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PGM 1119R 'SUMMERTRONICA 7' : aug.31-sept.7

GLIDING IN in on sleek electronic waves, marking time with a subtle four-note sequence, drifting across ethereal atmospheres, and riding off on the solar wind. Yes, spacefans, we've arrived at that timely combination of chilled electronics and the season we call... SUMMERTRONICA.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, ambient electronics to cool your summer, on a program called SUMMERTRONICA 7. Music is by ASCENDANT, ROBERT RICH, BLUETECH, LEMONGRASS, and STEVE BRAND.

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PGM 922R 'SONG OF AFRICA' : aug. 24-31

The Zulu harmonies of LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO from South Africa have a special place in the history of contemporary music. Established in the 1960s, their fame in their homeland attracted the attention of American pop singer/songwriter PAUL SIMON, who went to South Africa to record with them in 1986. The resulting album GRACELAND sold 16 million copies, and arguably kicked off the 'world music' trend in the United States.

Of course, there's a lot more to African music. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we immerse ourselves in the buoyant rhythms, earthy sounds and charming melodies that make African music such a delight, with songs by LADYSMITH BLACK MOMBAZO, HABIB KOITE & BAMADA, WILL RIDENOUR & BETSY BEVAN, SAMITE, KEVIN NATHANIEL, DAVID GILDEN, AYUB OGADA, and DANIEL BERKMAN.

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

PGM 1121R 'DESERT REFLECTIONS' : aug. 17-24

After two centuries of novels and a century of films, the endless desert spaces of the American southwest have taken on a mythic identity. The desert has become a metaphor for expansion, infinite opportunity, and the wild frontier — the scene of rough justice and adventure, and a place for self-discovery and reinvention.

For Ambient musicians, the desert has long been a prime source of inspiration, a visual and spatial touchstone, a realm of vast vistas and profound silences. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another journey in the sun-dried spaces of the American Southwest, on a program called DESERT REFLECTIONS.

Music is by STEVE ROACH, DAN POUND, D LOOP, BRIAN PARNHAM, and RUDY ADRIAN.

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

PGM 1190 'IN A SPANISH MOOD' : aug.10-17

Only a few places can claim a native music with worldwide popularity, but the province of Andalusia in southern Spain is one. With roots going back to medieval times, in the late 18th century a rare fusion of Moorish, Christian, Sephardic Jewish and Gypsy cultures gave birth to the fiery rhythms and dark harmonies of flamenco. This is the culture that gave us the Spanish guitar — a descendant of the Arabic lute called the oud. For sheer cultural impact, it's a record that's hard to beat. 

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, contemporary Spanish fusions and the soulful music of Andalusia, on a program called IN A SPANISH MOOD.

Music is by B-TRIBE, JOHANNES LINSTEAD, BOB ZOPP, JEFF DWARSHUIS, GINO D'AURI, the AL-ANDALUS ENSEMBLE, ADAM HURST, ANDRE FERIANTE, MILOŠ, and BENEDETTI & SVOBODA.

[ view program page ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

PGM 1086R 'SUMMERFLIGHT' : aug. 3-10

One of the most successful innovations of the early days of popular electronic music was the "sequencer" — an easy way to make repeating electronic patterns. Beginning in the 1940s as a crude electro-mechanical device, it was refined in the 1960s by DON BUCHLA as part of his modular analog synthesizer. The sequencer was so musically useful that it was quickly adopted by ROBERT MOOG and soon became a standard feature of analog synthesizers.

Moog's legendary instruments were snapped up in the 1970s by cutting edge European musicians. In Berlin the artist behind (the music you're hearing), a young drummer named KLAUS SCHULZE, was a founding member of several early electronic bands before going solo.

The rest is electronic music history. The hypnotic rhythms that Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and others created with their sequencers were so influential that the "Berlin School" style lives on today and enjoys periodic revivals. It's addictive, enjoyable music: for some, a descendant of Baroque counterpoint; for others, an infinite playground of music for virtual flight across electronic soundscapes; and for listeners, an appealing rhythmic music...without drums.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space...flying and floating on electronic rhythms, on a program called SUMMERFLIGHT. Music is by KLAUS SCHULZE, ASCENDANT, DITHMAR, CHRONOTOPE PROJECT, NATURAL FREQUENCIES, PETE NAMLOOK & DR. ATMO, ISHQ, and ALPHA WAVE MOVEMENT.

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