe.

For the listening pleasure of those that seek an aural journey, I was blessed by JA to host this mix. Within the first few minutes, I hear many familiar sounds that are twisted, cut, and reassembled into his latest cinematic concoction entitled THE BLACK STAR TRANSMISSIONS.