Headphone Commute

Optic Echo Presents - Best Vinyl of 2022

I look back at 2022 and realize that I didn't put out the "usual" amount of mixes for the HC podcast. This is indeed because right after the celebration of the music from the year before, I was utterly preoccupied with the thoughts turned towards Ukraine. As a result, there were two "For Ukraine" mixes by Brian Housman of Stationary Travels and Peter can Cooten of Ambient Blog. In the last two weeks, with the annual Best of the Year tradition, I managed to broadcast and archive a few of my selections from each list, showcasing appearing artists. You can stream these via my Mixcloud account. But it's not the same as the typical fair. So today, I'm back, along with the amazing Mike Jedlicka of Optic Echo, to share his favourite vinyl selections of 2022. This is that one particular tradition that I refuse to let go of, with today's mix being the 12th instalment in the series. There is not much left to say, and we both hope the music speaks much louder. Please enjoy!

Spatial x Headphone Commute

I’ve got something slightly different for you today than the usual fair. How are you feeling about atmospheric drum & bass this morning? To be fair, this is not the first time that I’ve showcased this genre on these pages (see Clima‘s Headphone Commute Mix or the super fun Chill & Bass Mix by Orangewarrior). Except for this time, it’s also a label showcase, featuring very special selections from James Clements‘ newly launched Spatial imprint (a sub-label for his Auxiliary), with an ethos to “recapture the essence of the mid 90’s scene” featuring classic breaks and heavy sub-bass. So far, the roster includes James’ own celebrated ASC project, as well as Simon Huxtable’s Aural Imbalance, but I suspect it may grow further, beyond the two. Meanwhile, because of the tight curation, each release is a beautiful and cohesive 12″ (yes, FINALLY available on vinyl) as well as a digital offering via the usual channels. In any case, this is an absolutely wonderful and very welcome journey for my sunny morning, and I hope that it’ll be for you as well! I’ll stop talking here but will include a pretty lengthy writeup (on my site) from the label boss himself. Enjoy!

Tracklisting and more here: https://hcdi.gs/Spatial

PvC - For Ukraine Mix

I honestly wish that I could stop promoting this benefit compilation, titled For Ukraine, which is now on its second volume (see links below). I’d stop promoting because we wouldn’t need the funds which would all be donated to International Rescue Committee (rescue.org) to support displaced children and families with vital supplies. Albeit somehow it has all receded in the background, and yet the war goes on. This time, I’ve enlisted the help of Peter van Cooten of ambientblog.net to compile and curate a mix, featuring 28 pieces selected from two volumes, all of them painstakingly edited to create a continuous journey and to entice you to purchase both volumes (with a third one on the way soon!) to experience the tracks in full. So you can treat this mix as a sampler, or a bonus if you’ve already contributed to our cause. “There are many changing instrumentations, moods and atmospheres,” says Peter about his selection, “I like to think of it as travelling in a fast-moving train, looking out the window at different landscapes gliding by…” Please share and help support our message.

 

Volume 1 : https://hcdi.gs/ForUkraine
Volume 2 : https://hcdi.gs/ForUkraine2

Stationary Travels - For Ukraine (Reprise)

About a week ago, in collaboration with Hollie Kenniff who curated the roster of artists, Headphone Commute released the first volume of the benefit compilation For Ukraine with 100% of all proceeds being donated to the International Rescue Committee (rescue.org). This is one of those things, folks, that does not need to be written about, promoted, or sold. Nevertheless, with the help of Brian Housman of Stationary Travels, I am happy to share with you an hour-long compilation teaser, featuring some of Brian’s favourite pieces. It’s only about half of the entire content, which you can now stream as part of our mix series and podcast, but we still ask you to share and help in any way that you can to support our message. Thanks in advance, and stay tuned for Volume Two!!!

For Ukraine : https://hcdi.gs/ForUkraine

Mathias Van Eecloo - eisOtones 14

How would you like to hear 50 tracks from 50 releases from last year? Well, in this 14th instalment, Mathias Van Eecloo, of [previously] Eilean Rec. and [currently] LAAPS [for which he also made a very special mix], returns for his annual tradition of masterful selection of musical journeys from many of my favourite labels. Plenty for you here to unpeel and explore throughout the numerous genres and musical diversions. And although I usually feature this mix sometime in January, I think it’s safe to admit that there is no better time like now. And, as usual, please enjoy responsibly and support the featured artists! We hope that you enjoy!

Stationary Travels - Annum 2021

By now it’s no secret that I’m a fan of Brian Housman‘s labour and his Stationary Travels site. Two years ago I even unveiled a brand new Best of the Year list, dedicated to his very own selections, appropriately titled “Music For Your Stationary Travels“. I suspect that the respect here is mutual since he recently revealed his highlights from music spotted on HC’s Best of the Year feature. Yes, in this little corner of this strange and often ruthless “music business” it’s less about competition and more about the support. And both of us support the music, at least through mixes or through words. And so, without any further ado, I present to you a reflection on the last year, as put together by Brian for this very special mix. There are lots of beautiful pieces on here, but as usual with this particular feature – less words and more music, yes? And please, be sure to support the featured artists and labels on this mix!

Optic Echo Presents - Best Vinyl of 2021

The current Best of the Year feature is well underway, and besides dragging you through all of the amazing albums that you’ve missed, I also think that you should be able to hear some, or, in this case, specifically the best vinyl of the last year, as selected by Mike Jedlicka. It’s a beautiful journey that has introduced me to some new music as well, and I’m forever grateful for this special friendship that we’ve maintained over more than a decade. This is our 11th year in sharing this music, and if you like the choices, be sure to check out our past archive of Optic Echo Presents mixes. As usual with our podcasts – less words and more music, and please, be sure to support the featured artists and labels!

LAAPS 2020-2021

So only a few more days left to this year, but, more importantly, a few more days before I announce my Best of 2021 lists [which, just like you, I have been looking forward to], but before we wave another year farewell, I’ve got something exceptional to share with you. In fact, this is a celebration of two years, to be more precise – two years of releases from the amazing LAAPS imprint [which, if my memory serves me correctly, I’ve introduced on here back in the summer of 2020]. The label was created by Mathias Van Eecloo as a permanent sonic and visual continuity, with each release starting with the end of the previous one. And now, two years, four seasons, and 16 releases later, we’ve got this gorgeous 60-minute mix (curated by the label boss himself) showcasing each one… turning into what I may bluntly proclaim to be an exclusive compilation just for Headphone Commute! And this is just the beginning! A little birdie told me that the series will extend to exactly 100 releases, running for 12 years straight! But enough words, let’s turn towards all this gorgeous music!

Night Gestalt - Headphone Commute Mix

Some words about the mix from Night Gestalt:

"My album "Thousand Year Waves" is all about waves - and the end of the world. Sailors have long known about ’rogue waves’ in the ocean but it’s only recently researchers have been able to record these rare monsters. In 1995 the Draupner oil platform was hit by a 25,6 meterhigh wave. The waves just before and after were around 12 meters. The platform was designed to withstand waves of 20 meters, which had been calculated to happen one time in 10 000 years. I think the end of the world will come in waves: climate change, economic crashes, viruses. And then - out of nowhere - a wave so big we couldn’t even imagine it."

See more details, a rambling intro, and full track listing here: http://hcdi.gs/Waves

 

https://hcdi.gs/Waves

Clima - Headphone Commute Mix

After listening to a lot of music in the very same genre, sometimes you just need a headcleaner. You know? Today is a perfect day for that. Oh, and do you remember Sirat‘s Noir mixes? Those dark and beautiful concoctions, paying tribute to the film-noir genre “with its characteristic anti-heroes, femmes fatales, gangsters and dirty dealings.” Well, it just happens to be that Ernesto Gerez along with his partner in crime, Javier Campos, also dabble in some dub-infused delicious drum’n’bass under the project named Clima. So I’ve asked him to put together a very special Headphone Commute Mix, peppered, of course, with the tracks from this Spanish duo, to showcase their very special style. And so, folks, here we are – sharing with you about 45-minutes of some spacious, engaging, and inspiring music, in the genre which is often geared towards the dancefloor. I hope you enjoy as much as I have – this has been playing on repeat all day long here.

 

Read more info plus the entire tracklist here: http://hcdi.gs/Clima