hearts of space | news

PGM 888R 'TIME OF TRANSITION' : sept. 25 - oct. 2

Four times a year, the seasons turn. The changes can be subtle or dramatic. These are the times of transition in the natural world — the original, the most pervasive, various, and far-reaching ambient soundscape of them all.

Societies and cultures go through their own transitions. Sometimes they're welcomed; more often, they are resisted, even feared. In nature, the wise, the lucky, and the flexible evolve, and learn to adapt.

On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, we ride the receding energy of summer as it descends into fall, on a program called TIME OF TRANSITION. Music is by JON HOPKINS, BARCELONA, PSICODREAMICS, DAVID HELPLING & JON JENKINS, HAROLD BUDD & CLIVE WRIGHT, BRUNO SANFILIPPO & MATHIAS GRASSOW, DAVID DARLING, and FALLING YOU.

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PGM 1088 'TRANSPARENT PIANO' : sept.18-25

A poetic moment in the music of FREDERIC CHOPIN, as interpreted by Icelandic musician OLAFUR ARNALDS and German-Japanese pianist ALICE SARA OTT. Chopin revolutionized Romantic piano music with unprecedented virtuosity and emotional expression. In passing he created delicate passages of sublime music where a thousand pound piano virtually disappears: one could say it becomes "transparent."

Today, musicians work directly with sound and space in their recordings, and we have a whole sub-genre of Ambient and contemplative music for piano. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we focus on those moments of heightened clarity, depth, and spirituality, on a program called TRANSPARENT PIANO.

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PGM 1054R 'WEIGHTLESS WAITING : sept.11-18

 

The slow heartbeat rhythm and cooling electronic harmonies of England's MARCONI UNION. In 2011 they were commissioned to create a piece of relaxing music in collaboration with the British Academy of Sound Therapy. The resulting 8 minute single was called "Weightless." Against the odds, it became a worldwide hit.

In fact the feeling of weightless floating was nothing new for electronic music, with examples going back to the 1920s. When combined with a goal-less, extended style of composition, you have the elements of this transmission of Hearts of Space — an hour of zero-gravity Ambient for inspiring patience, on a program called WEIGHTLESS WAITING.

Music is by MARCONI UNION, BRYAN CARRIGAN, SIMON LOMAX, AMIR BAGHIRI, STEVE ROACH, and HAROLD BUDD.

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PGM 1011R 'ELECTRON TRAVELER' : sept 4 - 11

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.

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