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PGM 1153 'DESERT DREAMFIELDS 2' : july 28-aug.4

The world's deserts are on the move — growing and getting hotter — one of the consequences of climate change. At the same time, industrial scale solar technology turns desert sunlight into electricity to power the modern world. 

So, our relationship to the desert has never been more complex and ironic. It's a place where sun, heat, wind and dust make life an existential challenge for even the strongest organisms. For humans, it's where civilization ends, and we confront the earth at its most elemental — rugged terrain, endless space, extreme conditions, contemplative solitude, eerie silence. No phone, no internet. 

For Ambient musicians, the desert has long been a prime source of inspiration, a visual and spatial touchstone. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another journey in vast, sun-baked spaces, on a program called DESERT DREAMFIELDS 2.

Music is by FRORE, DREAM JUNGLE, STEVE BRAND, RESONANT DRIFT, STEVE ROACH, and LEO ABRAHAMS.

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

 

PGM 1050R 'MIDSUMMER NIGHT 3' : july 21-28

The long days and short nights of midsummer are a special time. We retreat from our intense work schedules and attend festivals and celebrations, some crowded and intense, others quiet and restorative. We travel, take vacations, entertain friends and relax on warm summer evenings. As the night deepens, activity fades, and the lulling sounds of nature and warm breezes create a seductive environment, inspiring ambient composers to create poetic images of a soft, nurturing night.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an hour of ambient music for the season, on a program called MIDSUMMER NIGHT 3.

Music is by ASCENDANT, DEEPER NET, ISHQ, ALTUS, S7VEN, CLAUDIO CASANUEVA, and RUDY ADRIAN.

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

PGM 1152 'GAMELAN PLUS' : july 14-21

Of all the exotic musical cultures in the world, few have been able to charm western composers like the gong/chime music of Indonesia. The magical island of Bali, with its unique Hindu-influenced artistic tradition, has been particularly seductive.

In the mythology of the Javanese people, the metallophonic music of Indonesia was created by the native bronze-age culture almost two thousand years ago. The legendary god-king who ruled Java needed a way to summon the other gods, so he invented the gong. Later, he added other gongs, and thus began the gamelan orchestra. The current form evolved in the royal courts of Java in the 12th century.

Today the gamelan includes gongs, metallophones and xylophones, plus drums, bamboo flutes, spike fiddles, and other instruments. Western composers have added additional percussion instruments, strings, bass guitar, electronics and other modern elements to the traditional gamelan ensemble.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, the new sound of the gamelan in the west, on a program called GAMELAN PLUS.

Music is by JON IVERSON, EVERGREEN CLUB CONTEMPORARY GAMELAN, GAMELAN MADU SARI, LOU HARRISON, DANIEL SCHMIDT and THE BERKELEY GAMELAN, LINDA CATLIN-SMITH, and MICHAEL STEARNS.

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

PGM 1151 'SUMMER VISIONS' : july 7-14

Summer...invites us to relax, take a break from work, and have a bit of fun. I know, it's hard to tune out the noise of our contentious politics these days, but even the most ardent partisans need to rest and recharge for the battles ahead. So in summer we travel, we explore, we play, we dance, we celebrate with family and friends.

The music of summer is lighter, happier, more active. And for some ambient composers, it's an opportunity to envision a better world by creating idealized sonic environments. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, ambient atmospheres for the perfect summer, on a program called SUMMER VISIONS.

Music is by AMBIENTALISM, PETER CALANDRA, EDAMAME, PETE KUZMA, TAKASHI SUZUKI, ASHANEEN, ISHQ, and IASOS.

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