holiday greetings and a prosperous, happy new year!

From Spaceman's Transmissions to everyone riding Mothership Earth, I want to wish a very happy holiday season (Merry Christmas for some, including myself), and hoping the best for the New Year in a very joyous, prosperous, and peaceful way. Great things planned for ST, so see you all in the next year. Peace.

Turn on, tune in, sleep...


//tonepoet//

my favorite ambient releases of 2014

I'd like to just present a small list of 8 releases born in 2014 that have had a very large impact upon me. I've made many purchases, but most of them are not from this year. This represents only the ambient type music that I listen to and represent a very small amount of the music that I purchased. I did listen to quite a few mixes off of Mixcloud in my free time and this contributed to me having less time to hear anything else (I'm not complaining!). The releases are linked to where you can purchase the music. Be sure to support the artists, and keep dreaming. Peace.

• LARSVEMBER - GREATEST HITS AMBIENCE

• A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN - ATOMOS

• BEN WOODS - HALCYON

• ABSTRACT APRILS - BLOSSOM ENDS

• VORTEX MECHANIC - AT THE EDGE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

• SIAVASH AMINI - WHAT WIND WHISPERED TO THE TREES

• VARIOUS ARTISTS - HIDDEN VIBES, VOL. 6

• VARIOUS ARTISTS - FUTURESEQUENCE, VOL. 8

low light mixes best ambient albums of 2014

I'm a huge fan of Dave's Low Light Mixes, and it appears that he's a bit fond of me as well. Really great that I'm placed within his list of BEST AMBIENT ALBUMS OF 2014 (album art is bottom middle). Yeah!! His lists are always worth checking out as he can find some really great music.

Follow Low Light Mixes on MIXCLOUD and of course it goes without saying that you should be checking his page for regular updates on some of the best music ever. Peace.

//tonepoet//

review: 'blossom falls' by abstract aprils

It's extremely rare when a debut release from a new artist demands so much attention as this one from ABSTRACT APRILS. It would be an amazing aural feat if there were just a few strong songs on BLOSSOM ENDS. However, Blossom Ends is very, very strong from start to finish. 

Rather than to sitting on drones, hoping for an interesting electronic effect to develop into a theme, we are greeted on the first song with a deep and moving chordal symphony that whispers and moves along. With this protocol of harmonic engagement in place, the album begins its journey into the subconscious realm that breeds positive vibe and flow. Every single song is a deeper dive into harmonic development, rich in organic sounds and carefully developed dynamic themes. If there were one release that makes me hold my breath at times as to not disturb the transitions that shift throughout, this would be it. Blossom Ends is a very careful journey that tips its hat to influences such as Sigur Ros and Hammock, but with an absolute life of its own, capable of creating an identity that rises above its influences.

a human being is a human dreaming

Hello, fellow space travelers. I'm back with a new ambient mix of some great things that I've been getting into my head lately. First off, I wanted to express the fact that I took the title for this mix from the song of the same title by Maiya Hersey from FUTURESEQUENCE8 (which is included in this mix). Great title, amazing composition. 

When the music begins to drift into your mental space, allow it to form the cloudy blanket that will encompass your good thoughts and filter out the negative turmoil. This incubating layer will form the egg that will eventually hatch your renewal into peace. The aural comfort that you seek will be placed gently upon your physical vessel (known as the human being). Allow your mind to immerse itself into the dream world that awaits. The sanctuary there will breathe new life into your soul and spur a regeneration of creative thoughts, ideas, and tranquility. This is when you truly become the human dreaming. Upon completion of this sequence, the mission will be considered a success.

swung, shaken, and stirred

If you've been following Spaceman's Transmissions for a bit and have kept your eyes on the guest mixes, you've noticed that I've hosted mixes by FACTION (Ben Selby) on a few occasions. The best part about hosting mixes is corresponding and building a rapport with people (my absolute favorite part of it all). Ben is a super-cool and ultra-knowledgeable music aficionado. He's easily one of my favorite Mixcloud artists that is capable of straddling the perfect balance between surreal and unreal. He's just as comfortable with spacey drones as he is drum 'n bass. Huge imagination, ears like a bat, and a music collection that must be beyond staggering.

Well, Ben got with me not too long ago to return the favor of hosting his mixes, and I was invited to create a mix for BOXFREQUENCY.FM radio. The broadcast was overseen by FATPATCORD (aka Matthew Foord), who is also quite active in the scene as well and close associates with Faction (Thanks, Matthew!). While it was introduced to be somewhat along the same lines of what I currently mix (with slight variations), I decided to create a mix that was very left field for me, even though the only main restriction that I had was that the mix had to be 90 minutes. I decided to give it a name, and as I initially set out to do a spy music set, the name Swung, Shaken, And Stirred seemed appropriate. So, yeah, there you have it. There is absolutely no ambient in this mix (you are forewarned!). Nonetheless, this was a blast to create, and I essentially used a lot of music that I've been into for the last 10 years (I have a ton of electronica/trip hop/nu-jazz). No worries, Spaceman's Transmissions will continue to be what it has been prior to this. If anything, consider this a radical departure to clear the way for new amazing things in the future. Enjoy! 

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 pliability effect

If there's any one person that I follow and read up on through Bandcamp, it's none other than The Pliability Effect, aka BRIAN BOURASSA. I get emails every now and then letting me know who's bought music, and Brian's name is always there. He's my go-to guy as far as getting the pulse on new ambient, and I've made a few purchases based on what I read from Brian. Before I even hear the music, Brian's reviews have already painted a beautiful picture of what's in store by way of his amazingly generous and colorful reviews. In fact, when I did the mix CAMPING UNDER THE STARS, I gave a shout out to Brian in hopes that he would help me in putting together a mix. I finally get my wish!

For some strange reason, Brian got around to contacting me and setting me up with a release that was on my wishlist on Bandcamp (thanks for that, man!). We chatted it up a bit, and I expressed the offer to host a mix for him (he had never done one). I mean, who better would be suited to drive home the point of 'Turn on, tune in, sleep...' more than a gentleman who lives and breathes drone-based ambient music (and proves this weekly to the many people that follow him on BANDCAMP). I won't lie, the first initial test mix he sent put me completely under! Brian knows how to weave, and with this mix he's shown himself to be the Pied Piper that leads your mind to that place. It's funny, but he just took me back my roots of ambient, and am I ever thankful. He's picking soundscapes from the tree of ambient, breathing life into his creation, and delicately serving up the most gentle sounds to get your head right. This mix will live bedside for a very, very long time. I asked Brian to set the record straight on his story, and being the minimalist aficionado that he is, he provided a very appropriately satisfying response without wasted thoughts or words. Truly magic.

on the threshold of letting go

I've been on tour for a bit, but I'm happy to be able to bring a new mix to the masses. I've managed to piece together an amalgamation of songs that will unlock the creative door to your mind's inner workings. This will give you greater control over the creative juices that color your life and define you as a human being.  While we may not realize it, our mind is the key to the universe. When the gravity of situations bear down upon your mind and soul, look for the pathway that leads to a door that only you can unlock. Within that mental space that only you occupy, keep the things in life that bring you peace and solace within a world that is riddled with turmoil, confusion, and anguish. Your mental universe is much bigger than the world that we know. When the weight of burden and obligation threaten to crush your creativity, energy, and willfulness, realize that you are stronger and better than the situations that surround you. 

new original tracks (and other things)

It's been a bit since I could sit down (for even 10 minutes) at a computer and write a bit. I have a few things going on, and I'm on tour for another 2 weeks so the updates have been a bit slow. Sorry about that. I have a guest mix that I'll be putting up tomorrow, and I've also spent the last few days trying out a few new sounds and recording the results. Not sure what to do with the tracks yet, or even if they are usable. Nonetheless, you can head over the my SOUNDCLOUD page and check out some tracks that I wrote for the next release I plan on getting out (as an EP). The artwork that I've come up with so far is to the left.