Today’s guest deejay is Tim McManus, the had honcho of Island House Recordings, a little label based on a little island in the East river, Roosevelt Island, NYC. How did I cross paths with Tim, you ask? Oh, the usual circuitous route. A few years back, Stefan Beck, who moonlights as Golden Brown, took over the turntables on Soundwave (you can check out Stefan’s mix here). I asked him who might be keen to share a mix on an upcoming show, and without missing a beat, he recommended Tim. Stefan said he curious to hear what Tim put together. After doing a deep dive into Tim’s label, I was curious, too. Tim did not disappoint. He kicked off his set with a track from The The — talk about a curveball. That unexpected twist set the tone for the entire mix. From there, Tim kept the surprises coming, weaving through tracks from Gastr De Sol (I’m a longtime David Grubbs fan) to Nimbudala. You’re in for a treat! Naturally, I’m already primed to ask Tim who he thinks should helm the decks on Soundwave next. Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Broken Chip. See you then. The The “Red Cinders in the Sand” Seawind of Battery “Clockwatching” Hipwell “Big Eternal Beautiful” Nick Millevoi “Moon Pulses 4” Gastr De Sol “The Seasons Reverse Live” Pat Keen “Dance with Wheeler” The Modern Folk “Guitar Mist” Gerycz Powers Rolin “Activator” Sage Martens “The North American Bison” Nimbudala “Peace Rock II”
Today’s guest deejay is Garek Druss.
I met Garek through Mkl Anderson, AKA, Drekka, when I asked Mike who he thought would share a mix on Soundwave (listen to Mkl’s mix here). I trust Mkl without question, but all the same, I gave a listen to some of Garek’s work and was instantly won over. So of course I extended an invasion to Garek and I was not disappointed.
Garek describes himself as a a Los Angeles based artist who’s work explores the balance and sometimes friction between the physical being and the incorporeal. That sounds about right.
Garek’s got quite the mix for us. I’ll admit, most of the artists he featured I’m unfamiliar with, which, for me, is one of the delights of hosting Soundwave. He took me on a journey of lulling sounds, gentle crackles and hisses, and quite chords. When his mix was over, it felt like I had woken from. A half-remembered dream.
Garek has some wonderful prints you might want to adorn your space with. Check them out here.
Joinus next week for returning guest deejays the brothers Sebastian and Daniel Selke (CEEYS).
See you then.
Today’s guest deejay is Aurielle Zeitler, AKA Ghost Marrow.
I’m fond of this mix not only because it’s beautiful but also because of the seemingly incongruous selection of musicians. There are songs by Roedelius (listen to his mix for Soundwave here) and Christoph de Babalon, songs by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno and Grouper, and so on. Aurielle’s mix is, at one, comfortingly familiar and delightfully unexpected.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Roger Richards, founder of Extreme.
See you then.
Today’s guest deejay is Radboud Mens.
Hailing from the Netherlands, Mens stands at the forefront of experimental electronic music, pushing the boundaries of perception with each composition.
Guest deejay Ard Bit (listen to Ard’s mix here) introduced me to Radboud, and after listening to a few of Radboud’s albums, I invited him to guest deejay as well. You’ll understand after hearing Radboud’s mix, a delightful sampling of his work.
Radboud’s music is a seamless blend of stillness, textures, and gentle rhythms that fascinate or lull you to sleep. Me? I’ve been listening to it all week, at the beginning and end of my workday.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Ghost Marrow.
See you then.
Today’s guest deejay is Sanderson Dear, the founder of Stasis Recordings.
Sanderson shared a mix with us last year after Rubén Tamayo (listen to Rubén’s mix here) was kind enough to introduce us. I enjoyed Sanderson’s mix so much that I asked if he’d return, and he did not disappoint. Today’s mix is just as fantastic and surprising as his last mix. Maybe more so.
Before I go, if you dig today’s mix, and I know you will, you’ll be happy to learn that Sanderson does a monthly In Stasis show on Rogue State Radio on the first Sunday of each month. You can look forward to Sanderson’s next show on February 4.
The next release from Stasis Recordings is a digital EP by AP Organism, hitting shops Friday, January 26.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Radboud Mens.
See you then.
Today’s guest deejay is Ard Bit.
Ard first hit my radar when three of his tracks popped up in Roel Funcken’s mega-mix for Soundwave. Soon after, Ard’s music kept appearing on my Discover Weekly Mix on Spotify or various ambient mixes I came across. And each time, I had to check the playlist to find out who was making the fantastic music I was hearing. It was like the universe was telling me something. I took the hint and asked Ard to share a mix with us.
Ard says his mix is “a moment with some favourite tracks, mixing, manipulating and jamming live with the lyra and field recordings.”
And this mix is beautiful.
I’ve only had a week to listen to Ard’s mix and let it be the soundtrack for my morning walk with my dog. She and I go to the park to play ball. The park is under a path for jets, so it’s pretty dramatic. Ard’s mix seamlessly slipped into my environment and experience, lending a nostalgic cast for something happening now. The warm sounds, the static, and the sizzle played nicely off the jets’ engines. There are even sounds of dogs barking in Ard’s mix. Perfect!
Tell me how your listing experience went.
See you next week.
Today’s guest deejay is Max Würden.
I discovered Max on one of my deep dives on Spotify. It was Max’s Format that captured my imagination. The album is warm and wistful. It feels like a ray of luxurious sunshine on a cold winter day. I don’t know. It’s subjective. Maybe you’d get something different from your listening experience, but that’s what it was like for me.
Max is known for diverse soundscapes and soundtrack production . Proficient as a drummer, he crafts sounds from silence. His works span various awards, including nominations for the Peer Raben Music Award. Max boasts a prolific discography across labels like Kompakt Records and Farfield Records. His recent endeavors involve album releases like Landmark and Script, alongside exhibitions and contributions to the renowned Pop Ambient series. Max’s versatility shines through collaborations, and film soundtracks.
So naturally I invited Max to guest deejay on Soundwave. I was delightfully surprised.
Max sent me a mix steeped in jazz. I thought there’d be a lot more jazz (or Black classical music) on Soundwave, but sadly, it’s a genre that is neglected on this show. Until now, that’s it. Max digs deep and serves up rarities that should become part of your daily rotation. But it’s not all jazz, either. Max included the ambient and instrumental music you’ve come to expect on Soundwave and deftly weaves it with jazz that’s seamless.
See you next week.
I was iniated into dub last century when I picked up the 21st Century Dub compilation cassette. I already loved reggae, but dub was much more expansive, mysterious, and supple. It was psychedelic. And so, over the years, I explored dub. King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry were my guides in this dimension.
The more I listened, the more I heard dub’s influences everywhere. I heard it in punk, goth, industrial, etc. Dub is singular because it can absorb any genre’s musical distinctiveness and make it its own.
I’d often don the guide of King Dub during my late-night shows at WMFO. I’d talk in a patois and pitch shift my voice down a notch to sound like a deejay from the deepest realms of dub. And I’d play some of the deepest, low-end frequency dub I could get my hands on. Today’s mix captures the spirits of those nights. I hope you enjoy it.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Tim McManus of Island House Recordings.
See you then.
Sub Rosa, was founded in ’84 in Belgium, blazing trails in experimental soundscapes. They're the mad scientists of music, pushing the boundaries and throwing conventional norms out the window.
Their catalog? It's a wild ride through the musical wilderness. They've got everything from electronic experiments to industrial chaos, ambient soundscapes, contemporary classical masterpieces, and avant-garde jazz that'll blow your mind. But what really makes Sub Rosa stand out is their love for the rebels—the artists who dare to challenge the very essence of what music should be.
And they don't stop at just albums, oh no. Sub Rosa goes all out with multimedia projects that'll make your brain do somersaults. They're all about musicians teaming up with visual wizards and sound art installations that'll mess with your head in the best way possible. These guys don't just make music; they create intellectually stimulating masterpieces.
And their following? Let’s just say it’s a tribe of fearless adventurers and collectors who appreciate life’s finer, weirder things. Sub Rosa’s got ’em hooked on their complex and thought-provoking works, and rightfully so.
But that's not the end of the story. Over the years, Sub Rosa has been a launchpad for groundbreaking artists, thrusting them onto the global stage. They've cemented their legacy as pioneers in the world of experimental and avant-garde music, introducing the world to the sonic revolutionaries.
Now, let's dive into Myths Foundation, a treasure trove of four LPs and three EPs that marked their artistic inception. Starting a record label was the furthest thing from their minds back then. These folks were all about crafting intricate and mysterious creations tha
The journey was no cakewalk, my friend. Broke students, they were trying to keep the artistic flames burning while drowning in academia. So, they took it slow and steady, releasing one record per year. It might’ve seemed impractical, but through a series of life-changing encounters, they stitched together these sonic marvels.
These early records? They weren’t just music but mysterious artifacts waiting to be unraveled. With each release, Myths Foundation delved deeper into the abyss of creative exploration. Against all odds, these records marked the beginning of an epic adventure, setting the stage for a remarkable journey that defied expectations.
See you next week.
In a dimly lit underground club, the audience gathered, a congregation of the techno-faithful. The night was young, but the atmosphere was charged with a palpable sense of anticipation. The curtain of reality was about to be drawn back, revealing glimpses of the sublime and the chaotic. As the stage lights flickered to life, Skinny Puppy took their positions. It was a peculiar, chilly autumn evening when the temperature outside seemed to mirror the eerie chill that permeated the venue. “Spahn Dirge (Live)” began its haunting journey, a sonic invocation that pulled the crowd into a trance. Images of distorted realities flashed across screens, intertwining with the hypnotic soundscape. It was as if the audience had stepped through a tear in the fabric of the universe, a glimpse into a surreal and phantasmagorical realm. The live performance was not merely a concert but a communion with the otherworldly.
Meanwhile, outside in the drizzle-laden night, a solitary pilgrim embarked on a personal odyssey. With headphones clamped firmly in place, they ventured forth, their every step synchronized with the mournful strains of God’s “Lord, I’m On My Way.” The lyrics became a mantra of longing and existential uncertainty, the perfect accompaniment to their solitary voyage.
In a world consumed by noise and chaos, two friends sought solace in the simplicity of nature. Their canoe sliced through the tranquil waters of a remote river, and Andy Hawkins and Bill Laswell’s “Headwaters” played softly on a portable speaker. The music harmonized with the rustle of leaves and the gentle gurgle of the river, forging a profound connection between man and the natural world.
Back within the subterranean club, Echthros unfurled “Iyov” upon the eager assembly. The song was a tempest of aggression and discord, a sonic maelstrom that mirrored modern existence’s chaotic pulse. It became a cathartic release, a collective purging of pent-up frustrations and societal dissonance.
In the solitude of his studio, Justin Broadrick embarked on a sonic experiment. “Guitar Two” emerged as a mesmerizing composition, distorted guitar sounds woven together in a hypnotic haze. It was a journey into the depths of sound, an exploration of the boundaries of creativity and expression.
These diverse musical vignettes, seemingly disjointed in their tonalities and emotional cadence, converge without incongruity. Today’s mix is an expedition through the corridors of introspection and catharsis.
See you next week.
Today’s guest deejay is Chuck Soo-Hoo, AKA Ki Oni.
We have Mark Trecka to thank for today’s show. After Mkl Anderson, AKA Drekka, shared a mix with us (listen to it here), I asked him who he knew would want to guest deejay on Soundwave, and he highly recommended Mark. Mark had to pass, but he mentioned that he is helping Ki Oni with publicity for his new forthcoming record on AKP, and I wondered if I’d be interested in inviting him. I luxuriated in Ki Oni’s A Leisurely Swim To Everlasting Life album, and here we are today with an exquisite mix for you to enjoy.
Now that I think about it, we have Drekka to thank for today’s show because he’s the one who got this ball of wax rolling. And these connections are one of the unexpected delights of Soundwave in the last few years. Four people are the furthest the degrees of separation of guest deejays on Soundwave. It’s only a matter of time before that extends to five people. As I said, unexpected delight.
Another unexpected delight: Chuck chose his pseudonym, Ki Oni, as an homage to a Japanese monster movie creature of the same name — a tree with a human face that spews flower pedals from its mouth. Sublime.
On a personal note, I’ve enjoyed listening to Ki Oni’s mix while walking my dog, particularly around a lovely community spot at a nearby cliff during the golden hour. It was a nice moment.
Join us again next week. I’ll be behind the virtual wheels of steel.
See you then.