Mixtape #173

Guitarist and composer Max Walker took us by surprise earlier this year, when his magnificent second album Chronostasis made its way to our ears, and we’ve been under his spell ever since. Intricate and emotionally resonant, the record is a bold reflection on his relocation from Seattle to LA, brimming with dazzling guitar work, a strong sense of rhythm and rich ensemble interplay. A student of jazz and rock in equal measure, Walker also draws from the legacy of guitar greats like Allan Holdsworth and Tim Miller, while carving out a sound entirely his own. So we’re beyond excited to have him take the reins of this month’s mixtape, packed with gems that inspire his singular voice. Press play and enjoy!

  1. Donny McCaslin – Stadium Jazz [Greenleaf Music]
  2. Tim Miller – Lift
  3. John Escreet – He Who Dares [Whirlwind Recordings]
  4. Allan Holdsworth – Above and Below [Polydor / CREAM Records]
  5. Ben Monder – My One and Only Love [Sunnyside]
  6. Jacob Mann, Max Ox – Prom Night
  7. Pat Metheny – Change of Heart [Geffen Records]
  8. Ben van Gelder, Reinier Baas – Charles [Do You Mind?]
  9. Phronesis – Urban Control [Edition Records]
  10. Meshuggah – Do Not Look Down [Nuclear Blast]
  11. Hermeto Pascoal, Miles Davis – Little Church [Columbia]

Mixtape #171


We’re kicking off May with a stellar mixtape from Joan Arnau Pàmies, the brilliant Catalan composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose fearless approach to sound knows no bounds. His work stretches across genres and forms, including free improvisation, electroacoustic music, avant-pop, contemporary classical, jazz, ambient and beyond. Over his 15-year career, Pàmies has set himself apart as a dynamic and versatile artist, defying genre constraints and cultivating a unique musical voice within an open, exploratory creative space. Last month, Pàmies released Guidelines/Fonaments, a deeply personal, immersive and spellbinding album. We’re thrilled to have him at the helm of this month’s mix, offering a glimpse into the influences and sonic realms that fuel his boundless creativity. Press play and enjoy!

  1. Harold Budd and Brian Eno – First Light [Editions EG / Polydor]
  2. Vangelis – Blade Runner Blues [EastWest]
  3. Steve Reich and Pat Metheny – Electric Counterpoint: III. Fast [Nonesuch]
  4. Brian Ferneyhough and the Arditti String Quartet – Adagissimo [Disques Montaigne]
  5. Ludwig van Beethoven and Alfred Brendel – Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110. I. Moderato cantabile, molto espressivo [Brilliant Classics]
  6. Brad Mehldau Trio – Unrequited [Warner Bros. Records]
  7. Charlie Parker – Donna Lee [Savoy Records]
  8. Nina Simone – I Wish I knew How It Would Feel to Be Free [RCA Victor]
  9. Alanis Morissette – Hand in My Pocket [Maverick / Reprise Records]
  10. Passengers and Luciano Pavarotti – Miss Sarajevo [Island Records]
  11. Alva Noto – Xerrox Topia [Noton]
  12. Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence [Virgin]

Mixtape #113

This month’s mixtape comes courtesy of the daring and dazzling all-female multi-instrumentalist chamber music collective Collectress, whose impressive body of work spans an incredibly wide spectrum of artistic expression and myriad multi-arts collaborations. Their beguiling and bewildering compositions first struck us when we heard their 2014 album, Mondegreen. Fluent in both composed contemporary music and free improvisation, they continue to create enchanting and enveloping music with their recently released second album, Different Geographies. So we’re over the moon to have them onboard curating this mix with an exquisite selection of tracks reflecting the many influences that have shaped their own sublime sounds. Press play and drift away.

  1. Steve Reich with Pat Metheny – Electric Counterpoint: II. Slow [Nonesuch Records]
  2. Dmitri Shostakovich – Shostakovich Quartet – String Quartet No. 3 in F, Op. 73: I. Allegretto [Musical Concepts]
  3. Gazelle Twin – Little Lambs [Anti-Ghost Moon Ray]
  4. Sun Ra and His Arkestra & June Tyson – Space Is the Place [Sweet Earth Records]
  5. Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda (feat. Pharoah Sanders) [UMG Recordings, Inc.]
  6. Smog – Say Valley Maker [Drag City]
  7. Edvard Grieg – Jan Bjøranger & 1B1 – Holberg Suite (for string orchestra), Op. 40; IV Air [Grappa Musikkforlag AS]
  8. Agnes Obel – Citizen of Glass [PIAS]
  9. Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson & Jon Christensen – My Song [ECM Records GmbH]
  10. Nils Økland – Månelyst [Rune Grammofon]
  11. Johnny Flynn – The Wrote & The Writ [Mercury Records Limited]