To start 2022, I prepared a mix for A Strangely Isolated Place (ASIP). Previously, I ended up making new year mixes for RA, and for the ‘Music for Theatre Lobbies’ series. I found these to be very positive experiences, and resulted in two of the mixes online I am most satisfied with, which led me to doing it in a much more deliberate fashion. ASIP has become an important and respected part of the ambient world, through the blog, the mix series, the label, and the 9128.live streaming platform, so I was very happy I could now have the chance to contribute.
Accompanying the mix is a conversation with Ryan from ASIP about ambient music, DJing, community and related themes. This builds on the discussion I had last year with Ario from Astral Industries. I find it interesting and worthwhile having these exchanges, and getting perspective from others who are deeply invested in electronic music. Especially during this period of disruption, I think it is important to try to reflect more on what we are doing and why.
The mix itself is one that really captures how I try to present ambient music. The energies, the artists, the progression and flow of the mix - these all combine to create an accurate rendition of how I play. The title of the mix, ‘fuzzy edges and a scarlet core’, comes from a remarkable description of Mark Rothko’s paintings. The article it is from is very long and combines a number of different threads, bringing it together with some remarkable prose at the end. Something about the description, which captures that elemental, awe-inspiring character of Rothko’s work, and the way the author reaches this understanding, connected and stayed with me. I do not have any confidence in my mixing being like Rothko’s brushstrokes, one could only aspire to such things, still, the ideas, themes, resonances, these all stick with me and are present in the mix. Alternatively, you can just treat it as another ambient mix from me…
Wishing you all the best for 2022. I will continue with trying to publish here on a semi-regular basis when time and inspiration align.
Tracklist [Buy Music Club list]
01. ELpH - Glimpse
02. Alva Noto - Xerrox Île
03. Bandhagens Musikförening - Cirkelskifte (Oberheim Matrix 6R)
04. Nadia Struiwigh - Starring
05. KMRU - Neutral Points
06. Coil - Sara Dale's Sensual Massage 7
07. Air - Spiritual Invocation
08. Niagara - V
09. Imaginary Softwoods - The Hi-Lonesome Conifers
10. Bea Brennan - Losos 2 (Nog mix)
11. Li Yilei - Kou
12. Elysia Crampton - Dog Clouds (feat. Jeremy Rojas)
13. Bernard Parmegiani - Pop Secret
14. Agonis - Sunlight Filtering Through Skyscrapers
15. SKY H1 - Labyrinth
16. XOR Gate - Conic Sections
17. Felisha Ledesma - 2AM
18. Mika Vainio - Shells
19. Autechre - Metaz Form8
20. Voiski - Confinement 18 (Why Is Time Passing So Quickly These Days?)
21. SØS Gunver Ryberg - Velvet Dome Of Becoming
22. Steve Moore - The Prophet Speaks
23. Mike Nigro - Loose Time
24. Brett Naucke - Parallax
25. London Modular Alliance - Hive Mind (Sketch #1)
26. Vivian Koch - I Know You're Here
27. Merrin Karras - Crevasse
28. Hamatsuki - Adaptation is Inevitable
29. Jo Johnson - Beithe
30. Nueen - Moving II
31. Mucho Sueño - Relacional
32. Priori - Shkrub
33. Anthony Naples - I Don't Know If That's Just Dreaming