exibii hot: June 2010

This week's mix is a bit of a indulgance on my behalf. For some time I've wanted to create a mix comprising of a number of groups with very similar ethnoambient sounds. The tunes that these six groups produce are full of swirling melodies, inticate percussion and soothing wobbly basslines. Some of them have been around since the dawn of the enthnoambient sound while others have come along some years later. This mix was intended as something I could listen to while drawing. I hope you enjoy it and maybe it can inspire you to create your own works of art.

Here is a quick run down of the the groups involved in this week's show :

- Shulman -

The Shulman project, comprised of Yaniv Shulman and later joined by Omri Harpaz, is considered one of the leading groups in the psychedelic chill out and ambient scene and have performed in large festivals all over the world. Shulman's music is filled with evolving organic layers backed by rich harmonies. Shulman have released four artist albums and numerous releases on compilations by leading labels throughout the world. At the moment the guys are busy working on several new projects, and developing their live performance, advancing electronic music live shows to a new level of musical richness and interest.

Shulman's music represents true innovation in the psychedelic ambient muic genre and is known for breaking borders and morphing new sounds. It is characterized by many swirling sounds and effects, mystical melodies, hypnotic beats, and acoustical instruments, all combined brilliantly creating beautiful harmonies, interesting sonic structures, and deep emotional moments.

The duo’s debut album, "Soundscapes and Modern Tales", released in 2002 by Shaffel records, received excellent reviews and world-wide acclaim. It is now world famous for the unique moods it creates, audio-visual alchemy, and storytelling. The second Shulman album, “In Search of a Meaningful Moment” released in 2003 by Aleph Zero records became an instant classic. It has received excellent reviews, expanded Shulman’s audience fan base, and has contributed to establishing Shulman as a leading group in the electronic music scene. Shulman’s third album entitled “Random Thoughts” released on Aleph Zero records is a special and different experience. As the title hints, it contains different compositions in different tones that accumulated in Shulman's studio independently of any specific album project. Random Thoughts represents diverse and faraway corners of the Shulman mindscape, new sounds, interpretations and sonic surprises, as Shulman stretch the limits of their musical universe of to new and exciting soundscapes.

Shulman has collaborated with many artists including world music giants Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Steve Shehan, Bluetech, Ishq, Lee Triffon and many others. In addition Shulman remixed tracks by Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Steve Shehan, Sub6 & Michele Adamson, and Entheogenic. Shulman’s tracks were remixed by famous artists such as Bluetech, Ishq, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Anahata and others.

Shulman's live show is comprised of five talented players: Dani Shnaiderman on electric bass, Yonatan Raviv on drums and Yakir Ben-Tov on keyboards. Yaniv and Omri are in charge of the computers and synthesis machines. All the material has been rearranged to interestingly fuse and combine both the acoustic and electronic musical worlds. The outcome is an amazing and very musical journey through sound, space, and groove.

Album	Label	Release
Soundscapes And Modern Tales	Shaffel Records	2002
In Search Of A Meaningful Moment	Aleph Zero	2003
Random Thoughts	Aleph Zero	2006
Endless Rhythms Of The Beatless Heart	Aleph Zero Records	2007

- Androcell -

Androcell is the work of music producer, digital artist and graphic designer Tyler Smith. Tyler has experimented with electronic sound forms for over 12 years but had been involved with acoustic music since early childhood. Enticed by audio formations from humans with analog circuits and digital processors fused with ethnic and world music influence, he set out to create his own hybrid musical expression. Music designed as an aural experience for cognizant chillers who seek excursions through sound.

The release of his debut CD , 2004's "Emotivision" was a landmark release for a number of reasons. Riding on the back of the popularity of acts like Shpongle and Entheogenic , Tyler's debut shot to the top of the charts and provided a fresh new face on the psychedelic ambient scene - and an American one at that. A welcome change after half a decade of European domination.

It was his second release , Efflorescence , in 2006 that firmly cemented Tyler's reputation as one of the world's leading psychedelic ambient producers. Topping ambient charts across the globe , the new CD solidified the dynamic approach set out on the debut CD. Apart from Androcell, Tyler works under another pseudonym. His "Distant System" project produces a somewhat more spacey ambient trance that has also proven to be very popular with fans worldwide.

Currently Tyler is busy lately working on his third CD in the Androcell series , the nine track album titled "Entheomythic".

Album	Label	Release
Emotivision	Celestial Dragon	2004
Efflorescence	Celestial Dragon	2006

- Phutureprimitive -

Tyler wasn't the only American making waves back then. Phutureprimtive ( a.k.a Rain ) hit the scene in a big way with the release of "Sub Conscious" in 2004. Phutureprimitive music is singular and unique in its approach: Lush melodies drift across intricate rhythms, groove heavy beats and warm, fuzzy bass lines. Often exploring a dark and dense palette, his music also manages to convey a sense of tranquility and beauty, engaging the listener into hypnotic movement and often escalating toward a full kinetic experience. Shimmering with cinematic qualities, his music ultimately speaks to both the mind and the body. Despite electronic music's tendency to suffer a short shelf life, Phutureprimitive has already demonstrated a timeless quality with his debut album release on Waveform Records, which has managed to increase in sales since its release in 2004, obtaining a cult status among fans and collectors. With a string of singles released in the interim on various labels, his second full-length release is currently in production, pushing his sound into new territories of emotional electronic music.

In a direct assault against the “lone producer behind a laptop” standard of live electronic music, Rain is taking the live experience to new levels. Along the lines of Shulman and Younger Brother , the Phutureprimitive live show is now realized as a band featuring drums by Thaddeus Moore, bass by Joel Crane, and guitar, keyboards and vocals by Rain. The Phutureprimitive Live experience breathes new life into an already sonically rich and stimulating musical offering, drawing crowds to the dance floor for a primal music experience. Constantly defying convention, the Phutureprimitive sound is not solidly rooted in any single genre nor easily defined, but draws influences from many sub-genres including Downtempo , Glitch Hop, Dub, Breaks, Psychedelic Rock, and more. Phutureprimitive has become a musical force to be reckoned with, performing in cities and countries throughout the United States, and Europe including New York, Nashville, San Francisco, Los Angeles, England, Scotland, Portugal, Holland, Italy and Croatia.

Album	Label	Release
Sub Conscious	Waveform Records	2004
Luminous EP	Native Harmonix	2010

- Capsula -

Capsula is Yosi Shamay, born in 1978 and living in Kfar Saba, Israel. Yosi began his music production at the age of 16 using simple software trackers and guitars. Back then he produced mainly 4-4 goa-trance aimed at the dance floor. After upgrading his software and equipment he played around with different styles like breakbeat, drum & bass , house and more bu t never released any of the tunes.

Like many a young Israeli lad Yosi traveled the world following the goa/psy trance party circuit for about a year and a half visiting countries like Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, India and most of Europe. On his return he decided to do a degree in chemistry. He studied Chemistry (B.A) and Biophysics in BGU University between 2002-2005 and in that time he started producing psychedelic chill out. His main influences come from psychonaught gurus like Terence & Dennis McKenna, Alan Watts, Carlos Castaneda, Jonathan Ott and Alexander Shulgin. Yosi samples lots of their inspiring speeches within his music.

After releasing several tracks on compilations in 2005 his debut album "Synthesis of Reality" was released on Ajana Records that same year. In 2006 he started his Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacology, researching on drug delivery systems for cancer. At the same time he performed live around the globe and started the work on his second album - 2009's "Sense Of A Drop". His main interest is creating music which induces the exploration of the inner experience, the non verbal logic of dreams and the humoristic side of mystical experiences. Currently Yosi has been playing around with remixing some old 60s psychedelic tunes. You can download them from the following links :

Hair! – Hashish (Capsula Remix)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AV7SZBT8

King Crimson – Moonchild (Capsula Remix)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WGKVGB2X

For an excellent interview with Yosi head over the the Chillbase si te and read all about his musical inspirations , hope and dreams. You can also hear an audio interview that Yosi gave as part of the Visionary Artists Podcast at the following link :

http://dopecast.libsyn.com/vap002

You can subscribe to the podcast or simply right click on the POD icon and select "Save link as ...".

Album	Label	Release
Synthesis Of Reality	Ajana Records	2005
Sense Of A Drop	Waveform Records	2009

- Shpongle -

The grand masters of psychedelic ambient music , Shpongle needs no introduction to regular listeners here I'm sure. However , for the unititiated , Simon Posford and Raja Ram are Shpongle, a psychedelic ambient project formed in 1996 after the pair viewed a solar eclipse in India. The two went into the studio and attempted to duplicate the experience in sonic form, and the result was a 20-minute track, "...And the Day Turned to Night," which was featured on the Twisted label compilation Eclipse - A Journey Of Permanence & Impermanence. This was a breakthrough track because even though it was 20 minutes in length , the new sounds the duo had created were like nothing that had been heard before.

Shpongle's full-length debut album, Are You Shpongled?, was released in 1998. The high sound quality, successful mix of samples, instruments and synths along with the story and progress of the music through the album made it one of the most cutting edge releases of that time. It topped charts for most of the year and could be heard all over the world from trance party chill out floors to your next door neighbor's living room.

Shpongle have since put out 3 acclaimed and well received albums: "Tales Of The Inexpressible," "Nothing Lasts...But Nothing Is Lost" and last year's "Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland" . A further fifth album is also planned for release in 2012. Their influence on other artists within the psychedelic ambient music scene is massive. Entheogenic, Shulman, Androcell and Capsula all list the duo as a contributing influence on their own musical evolution. Perhaps what makes Shpongle unique is their ability to be both highly psychedelic yet accessible to a wider audience than other artists.

Shpongle live is an event that is not to be missed. Shpongle's first live performance was at the Solstice Music Festival held at Motosu Highland in Japan on 19 to 21 July 2001. They returned to Japan on New Year's Eve 2003 to play the New Maps Of Hyperspace event at Tokyo Bay NK Hall together with 1200 Micrograms (featuring Raja Ram) and Hallucinogen. On January 16, 2004, they played a live set in Tel Aviv, Israel. As well as Simon Posford and Raja Ram, this featured Abigail Gorton (Hari Om) and Michele Adamson on vocals, Pete Callard on guitar, Nogera on drums and percussion, and Ott on keyboards and programming.

Prior to the release of their fourth album, Shpongle played a sold out live concert at The Roundhouse venue in Chalk Farm, North London on October 31, 2008. The band featured Andy Gangadeen (drums), Nogera (percussion), Chris Taylor (bass), Pete Callard (guitar), Harry Escott (cello) and Dick Trevor (keyboards and programming); Michele Adamson and Hari Om (voices), three dancers and for one song only Manu Delago on hang drum.

This was followed on 20 December 2008 by a concert in Moscow featuring the same lineup. Shows were also planned for March 7 and 9 2009 in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. These were cancelled due to non-payment of the deposit by the promoters.

For 2009, Shpongle played a headlining date at the Ozora Festival held near Ozora, Hungary on 15 August and two album launch shows at the Roundhouse in London on October 30 and 31. The duo returned to Moscow to play at Milk on December 12, 2009.

2010 looks to be a busy year for the boys with lots of DJ touring across the U.S and Europe as well as Simon's work on the new Younger Brother CD. Speaking of which, head over to the Twisted website where you can now hear a few samples of some upcoming YB tracks.

Album	Label	Release
Are You Shpongled?	Twisted	1998
Tales Of The Inexpressible	Twisted	2001
Remixed	Twisted	2003
Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost	Twisted	2005
Unreleased Remixes	Twisted	2008
Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland	Twisted	2009

- Entheogenic -

Entheogenic is a musical project consisting of Piers Oak-Rhind and Helmut Glavar. The use of both eastern and western vocals, tribal sounding instruments, as well as an array of synthesizers built the foundation of the Entheogenic sound. Their epic soundscapes manipulated through sound effects and catalystic sonic experimentations have a semi-classical feel to them. Entheogenic also records and uses a large amount of "natural samples" - water, human voices, animals, etc.

In 1999, Entheogenic was one of the two major psybient projects (the other being Shpongle) whose experimentation influenced the psychedelic electronic scene. Entheogenic's first release "Entheogenic", an elaborate concept album, recounts the tale of an Ayahuasca journey, with layered trance melodies and texturally rich arrangements. Three labels bid for the release: the former UK based Flying Rhino, the German based Cosmophilia and the French 3D Vision. The album was released on 3D Vision Records.

In 2003, their second album "Spontaneous Illumination" released on c.o.r.n. recordings was the first psy-chill album ever to make it to number 1 in the German Chill-out charts. Their first two albums were noted for their epic thematic lengthy tunes. Both albums feature the work of Sound Engineer Glenn Schick (Morcheeba, Ludacris etc.) In 2005, "Dialogue of the Speakers" (Chillcode Records), continued the success of its predecessor, and went straight to Number 1 in the German charts, where it remained for 24 weeks. "Golden Cap" (Chillcode Records) was released in 2006 to less favorable reviews then previous CDs. However they restored their reputation as one of the top psychedelic ambient groups with the release of "Flight Of The Urubus" in 2008. Since then I haven't heard much from the boys , let's hope that means they are hard at work on a new one.

Album	Label	Release
Entheogenic	3D Vision Relax	2002
Spontaneous Illumination	Universal Symbiosis	2003
Dialogue Of The Speakers	Chillcode Music	2005
Golden Cap	Chillcode Music	2006
Flight Of The Urubus	Universal Symbiosis	2008