hearts of space | news

PGM 1249 'ETHEREAL ELECTRONIC' : may 29-june 5

In the early 20th century, the Theosophists and the Rosicrucians theorized an ethereal plane—a nonmaterial level of reality above the physical plane.

When applied to music, ethereal implies subtle, light and airy, immaterial and weightless. It's a word that's often used to describe electronic music, where sounds are not produced by physical instruments and have an abstract, immaterial quality. This music can take us to virtual spaces and imaginary worlds.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, synthetic journeys on the subtle planes, on a program called ETHEREAL ELECTRONIC. Music is by NICHOLAS GUNN, DAVID ARKENSTONE, GILES REAVES, KEVIN BRAHENY FORTUNE, PAUL AVGERINOS, BING SATELLITES, IASOS, and ERIK WØLLO.

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PGM 1248 'SIX DEGREES OF AMBIENT' : may 22-29

FOR DECADES, globalization has been a fact of life. And even before Covid-19, it was becoming controversial. Now, with critical supply chains being disrupted by the pandemic, we're having a bit of a rethink. Whatever happens with global trade, one thing is certain: the global exchange of music, film, art and media is a cultural fact of life that will remain as vibrant and creative as ever.

San Francisco is the home of Six Degrees Records, a company that's been dedicated to crossing musical borders since 1996, with the provocative slogan "everything is closer than you think." They live the idea, releasing a wide range of traditional and progressive music from around the planet.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an Anglo-American ambient journey, on a program called SIX DEGREES OF AMBIENT. Music is by ANOTHER FINE DAY, TOM MIDDLETON, BOB HOLROYD, TOM GREEN, HALFTRIBE, ANDREW HEATH, DARSHAN AMBIENT, JEFF PEARCE, RICHARD NORRIS, and MARK ISHAM.

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PGM 1213R 'PROGRESSIVE AMBIENT' : may 15-22

The "progressive" label is growing, and it has nothing to do with politics. 

In music, the term has a history that goes back to Progressive Folk in the 1930s. After that came Progressive Jazz from the 1940s to the 1970s, Progressive Rock, Pop, and Bluegrass in the 1960s, Progressive Country in the 1970s, Progressive Metal in the 1980s, and Progressive Electronic and Progressive House in the 1990s.

Progressive is what happens when a genre has matured, and there's an abundance of highly skilled musicians who want to stay creatively challenged. 

On this transmission of Hearts of Space...if the progressive label means expanding stylistic and conceptual boundaries and synthesizing cultural influences—then I'm gonna say we're overdue for a genre—and a program—called PROGRESSIVE AMBIENT.

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PGM 1247 'DEEP SERENITY' : may 8-15

The relentless pace of the modern world just had a global reboot, and the reason wasn't even human. It's beyond ironic that it took a rogue microbe to force the world to take a time out. Sheltered in place, working from home, reaching out with video and electronic messages, we're moving toward a world that's going to be slower, more limited, and less intense than before. After that, who knows? We might like it better.

For ambient and contemplative musicians, speed—or to use the musical term—tempo, has always been an artistic choice. And for centuries, a select group of them have chosen to make music that's slow, quiet, and heartfelt. If it sounds better than ever these days, it's because we need it.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a journey from serene to introspective, on a program called "DEEP SERENITY." Music is by FLOW, PAUL WINTER CONSORT, AUKAI, GINA LENEÉ, KATHRYN KAYE, TOM EATON, PATRICK O'HEARN, and DAVID NORLAND.

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PGM 1246 'DRIFTING IN SILENCE' : may 1-8

Flying.   Drifting.   Floating.
Three kinds of virtual movement we find in ambient music.

Flying...is moving through space with speed, purpose, and destination.
Flying is active.

Drifting...is horizontal. You surrender to prevailing forces and let them move you.
Drifting is passive.

Floating...is vertical. You hang suspended, neutrally buoyant, in equilibrium with gravity.
Like drifting, floating is passive.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we drift wide and quiet, on a program called DRIFTING IN SILENCE. Music is by DRIFTING IN SILENCE, MASSERGY, CLIVE WRIGHT, STEVE ROACH, PHILLIP WILKERSON, VIR UNIS, JOHN FOXX + HAROLD BUDD.

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PGM 1011R 'ELECTRON TRAVELER' : apr.24-may 1

Even in the early days, the pioneers of electronic music knew they were on to something special. Here was a way of sculpting sound that made it like clay — something you could shape to your own creative vision. Today every artist can have electronic tools of almost unlimited power at their fingertips. We've had several generations of musicians tending the electronic vineyards, and these days the sonic wine is available in many varietals.

For example, "downtempo" is a name invented in the 1990s to describe slowed-down, less intense electronic dance music. It's still beat-y but the atmosphere is chilled; rather than pumping you up, it floats you along with a relaxed vibe that leads to pure Ambient realms.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a journey from Downtempo rhythms to Ambient space, on a program called 'ELECTRON TRAVELER'. Music is by AES DANA, MARCONI UNION, HIBERNATION, HEALER, and RADIANT MIND.

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PGM 1245 "ELEGIES FOR THE FALLEN' : apr. 17-25

One of cruel ironies of 2020 is that spring here in Northern California is the loveliest we've seen in years. As we absorb the terrible news about a global pandemic against this lush, verdant background, the "cognitive dissonance" is deafening.

The plants and animals don't know about the virus and are having a wonderful time, while the humans have to fight a ruthless bio-terrorist that can turn our fellow citizens into involuntary assassins, and paralyze our whole society. So in this season of hope and rebirth, we celebrate our steadfast first responders, heroic doctors and dedicated nurses, while we mourn our sick, our suffering and our dead.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a program called ELEGIES FOR THE FALLEN.

Music by MICHAEL WHALEN, DAVID HELPLING & JON JENKINS, JON HOPKINS, CHARLES B. KIM, A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN, and KEVIN BRAHENY FORTUNE.

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1244 'ESCAPE FROM PANDEMICA' : apr. 10-17

It's a scenario straight out of dystopian fiction: attacked by a killer microbe, disrupted by a changing climate, challenged by economic dysfunction and social inequity, locked down, isolated and afraid — inhabitants of a beleaguered planet leave earth and seek solace in virtual cosmic travel. Who can blame them?

On this transmission of Hearts of Space,we leave earthbound troubles behind for a moment and take a cosmic electronic journey, on a program called 'ESCAPE FROM PANDEMICA.' Music is by CSILLAGKÖD, RAMP w/MARK SHREEVE, STEVE ROACH, HAROLD BUDD, MULM, REMOTE VISION, JARGUNA, and PAUL SAUVANET.

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PGM 785R 'LAMENTO' : apr. 3-10

Descending into the dark season, we find music that portrays human emotions at their most vulnerable: music of pathos, loss and remembrance. These are some of our most powerful and affecting feelings, and they call for music that reaches into the depths of our souls.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a special program of choral, vocal and instrumental music for the dark season from guest producer ELLEN HOLMES called LAMENTO.

A lament is a cathartic song or poem expressing grief or mourning. Many of the oldest and most enduring poems in human history have been laments; they're found in the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Hindu Vedas, and in ancient Near Eastern religious texts, including the Old Testament. 

Music is by GEORGE ROCHBERG, ARVO PÄRT, GARRETT FISHER, SAVINA YANNATOU, SILVIA NAKKACH, ZBIGNIEW PREISNER, NIKOLAI KARETNIKOV, VICTOR KALINNIKOV, ALEXANDER KASTALSKY, URMAS SISASK, and SANCTUARY.

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PGM 749R2 'TRANSLUCENT MUSIC' : mar.27-apr.3

In dark and dangerous times, we're confronted with depressing and painful emotions. Irrationally, when we consciously immerse ourselves in fear and dread, we can emerge stronger. Music has mysterious restorative powers that come from the emotional confrontation with deep and challenging feelings. The Ancient Greeks called it...catharsis.

At the other end of the emotional spectrum, in dark times we crave light and hope—balm for battered souls. Here music brings beauty and peace, inspiration and joy.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a journey in the fragile lightscape of the psyche, from dark, to translucent, to luminous—on a program called TRANSLUCENT MUSIC.

Featuring LISA GERRARD & JEFF RONA, ELENI KARAINDROU, ARVO PÄRT, VALENTIN SILVESTROV, and KARL JENKINS.

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