review: '+' by Bubble

I try to keep my ear to the wire and check out new artists from Bandcamp, and a lot stuff I review a lot before I even think about making a purchase (more often than not, I prefer the cheap route!). I just recently had the opportunity of discovering a new artist whose music I've used on the last mix ([SLOWLY DRIFTING] LIGHT YEARS AWAY) named BUBBLE. Bubble is capable of weaving a sonic tapestry that encompasses the universe, bringing in dark moments to the light and casting shadows on the heat. With his minimal approach, he is nonetheless able to cover a lot of ground. Like most of the ambient that really draws me in, one easily takes in a lot of depth from heady but soothing harmonic passages. Simply put, this is a thinking man's (or woman's) ambient. 

tonepoet: so gently we go (bandcamp release)

Yo! I've finally put something out under the 'tonepoet' name (as opposed to infinite_coil) on Bandcamp entitled 'SO GENTLY WE GO'. I'm really pleased by the outcome of this, and actually had some mastering done on it. If you have a chance, please check it out and give me some feedback!

guest mix: silas

Welcome to another episode of Spaceman's Transmissions with a requested mix from SILAS. I've had the extreme fortune of letting this mix permeate my mind for quite some time now and have picked up on the subtle nuances that flow between sections (although there are realistically no 'sections'; the whole mix is a consistent journey of seamless flow). What we are presented with is a rich wealth of soundscapes, moods, and colors that are contemplative and cerebral. As much as I think most ambient mixes can be a passage into the subconscious depths of slumber, this mix is one that must be taken in while fully attentive of its intensity and directional flow. If Pink Floyd did an ambient-ish concept album, it would sound like this.

Silas has managed to define, establish, and destroy the fine boundaries of music that encompass ambient elements, and has created cinematic brain food. He's rewritten ambient structure in his own majestic style, and weaved such an amazing tapestry balancing depth with sound. His use of darker themes and degraded colors meld with vinyl flavors. When a presentation like this comes along, I can't help but feel as though it's a very long time in the making (edit: I was told it was 5 or 6 months in the making, ouch!). It definitely makes it difficult to keep up with the imaginative minds of mix gurus like Silas. Much repeated listenings on this to be had, for sure.

facebook and twitter accounts, new label website

Finally trying act big league. I know, I know. I normally avoid Facebook for many reasons, but when I do check it, I always wish that I had a tie in with my hobby (which is Spaceman's Transmissions and all of my other hobbies). I sometimes get a bit tired seeing all of my friends climbing Mt. Everest, reinventing the wheel, and having kids that are clones of Albert Einstein. Tiring. I also created a Twitter account. Corporate slave now.

I'm basically trying to tie in everything that I do so that I can streamline it a little bit. My life is all over the place, with work, kids, bands.............did I mention kids? I've done some new compositions (that's taken me months) as TONEPOET (in lieu of using the artist name infinite_coil anymore) that I'm really proud of. Half composed, half improvised. It's being mastered at the moment. I've also acquired my own domain, and I'm working on fleshing out my netlabel RUSTED SUN (which is really just to serve my interests but make it seem like I'm a really important person). I still have a lot of work to do, but it's a start.

Anyhow, feel free to add, friend, and follow. I'll be updating it as best I can! Peace.

TONEPOET MUSIC
FACEBOOK

TWITTER

RUSTED SUN

guest mix: junkyard angel (part III)

I've been holding on to this little gem for a little while, and it's been getting a good bit of rotation on the playlist for two obvious reason: 1) it's JUNKYARD ANGEL, and 2) it's bloody great! I've been so very fortunate to have received an exclusive mix gifted to me by Mr. Junkyard Angel. I present you with Dusk Light Shadows. He meant only to share it with me privately, but how can this not be heard by anyone and everyone? Of course, I'm choosing to include it here, as well as on both my MIXCLOUD site and my PODBEAN site. 

Along with this exclusive mix, I'm also bringing you WAITING FOR THE RAIN which he hosted on Mixcloud and I found to be so very mood enhancing. For some reason, when he creates a mix, I live inside the music. Waiting For The Rain sets a particular mood, and its meaning to exist is warranted by its sublime beauty, intensity, and carefully executed (as well as flawlessly delivered) theme.

(slowly drifting) light years away

After reviewing some new music, I came across STILL POINT by HAMMOCK. I was so overwhelmed with its deep, hypnotic swirl and realized that there was no way I couldn't put it in this mix. I was supposed to be doing a final project for an Organizational Communications class, but now I'm sidetracked with putting this out there. How unfortunate. No, not really (actually finished the class, did quite well in it BTW).

After hearing Still Point, I came up with title immediately. I'm truly inspired right now. And I've created a mix that will take your mind on a peaceful, uplifting, and enlightening journey to the ether of your mind. This mix is multi-purpose: you can sleep to it, you can definitely stay awake to it and have your mind blown, or you can choose a state in between the two. I've carefully mixed and mashed up some very tasty ingredients for your mental departure to the deep corners of solitude and escape.

radio spot with the slow drift

Really happy to have the golden opportunity for one of my mixes to be broadcast over the airwaves. On Friday (November 22, 2013), THE SLOW DRIFT, which streams a show on the listener supported station WRFI.ORG, is hosting my brand new mix (entitled (Slowly Drifing) Light Years Away) at 7:00 EST! Really stoked!! Super special thanks to Andrew Hoffman who is the gracious host that granted me this amazing opportunity. I will be posting the non-edited for radio version here on Spaceman's Transmissions on Friday, and the radio version will be available on The Slow Drift website. 

All prior broadcasts are available on The Slow Drift website (listed above), and can also be streamed from Andrew's MIXCLOUD PAGE. Make sure that you tune in each and every episode, Andrew has one of the best features supporting ambient artists and his show is the best hour of anyone's week. Peace.

Turn on, definitely tune in (to WRFI!), sleep...

guest mix: the silent project

Welcome to another edition of Spaceman's Transmissions with the sublime beauty of TUMULTES, a really peaceful (and requested) mix from THE SILENT PROJECT. I've been wearing this mix out a lot lately. It's spinning at the house, it receives play in the car, and gets regular rotation on the media player. Most importantly, it lives comfortably on the phone, which is reserved for extra amazing sonic pleasures. If I could eat this mix, I would. Trust me, I'm trying to figure out a way!

The Silent Project is a sonic architect that hails from Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe; city that resembles New Orleans in many ways. The cultures and lifestyles of the two cities are quite similar, and the history is shared (I'll have to read up on that a bit, as I've spent some hazy weeks in New Orleans). Despite living in the city, Greg spends a good amount of time in the nature, and that tunes his ear for making such deep masterpieces. He's always looking for the beauty and elegance in the world through way of music (minimalistic forms such as post-rock, or neo-classical), literature (Dostoyevsky), sports (like surfing, very cool), and science and this is reflected in his outlook for the mixes that he creates, and his time as a fundamental researcher for mathematics explains his interest in abstraction. This all culminates in his broad reception of sources for enhancing his life through music. And while he doesn't have a favorite artist that he gravitates towards, he definitely seems to favor labels such as MILLE PLATEAUX (the first period), WARP, KRANKY (me, too!), TYPE, TOUCH, and  RASTER-NOTON.

The Silent Project spent some years as a DJ/composer under the name UssF, mainly spinning minimal techno and minimal house (although away from the boards, the preferred listening music of his choice was ambient and electronica). When he had the chance to move abroad and travel, he decided that it was high time to quit the techno scene and focus on what would become The Silent Project. Glad he did, as we are rewarded with rich sonic outings such as what I'm presenting here to you.

There are so many wonderful woven textures within, so I'm hosting 3 mixes from The Silent Project. You will find immense depth within the selections, and be rewarded with great peace. You can also follow The Silent project in a number of ways; first there is his FACEBOOK page (follow him and get updates), download the latest mixes from SOUNDCLOUD, and even purchase his music from BANDCAMP. 

I'm absolutely sure that you will enjoy these mixes, and you'll be taken in by the same peacefulness that possesses The Silent Project when he mentally mixed these aural delights within the grip of Mother Nature. Peace.

Turn on, tune in, sleep...

[DOWNLOAD TUMULTES]

[DOWNLOAD RÉFLEXIONS] 

[DOWNLOAD LES ÉDIFICES FRAGILES]

amazing

Just had to share this. Pretty unreal. Peace.

above, beyond

Welcome to another episode of Spaceman's Transmissions. For this venture, we will set your thought-spacepod up nicely for your cosmic exploration. Delve into your innermost mind capsule for a bit, clear out the thought obstacles that hinder you, and project into a state of enduring peace. This mix is optimized for absolute relaxation and can be used in a number of ways. Mostly, it is to be used for sailing past the clouds, beyond the exosphere, and into the deep void. Using starlight as a beacon is permitted. However, do not be distracted by unnecessary influences such as random useless thoughts of anything but your creative flow. As you drift among the cosmos, reflect upon the beauty that life offers, and celebrate that. Upon reentry, your focus will be calibrated and thoughts will be aligned with purpose and motivation.

I purposely tried to mix it up with many diverse styles of music. A bit of ambient, a dash of shoegaze, and a smattering of ethnic colors. For me, and hopefully for you, it kept things a bit interesting. I've got some great guest mixes lined up, and this mix was inspired by those around me that are creating some amazing things. Once again, I'm revising the format of the track listing to make it easier on the eyes (and I promise, at least for quite a while, this will be my last revision).