pimpod: Recent Episodes
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Our focus on this episode is the excellent Dutch label, Dronarivm, who specialise in releasing essential contemporary ambient / modern classical / electronic music. We look at some excellent recent releases from Chihei Hatakeyama, Enrico Coniglio, Demetrio Cecchitelli and more. Plus a sneak preview of the gorgeous new organic drones of PJS from their upcoming Flora release.
This is a free episode, for full access to ALL of the archives, you can subscribe – email pp@pimpod.com OR if you want to support my efforts, including covering studio costs you can donate paypal.me/pimmon
Track: Black Stone
Artist: Chihei Hatakeyama
Release: Thousand Oceans
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 0:00
Track: Life Finds a Way
Artist: Runaway Horses
Release: Recollected in Tranquility
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 6:02
Track: As They Arise
Artist: Enrico Coniglio
Release: The Sirens of Titan
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 9:19
Track: Horizon
Artist: Mikael Lind
Release: Geographies
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 16:23
Track: Forest Glades
Artist: Robert Farrugia
Release: Tilwin
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 24:17
Track: Sway (excerpt – under voice)
Artist: Robert Farrugia
Release: Tilwin
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 28:03
Track: Topography
Artist: PJS
Release: Flora
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 29:25
Track: Doubt
Artist: anthéne
Release: Shelter
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 36:11
Track: Ewiger Wald
Artist: Logic Moon & Henrik Meierkord
Release: Ewiger Wald
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 40:46
Track: At Midnight
Artist: Federico Mosconi
Release: Nocturnal
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 44:47
Track: Below
Artist: Demetrio Cecchitelli
Release: Jump
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 49:47
Track: Acrobat (excerpt – under voice)
Artist: Demetrio Cecchitelli
Release: Jump
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 53:54
Track: After The Bubble
Artist: Chihei Hatakeyama
Release: Thousand Oceans
Label: Dronarivm
Time: 54:58
Quiet Space — #250 — The Topography of Dronarivmhttps://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/QSE-250.mp3DOWNLOAD EPISODE
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The return of pimpod!!!! Here’s a special mix that blends the ambience of the Quiet Space and the ‘pop’ of 1/2/3/4 – all in a blurry seamless transition. No chit chat. This is a remix of a live transmission on a very small internet only station in Adelaide called Duck Radio that occured in mid January. A very occasional broadcast. Please enjoy this first program in a while. It’s good to be back.
Track: Untitled/Aeckt Wetting Shower (Intro)
Artist: Xiphiidae
Time: 0:00
Track: Sixtyniner (early version)
Artist: Boards of Canada
Release: Psychogeographic X (Various Artists)
Label: Diskono
Time: 2:20
Track: Other Sleepers (excerpt)
Artist: The Humble Bee
Release: A Miscellany for the Quiet Hours
Label: Astral Industries
Time: 5:59
Track: Up With The Orcadian Tide
Artist: Starless and Bible Black
Release: Up With The Orcadian Tide 7″
Label: Static Caravan
Time: 6:55
Track: I Blegt Og Koligt Lys (excerpt)
Artist: O. Vaupel
Release: I Blegt Og Køligt Lys
Label: Janushoved
Time: 11:37
Track: Wait
Artist: Secret Stars
Release: Wait 7″
Label: Simple Machines
Time: 12:34
Track: Phased Moon
Artist: Matthewdavid
Release: Mycelium Music
Label: Leaving Records
Time: 15:47
Track: milksugar
Artist: Crushed
Release: milksugar
Label: Ghostly International
Time: 18:43
Track: After the Rain (excerpt)
Artist: Porya Hatami
Release: Shallow
Label: Tench
Time: 23:49
Track: Tael Of A Saeghors
Artist: The Makers of the Dead Trave Fast
Release: Tael Of A Saeghors 7″
Label: M Squared
Time: 25:46
Track: Endless Summer
Artist: Fennesz
Release: Endless Summer
Label: Mego
Time: 30:27
Track: “the Dream Team”
Artist: Fievel Is Glauque
Release: God’s Trashmen Sent to Right the Mess
Label: Zach Phillips
Time: 38:44
Track: Blue
Artist: Loving
Release: Blue
Label: Self Released
Time: 40:10
Track: Skullsplitter
Artist: Eric Chenaux
Release: Skullsplitter
Label: Constellation Records
Time: 42:21
Track: Side E (excerpt)
Artist: Tricorn and Queue
Release: Greening Wave Box
Label: Housecraft
Time: 45:29
Track: Janet’s Song
Artist: Maths Balance Volumes
Release: Cycles of Tonite
Label: Penultimate Press
Time: 50:58
Track: Isobel
Artist: unrest
Release: Imperial f.f.r.r
Label: Teenbeat
Time: 54:06
Track: Circumlocation (excerpt)
Artist: pimmon
Release: Kinetica
Label: (K-RAA-K)³
Time: 56:14
Track: Negative Walk
Artist: L’Áugmentation
Release: Negative Walk 7″
Label: Kooky Disc
Time: 58:20
1234 | Quiet Space - Blurred Colour Sequencehttps://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Blurred-Colour-Sequence_EP1.mp3DOWNLOAD EPISODE
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I’m a huge fan of the Self Help Group who return with a fantastic collection of songs – Dream of A Ghost. On their third album, they still retain their love of Americana but add electronic flourishes and stunning layering of harmonies as they weave narratives of love, loss and strange obsessions. A magic listen from start to finish. As well, equally brilliant new music from Hannah Cameron, Lewis Coleman, Rubberbucket and Kacey Johansing….plus MUCH MORE!
Track: Standing on the Edge of Forever (excerpt/Intro)
Artist: Jessi Colter
Release: Edge of Forever
Label: Appalachia Record Co.
Track: Wonder Why
Artist: Abby Johnson
Release: Abby Johnson
Label: Earth Libraries
Track: Big Box Heart
Artist: Jesse Glass
Release: Running Down
Label: Self Released
Track: Other People’s Problems
Artist: Hannah Cameron
Release: Holding Pattern
Label: Self Released
Track: Feather
Artist: Rachel Dadd
Release: Feather
Label: Memphis Industries
Track: Teardrops
Artist: Rubberbucket (FT. Toth)
Release: Teardrops
Label: Egghunt Records
Track: Company
Artist: Stephen Becker
Release: A Calm That Shifts
Label: NNA Tapes
Track: The Make Believe Band
Artist: The Self Help Group
Release: Dream of a Ghost
Label: Self Released
Track: Love Me Again This Summer
Artist: The Woods
Release: So Long Before Now
Label: Sundazed Music/Modern Harmonic
Track: Talking To Yourself
Artist: Lewis Coleman
Release: Offline
Label: Beloved Recordings
Track: Watch It ike A Show
Artist: Kacey Johansing
Release: Year Away
Label: Night Bloom Recordings
Track: Cannonball
Artist: Minor Gold
Release: Minor Gold
Label: Self Released
1/2/3/4 — #282 — Dreaming of Ghostshttps://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1234_282.mp3DOWNLOAD EPISODE
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In recent years, Ned Milligan 's work has been grounded in recording and playing outdoors, trying to communicate the meaning of being in a particular location and finding meaning in interacting with whatever sounds or elements are equally present. On his latest Considerable, none of these pieces is strictly documentary or one-take in approach or composition, but Ned hopes that the combination of processed and "factual" sounds achieve integrity. This is a special mix of this fantastic release plus earlier works of Ned Milligan.
One of my favourite releases this year is the stunning effort from Allegra Krieger, She's a singer, songwriter, and composer living in New York City. Krieger’s striking voice and detailed lyricism paint masterful scenes of day-to-day life over spacious and distinctive soundscapes. Weaving subtlety and power together through her perspective, Krieger effortlessly captures the comforting sounds of Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, and the classic folk songwriters who preceded her. Essential listening.
Sam Blasucci is best known as one half of Mapache, a Southern California roots-rock duo instantly recognizable for their elegant, intertwined guitar parts. But when Blasucci was writing the songs that would become his debut solo record, Off My Stars, he found himself less focused on the guitar and more gravitated toward a different instrument: piano.
Danny Paul Grody is a self taught guitarist who creates hypnotic and gorgeous meditations. He returns with Arc of Day -his first ever with consistent accompaniment, with Guitars, percussion, bass, clarinet & pedal steel guitar in sublime interplay. The melodies at the core of Danny’s songwriting bring to mind his love of West African kora, Takoma style fingerpicking and all things minimal, repetitive & beguiling. Essential.
London trio Pozi deliver a hyper-skeletal sound palette of drums, bass, violin and three distinct vocals, from which biting social observations and political angst bounce out of the speakers with urgency. They want their music to evoke a feeling and emotion rather than just being a commentary. This is essential listening.
Blissful sounds to transform and heal. This edition of the Quiet Space dedicated to a long time supporter of the show in Michael Strimska.
Sara Wolff's music is rich with childlike wonder, her sound immediately captivates and draws you in. Hailing from Bergen in Norway and now residing in Liverpool in the UK, her EP Magic Hour is a delightful collection, Sara says "these songs are how she sees the world and enjoy the little things along with others who share that excitement, despite how our insecurities may try to prevent it." Highly Recommended.
Sweden-based multi-instrumentalist Peter Morén of Peter Bjorn and John shares the debut album from his new project, SunYears. Come Fetch My Soul! is an upbeat indie pop record featuring contributions from Ron Sexsmith, Jess Williamson, Fruit Bats, Ren Harvieu, and Kathryn Williams. Highly Recommended.
On this episode, we shine a light on some of the recent releases on Lawrence English's excellent Room40 imprint. Room40, a beacon of sound...ringing out from the deepest south.
Canadian producer and sound artist Michael Scott Dawson has crafted a gorgeous shimmering new work anchored by frayed memories, tape loops and pastoral field recordings. It's beautifully tender and nostalgic work. Highly recommended.
Exploring the ethereal essence of human recollections, interpreting the intangible whispers that shape our perceptions. This is the Quiet Space....
Jesse Glass is a Melbourne/Narrm born, London-based musician and songwriter. As the former drummer with Tulalah, he’s continuing to create beautiful complex music, a surprising blend of dark yet gorgeous harmonies and layered guitar. He creates a unique folk sound that is capable of simultaneously haunting and calming listeners.
A sublime teaser from his upcoming album, we will also revisit a track from his former group Tulalah plus the fantastic return of duo The Yearlings, magic harmonies from the Hackles and compelling twee pop from Special Friend.
Track: Untitled A2 (excerpt intro)
Artist: Digital Natives
Release: Let Three Be Light
Label: Housecraft Recordings
Track: Unknown Orchard
Artist: Bruiser and Bicycle
Release: Holy Red Wagon
Label: Topshelf Records
Track: Not Fooling Anyone
Artist: Jesse Glass
Release: Not Fooling Anyone
Label: Self Released
Track: Vertigo
Artist: Nadine Khouri
Release: Another Life
Label: Talitres
Track: Downtown
Artist: The Yearlings
Release: Luck
Label: Self Released
Track: Angela
Artist: The Hackles
Release: What a beautiful thing i have made
Label: Jealous Butcher Records
Track: I’m Going To Let You Break My Heart
Artist: Hollow Hand
Release: Your Own Adventure
Label: Curation Records
Track: Dandelion Wish
Artist: Vanity Mirror
Release: Puff
Label: We Are Busy Bodies
Track: Selkie
Artist: Special Friend
Release: Wait Until The Flames Come Rushing In
Label: Skep Wax
Track: Cycles
Artist: Tulalah
Release: Cycles
Label: Self Released
1/2/3/4 — #269 — A Matter of Luckhttps://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1234_269.mp3DOWNLOAD EPISODE
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Nine stunning new tracks from artists you need to here. Hannah Cameron returns with her first new track in three years and it’s a brilliant slice of mantra pop. Plus dreamy pop from Double Wish, gorgeous gentle sounds from Tasmania’s Caelo, classic Aussie rock from supergroup Sand Brothers and cherished folk artist Lucy Wise’s latest release.
Track: Street Sermon (Intro/excerpt)
Artist: Daddy Long Legs
Release: Street Sermons
Label: Yep Roc Records
Track: Reactor
Artist: Triptides
Release: Starlight
Label: Curation Records
Track: Blue Dream Baby
Artist: Double Wish
Release: Light Split Sparkle
Label: Hit The North Records
Track: Take The Blame
Artist: Hannah Cameron
Release: Take The Blame
Label: Self Released
Track: Someday
Artist: Caelo
Release: Someday
Label: Self Released
Track: Strong In Numbers
Artist: Full Power Happy Hour
Release: Bit of Brightness
Label: Coolin’ By Sound
Track: Wide Open Plain
Artist: Doug Paisley
Release: Say What You Like
Label: Outside Music
NOTE: SAND BROTHERS ALBUM OUT NOW…
Track: Usual Things
Artist: Sand Brothers
Release: Too Much Sky
Label: Self Released
Track: Safe to Run (feat. Hurray For The Riff Raff)
Artist: Esther Rose
Release: Safe To Run
Label: New West Records
Track: To Be Steady
Artist: Lucy Wise
Release: Into The Blue
Label: Self Released
1/2/3/4 — #266 — Take The Blamehttps://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1234_266.mp3DOWNLOAD EPISODE
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Steve Poltz is back in Australia after a four year absence, bringing with him great new songs from his Stardust and Satellites release and his truty guitar, Smokey Joe. Steve is more than just a singer/songwriter – he’s a brilliant storyteller, comedian, entertainer and lover of the Hook Turn. He joins me in the studio for a chat and some tracks ahead of his performances at the National Folk Festival and Bluesfest. Plus the excellent new album from Coda Chroma, John Kennedy and the New Originals and Ruth Hazleton….and more!
Track: Can O’Pop (Intro/excerpt)
Artist: Steve Poltz
Release: Stardust and Satellites
Label: Red House Records
Track: You’ll Die Too
Artist: Daddy Long Legs
Release: Street Sermons
Label: Yep Roc Records
Track: Discover Me
Artist: John Kennedy and The New Originals
Release: John Kennedy and The New Originals
Label: Self Released
Track: Attic
Artist: Coda Chroma
Release: Dreamself
Label: Self Released
Track: Aphelion
Artist: Ruth Hazleton
Release: Aphelion
Label: Self Released
Track: Conveyor Belt (live in studio)
Artist: Steve Poltz
(Appears on his latest album, Stardust and Satellites)
Interview Part 1
Track: Wrong Town (excerpt – live in studio)
Artist: Steve Poltz
(Appears on his latest album, Stardust and Satellites)
Interview Part 2
Track: Quarantine Blues (live in studio)
Artist: Steve Poltz
Track: Along For The Ride
Artist: Bill Jackson
Release: The Nashville Session
Label: Self Released
1/2/3/4 — #261 — The Charming Mr Poltzhttps://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1234_261.mp3DOWNLOAD EPISODE
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I’ve been patiently waiting for the debut EP from Harry Cook, (his gorgeous track All Flaws with vocalist/composer Hannah Cameron a real favourite of mine last year) to arrive and it’s finally here. Five quite diverse tracks that leaves a gentle, intimate impression. Harry Cook draws on his diverse experience as a classical pianist, jazz improviser, and contemporary sessional musician for The Teskey Brothers, WILSN and more to tell evocative stories through song. He joins me for a chat on this edition of 1-2-3-4. As well, fantastic tracks from Minor Gold, Josh Rennie-Hynes, Stephen Becker, Blackbirds FC and much more.
Track: Teenage Overpopulation
Artist: 2nd Grade
Release: Easy Listening
Label: Double Double Whammy
https://2ndgrade.bandcamp.com/album/easy-listening
Track: Don’t You Grow Up
Artist: Kindsight
Release: Swedish Punk
Label: Rama Lama Records
https://kindsightkindsight.bandcamp.com/album/swedish-punk-lp
Track: Magiclands
Artist: Blackbirds FC
Release: Magiclands
Label: Self Released
https://blackbirdsfc.bandcamp.com/album/magiclands-lp
Track: Unspoken
Artist: Stephen Becker
Release: A Calm That Shifts
Label: NNA Tapes
https://stephenbecker.bandcamp.com/album/a-calm-that-shifts
Track: All Flaws (excerpt)
Artist: Harry Cook
Release: All Flaws EP
Label: Self Released
https://harrycook.bandcamp.com/album/all-flaws
Harry Cook Interview Part 1
Details for the EP launch
Track: Never Believed In Love (excerpt)
Artist: Harry Cook
Release: All Flaws EP
Label: Self Released
https://harrycook.bandcamp.com/album/all-flaws
Harry Cook Interview Part 1
Track: Yellow and Blue
Artist: Harry Cook
Release: All Flaws EP
Label: Self Released
https://harrycook.bandcamp.com/album/all-flaws
Track: Mona Lisa
Artist: Minor Gold
Release: Mona Lisa
Label: Self Released
https://minorgold.bandcamp.com/track/mona-lisa
Track: Always The Rainbow
Artist: Those Pretty Wrongs
Release: Holiday Camp
Label: Curation Records
https://curation-records.bandcamp.com/album/holiday-camp
Track: Morning Stars
Artist: Josh Rennie-Hynes
Release: Morning Stars
Label: Self Released
https://joshrennie-hynes.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s17qXTsNjO0
Track: Slow Burn
Artist: Thaya Iyer
Release: Rest
Label: Topshelf Records
https://thanyaiyer.bandcamp.com/album/rest
1/2/3/4 — #256 — Harry Cook and All Flawshttps://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1234_256.mp3DOWNLOAD EPISODE
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James Murray is an incredible composer and producer of slow minimal electronic music. He returns with his first solo album in three years on the Home Normal imprint. 'Careful Now' is a radiant, soft-focused work of wide-eyed romanticism and childlike innocence. It is an album of heartfelt humanity and purity of spirit that can indeed 'draw light' into our very being as the final track attests.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Go! Team. They have this incredible uplifting vibe that is infectious. They join forces with Benin’s all teenage sensations The Star Feminine Band for new track Look Away, Look Away, taken from upcoming new album Get Up Sequences Part 2. Straight from the heart, an end to end jumpstart. Plenty of great new music plus I pay tribute to Mimi Parker of Low who passed away aged 55.
Maya Bon, the singer-songwriter behind Hudson, New York’s Babehoven, views light as one of life’s few fundamental truths. Babehoven’s first full-length album Light Moving Time revolves around Bon’s view of life as a confusing, jarring, and kaleidoscopic experience filled with contradictions, loss, and change. Bon has built a solid partnership with her musical collaborator and producer Ryan Albert over the last few years and the result is a stunning debut album. Highly Recommended.
ALL BLUE is the debut solo album by Julianna Riolino and marks the arrival of a major new songwriter, singer, and performer into the spotlight. She's been called the “white-hot-lunged vocalist” best known for her increasingly prominent role as a member of Daniel Romano’s Outfit, Highly Recommended.
Alex Carpenter is an Australian-born artist and researcher living in New York City. In the words of Luke Altman, curator of the de la Catessan label, ""As Excavation Patterns creeps and smothers, winds and bonds, it takes the shape of its ancient host, the Symphony. Excavation Patterns itself isn’t a symphony, but it is draped over the Symphony, lovingly, like a verdant shroud." This is an incredible work that is highly recommended.
A wonderful worldly collection of sounds on this edition. The Badge Époque Ensemble are from Toronto, Canada and return with their third album, Clouds of Joy. It represents a shift from the group’s previous sonic excursions into the worlds of vintage soundtrack grooves and early electric jazz towards a more era-ambiguous, complex and all-encompassing approach to arrangement production. Just one of nine killer tunes for you to explore.
Big Time Things' is a story of crossed wires and missed connections, sleepless nights and scrapped plans. On the third album from Office Culture, the Brooklyn-based band led by pianist-songwriter Winston Cook-Wilson, the magic is in how every element of their texturally rich, emotionally complex music conjures these same visions. Highly Recommended!
Seamus O'Muineachain is an ambient/minimal composer and multi-instrumentalist who has just released his sixth album, Isthmus. The piano based album is a sonic exploration of his hometown, Belmullet, on the remote isthmus of the mullet peninsula. The album marries piano, cello from collaborator Akito Goto, explorative synths, minimal percussion, treated guitars, and smartphone field recordings. Highly recommended.
Rob Snarski is better known as the lead singer of The Blackeyed Susans, guest vocalist with The Triffids and The Go-Betweens : 16 Lover’s Lane and author of Crumbs from the Cake. Searching For The Heart Of It All, his latest releases, marks a fresh approach to previous solo albums. Adding to Snarski’s infamous honey-laden voice, he’s asked some of his "so-called" friends to loan their vocal talents to these brand new songs. It's a stunning release from a great Australian songwriter. As well, great pop from The Orchids, The Goldhearts, Lou Turner and a magical return from Rachel Dadd. Plus lots more!
Alicia Clara is a dream pop prodigy working at breakneck speed — after last year’s triumphant EP Outsider/Unusual, the Swiss-Canadian songwriter holed up in her apartment to begin work on Velveteen, a lush and breathlessly tender four-song sequence conceived as an homage to her teenage self. I've featured her music before, a lush amalgam of 70s folk pop, 80s sophisti-pop & 90s shoegaze.
One of my favourite labels has released a RIPPER, it's the work of Ian Hawgood and Stijn Hüwels as modular sleep patterns. Hypnotic and dreamy listening. A special mix featuring KMRU, Channelers, Andy Aquarius, On The Area Steps, Josh Mason and much more....
What started out as studio jams in a smoky basement in Berlin evolved into a world-wide-touring three headed music-making love monster, called Buttering Trio, based in Tel Aviv. They have just issued their excellent new release, Foursome. Using heavy beats, fat bass lines and sweet yet poignant lyrics, they try to bring some peace in a troubled region.
A wonderful new release from Fossil Hunting Collective, aka Jamie Jones, a sound artist/musician from Guelph in Canada. 'Cyanotype’ was made primarily, via the beautiful surprises thrown out of various guitar pedals along with re-amped loops played back through old cassette recorders. It's in focus on this episode of the Quiet Space alongside Jamie's other releases as well as his collaboration with Brad Deschamps (anthene) as Still Harbors and (ph)authers (with Hymns57). It's come out on the excellent Whitelabrecs label.
Notable Nashville guitar slinger Sean Thompson has released his first solo album, after being a part of Promised Land Sound and lending his skills to the likes of Curtis Harding and Erin Rae. Taking equal inspiration from the improvisational grooves of the Grateful Dead as well as the craft of songwriters like JJ Cale & Joni Mitchell, Thompson’s songwriting debut marks the arrival of a unique voice grounded by wide-reaching, generous ears.
Between the moments, between different states of listening, there is the Quiet Space. A mystery mix for you....
Our focus on the stunning new release from Szun Waves. The trio – composed of producer Luke Abbott, saxophonist Jack Wyllie and drummer Laurence Pike – recorded Earth Patterns at the tail end of their 2019 tour, locking themselves away in the studio for three days of improvisation. After the pandemic hit, plans for the release were shelved, when Luke Abbott revisited the session, he found himself drawn to the darker, more introspective moments that the group had previously rejected before the pandemic. Highly recommended.
Emily Sprague creates beautiful listening experiences that I've shared on both 1/2/3/4 and the Quiet Space. She uses the name Florist and over the years it's fluctuated between a solo effort and collaboration with friends. If there is anything to know about "Florist", it’s that the band is decidedly back together. “We called it 'Florist' because this is not just my songs with a backing band,” Sprague explains. “It’s a practice. It’s a collaboration. It’s our one life. These are my best friends and the music is the way that it is because of that.” It's a stunning release.
25 years since his debut album Waters Ave S. came out, Damian Jurado is more prolific, driven and creative than ever. He's an incredible story teller and his 18th release, Reggae Film Star is gorgeously cinematic, featuring rich production and diverse sonic textures. Highly Recommended.
Phia is the entrancing DIY-art-pop music project of multi-instrumentalist songwriter and composer Sophia Exiner. On her second album, Phia brings together her two musical worlds - joyous choral harmonies and live looping - in a wholly imaginative and unique way. Simply magic. As well, some of my favourite releases this year from Goon, Folly Tree, Kevin Robertson, Field Guides and more.
Our focus this episode on a uniquely stunning work, it will be a favourite come the end of the year. Wake is the debut release from Rosa Beach Mason & Sean Conrad. With this outing they offer a dense set of naturalistic emotional landscapes. Mason’s vocals define each piece with wordless and layered choruses, operating on a purely subconscious and sonic level to create mesmeric drones and sublimely elevated melodies. Sean is the curator of the excellent Inner Islands imprint and I weave a mix around Wake. Enjoy!
David Cordero is a prolific ambient producer from Spain who creates calm, uplifting, soothing sounds. Our focus is on his latest release on the Polar Seas imprint, but this mix showcases his excellent back catalog.
Sour Widows are from the Bay Area in the US, the trio first forming in 2017. They have been fine-tuning a sound that swings from gently glowing harmonizing to energetic bursts of feedback-laced catharsis. After their hypnotic Crossing Over release they return with a new track, Witness, that cycles the listener through shades of grief. Highly Recommended.
Diving into the House of Pimpod archives, I gasbag on about some tunes that I like. A random show....
On this edition we focus on the work of UK artist Phil Tomsett (aka The Inventors of Aircraft). ‘The Edge of Imagination’ is the latest record under that pseudonym which builds on lush synths and intelligent melodies. The release on the excellent whitelabrecs label is an exploration of the space between virtual and the real, the conscious and sub-conscious and somewhere in between reality and a dream.
There’s something inevitable about the sound of Thee Sacred Souls, as if these ageless songs of love and loss have somehow always existed, as if Garcia and his bandmates—bassist Sal Samano and singer Josh Lane—have been playing together for a lifetime already. They are about to release their debut album, produced by Daptone co-founder Gabriel Roth. These sounds will lift you, mixing the easygoing grace of sweet ’60s soul with the grit of early ’70s R&B.
Drifting sounds from beyond. Digging through some old tapes for some gorgeous deep drones. Enjoy!
Carefully curated sounds both new and nostalgic, inspired by mesmerising patterns and wonky synths....
Abe Parsons first came to my attention as a part of a wonderful Tasmanian group, Little Island. Formed while in high school, they punched above their weight with some stellar songs. Now Abe returns with an excellent new solo project, Caelo. This nipaluna/Hobart based singer-songwriter, continues to excite with two singles to date. He's joined by the extremely talented Harry Cook from Melbourne and Liam Judson from the Blue Mountains with outstanding releases. Lots of other essential releases as well on this edition.
The universe is continually communicating itself to us in a cosmic eucharist of waves and particles, motions and echoes....
Grant Lee-Phillips was about to tour his last album when the pandemic hit. After months of waiting, he realized any potential touring options were still on hold for the foreseeable future, he set about penning tracks for his latest, All That You Can Dream. The resulting album's lyrics are an attempt to make sense of an uncertain, anxiety-riddled time, while coming to terms with the idea that once-unshakeable things now seem fragile or fallible.
Music For Listening is one of my favourite ambient releases of 2022. Michael Scott Dawson over four months during the pandemic wrote the album, but fleshed it out his guitar lines with tape loops and manipulations, accompanied by field recordings and spare piano elements. It's our focus on this edition plus work from Maps and Diagrams, Lydian Dunbar, FernLodge and more.
On this edition, meet Atlanta-based Neighbor Lady, This quartet deliver an elegant style of lush and textural guitar pop with touches of country-noir. Songwriter and vocalist Emily Braden says their new record For The Birds is sprinkled with “reverb and magic.” Lots of other magical tracks as well!
Since starting Babehoven in Portland, Oregon in 2017, Maya Bon has shown herself to be a gifted heart-on-sleeve songwriter, using music to peel back the layers of her own experiences—sometimes sad, sometimes surreal, always vividly rendered—to reveal universal emotional truths hidden in the most intimately personal of details.
Goon have released one of my favourite editions of 2022 with the Painting By Numbers EP Vol 1. Kenny from the group is aiming for music that offers that "really sad and comforting feeling". It's a stunning release. As well, magic works from Papercuts, Phia, Ethan Woods and pimpod favs, Charm of Finches.
Originally from Birmingham, AL, Banditos is a group - more like a gang, actually - of six 20-somethings, nowadays operating out of Nashville. I love their blend of jangle boogie, hill country mojo, all with a healthy dose of folk, soul and bluegrass. A taste of the forthcoming release, Right On, out soon. Plenty of other great tunes including the latest from Jonah Tolchin and Bellows.
Call it prairie noir, or Canadiana desert rock: Abigail Lapell sings haunting, gorgeous modern folk songs. Her albums have won two Canadian Folk Music Awards, English Songwriter of the Year (2020) and Contemporary Album of the Year (2017). Her latest single from upcoming album, Stolen Time, explores the insatiable, contradictory impulses that drive doomed love and other addictions.
A show that celebrates recent post-punk efforts and '90s jangle with a twist. A favourite release from last year was from Leeds group Mush, this track has an arty twist and is very catchy! Add cracking new releases from Toronto's Cola (pictured - my current my listen track), Berlin's ShyBits and Sweden's Holm and you've got a bunch of new musical friends you'll want to visit often.
Aoife O'Donovan is a singer-songwriter living in Brooklyn and is back with a fantastic new release, Age of Apathy.
Produced by fellow GRAMMY-winner Joe Henry (Bonnie Raitt, Rhiannon Giddens) and featuring guest appearances from Allison Russell and Madison Cunningham, Age Of Apathy finds O’Donovan’s gift for poetic imagery and unconventionally alluring melody in full bloom as she confronts the sense-dulling barrage of the digital age.
Meet Sweden's Many Voices Speak, Matilda Mård who reveals a single from her new album which is about feeling better after a dark period in life. Her gentle dreamy bedroom pop is essential. Plenty more essential new sounds to share with you from Congotronics to psych-pop to Country boogie.
Dana Gehrman has one of those voices that makes you sit up and pay attention. Her 2019 release 'Find A Way' was equal parts sassy blues and vintage rock, as if she had stepped out of 1973. Now the Brisbane guitar-slinging songstress is making her eagerly-awaited return with a seductive rendition of 1979 Little Feat single ‘Perfect Imperfection'. As well cracking new releases from Lee Fields, Alannah Russack’s Entropy Band, Emily Barker and Lukas Drinkwater plus we meet a new and exciting singer/songwriter from Braidwood in NSW, Lily Morris.
Vancouver’s local DIY superhero Apollo Ghosts announce their return with an upcoming double album, 22 song epic “Pink Tiger”. They formed in 2008 and have stopped and started along the way, but they are sounding in top form with the new single 'Spilling Yr Guts'
In our annual look at the best ambient works of 2021, we reveal our Quiet Space Top 50 releases. This is Part 2 – covering 40-31.
40
Track: Open Memory
Artist: Paperbark
Release: What Was Left Behind
Label: Constellation Tatsu
Time: 1:42
Track: Bring up The Scars
Artist: Paperbark
Release: What Was Left Behind
Label: Constellation Tatsu
Time: 8:18
39
Track: Glazed Vision
Artist: Christina Giannone
Release: Glazed Vision
Label: Past Inside The Present
Time: 13:48
Track: Telepathy
Artist: Christina Giannone
Release: Glazed Vision
Label: Past Inside The Present
Time: 19:21
38
Track: To Forget Everything (excerpt)
Artist: yolabmi
Release: By The Sea
Label: Vaagnar
Time: 25:20
37
Track: Silverline (excerpt)
Artist: kj
Release: Saturnalia
Label: Polar Seas Records
Time: 38:34
36
Track: Sleep Experiments
Artist: Andrew Heath
Release: New Eden
Label: Disco Gecko Recordings
Time: 47:26
Track: Sleep Experiments
Artist: Andrew Heath
Release: New Eden
Label: Disco Gecko Recordings
Time: 53:06
35
Track: Prayer
Artist: Sachi Kobayashi
Release: Weathervane
Label: Stereoscenic
Time: 1:05:18
Track: Weathervane
Artist: Sachi Kobayashi
Release: Weathervane
Label: Stereoscenic
Time: 1:08:09
Track: Symbol
Artist: Sachi Kobayashi
Release: Weathervane
Label: Stereoscenic
Time: 1:10:23
34
Track: Pulling Out of the Driveway at Dusk
Artist: Ned Milligan
Release: Enter Outside
Label: Florabelle
Time: 1:13:35
33
Track: Strangers
Artist: Jogging House
Release: Holds
Label: Self Released
Time: 1:23:58
Track: Muscles
Artist: Jogging House
Release: Holds
Label: Self Released
Time: 1:28:34
32
Track: Sleep Symbols
Artist: Landtitles
Release: Your Voice In Pieces
Label: Slowcraft Records
Time: 1:33:03
Track: A Vaulting of Colour
Artist: Landtitles
Release: Your Voice In Pieces
Label: Slowcraft Records
Time: 1:37:39
31
Track: We Search for the Lights
Artist: Sean Curtis Patrick
Release: The Best Driving Music in the World Ever
Label: Past Inside The Present
Time: 1:41:49
Track: Being Alone Never Hurt Anybody
Artist: Sean Curtis Patrick
Release: The Best Driving Music in the World Ever
Label: Past Inside The Present
Time: 1:41:49
Track: The Feel Good Hit of the Summer
Artist: Sean Curtis Patrick
Release: The Best Driving Music in the World Ever
Label: Past Inside The Present
Time: 1:49:27
Quiet Space Top 50 Countdown — Best of 2021 — Part 2 (#201) https://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/QS_40-31_2021.mp3
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In our annual look at the best ambient works of 2021, we reveal our Quiet Space Top 50 releases. This is Part 1 – covering 50-41.
50
Track: The Glass Shifting
Artist: Brett Naucke
Release: Mirror Ensemble
Label: American Dreams Records
Time: 3:07
Track: Late-Century Reflection
Artist: Brett Naucke
Release: Mirror Ensemble
Label: American Dreams Records
Time: 1:01:58
49
Track: Cascade
Artist: Origamibiro
Release: Miscellany
Label: Denovali Records
Time: 12:16
Track: Fracture
Artist: Origamibiro
Release: Miscellany
Label: Denovali Records
Time: 18:36
48
Track: Another Way
Artist: Francisco Sonur
Release: Sleep Researchers
Label: Giraffe Tapes
Time: 22:09
Track: I will cross the river through the deepest part
Artist: Francisco Sonur
Release: SSleep Researchers
Label: Giraffe Tapes
Time: 26:34
47
Track: trailing clouds
Artist: Anthene
Release: Rosewater
Label: Lilerne Tapes
Time: 30:33
Track: Rosewater
Artist: Anthene
Release: Rosewater
Label: Lilerne Tapes
Time: 37:35
46
Track: No returning back
Artist: Sleepland+duenn
Release: New Environment
Label: Shimmering Moods
Time: 42:44
45
Track: To Be in the Grey is Okay (Feat. Benoît Pioulard)
Artist: Rinnovare
Release: Held Under All
Label: Shimmering Moods
Time: 58:06
Track: An Honest Form in Fabric
Artist: Rinnovare
Release: Held Under All
Label: Shimmering Moods
Time: 1:01:56
44
Track: Warp Point feat. Chie Otomi
Artist: Rhucle
Release: With
Label: Lontano Series
Time: 1:07:47
Track: Rew
Artist: Rhucle
Release: With
Label: Lontano Series
Time: 1:10:28
Track: Beyond The Light feat. Moss Covered Technology
Artist: Rhucle
Release: With
Label: Lontano Series
Time: 1:13:36
43
Track: Secluded Trails to Nowhere
Artist: Misleading Structures
Release: Outer
Label: ARCHIVES
Time: 1:16:38
Track: Collapsing Altitude
Artist: Misleading Structures
Release: Outer
Label: ARCHIVES
Time: 1:25:07
42
Track: Afloat In The Ocean
Artist: Lionmilk
Release: I Hope You Are Well
Label:Leaving records
Time: 1:29:33
Track: Angels Over My Head
Artist: Lionmilk
Release: I Hope You Are Well
Label:Leaving records
Time: 1:34:48
41
Track: Blue-eyed Boy
Artist: Will Guthrie & James Rushford
Release: Real Real World
Label: Black truffle
Time: 1:39:02
Track: Blue-eyed Boy
Artist: Will Guthrie & James Rushford
Release: Real Real World
Label: Black truffle
Time: 1:47:42
Quiet Space Top 50 Countdown — Best of 2021 — Part 1 (#200) https://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/QS_50-41_2021.mp3
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It’s been wonderful to witness the blossoming of Sydney’s Jessica as a songwriter and vocalist over the last few years, first as half of folk-goth duo, Jep and Dep and subsequently with her solo albums. She returns with her second, With Reverie, an exploration into daydreams, thoughts, mind-trips, wonderings and introspections. Highly Recommended. Plus Rozi Plain, Pozi, Tōth and more!
Track: Detainer Man
Artist: Pozi
Release: Typing EP
Label: PRAH Recordings
Track: Long Dreamin’
Artist: Dinner Time
Release: Halfway Down
Label: The Record Machine
Track: Done My Time
Artist: Emma Russack & Lachlan Denton
Release: Something is Going to Change Tomorrow, Today. What Will You Do? What Will You Say?
Label: Osborne Again
Track: Silent Fan
Artist: Rozi Plain
Release: Silent Fan
Label: Memphis Industries
Track: Mountains
Artist: Jessica
Release: With Reverie
Label: Self Released
Track: Muerto
Artist: Tōth
Release: Death EP
Label: Northern Spy Records
Track: Home
Artist: Abby Huston
Release: Ah Ha
Label: Egghunt Records
1/2/3/4 — #222 — With Reverie https://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1234_222.mp3
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Stray Theories is the musical pseudonym of New Zealand based, Australian Musician and Composer Micah Templeton-Wolfe. Micah has been composing and releasing music for over a decade, releasing music primarily under the alias Stray Theories. His latest, This Light, on n5MD, is our focus on this edition of The Quiet Space.
Track: hollowed out (intro)
Artist: anthene
Release: infinity lines
Label: Stereoscenic
Time: 0:00
Track: In the Shadow of You
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: This Light
Label: n5MD
Time: 0:47
Track: All Our Tears
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: All That Was Lost
Label: n5MD
Time: 6:05
Track: Breathless
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: We Never Left
Label: Self Released
Time: 9:35
Track: Falter
Artist: Part Timer
Release: Falter
Label: Self released
Time: 15:00
Track: A Moment in Time
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: This Light
Label: n5MD
Time: 18:00
Track: Embrace
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: All That Was Lost
Label: n5MD
Time: 22:02
Track: Rlv
Artist: Dear Stream
Release: Album 001
Label: Shimmering Moods
Time: 26:10
Track: Closer
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: We Never Left
Label: Self Released
Time: 32:51
Track: Atlas Dreams
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: This Light
Label: n5MD
Time: 35:31
Track: Drift of Stars
Artist: anthéne & simon mccorry
Release: the equation of time
Label: Whitelabrecs
Time: 39:35
Track: Be The Light
Artist: Stray Theories
Release: This Light
Label: n5MD
Time: 43:58
Quiet Space — #198 — Stray Theories https://www.pimpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/QS_198.mp3
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