Ambient Psy-Trance duo GRAINS OF SOUND recently released their latest triple-volume set ‘SINE LANGUAGE’ – a concept album about the transcendent power of music to communicate beyond the barriers of time and space. Each volume features a hypnotic, futuristic sound, and each explores the different styles and energy levels of dance, chill and zone.

Vol. 1 [UP] – Pulsating bass lines meld with arpeggiating synths to create psychedelic trance, both progressive and minimal, along with hints of house and breaks.

Vol. 2 [DOWN] – Lush, sweeping soundscapes wash over sub bass frequencies and deep downtempo beats, the perfect chill-out groove.

Vol. 3 [UNDER] – Vast evolving layers, organic textures and sentient sounds leave all beats behind, pure ambient intoxication.

This expanded 33-minute episode of X3 features five tracks from SINE LANGUAGE.  The album’s available now on AfterCulture Records (http://www.afterculture.com), and each volume is sold separately in MP3 or CD format at most retailers.

Special thanks to Chris and Jason Sevanick for providing the music for this weekend’s episode!

Grains of Sound official site:
http://www.grainsofsound.net

Tags: Ambient, Chillout, Electronic, Music, Trance by X3 Podcast Staff
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Tags: Ambient, Ethereal Vocal, Music, Pop, Trip Hop by X3 Podcast Staff
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Today on the X3, it’s ambient-electronic at its best as we kick off with brand new music from the ambient-psy-trance project GRAINS OF SOUND – you’ll hear Boomshanka off their new 3-CD release SINE LANGUAGE; next up is Hawking Method 1 from ambient-electronic music producer Peter Fabok performing as TANGRAM, from the release TEPIDARIUM; and we wrap it up with some uptempo beats from Swedish artist and producer BJORN FOGELBERG‘s Karooshi Porn CD – the track is Life in a Tube, courtesy of Magnatune Records.

Artist links below, and be sure to let us know what you’d like to hear on upcoming X3 podcasts by contacting us via RADIO MYSTIC.

Grains of Sound: http://www.grainsofsound.net

Tangram: http://www.tangram-music.com

Bjorn Fogelberg: http://www.fogelberg.com

Magnatune Records: http://www.magnatune.com

Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Music, Trance by X3 Podcast Staff
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Kicking off the New Year with a new feature on the X3 – we call it “3×1” cuz it sounds fancy. Three tracks from one featured artist. Today, we’re gonna hear some amazing ambient works from TOR LUNDVALL. A track from Tor’s ‘Yule’ CD was featured last episode, and we had to bring him back for more.

In this episode:

1. Scrap Yard, from the CD ‘Empty City’
2. Empty Streets, from the CD “Insect Wings, Leaf Matter & Broken Twigs”
3. 29 (Single Version), from “The Seasons Unfold” sampler

Tor’s compositions are often described as “dark ambient”. Of his music, Tor says, “I suppose one could call it ‘ghost ambient’! I approach my music in a visual way, starting with a very basic idea and slowly building on it. The tracks are essentially paintings with music and their titles usually reflect the contents. I have also gained a new respect for the piano over the past several years, which plays a major part in my recordings. Although I tend to use electronics and samplers, I always approach music in a natural, organic way. All samples are created at home, usually in the bedroom. I loathe patch presets and use them only rarely. In fact the process of recording is so complex, that the ‘equipment used’ section printed in my CD booklets is basically useless. I find that my recent recordings are becoming progressively more instrumental and ambient in nature, although the music still retains a strong sense of melody. As with my paintings, my music has always existed in a private world of its own.”

To top it off, Tor is also an accomplished painter, with a B.A. in studio art. His canvases often depict serene environments with an underlying sense of menace, which in fact, fit perfectly with his music!

Hear more from Tor Lundvall and be sure to check out his visual works – http://www.torlundvall.com.

Tags: Ambient, Chillout, Music by X3 Podcast Staff
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Brrrrrr. It’s gettin’ COLD out there!  Perfect weather for the tracks we’ve picked today. First up, it’s PATRICK O’HEARN with Our Temperable Host; then we slide into Ten Degrees Below Christmas, holiday ambient from PSICODREAMICS; and TOR LUNDVALL wraps it up with Fading Light from his ‘Yule’ collection, a special extended version we whipped up ’cause we like his music so much.

It’s a solitary expanse of ambient sound and texture that’ll leave you with a bit of a chill and a nagging desire for hot cocoa. Drink up kids.

ARTIST INFO:

“Just why a Hawaiian guitar would act as catalyst to conjure up striking images of the arctic did not occur to me at first. It wasn’t until into making the record that I stopped to consider the irony: it made sense”. The album ‘Glaciation‘ continues Patrick O’Hearn’s path of evoking the sensations of different atmospheres through beautifully textured sounds. http://www.partickohearn.com

Psicodreamics is the ambient-new age music project that reveals the unique magic, mysterious and idyllic world of musical art of Spanish composer Salva Moreno. A great part of his music world is inspired by mythology and fantasy creating a rich sanctuary of haunting and mysterious fairyworld sound, covering many genres, mainly ambient, new age, goth and chillout.
http://www.psicodreamics.com

Tor Lundvall’s music has evolved over the years from early pop songs, to a more ambient sound, which he personally finds difficult to describe or categorize. “I suppose one could call it ‘ghost ambient’! I approach my music in a visual way, starting with a very basic idea and slowly building on it. Although I tend to use electronics and samplers, I always approach music in a natural, organic way… All samples are created at home, usually in the bedroom. I loathe patch presets and use them only rarely… As with my paintings, my music has always existed in a private world of its own.” http://www.torlundvall.com

Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Music by X3 Podcast Staff
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Time for another entry in the X3 ‘HEAD SIX’ series: this trio of mesmerizing, trance-inducing female vox and their smoky beats is all you need for an evening of tasty digital chillaxin.

First, it’s ENDLESS BLUE featuring Laura Hillman with ‘Down’, then we glide into ‘Delorion’ by THE ATOMICA PROJECT, and BITSTREAM DREAM brings it home with vocalist ANJI BEE on ‘Love Me Leave Me.’

Strongly influenced by the fruits of the downtempo Bristol sound of the early nineties, ENDLESS BLUE’s music spins the trip-hop style in a new direction while staying true to their roots. The group was formed by vocalist Laura Hillman and producer Nick Mitchell in 2003. Today’s episode features the track ‘Down’ from their debut release, ‘Endless Blue.’

THE ATOMICA PROJECT is a union of downtempo beats and stunning female vocals devised in 2004 by programmer/songwriter Wade Alin and vocalist Lauren Cheatham. The track ‘Delorion’ featured here is form their 2005 release ‘Metropolitan’, considered one of the best independent releases of that year.

BITSTREAM DREAM is the musical project of Canadian electronica producer, Rom di Prisco, working with a collective of vocalists and musicians from all over the globe. The band’s music encompasses many genres, including Trip Hop, Drum ‘n’ Bass, Trance, House, and Ambient. The track ‘Love Me Leave Me’ in today’s episode features Southern Cali’s ANJI BEE, vocalist, lyricist, fellow podcaster and vidcaster.

Are they really all just in your head? As long as you enjoy it, does it really matter?

Tags: Ambient, Chillout, Electronic, Ethereal Vocal, Music, Trip Hop by X3 Podcast Staff
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In today’s episode: the cinematic, ethereal sound of Conscious Mind’s “Cosmic Bliss”; ambient composer Dave Luxton serves up “The Divided Line”, and Sleepthief wraps it up with one from his latest CD, “Fire King”, featuring vocals by Jody Quine. Happy Halloween. Don’t eat too much junk. And if you do, don’t tell anyone about it.

Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Music, Pop by X3 Podcast Staff
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Forget the RedBull. Plug in and tune in to the chilled electronic beats of AMBIENT GENERATION (Jolt), VAST DAYS (Predicament) and HOMELESS BALLOON (Communication). Goes great with added caffeine.

Tags: Ambient, Electronic by X3 Podcast Staff
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Sometimes ya just need a few good minutes of ambient goodness to break up a crazy day. Here’s WHARMTON RISE with Elder Haven, RUSS YOUNG with Meeting Leviathan, and ATOMIC SKUNK with Chronoswamp.

Enjoy…

Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Music by X3 Podcast Staff
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Hear that crunch? It ain’t the potato chips I’m munchin’ on – it’s electronic goodness created by today’s three artists. First up: STENDECK performs ‘Like Falling Crystals’, then it’s New York’s CYBO with ‘Outside the Room’, and finally SUBHEIM brings us ‘Ybe_76′. Turn it up and get your industrial groove on. Check ya later on the X3.

Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Industrial by X3 Podcast Staff
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