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PGM 1081 'OUTBACK' : june 26 - july 3

The interior of Australia is a vast, arid, red-toned desert. Inhospitable and sparsely populated, it challenges both determined travelers and its indigenous Aboriginal people.

Despite its remoteness, this extreme environment and its native culture inspired an Ambient music genre called "techno-tribal," "tribal-trance" or "trance-Ambient." Built on primal rhythms, it incorporated natural sounds and electronics with native instruments like the digeridu. The founding document of the genre is STEVE ROACH's 1988 album DREAMTIME RETURN, created after an extended trip to Australia and encounters with indigenous musicians.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a journey in the archaic "dreamtime" with tribal Ambient music and soundscapes from Australia, the U.S. and Mexico, on a program called OUTBACK. Music is by DEBORAH MARTIN, REMANENCE, BYRON METCALF, STEVE ROACH & ROB THOMAS, FRORE & SHANE MORRIS, STEVE ROACH & JORGE REYES, and STEVE BRAND.

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PGM 1080 'CELEBRATION' : june 19-26

The subtle, melodic rhythms of the PANArt "hang" — arguably the first new musical instrument of the 21st century. It's a descendant of the steel pan drum, the product of Swiss craftsmanship and perfectionism. And in the hands of a musician with the right sensibility, it's a vehicle for innerspace travel.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, summer spacemusic for the hang and some of its siblings in the resonant percussion family, on a program called CEREMONY. Music is by JAMES HOOD, LAURA INSERRA & DARREN GIBBS, CHRISTOPHER OF THE WOLVES, TRYSHE DHEVNEY, and RAVID GOLDSCHMIDT.

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PGM 1079 'MOKSHA' : june 12-19

The slow drone of the tamboura and the sinuous microtones of the violin open up an ancient world of sound from India. Since Indian classical music came west in the 1950s, it's fueled all kinds of experiments and cross-pollinations, from classical violinist Yehudi Menuhin to jazz improvisers, and (perhaps surprisingly) Ambient and electronic musicians. The slow alap section of Indian classical ragas, in particular, has inspired a rich assortment of new contemplative fusions.

In the Hindu religion, the word moksha means liberation or release — freedom from the cycle of birth and death. In traditional Indian psychology, it implies freedom, self-realization and self-knowledge. This perspective was embedded in the practice of Indian classical music, which required arduous training and a lifetime of devotion to master.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we invoke the gentle soul of India, on a program called MOKSHA. Music is by KALA RAMNATH, the RAY SPIEGEL ENSEMBLE, RICKY KEJ & WOUTER KELLERMAN, WARREN CUCCORULLO & USTAD SULTAN KHAN, LOREN NERELL & MARK SEELIG, AL GROMER KHAN, and RAJENDRA TEREDESAI.

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PGM 912R 'WARM FRONT' : june 5-12

As spring slowly morphs into summer, the music becomes more energetic and expansive. In the long days and mild nights, the sounds and rhythms of the warm weather cultures call to us. For Ambient musicians, a brighter palette and hotter beats are in order, along with the changing sounds of an environment moving into overdrive.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space...an Ambient excursion for the spring/summer transition called WARM FRONT. Music is by TWILIGHT ARCHIVE, YAGYA, LEO ABRAHAMS & JON HOPKINS, ALPHA WAVE MOVEMENT, CYBERCHUMP, STEVE ROACH and ERIK WOLLO.

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