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PGM 1048R 'CLOUD NINE' : june 30-july 7

Summer...inspires an even more ethereal brand of Ambient electronica. Whether flying or floating on the balmy breezes, the sounds are airy and the movement is light and buoyant. The words we use to describe the moods it creates are superlative: joyous, blissful, ecstatic, delightful — even heavenly. And when it comes to heaven—for some reason we prefer the 7th.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an ambient-electronic-summer-journey called CLOUD NINE.  Yes, we also number the clouds.

Music is by CHRONOTOPE PROJECT, FANGER & SCHONWALDER, JOHN LYELL, ARIEL KALMA, and DAVE LUXTON.

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PGM 1150 'DOWNTIME' : june 23-30

When the definitive book is written on the history of popular electronic music at the end of the 20th century, a solid section will be devoted to the emergence of Downtempo — an alternative to the hyperkinetic beats of the electronic dance floor.

Beginning in companion "chill rooms" at all-night raves, downtempo beats offered dancers a slower, quieter instrumental alternative for rest and renewal. In time it evolved into song-based listening styles like Trip Hop, with influences from electronica, hip hop, jazz and world music. Back in the chill rooms, it wasn't a big stretch for Downtempo DJs to mix in the expansive soundscapes of the other slow electronic music that had been developing since the 1970s. In 1978, BRIAN ENO had given it a name that stuck: Ambient.

The lovechild of Ambient and Downtempo was called, conveniently, Ambient Downtempo. It's proven to be such a fruitful realm for creative development that it's still going strong today. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an hour of ambient downtempo from then and now, on a program called DOWNTIME. That makes sense because tempo in Italian means time, and downtime is something we all can use a bit more of these days...

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PGM 1149 'PHANTOM INDIA 7' : june 16-23

The sinuous microtonal ornaments of Indian vocal improvisation invite us into another edition of Hearts of Space exploring the gentle, devotional world of Indian Fusion. From the rigorous tonal, melodic and rhythmic rules of classical raga, to the creative sounds of contemporary instrumental and vocal music derived from the tradition — the classical and spiritual music of India continues to have an outsize influence on musicians and audiences around the world.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space...another installment of one of our longest running series, on a program called PHANTOM INDIA 7. The title comes from a 1969 BBC documentary television series by French film maker LOUIS MALLE.

Music is by CRAIG PRUESS & ILYANA VILENSKY, WHITE SUN, AL GROMER KHAN, ANOUSHKA SHANKAR, SUZANNE STERLING, SHANTALA, and DEVASHISH BHATTACHARYA.

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PGM 1148 'INNER RHYTHMS' : june 9-16

The trance rhythms of the Middle East, Asia and Africa are steady, continuous, and slowly changing. Rather than driving you forward like the ubiquitous military march beats of western rock, they patiently insinuate themselves on your nervous system, steady the breath, slow the pulse, and ultimately...transform your awareness. Psychologists call it "entrainment" or "dissociation." The rest of us call it enchantment, rapture, ecstasy, or euphoria. It's all part of the wide world of trance.

Trance rhythms have been used by priests and shamans in non-western cultures for centuries. More recently they've been rediscovered by western musicians seeking an alternative to conventional beats, used by so-called "minimalist" classical composers, and adopted by experimental musicians around the world for their psychoactive power and popular appeal. Trance is also a major genre of Electronic Dance Music, with mind-altering beats heard on dance floors around the world.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space...we're going to insinuate ourselves on your nervous system — in a good way — with soft summer trance music, on a program called INNER RHYTHMS.

Music is by JAMES HOOD, BYRON METCALF, LOREN NERELL, DREAM JUNGLE, and DON LI.

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PGM 769R 'BALEARICA' : june 2-9

The Balearic Islands — Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza, and Formentera — occupy prime real estate in the Mediterranean Sea, just off the eastern coast of Spain. In ancient times, it was a tough neighborhood. The islands were invaded successively by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, and finally...the Aragons.

These days things are lively, but a lot quieter — they're all popular tourist destinations, home to a tapestry of musical cultures that matches their multi-cultural past, and an up-to-date vibe that runs from acoustic to electronic, sensual to chilled.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a journey into the Mediterranean soundscape new and old called BALEARICA.

Music is by CANTOMA, BLISS, B-TRIBE, ANOUAR BRAHEM, SAVINA YANNATOU + PRIMAVERA EN SALONICO, DINO SALUZZI, SACRED SPIRIT, and ZEUS FABER.

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