Service Bulletins

New playlist today:

1      822     RESTRAINT   subtle, lyrical Nordic spacejazz      
2      821     LOVELY THUNDER   foggy keyboards and dark ambient electronics
3      795     SPACE GUITARS 7   stretching six strings till they dematerialize
4      787     CAMERATA NOVA   Early Music reconsidered
5      784     SMOKE SIGNALS   dark and hazy electronica for Scorpio
6      782     NOSTALGIA   an emotional landscape for autumn
7      808     ATLAS DEI   Robert Rich’s music for the art film ATLAS DEI
8      781     RECESSION   ebbing, descending, darkening: an electronic autumn soundscape
9      762     INSIDE LOOKING OUT   a MARK HOLLIS retrospective
10    730     CANYONLANDS   a flute powered excursion in the Native American soundscape
11    712     AUTUMN MISTS   a dark, wet, glistening ECM Records special for Fall
12    691     THE TWILIGHT REALM   a celebration of the ethereal Celtic ballad
13    680     SUSPENDED TIME   contemplative classical introspections
14    676     WHALE RIDER   an immersive journey on waves of change
15    665     MYSTIC CHORDS AND SACRED SPACES   selections from Steve Roach’s epic 4 CD box set
16    643     SHADOWFALL 2   a darkening journey in the autumn soundscape
17    627     KINETIC FLOW   the moving sound of electronic spacemusic
18    646     COLD BLUE   a deep autumn soundscape         
19    613     FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT   an orchestral/choral/chamber concert for the season
20    570     LIGHT FANTASTIC   a photon-powered journey across luminous ambient toneworlds
21    539     TWILIGHT AND SHADOWS   descending into the darkening overtones of Fall
22    523     MINARETS OF THE SOUL   inner landscapes of the Middle East
23    522     WAVELANDS   fresh new electronic spacemusic waveforms
24    511     KANON   the mystic minimalism of Estonian composer ARVO PART
25    493     DECONSTRUCTORS OF TERRA   new dimensions of techno/ambient & electronic music
26    482     MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS   20th-anniversary version of Brian Eno’s Ambient classic

Our ecommerce service provider is making a major update to their database. They estimate a 4 hour window between 10PM and 2AM Pacific Daylight Time, perhaps less, when our service will be down and users will not be able to log in to stream music.

All other functions of the HOS site will be operating normally during this period. We apologize for any inconvenience, but even the best databases have to be burped occasionally.

New programs today:

1      818    AN AUTUMN GARDEN   a chamber~electronic journey
2      781    RECESSION   ebbing, descending, darkening: an electronic autumn soundscape
3      814    KEYS TO CONTEMPLATION   the piano as a path to peace
4      777    HALL OF MIRRORS   a journey through the electronic looking glass
5      819    BLACKWATER   a dark ambient journey for Halloween
6      756    PIANOSCAPES 3   piano, personal and contemplative
7      747    NOVEMBER TONES   a cello-centric journey for autumn
8      745    A TINGE OF SADNESS   darkening moods of the autumn soundscape
9      744    CEDAR SOUL   soft sounds and serene spaces of the native flute
10    733    SPACE GUITARS 6   dreamy, twangy, timeless and deep
11    723    AFFINITY   the natural harmony of piano and cello
12    712    AUTUMN MISTS   a dark, wet, glistening ECM Records special for Fall
13    710    PEACE AND POWER 2   sky and rock, light and space, shadows and time
14    709    STARGAZER   spacemusic inspired by the celestial spectacle
15    686    IMMORTAL MEMORY   ‘extraordinary transcendence’ from Lisa Gerrard
16    655    ELECTRIC TEARS   the melancholy side of the electric guitar
17    646    COLD BLUE   a deep autumn soundscape
18    644    THROUGH THE VEIL   exploring the poetics of darkness
19    645    ELEGIES   music of ghosts, farewell and remembrance
20    643    SHADOWFALL 2   a darkening journey in the autumn soundscape
21    627    KINETIC FLOW   the moving sound of electronic spacemusic

New programs today:

1      781     RECESSION    ebbing, descending, darkening: an electronic autumn soundscape
2      645     ELEGIES    music of ghosts, farewell and remembrance
3      575     KEYS TO AUTUMN    autumnal soundscapes for expanded piano
4      817     FLUTE RATTLE DRUM…SPACE    gene-splicing Native flute and ambient electronics
5      816     BORDERLANDS   ambiguous spaces in the transition zone
6      784     SMOKE SIGNALS     dark and hazy electronica for Scorpio
7      782     NOSTALGIA    an emotional landscape for autumn
8      614     STRINGWAY TO LIGHT    the warm and brilliant sound of wire-strung instruments
9      567     STEPHAN MICUS RETROSPECTIVE    Germany’s gift to contemplative world music
10    615     THE CONSTANT FLAME    a warm acoustic journey to chase the autumn chill
11    642     SEAN NOS    the old style – a journey in the Celtic soundscape
12    426     THE SPELL    soundscapes that charm, fascinate, and enchant
13    616     NETHERTRONICA    wandering in the soundworlds of ambient cool
14    580     CANTABILE    an autumnal celebration of the cello
15    573     SONGS WITHOUT WORDS    vocal music of the soul
16    611     SOMNIUM    a journey in the arms of Morpheus
17    640     TOWARDS THE WIND    another journey on the sound of breath
18    459     SIX STRING RELIGION    focus on the contemplative acoustic guitar
19    416     ULYSSES’ GAZE    the sublime film music of Greek composer ELENI KARAINDROU
20    678     LOST IN TRANSITION    sonic equilibrium for fall: muted, restrained, floating
21    709     STARGAZER    spacemusic inspired by the celestial spectacle

New programs today:

1      815      VIHUELA   an excursion in the Spanish-Moorish soundscape
2      813      THE MUSIC OF MYST   a journey in mythic soundworlds
3      804     DOWNTEMPO TO SPACE   from electrogrooves to electrospheres
4      790      INTERSTELLAR   a cosmic electronic journey
5      769      BALEARICA   a journey in the Mediterranean soundscape
6      766      FLOATING GARDENS   globally warmed spacemusic for summer
7      743      REMASTERPIECE   classical masterworks gone ambient/electronic
8      730      CANYONLANDS   a flute powered excursion in the Native American soundscape
9      713      INVOKING THE MUSE   the timeless, heartfelt sound of the female voice
10    695      INDIA NIGHTS   the contemplative edge of Indian fusion
11    696      POSSIBLE MUSICS   more cool sounds from hot places
12    764      DEEP GROOVE   downtempo, chill and ambient electronica
13    708      A WINDOW TO THE EAST   East-West music of Gurdjieff-DeHartmann et al
14    634      ENIGMATIC CHILDREN   an electronic-classical-vocal fusion festival
15    522      WAVELANDS   fresh new electronic spacemusic waveforms
16    533      BAMBOO AND BRONZE   the magical soundworlds of Indonesian spacemusic
17    517      SPACEMUSIC FOR BRASS   spacemusic for the brass family of instruments
18    662      SANTOSA   the languid East Indian sound of contentment
19    515      SPACE GUITARS 4   a journey to the edges of the electronic guitar universe
20    507      BORDER CROSSINGS   an ethno-ambient, strange hybrid journey
21    499      SEVEN VEILS   an ethno-ambient, electro-acoustic spotlight on Robert Rich’s masterpiece

New programs today:

1      812     DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM        the sound of tranquility in motion
2      811     CRESCENT MOON     a journey in the Turkish soundscape
3      807     GOSSAMER     subtle, refined textural-melodic spacemusic
4      803     WEST BY SOUTHWEST     an ambient steel guitar journey
5      802     ARGUABLY POST-AMBIENT     new waveforms from the international electronic soundscape
6      794     ACROSS THE VIEW     a RICHARD BURMER retrospective
7      773     CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS     slow music for those fast summer nights
8      772     ANJALI     Indian music : slow, sensual, reverent
9      754     SUMMONING THE MUSE     a tribute to the music of Dead Can Dance
10    740     NIGHTSCAPES     environmental electronics for a summer night
11    728     THE EDGE OF THE WORLD     an ambient-electronic journey
12    731     MAGIC REALISM     on the 4th-world night train to Babylon
13    709     STARGAZER     spacemusic inspired by the celestial spectacle
14    703     MIDSUMMER NIGHT 2     ambient atmospheres for a summer night
15    701     LATIN MOON 2     the languid, romantic sounds of Latin spacemusic
16    638     PERCHANCE TO CHILL     super-cool electronica for summer
17    630     GARDEN OF PARADISE     a summer journey to the Garden of Paradise
18    672     DUENDE     a journey in the Andalusian soundscape
19    598     FRACTAL DIMENSIONS     an electronic spacemusic journey in fractal soundworlds
20    571     MEDITERRANEAN ECHOES     soundscapes from the cradle of Western civilization
21    529     ZEPHYRS 2     electro-acoustic summer spacemusic that floats on the breeze

All new programs today:

1      810     DESERT DREAMFIELDS        a deep desert journey
2      809     AFRICAN GENESIS     a journey into the quiet heart of Africa
3      803     WEST BY SOUTHWEST     an ambient steel guitar journey
4      770     THERMALS     flying and floating spacemusic for summer
5      765     TEMPLE OF LOVE     the ardent sound of Indian devotional music
6      760     UNDERSCORE     exploring the world of ambient film music
7      742     SHIBUI     subtle spaces of the Japanese soundscape
8      738     TOUCHSTONE     light, space, rock and stillness — a desert exploration
9      732     INDO-TRONICA     the vibrant intersection of Indian music and electronica
10    736     HYDROLOGY     a journey on the water planet
11    669     SUMMER LIGHT 4     music for languid days and sultry nights
12    698     DESERT VISION 3     more romantic transcultural exile music of the Middle East
13    638     PERCHANCE TO CHILL     super-cool electronica for summer
14    602     PALEOMUSIC     a primordial ambient journey
15    593     FLOATING WORLDS     a sub-tropical journey, featuring music by Jade Warrior
16    572     SHORES OF HEAVEN     electronic images of paradise
17    569     AFRICA WEST     the music of Western Africa, and African music in the West
18    234     SUMMER LIGHT 2     an easy summer journey
19    457     PLASMA WAVES     a techno/ambient journey for early summer
20    462     ANOTHER GREEN WORLD     a summer ambient journey
21    361     END OF THE DAY     spacemusic for a midsummer night’s dream

New playlist today:

1      807     GOSSAMER   subtle textural-melodic spacemusic
2      806     INDIAN SUMMER SOLSTICE   a warm weather raga
3      768     PAISLEY MUSIC   an AL GROMER KHAN retrospective
4      767     DESERT CROSSING   an Arabic-North African journey
5      740     NIGHTSCAPES   environmental electronics for a summer night
6      727     ANCILLARY DREAMS   a HAROLD BUDD ambient retrospective
7      707     SLOW TIME   exploring the mystery of relative motion
8      533     BAMBOO AND BRONZE   the magical soundworlds of Indonesian spacemusic
9      705     SUMMERTONES   floating transitions for the warm night
10    704     AEGEAN RHAPSODIES   the contemplative sounds of Greece
11    595     CHILLED EUPHORIA    a look at the ‘Chill’ culture of ambient music
12    703     MIDSUMMER NIGHT 2    ambient atmospheres for a summer night
13    701     LATIN MOON 2   the languid, romantic sounds of Latin spacemusic
14    668     SUMMERTRONICA   warm-blooded ambient for hot summer nights
15    630     GARDEN OF PARADISE   a summer journey to the Garden of Paradise
16    592     SLIDER    slidin’ and glidin’ — ambient pedal steel guitar
17    574     GOA TRANCE    India meets techno-ambient dreamscapes
18    559     SOUTHERN EXPOSURE    the languid, nostalgic music of the southern latitudes
19    571     MEDITERRANEAN ECHOES    soundscapes from the cradle of Western civilization
20    562     GAMELAN    Indonesian spacemusic: ambient electronics meets the music of Bali and Java
21    021     DESERT NIGHT WINDS    ethereal travel music from the Middle East to East Asia

All new programs today:

1      805      EQUILIBRIUM    a Middle Eastern electrofusion journey
2      804      DOWNTEMPO TO SPACE   from electrogrooves to electrospheres
3      797      WORLDS BEYOND   a cosmic electronic journey
4      794      ACROSS THE VIEW   a RICHARD BURMER retrospective
5      777      HALL OF MIRRORS   a journey through the electronic looking glass
6      780      ALEGRIA   the romantic, playful, epic music of Cirque du Soleil
7      773      CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS   slow music for those fast summer nights
8      766      FLOATING GARDENS   globally warmed spacemusic for summer
9      739      AFRICA WEST 2   the quiet side of the west African soundscape
10    741      SUMMERTRONICA 2   warm-blooded ambient for high summer
11    735      SUMMERTONES 2   searching for the slow, deep sound of summer
12    737      INDIAN SUMMER   sultry charms of the Indian soundscape
13    637      THE WOOD   the Arabic oud and its progeny, ancient and modern
14    672      DUENDE   a journey in the Andalusian soundscape
15    699      BLUE IN GREEN   lyrical space jazz for summer
16    632      GATHERING SPIRITS   a journey in the tribal-ambient soundscape
17    627      KINETIC FLOW   the moving sound of electronic spacemusic
18    455      EQUATOR   the spacemusic of heat
19    531      AFRICA NORTH   an Arabic desert-rim journey to Africa North
20    532      SLOW HEAT   globally warmed spacemusic for summer
21    233      LAGOON   an etheric journey in the tropical soundscape

Our sharp-eyed users (you know who you are) will undoubtedly notice this, so here’s the official story:

After about five years on active duty, we are retiring our old Genre listing Ambient/Trance/Techno in favor of the simpler and more accurate Ambient/Downtempo. All the tables and menus in both the RADIO and ALBUMS sections have been updated to reflect this.

While there was some wiggle room in the meaning of these terms in 2001, at this point Techno generally refers to an established category of electronic dance music, and so does Trance. While the term "trance" can also describe spacey psychoacoustic electronic music, we already had a category for that: Electronic Space.

Ambient remains a bit of a catch-all term, and seems to be serving its purpose in the taxonomy of atmospheric music — namely, contemporary atmospheric/electronic music that is not organized around new age ideas and images, even if it sounds virtually identical. Thank you, Brian Eno, we’re stickin’ with it.

In cases that are ambiguous, we will simply assign the album, track or program to multiple genres, including our own "catch-all" — Contemporary Instrumental.