Categories
Best Of Specials

Top music of 2023

Compiling a list of some of my favorite albums and singles from regional artists and beyond, along with links to buy the albums

You can find music from these albums and much more on my
Best of 2023 Playlists for Spotify and TIDAL, as well as in two “Best of 2023” episodes of Convergence Zone (archive links below)

Albums from PNW Artists
Omni Gardens, Golden Pear, Moon Glyph
Mount Maxwell, Littlefolk, Hotham Sound Recordings
Hello Meteor, Earth Journos
FM Attack, Cosmic
AeTopus, Cup, Spotted Peccary Records
Terminus Void, APEIRON, Groove Unlimited
Dreamstate Logic, Latent Images and Distant Dreams
Pure Bathing Culture, Chalice
Saloli, Canyon, kranky
Erwilian, Cascadia
Paul Ellis, Music for the Space Between Atoms, Cyclical Dreams
Methods Body, Plural Not Possessive, Beacon Sound
Brass Clouds, Escape Vessels, Bathysphere Records

Singles from PNW Artists
Echo of the Low Light, Disco
Soft Release, Find You Later
Little H Collective, Avalanche Pass
LEATHERS, Fascination

Albums from other regions
Suzanne Ciani and Jonathan Fitoussi, Golden Apples of the Sun
Frore, Biome
Siren and the Sea, Gravity Wave
Various Artists, The Stone Tape: analyzing a ghost by electronic means
Eydis Evenson, The Light
Pabellión Sintetico, Mies van der Rohe’s Dreams
David Arkenstone, Winterlüde
One Arc Degree, The Forest and the Milky Way
Various Artists, The NID Tapes: Electronics Music from India 1969-1972
Caterina Barbieri, Myuthafoo
Ryuichi Sakamoto, 12
Chuck van Zyl, Gwynedd
Ki Oni, A Leisurely Swim to Everlasting Life

Spotify playlist: Top music of 2023
Best of 2023 part 1 – first aired 12.12.2023
Best of 2023 part 2 – first aired 12.26.2023
Categories
Show Playlists

Episode 040 – dance sets to welcome 2024

first aired 01.02.2024

Welcoming us all to 2024 with danceable sets and remixes – including Romare, Mylo, Lusine, New Order, The Cure, Drab Majesty, and much more

Convergence Zone arrives every Tuesday night at 10:30 pm PT on 90.7 KSER, 89.9 KXIR, and streaming around the world at kser.org

KSER playlist link

Lusine – Cut and Cover – 00:00
The Cure – A Forest – Tree Mix [Remastered] – 02:55
New Order – Dreams Never End (2019 Remaster) – 08:50
Nation of Language – Across That Fine Line – 12:40
Drab Majesty – Induction – 18:27
Drab Majesty – Dot in the Sky – 19:13
Garbage – Cities in Dust – 24:28
Romare – Dreams – 28:07
Classixx – Hanging Gardens – 33:35
Mylo – In My Arms – Radio Edit – 38:40
Holy Ghost! – Bridge & Tunnel – 42:15
Giorgio Moroder – Chase – 46:18
Donna Summer – I Feel Love – 12″ Version (Excerpt) – 54:08
Khruangbin – Time (You and I) (Put a Smile on DJ’s Face Mix) – 59:47
Brothertiger – Everybody Wants to Rule the World – 01:09:09
Holy Fuck – Free Gloss (feat. Nicholas Allbrook) – 01:12:32
Deep Forest – While the Earth Sleeps – Long Version – 01:19:05
The Shamen – Move Any Mountian – 01:25:23
Influx – Revel Dub [Influx] – 01:29:52
Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is a Place on Earth (Heavenly Version) – 01:34:19
Roosevelt – Everywhere – 01:40:00
Information Society – Peace and Love, Inc. – 01:43:14
Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down Again – Eric Prydz Remix – 01:47:23
Orbital – The Girl with the Sun in Her Head – Lone Remix – 01:54:08

Categories
Best Of Show Playlists

Best of 2023 – Part 2

More of my favorite discoveries from 2023 from local and global artists, along with some fun throwbacks!

Convergence Zone: ambient soundscapes of the Pacific Northwest and beyond, every Tuesday night at 10:30pm PT on 90.7 KSER, 89.9 KXIR, and kser.org

KSER playlist (opens in new tab)

10:30 PM Little H Collective “Avalanche Pass (radio edit)” from Avalanche Pass 2023

10:37 PM Hello Meteor “Eso Waypoints” from Earth Journos 2023

10:42 PM Jeff Pierce “Serenity Fields” from The Road Ahead 2023

10:46 PM Erik Wøllo “Cloud of Strings” from Cloud of Strings 2023

10:57 PM MiDi BiTCH “Marmalade Skies” from Sonic Fiction 2023

11:01 PM Panabrite “Cortex Meridian” from Cortex Meridian 2013

11:10 PM Radio Massacre International “The Clockwork Time Dragon (Album)” from Time & Motion 2010

11:22 PM Lisa Bella Donna “Rahmenerzählung” from Portals: A Kosmische Journey Through Outer Worlds and Inner Space 2020

11:33 PM Matthew Halsall “Sunlight Reflection” from An Ever Changing View 2023

11:34 PM Matthew Halsall “Natural Movement” from An Ever Changing View 2023

11:39 PM North Americans “The Living End” from Long Cool World 2023

11:43 PM The British Stereo Collective “Lost in Aqua” from Sailing 1975 2023

11:56 PM Pabellón Sintético “Open Spaces” from Mies Dreams Live Session 2023

12:05 AM Ian Boddy “Memory Lane” from Berlin: A Tribute Album for Mark Shreeve 2023

12:11 AM Thom Brennan “Argo Pt. 3” from Argo 2023

12:21 AM Siren and the Sea “Gravity Wave” from Gravity Wave – EP 2023

12:28 AM Laurel Halo “Naked to the Light” from Atlas 2023

Categories
Show Playlists Specials

Winter Solstice 2023

first aired 12.19.2023

Humans have honored midwinter since times immemorial, with feasts and festivals, rituals and magic –   The festive season can be a time for connection and ecstasy as well as melancholy and isolation, and these moods inspire musicians from our region and around the world

This week on Convergence Zone, music for the solstice and inspired by the season — from Michael Stearns, Erwilian, Clannad, David Arkenstone, Benoît Pioulard, Carbon in Prose, George Winston, Steve Roach, the Fischersund project, and more

Convergence Zone arrives on Tuesdays at 10:30pm PST on 90.7 KSER in Everett, 89.9 KXIR in Freeland, and streaming around the world at kser.org, TuneIn, and smart speakers everywhere

KSER Playlist (opens in new tab)

Fleet Foxes – Can I Believe You (Solstice Version) – 00:00
Pure Bathing Culture – 2000 Miles – 04:02
Caroline Polachek – So Cold You’re Hurting My Feelings – 07:01
Future Islands – Last Christmas – 10:11
Cocteau Twins – Frosty The Snowman – 14:51
Sally Shapiro – Holiday – 17:13
Khruangbin – Christmas Time Is Here – 24:38
Clannad – Newgrange (2003 – Remaster) – 28:04
Friedemann – The Man From Caesarea – 32:10
Erwilian – Whiteout – 37:19
Ralph Towner, Jan Garbarek, Eberhard Weber, Jon Christensen – Winter Solstice – 48:10
Jose ‘Juicy’ Gonzales Trio – O Tannenbaum – 52:55
David Arkenstone – Darkening Skies – 54:35
Low – Little Drummer Boy – 58:32
Ryuichi Sakamoto – MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE – ELECTRIC YOUTH REMODEL – 01:03:24
Michael Stearns – Corridors of Time – 2022 Remaster, Film Printmaster Stereo Fold-down – 01:05:47
Paul Ellis – Blue Ice – 01:13:45
Dreamstate Logic – Transmissions From Alcyone – 01:16:51
Steve Roach – Kingfisher Flight. – 01:23:20
SUSS – Winter Was Hard – 01:30:20
Luke Wyland – Pendulum (Live) – 01:33:27
Sin Fang/Kjartan Holm/Fischersund – In The Bleak Midwinter Re-Imagined – 01:39:03
Mount Shrine – Moon’s Distrust – 01:42:17
Benoît Pioulard – The accident of nature – 01:48:00
Carbon In Prose – The Cold Sea – 01:53:20
Fischersund – Heims Um Ból Re-Imagined – 01:56:10
SUSS – Winter Was Hard, Reprise – 01:58:28

Categories
Best Of Show Playlists Specials

Best of 2023 – Part 1

first aired 12.12.2023

Part 1 of my review of the best music from 2023 – tracks by Hello Meteor, Omni Gardens, Future Islands, Erwilian, Pure Bathing Culture, David Arkenstone, Mount Maxwell, Terminus Void, Dreamstate Logic, and much more

Convergence Zone: ambient soundscapes of the Pacific Northwest and beyond; every Tuesday night at 10:30pm PT on 90.7 KSER, 89.9 KXIR, streaming at kser.org – more information at https://convergencezone.fm

KSER playlist (opens in new tab)

FM Attack – Timeless – 00:00
NAVVI – Clemency – 04:38
Future Islands – The Tower – 09:56
Hibou – Night Fell – 13:28
Echo of the Low Light – Disco – 19:30
Altin Gün – Rakıya Su Katamam – 23:36
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – The Silver Cord – 27:16
Pure Bathing Culture – The Memento – 33:35
Crumb & Melody’s Echo Chamber – Le Temple Volant – 37:22
NCY Milky Band – Aphex Twin – 39:17
Hello Meteor – Earth Journos – 43:59
Saloli – Waterfall – 47:00
Pabellón Sintético – Bauhaus – 51:25
Brendan Pollard – Steel Blue Sphere – 59:31
Dreamstate Logic – Lost But Not Forgotten – 01:02:34
AeTopus – Sundial – 01:11:17
Omni Gardens – Rain Jacket – 01:18:19
Volcano Lazerbeam – At Sea – 01:21:14
Terminus Void – Flow of Order – 01:29:46
Erwilian – Masters in This Hall (Live) – 01:36:15
Makushin – No More Rush Hour – 01:43:20
David Arkenstone – Darkening Skies – 01:49:29
Mount Maxwell – Sky Eye – 01:53:07
Hotel Pools – Metro 地​下​鉄 – 01:58:17

Categories
Show Playlists

Episode 036 – atmospheric rivers

first aired 12.05.2023

This week on Convergence Zone, music for atmospheric rivers and  grey-on-grey skies.  Regional artists channel the life-bringing moisture of our damp winters along with the shadows cast on our moods during these long dark nights — these inspirations lie at the heart of the Convergence Zone

Brand new music from Echo of the Low Light, Mount Maxwell, Hello Meteor, Sam Rosenthal & vidna obmana, Ken Martin, Still Corners, Ancient Astronaut,  and Volcano Lazerbeam; recent pieces by AeTopus, Frore & Shane Morris, Blackford Hill, Rayo Hunters, Tara Clerkin Trio, and more

Convergence Zone pours in tonight and every Tuesday night at 10:30pm PST on 90.7 KSER-FM, 89.9 KXIR-FM, and streaming around the world at kser.org, TuneIn, and other fine internet radio services

KSER playlist

Categories
Show Playlists

Episode 035 – Littlefolk

first aired 11.28.2023

This week on Convergence Zone we dive into the remarkable new album “Littlefolk” by Mount Maxwell — it’s a journey beyond his Vancouver BC home with effortless moves between timbres and tonality, field recordings and folktronica, and beats and bloops

We will continue the journey with recent music from Mary Lattimore, Lusine, K Leimer, Pure Bathing Culture,  Steven Wilson, Mike Reed, and some vintage Erik Wøllo and Harold Budd

We may also hear some Roxy Music without Brian Eno, and Brian Eno without Roxy Music

Convergence Zone arrives Tuesday nights at 10:30pm PST on 90.7 KSER, 89.9 KXIR, and streaming at kser.org

KSER playlist

Categories
Show Playlists

Episode 034

first aired 11.21.2023

Categories
Show Playlists

Episode 033

first aired 11.13.2023

This week on Convergence Zone – new regional music from Bunadox, AeTopus, Dreamstate Logic, terminus void, Silent Universe, Omni Gardens, Bunadox, Lori Goldston, and Mount Maxwell

Brand new music by Frore & Shane Morris, and lovely ambient releases from around the world with Lau Nau, Secret Pyramid, Jim Ottaway, Peter Phippen & Ivar Lunde, Jr, and more

Small Black and Geographer come to Seattle this week, so I’ll have tracks from both, along with brand new music from Mildlife and Kit Sebastian

Convergence Zone arrives Tuesday, 11.13.23 at 10:30pm PST – on 90.7 KSER, 89.9 KXIR, kser.org, TuneIn, and other fine streaming Internet radio services

Categories
Show Playlists

Episode 032 – Dreamstate Logic album premiere

first aired 11.07.23

This week on Convergence Zone: as the long nights deepen, we find a wealth of new music with connections to our region – by Vancouver trio V Vecker Ensemble, Omni Gardens, AeTopus, Daryl Groetsch, Leeni, Erwilian, Soft Release, Pure Bathing Culture, and the global radio premiere of “Latent Images and Distant Dreams” by Seattle’s Dreamstate Logic

I’ll also have another excerpt from my interview with Terminus Void’s J. Ronald Smith, along with more music from his new album APEIRON, and also something from his recent collaboration with Mina on her album “Lost and Remembered”

More new music from Winterwood, Bahia Mansa, and TALsounds – and more of our tribute to Norm Chambers
 

Convergence Zone arrives Tuesday nights at 10:30pm Pacific on 90.7 KSER-FM, 89.9 KXIR-FM, streaming at https://kser.org