former selves ~ morriña

former selves ~ morriña (auasca, 2016)

«Morriña, the Galician word from the region in Spain, used to describe an intense longing for something that is no longer there. Like being homesick. Arriving in Spain with no instruments, field recordings from daily walks in the Spanish countryside form the base of this album. Field recordings were arranged into compositions before hitting a single note of an instrument. This is his most unconventional Former Selves release to date». auasca

Indeed, this album sounds unusual. As long-time follower of Former Selves output I can surely tell that. Yet, this is still ambient/drone music, but its aesthetics goes far away from regular "lo-fi cassette drone jams". The way it was created and the resulting sound reminds Dragon's Eye Recordings catalogue and solo works of Yann Novak - the man behind it. Quietly unfolding layers of pure, undistorted drone, subtle presence of field recordings and amazing space between the resonances, which gives huge space for one's imagination. What is hidden behind those hums? Was it river speaking its own language with the sky or dry leaves, whispering stories about summer? Or just bare wind, hiding in the branches? Images are easily replaceable, but sound here keep its own vibe, slowly blending the edges of what we used to call 'reality'. Map is always smaller than territory, but symbolic interpretation of landscape and what it represents (subjectively, of course) may cause a wave of universes, going through one's mind. Or, maybe, mind goes though universes, causing music to be manifested at certain points of space-time? Reflecting on this even for the short time of this cassette playback, one can easily feel that actually his own self is missing, lost somewhere at the journey with these tunes... Which brings us to idea, so beautifully reflected in Paul's project name - Former Selves. Yes, this is exactly who we are. One moment ago, two moments ago... While you thinking of yourself, your 'real' self is already not there. So, probably this Morriña longing that we may feel, is not about something, but, in first place, about our selves.

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azha

azha - celestial meadows (perfect wave, 2015)

Azha is the collaboration of Kathleen Baird (Spires That In The Sunset Rise, Sapropelic Pycnic) and Andrew Fitzpatrick (Noxroy, Volcano Choir, All Tiny Creatures, Bon Iver). In their debut release, Fitzpatrick processes Baird's flute and vocals through Ableton creating an icy, eerie, celestial ambience. Edition of 50. perfect wave

No se puede negar que en 2015 hemos contemplado un nuevo amanecer para Ka Baird. Siendo honestos, lo cierto es que se venía gestando desde un par de años atrás tras el sendero abierto por Tropical Rock. No obstante, el estallido avant-garde y free-jazz que supuso 'Beast in the Garden' ha liberado un torrente de reencarnaciones (Sapropelic Pycnic) y colaboraciones (Azha) al cobijo de Terry Riley, John Coltrane, Roland Kirk, Cluster o J.D. Emmanuel. Los más de 37 hipnotizantes minutos de la larga suite, secuenciada por Andrew Fitzpatrick sobre las improvisaciones vocales y flautiles de Kathleen, parecen fluctuar entre en un ambient que recorre las profundidades marinas y el espacio exterior. A estos parajes, dispares a priori pero que transmiten sensaciones similares, es a donde a mí me transporta ‘Celestial Meadows'. Flotas ingrávido entre interferencias, loops y disonancias, surgen vocecillas que se asoman para desaparecer rápidamente y vislumbras un arcoíris en la inmensidad helada que va desvaneciéndose paulatinamente. 

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Top 2015 by Steve Targo (Inner Travels)

Happy New Year, dear readers and listeners! Things were slowing down lately at Microphones due to the number of reasons, but we still listen to new music a lot! Our passion is stronger than ever and 2015 was really huge experience – tons of wonderful music released and lots of new names blossomed. We continue to dive this vibe, always searching, listening, perceiving and trying to share. It's always hard to choose 'best' among things so unique, that every piece takes you to another dimension, telling its own story, so we still contemplating on the task of posting our favourite pieces. Today we asked Steve Targo, one of our favourite musicians, to help with this and share his own thoughts about aural discoveries in 2015. Soon there will be more, keep well and enjoy your holidays!

«I couldn’t listen to everything I wanted to in 2015, but what I heard was magical. No other word to describe it. 2015 was such a magical year for my kind of music. So much came out that I'll need another year to catch up. My best of 2015 list is simply based on what I listened to the most. I'd be remiss to not mention such wonderful offerings by Meta Mora, Pulse Emitter, Panabrite, Opaline, Tropical Rock, Reuben Son, Maia Ibar, Inspired School of Astral Music, Dragontime, Kiyomitsu Miyashita, the “Skyward Territories” 4-way split … and so many others. For now, let’s just stick to 10. Or 11, depending on how you look at my tie for second, since it includes a collection that wasn't officially released but can be streamed».

10. H. Takahashi ~ Sea Meditation

9. Sunmoonstar ~ Gymnasium Flower

8. Hybrid Palms ~ Rainbow Breeze

7. Warren Michael Defever ~ Sunship

6. Selaroda ~ viaje a través de sonidos transportative

5. Water Bureau ~ Water Bureau

4. Kyle Landstra ~ Unshared Properties Vol. I-IV

3. David Edren ~ Music For Mimosa Pudica & Codariocalyx

2. Matt Barlow ~ Of Waves & his Sound Meditations playlist

1. Laraaji ~ All In One Peace

~ by Steve Targo  (Inner Travels, ex-riot_meadows)