Convergence Zone

Tag: #synthpop

  • Eleven Picks for Bandcamp Friday – March 1, 2024

    Jim Causey

    For the March 2024 Bandcamp Friday, I’ve selected 10 records that I’ve been listening to on repeat, including several from artists that you can see live in March! there’s no better time to support great artists than today, when Bandcamp waives their revenue share. Click the links to pick up this great music and find links for their upcoming live shows!

    Swimming Lessons | Midnight High (bandcamp.com)

    Seattle’s Nik Singleton and Luke Dumke have forged a crystal-clear pop sound with a synthwave edge – they’re reminding us to believe in perfect nights that never end.
    On Sunday, March 3 they’re wrapping up the Freakout Weekender at Belltown Yacht Club in Seattle

    Santa Clara | Cartas de Japón (bandcamp.com)

    Driving beats and soaring pads from Lucas Tripaldi, Esteban Menash and Pablo Bilbao making me taste the salt air at the Atlantic Coast of Argentina

    Feel | Garden of Magic (bandcamp.com)

    Single from Toronto’s Daria Morgacheva that wraps you in a dreamy world of sensory bliss – who needs the metaverse with gorgeous tracks like this?

    Night Supply | Hello Meteor (bandcamp.com)

    Hello Meteor transports us to a sleek, future version of the Pacific Northwest, filled with efficient machines and cozy vibes; there’s no better place to begin exploring their prolific output than with “Night Supply”

    Cancelled Plans | Lane Lines (bandcamp.com)

    Lush dream-pop from Seattle’s Mandi Kime; lush harmonies exploring the pain and healing of a a breakup when the world came to an end, sentimental but never cloying. Touring this Spring including dates in Bellingham, Portland, Seattle, and at Everett’s Black Lab Gallery on Fri. March 8

    Disco | Echo of the Low Light (bandcamp.com)

    The Seattle collective returns with cinematic noirgaze that conjures aching, bittersweet memories of things that were bad for us but wish we could experience just one more time

    Structures from Silence – 40th Anniversary Remaster | Steve Roach (bandcamp.com)

    Steve Roach returns to Seattle and Portland on March 15 and 16, touring for the 40th anniversary of his ambient masterpiece “Structures From Silence”. This album never feels dated, and has served me for decades when I need to calm my racing mind to be productive, or as a timekeeper while I rocked my infant daughter back to sleep.

    Spells of Silence | Mt Fog (bandcamp.com)

    Seattle’s Mt. Fog summons magical spaces that feel like whimsical haunted houses, where the spirits play rinigng synths and Carolyn B.’s vocals tear the veils between worlds. Their Forest Cats tour includes a date in Everett on Friday March 9, along with shows in Bellingham, Tacoma, Portland, and of course Seattle


    Balm of Gilead | INTERVALES (bandcamp.com)

    Seattle’s Alex Vittum reflects on the early days of the pandemic and his transition from California to the Pacific Northwest with this collection of ambient textures and field recordings – at intervals soothing and soaring

    Vestige House | Corey Holms (bandcamp.com)

    Graphic designer and analog synthesist Corey Holms carved out time along the coast of the Strait of Juan de Fuca – transforming his struggles with burnout during the gloomy winter of 2020 into a weaving masterpiece of sequenced countermelodies that ironically ignite calm focus and creativity in the listener

    Invisible Sounds: For Kenny Wheeler | Ingrid Jensen & Steve Treseler (bandcamp.com)

    Paying tribute to the late trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, Ingrid Jensen and Steve Treseler convened a scorching quintet with sets at Seattle’s Royal Room and in Robert Lang Studios; sometimes flying, sometimes whispering, always astounding

  • Episode.046 – anniversaries, upcoming live shows & remembering Mark Hollis

    Jim Causey
    first aired 02.27.2024

    KSER Archive + Playlist Link (opens in new tab)

    Meltt / Within You, Within Me / Within You, Within Me
    Altin Gün / Ordunun Dereleri / Yol
    Mt Fog / I am the Sea, You are the Clouds / I am the Sea, You are the Clouds
    Midnight High / Domino / Domino
    Caroline Polachek / Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In The Mouth / Desire, I Want To Turn Into You: Everasking Edition
    Christine and the Queens / I disappear in your arms / La vita nuova
    Talk Talk / It’s My Life (Remastered 1997) / It’s My Life (Remastered 1997)
    Public Service Broadcasting / The Race For Space (instrumental) / The Race For Space (instrumentals)
    Public Service Broadcasting / Go! / The Race For Space
    Lykke Li / I Follow Rivers – The Magician Remix / De Maxx Long Player 24
    Tears For Fears / Listen – Clean Intro / Songs From The Big Chair (Super Deluxe Edition)
    Brothertiger / Everybody Wants to Rule the World / Brothertiger Plays: Tears for Fears’ Songs from the Big Chair
    Sky Cries Mary / Deep River / Moon Bathing On Sleeping Leaves
    Pink Floyd / One of These Days / Meddle
    Mildlife / Yourself / Yourself
    Lane Lines / Hard to Breathe / Cancelled Plans
    Hello Meteor / Rain at the Marina / The Turn After a Storm
    Talk Talk / Inheritance – 1997 Remaster / Spirit of Eden
    Daryl Groetsch / Above the Shore (Radio Edit) / Above the Shore
    Cartas de Japón / Chapadmalal / Santa Clara
    Steve Roach & Robert Rich / Soma Waves / Waves of Now
    Intervales / Balm of Gilead / Balm of Gilead
    Laraaji / Ocean (Glimpse) / Ocean
    Talk Talk / The Rainbow (excerpt) / Spirit of Eden

  • Episode 044 – longer days are on the way

    Jim Causey
    first aired 02.13.2024

    Edging toward longer days with new music from LEATHERS, Garden of Magic, Leslee Smucker, Steve Roach, Erik Wøllo, Jill Haley, and Deborah Martin

    Great regional releases by Patricia Wolf, Panabrite, Echo of the Low Light, Omni Gardens, and more

    Convergence Zone arrives every Tuesday night at 10:30pm PT on 90.7 KSER-FM, 89.9 KXIR-FM, streaming at kser.org

    KSER playlist link for Episode 044 (opens in new tab)

    Artist / Song / Release / Duration / Released

    Patricia Wolf / Pacific Coast Highway / See – Through / 6:00 / 2022

    Echo of the Low Light / Shipwreck – Instrumental / Shipwreck (Instrumental) / 4:42 / 2019

    Still Corners / Midnight Drive / Strange Pleasures / 4:24 / 2013

    Slowdive / shanty / everything is alive / 5:47 / 2023

    Talk Talk / Such a Shame (Remastered 1997) / It’s My Life (Remastered 1997) / 5:36 / 1997

    Echo & The Bunnymen / Lips Like Sugar / Echo & the Bunnymen (Bonus Tracks Edition) [2004 Remaster] / 4:52 / 2004

    LEATHERS / Crash / Artoffact Records / 3:26 / 2024

    Drab Majesty / Induction / The Demonstration / 0:59 / 2017

    Drab Majesty / Dot in the Sky / The Demonstration / 5:26 / 2017

    New Order / Dreams Never End (2019 Remaster) / Movement (Definitive) [2019 Remaster] / 3:15 / 1981

    Soft Release / Broken Number 13 / Broken Number 13 – Single / 4:07 / 2023

    FM Attack / Mixed Signals / Dreamatic / 5:45 / 2009

    Caroline Polachek / Butterfly Net (feat. Weyes Blood) / Butterfly Net (feat. Weyes Blood) / 5:33 / 2024

    Panabrite / The Air-Conditioned Forest / Paramount Hexagon / 3:21 / 2009

    Omni Gardens / Wild Marionberries / Golden Pear / 3:19 / 2023

    Paul Speer & David Lanz / Rain Forest / Natural States / 4:18 / 1985

    Sumner James, Robert Chamberlain, Volcano Lazerbeam & Saroon, / Attenuation / Dive 1: Refraction / 4:06 / 2024

    Pauline Anna Strom / Morning Splendor / Trans-Millenia Consort / 6:06 / 2023

    Garden of Magic / Feel / Feel (Single) / 5:05 / 2024

    The Detroit Escalator Co. / Point Of Entry / Black Buildings / 5:11 / 2002

    Deborah Martin & Erik Wøllo / Fort Apache Meadowlarks / Kinishba / 5:34 / 2024

    Jill Haley & Eykamp String Quartet / Athabaskan / Alaskan Soundscapes: Music for Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks / 4:19 / 2023

    Leslee Smucker / Fixed Hills / Breathing Landscape / 4:06 / 2024
    Steve Roach & Erik Wøllo / Stream of Thought 13 / Stream of Thought / 6:46 / 2008

    Elbow / Mercy Street / Mercy Street / 5:37 / 2010

    André 3000 / Ants To You, Gods To Who ? (excerpt) / New Blue Sun / 6:42 / 2023

  • Episode 042 – one more month of winter

    Jim Causey
    first aired 01.30.2024

    This week on Convergence Zone, I’m stoked for recent and upcoming live shows by regional artists – music by Mt. Fog, FUNERALHOMES, Steve Roach, Suzanne Ciani

    Brand new songs from Conchúr White, naafi, Hollan Holmes, Nacht Plank,  and Brian Eno x Nicolas Jaar x Grizzly Bear

    New sounds for the long rains by Jeff Greinke, and from Summer James, Volcano Lazerbeam, Robert Chamberlain, and Saroon – and looking back with Ray Lynch and Corey Holms

    Convergence Zone arrives Tuesday night at 10:30pm PT on 90.7 KSER-FM, 89.9 KXIR-FM, and kser.org

    KSER playlist link – Episode 042

    Corey Holms – Containment Dilation – 00:00
    Mini Disc – Frutiger Aero – 05:55
    Martin Gore – Europa Hymn – 08:55
    Hello Meteor – Dusk Weather – 12:22
    Checkfield – Through the Lens – 16:47
    Azymuth – Quiet Storm – 21:18
    Yuri Misumi – The Wonderful Star’s Walk Is Wonderful (ステキ星のさんぽはステキ) – 25:50
    Mt Fog – Dreams are Heavy – 26:44
    FUNERALHOMES – Santa Cruz – 30:19
    Conchúr White – Red House Parlour – 32:17
    Naafi – Magnolia – 37:06
    Byron Metcalf – A Teacher Appears – 40:08
    Suzanne Ciani – Session 074 – 50:47
    Grizzly Bear – Sleeping Ute (Nicolas Jaar Remix) – 59:43
    Hollan Holmes – Drawn To An Intangible Energy – 01:07:13
    Steve Roach – The Desert Winds of Change, Pt. 3 – 01:14:40
    Nacht Plank – Lorotheato (Moss Garden Repaint) – 01:21:07
    Sumner James, Robert Chamberlain, Volcano Lazerbeam & Saroon – Bathypalegic – 01:28:44
    Jeff Greinke – Late Rain at the Station – 01:32:07
    Benoît Pioulard – Ink Scrape – 01:41:01
    Ketil Bjørnstad & David Darling – The River 7 – 01:42:17
    Ray Lynch – Drifted In A Deeper Land – 01:51:00

  • Episode 041 – Remembering Iasos

    Jim Causey
    first aired 01.23.2024

    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 – Episode 041

    Destroyer – Savage Night at the Opera – 00:00
    The The – Slow Emotion Replay – 03:14
    Pure Bathing Culture – Devotion – 07:01
    Slowdive – kisses – 10:20
    Tori Amos – Caught a Lite Sneeze (Remastered) – 16:11
    Cocteau Twins – Ivo – 20:31
    Soft Release – Find You Later – 24:24
    Joy Division – Transmission – 28:18
    Hello Meteor – The Northern Rim Archipelago – 33:32
    Zak Vortex – Afterhours – 36:50
    FM Attack – City Lights – 40:09
    Hollan Holmes – Order Out Of Chaos – 43:24
    Palancar – Voice from the Outer World – 49:00
    Norm Chambers – Patternmusik – 52:37
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – Check Your Translation – Hrishikesh Hirway Remix – 58:11
    Cool Maritime – Secret of the Megafauna – 01:01:11
    Bruce Mitchell – Dharma – 01:06:41
    Iasos – Rainbow Canyon – 01:10:06
    Iasos – Lagoon Night – 01:15:04
    Iasos – Ulura Lagoon-S – 01:17:51
    Constance Demby – Om Mani Padme Hum – 01:23:31
    Extraworld – Trireme Approach – 01:32:36
    Hello Meteor – Device Security – 01:38:45
    Robert Rich – Galvanic Response (Live) – 01:43:52
    Steve Roach – Spirals of Compassion (Live) – 01:52:05

  • Top music of 2023

    Jim Causey

    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

  • Episode 040 – dance sets to welcome 2024

    Jim Causey
    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

  • Winter Solstice 2023

    Jim Causey
    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

  • Best of 2023 – Part 1

    Jim Causey
    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

  • Episode 036 – atmospheric rivers

    Jim Causey
    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