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PGM 958R 'AFTERGLOW' : sept. 29-oct.6

In the golden days that follow the autumn equinox, the natural world enters a period of recession. The heat of summer often lingers while the light declines; the evening crickets sing their hearts out in a final quest for immortality, and the withering leaves crackle underfoot as the trees begin their seasonal transformation.

It's a time that calls for a special music: contemplative, melancholy, austere...beyond ambition. A music of pure tones and slow melodies — elegant, unassuming, suffused with quiet beauty. The classic combination of the piano and the cello sounds the season perfectly, with clear, bell-like notes ringing over a rich, dark foundation. For this sound, we return every autumn to the immaculate recordings of the German ECM label.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, sublime chamber music for the autumn transition, on a program called AFTERGLOW.

Music is by pianist KETIL BJORNSTAD with cellists SVANTE HENRYSON and DAVID DARLING, and French pianist FRANCOIS COUTURIER.

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PGM 1158 'EQUILUX' : sept. 22-29

Twice a year, we pass a point of balance and equilibrium in the progression of the seasons. Our planet reaches the place in its celestial journey where the center of the sun rises and sets directly over the equator, and day and night are of approximately equal length everywhere on earth. We call these times the equinox from the Latin for "equal night." A less common but possibly more correct name is equilux or "equal light." 

The September equinox marks the beginning of the new season: autumn, and the time of harvest festivals in the northern hemisphere. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, calm and balanced acoustic ambient for the seasonal transition, on a program called EQUILUX.

Music is by PETER BRODERICK, LUDOVICO EINAUDI, FEDERICO ALBANESE, TOM EATON, FLOW, CARL WEINGARTEN & CATHERINE MARIE CHARLTON, GREG HAINES, A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN, and ENZO.

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PGM 1157 'ENDLESS SUMMER' : sept. 15-22

Summers...are famously long and hot, and in the superheated days of late summer, time seems to expand in front of us. And it's not just because it's the season for natural disasters — we're back to school and back to work, packing new activities into our schedules while memories of summer fun still linger in our minds. 

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, languid guitars, ethereal electronics and subtle rhythms for the season, on a program called ENDLESS SUMMER.

The title comes from a classic 1966 surfing documentary, but it's been repurposed hundreds of times. We'll do the same, from a concept and music research by guest producer DAVID J. EGAN. Music is by DIATONIS, MATTHEW STEWART, LEO ABRAHAMS, BJORN MEYER, TONY GERBER, EIVIND AARSET, HAMMOCK, and BYLA.

Laidback, expansive ambient guitars for the season: ENDLESS SUMMER...on this transmission...of Hearts of Space.

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PGM 1052R 'TRANCEWORLD' : sept. 8-15

The concept of trance has a long and complicated history. Originally "a dazed, half-conscious or insensible condition or state of fear," the meaning has evolved to include many unusual or altered states of consciousness associated with hypnosis, meditation, magic, prayer, addictions, and ecstasy.

Trance states are characterized by repetition, so music is a prime instigator in both ethnic and social cultures, including high-energy styles of electronic dance music.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we ride hypnotic beats into strange realms and magical summer nights, on a program called TRANCEWORLD.

Music is by GREEN ISAC, KOUAME SEREBA & ERIK WOLLO, DREAM JUNGLE, ROBERT RICH, LOREN NERELL, LARAAJI, MAX CORBACHO & BRUNO SANFILIPPO.

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PGM 1156 'BALMY' : sept. 1-8

The word balmy is used to describe weather so pleasant that it's positively therapeutic. The waning days of summer are mostly warm and idyllic, but they can also bring tropical hurricanes, cyclones, and monsoons, as we saw this week in Texas and Mumbai. So it's a time for that last round of summer fun and relaxation, with an eye on the horizon if you're near the coast. 

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we concentrate on the benign sounds of late summer, on a program called BALMY. Music is by HOLLAN HOLMES, CHRONOTOPE PROJECT, PHILLIP WILKERSON, STEVE ROACH, and JUTA TAKAHASHI.

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