hearts of space | news

AMBIcon Update, February 28th

With just a little more than two months to the event (May 3-5) we will be posting more frequent updates here.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE POSTED : For those who have been asking for a more detailed schedule, it's now available on our website at http://www.hos.com/#ambicon-schedule. There's also a PDF version for printing here. 

TIER 3 PRICE INCREASE POSTPONED : The full conference ticket price was set to increase by $30 on March 1st. We've postponed this one month to April 1st to encourage more to attend the entire event.

SINGLE DAY and SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS : While we have given preferential access to Full Conference attendees since the beginning of ticket sales, we have enough seats left that we can offer some lower-priced alternatives for Bay Area and California residents:

A limited number of single day tickets will be available in early MARCH.

Tickets for the 4 individual concerts will be available in early APRIL.
See the detailed schedule to choose.

DISCOUNT ROOMS AT EMBASSY SUITES HAVE SOLD OUT : We had the biggest block they offer and they're gone. You can still reserve individual suites at higher rates online at Embassy Suites Reservations, or by calling 415-499-9222 or 1-800-EMBASSY and asking for Reservations for the San Rafael, CA location.

MORE ROOMS, LESS MONEY : For an alternative, we've contacted the nearby FOUR POINTS SHERATON SAN RAFAEL Hotel and arranged for another block of discount rooms at $119/night. You can call 800-325-3535 for reservations; mention AMBIcon 2013 to get the special rate. We will post a link to their reservations page as soon as they provide it. The overflow hotel is across the highway from a large shopping mall with good restaurants and services. It's an easy 10 minute walk from the conference, or a short shuttle ride.

THE MAN WHO WROTE THE BOOK ON AMBIENT — veteran English music writer MARK PRENDERGAST, is now confirmed for a special 2 hour presentation at the Sunday morning session. He will be giving an overview of Ambient music with slides and musical examples. This is the first time Mark has appeared in the U.S. and we're really excited to have him!

More details as they become available. :: SH

 

PGM 1005 'AMBIENT LANOIS' : feb. 22 - mar. 1

Canadian engineer, producer, guitarist and solo artist DANIEL LANOIS drifted slowly into worldwide fame during the 1980s as a result of frequent collaborations with Ambient mastermind BRIAN ENO, and work with some of the most famous rock artists of the 20th century.

Born in Quebec in 1951, he grew up on French and Irish folk music and rock, and played drums and guitar. His varied musical background, talent for studio work, mastery of electronics and sound processing, and sensitivity to texture and atmosphere made him indispensable as an engineer or producer on key albums by U2, PETER GABRIEL, BOB DYLAN, ROBBIE ROBERTSON, WILLIE NELSON, and others.

In 1989 Lanois began a career as a solo artist that continues today. He had moved to his spiritual home in New Orleans in 1987 and built a studio, where he perfected his distinctively rootsy, swampy, atmospheric sound.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a DANIEL LANOIS retrospective, on a program called AMBIENT LANOIS.

[ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

PGM 1004 'ELECTRONIC NORTH' : feb.15-22

In winter, the kinetic rhythms, crystalline tones and subtle timbres of the synthesizer seem to resonate with the chilled landscape. Whether flying over silent fields, frozen lakes and snow-covered hills, evoking the latent energy of the sleeping flora, or sounding the deep notes of a cold and barren world—electronic music creates a soundscape for the season.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an hour of superchilled winter electronica, on a program called ELECTRONIC NORTH. Music is by MARCONI UNION, CHRONOTOPE PROJECT, CONNECT.OHM, OOPHOI & PAUL VNUK, JR., and PATRICK O'HEARN.

[ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

791R 'NORDIC SOUL' : feb.8-15

The polar night creeps southward across the top of Europe, while the winter snows and ice hold the fjords and forests in their grip. In a land of dark and cold, the focus turns within, and the music of Scandinavia, the Baltics and Russia warms the heart and fills the soul. Classical, jazz and traditional folk sounds stretch from melancholy to an ethereal lightness: slow, majestic and beautiful.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a far north spacejazz and new music journey called NORDIC SOUL. Music is by STREIF, JAN GARBAREK, FRANCOIS COUTURIER, ANDREY DERGATCHEV, MICHELLE MAKARSKI, GALINA USTVOLSKAYA, and VALENTIN SILVESTROV.

[ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

I want HOS on my...Apple TV

Well, no problem. Fact is, if you have the HOS iPhone app, you can stream from the app to your Apple TV box using Apple's "AirPlay" wireless technology. And it's been that way for almost two years.

HOW COME I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT you ask??

Because Apple in its wisdom hides the icon that lets you know that AirPlay is ready to use. It's part of their "keep it simple" design policy, but this is one case where it really doesn't help.

The icon is only visible when you are [1] connected to a Wi-Fi network [2] your Apple TV (or other AirPlay device) is on the same WiFi network and [3] you are actually streaming something.

If all three of these conditions are met, you will see the AirPlay icon appear on the right hand side of the player control overlay that slides up from the bottom of your screen when you tap NOW PLAYING in the top status bar, or when you tap anywhere on a program playlist page. Here's what it looks like in action:

               

If you tap the AirPlay icon, you'll see a menu showing the name of your iPhone or iPad, plus your Apple TV, plus any other AirPlay devices like Airport Express or Airport Extreme hotspots on your WiFi network.

    

Choose Apple TV, and the AirPlay icon will turn blue to show you it's working. You can now stream HOS from your mobile device to your TV when the Apple TV input is selected. Sweet!

Any questions? Please email [email protected].

PGM 1003 'WINTERTONES' : feb.1-8

At the nadir of winter, the time of deepest cold and lowest natural activity, the sound of the resonant percussion family of instruments takes on an uncanny appeal. The metallophones — bells, bowls, gongs, chimes, and cymbals — speak eloquently in the chilled, quiet air. Whether used for religious ceremonies in ancient mountain cultures like Tibet, for sound healing and therapeutic work, or for creative experimental music — these instruments have a mysterious elegance and power.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another resonant percussion journey, on a program called WINTERTONES. Music is by DEUTER, MICKEY HART, HENRY WOLFF & NANCY HENNINGS, KARMA MOFFETT, TRYSHE DHEVNEY, 33 BOWLS, and RIVER GUERGUERIAN.

[ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]