isolatedmix 129 - Rosillon

You could say ASIP has brought me closer to ‘my people’ over the years—those with a deep, almost obsessive appreciation for all things ambient and electronic. The ones who love this music, who show up at the same gigs, who get so inspired by the sounds and stories that they start paving their own.

Based in Rotterdam, Rosillon is one of those people. Co-founder of the electronic music platform Embodiment, he’s been a long-time listener and supporter of ASIP. At his core, he’s just another music obsessive, choosing to share his passion through mixes and curated events—the kind of person who keeps music culture moving forward, regardless of genre or scale. Last November Rosillon had the pleasure to play for the first edition of ZERØBPM, a 18 hour non-stop ambient/meditation experience in a church in the Netherlands. And his previous mixes have cropped up for the brilliant Deep Breakfast series, as well as the Korean collective, Vurt.

I don’t typically accept submissions for the isolatedmix series, but his vinyl-only mix landed in a way that many don’t. And when he shared the story behind it, it perfectly captured how music like this isn’t just heard—it’s experienced, absorbed, and ultimately, passed on. Listening back and reading his inspiration, it reminded me of the exact mindset I experienced when picking a name for this endeavor, A Strangely Isolated Place.

Places of inspiration for Rosillon’s mix

~

“ Last summer, during my travels through Bulgaria, I found myself deeply inspired by the landscapes, and the sense of remoteness that each place evoked. As soon as I returned home, I aimed to translate these experiences into sound.

This mix is the result of that, a sonic exploration of isolation, both physical and emotional. The concept behind this set revolves around the idea of ‘isolated places’, not just in the geographical sense, but also within the mind. These are the places that trigger emotions, memories, and introspection. Places shaped by sound aesthetics that speak directly to the imagination. With this in mind, I carefully selected tracks that embody these feelings, crafting a mix that serves as both an escape and a reflection.

The mix unfolds as a metaphor for the experiences we gather during our journeys. It begins at an airport, a symbolic starting point that sends the listener on their way. From there, the music takes you through a collage of progressively more obscure destinations, each transition serving as a portal to another isolated place.

Places of inspiration for Rosillon’s mix

Some transitions are smooth and fluid, while others are abrupt and disorienting, mirroring the unpredictability of travel itself. As the mix progresses, it immerses the listener in various emotional landscapes, reflecting the highs and lows that come with discovering unfamiliar territory.

Near the end, a vocal announcement signals that the gate is closing, marking the inevitable conclusion of the journey. The bittersweet nostalgia of leaving behind an enriching experience is captured in a track featuring glitching sounds layered over a field recording of an airport.

However, just as in real life, the end of a trip brings with it a renewed appreciation for the lessons learned and the memories made. In the closing section of the mix I wanted to embrace this sentiment, offering a positive and empowering conclusion.

It reminds us that every journey, whether to distant lands or within ourselves, leaves a lasting impact, shaping our perspective in ways we may not fully grasp until we return home. I hope this mix transports you to your own isolated places, allowing you to lose yourself in the journey and find meaning in the sounds along the way.”

- Rosillon

astrangelyisolatedplace · isolatedmix 129 - Rosillon

Listen on Soundcloud the ASIP Podcast or the 9128.live iOS and Android app

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Tracklist (vinyl only)
01. The Black Dog – M1 [Dust Science Recordings]
02. Rod Modell - Ghost Lights B-side [Astral Industries]
03. Inhmost – In The Bay [re:st]
04. 3.11 – Dissolve in Patience [PRS]
05. Box5ive – Rough Sleeper [co:clear]
06. 3.11 – Hard Copy [PRS]
07. Alva Noto - Confidential Information 1 [Noton]
08. Off The Sky – Ahurani [re:discovery records]
09. Xenia Reaper – 23724 [INDEX:Records]
10. William Selman - Farther Off Among The Foaming Black Rocks [Mysteries Of The Deep]
11. Pontiac Streator & Mister Water Wet - Angelus Spit [Motion Ward]
12. TIBSLC – Hypertranslucent [Sferic]
13. Quiet Places – Side B [A Strangely Isolated Place]
14. The Black Dog - Lounge [Dust Science Recordings]
15. Alva Noto - HYbr:ID Ectopia Field 1 [Noton]

~

Rosillon Soundcloud | Instagram
Embodiment Soundcloud | Instagram

ASIP - Unrush 093

There are only a few podcasts and mix series that stand the test of time over the years and become regular go-to’s. Unrush, for example, began 8 years ago and has since hosted classic mixes from Wanderwelle, Jamie Mccue (Silent Season), Kamikaze Space Program, Sven Weisemann, and the host herself, Mareena. If you’re not familiar with the series, you have some digging to do.

As many may know, my DJ mixes are often conceptual and ladder to a bigger idea. For example, my most recent mix for Monument was made entirely of loops, and I’d often spend weeks perfecting the output.

I often try and do more with recorded sets because you have more time to obsess and create something different than what someone would hear playing live. However, for this mix, given it was over the holiday period and life is pretty hectic right now, I chose to adopt a more “don’t overthink it” approach, and just did what hit me...

I was also more optimistic about kicking off the year, and I didn’t want to go down a dark or ambient route (as might be the initial reaction given the mix series title). In hindsight, I very rarely do straight-up ambient sets.

The result:

We are delighted to begin the year with a mix from ASIP (Ryan Griffin), the founder of A Strangely Isolated Place - a label and mix series that has become a cornerstone for contemporary ambient music. Inviting him felt long overdue, and we couldn’t be happier to share this contribution from someone whose work continually inspires us. For this mix, Ryan delved into musical memories, crafting a journey filled with nostalgia and influences. As he beautifully puts it:

"Thank you, Mareen, for the invite to your series. This mix is full of nostalgia, some Balearic undertones, and classic approaches to ambient electronic music, without an agenda. It starts to speak to some major influences on me over the years. Growing up on 90's electronic music, influential summers in Europe, and the formative years of early 00's IDM and electronica. If Unrush is self-described as 'a serene space within the mind that is free from the encumbering stresses of daily life,' then this is music that always helps me get there."

Ryan’s contribution is a heartfelt journey through time, marked by the sounds that have shaped him and continue to inspire, perfectly embodying the unrushed ethos. Let yourself drift and enjoy... ❤️

The set features 3 unreleased tracks that may or may not be forthcoming on the label. Well… Aspetuck’s is locked and loaded at least, and the Mikkel Rev and Alvar are in the early discussion and sequencing stages (the fun part!)

Listen to the mix below or on Soundcloud. Bandcamp links in the tracklist wherever possible.

UNRUSH · 093 - Unrushed by ASIP

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Tracklist:

01. Ishq - And Awake (2011, Interchill Records)
02. Aspetuck - Hit Me With Your Pet Shark (Forthcoming, A Strangely Isolated Place)
03. Wilson Tanner - Further Than Your Headlights (2016, Growing Bin Records)
04. TSR - gtchi3 (2012, Record Union)
05. MPU101 - Sunset Memories (2024, Ilian Tape)
06. Dream Dolphin - L.E.A (Mirror Coordinate Mix) (2023, Music From Memory)
07. C-thru - Awake In A Dream (2023, Pacific Rhythm)
08. Norman Feller - Melting From The Inside (2003, Electrolux)
09. Gallo - That Moment (2023, Hell Yeah)
10. Spooky - Let Go (1993, Guerilla)
11. Neutron 9000 - Empire (1994, Rising High)
12. Alvar - Our Peach Sky (Unreleased)
13. Mikkel Rev - Unknown (Unreleased)
14. Ebi - Kaze (1996, Space Teddy)
15. Jochem Paap - Dx-Snth (1999, Fax)

ASIP - Reflection on 2024

As with all my previous ‘Reflection’ year-end mixes, I begin with a collection of albums, EPs, and compilations that resonated with me over the past year. From there, I curate tracks to build the mix—a process that’s as much about omission as inclusion. Inevitably, many of my favorite tracks and albums don’t make the final cut, simply because they don’t fit the flow of the mix or get lost along the way. There are plenty of albums I played on repeat that aren’t included here, but I enjoy this process much more than creating lists.

As I remind myself each year, this isn’t meant to be a definitive “best-of” list. Instead, it’s a snapshot of some of my favorite music from the year, distilled into one cohesive and listenable format. Compiling these mixes under self-imposed restrictions is my way of revisiting and celebrating the music I’ve loved critically, while sharing it with you in a way that’s both meaningful and accessible. For me, listening back to these mixes is like flipping through an audio photograph, capturing the essence of my year in music and invoking memories from special moments.

I encourage you to use this mix as a jumping-off point—dive into each artist, explore their albums in full, and check out the labels behind the music. You can find a Buy Music Club list linked below to help you dig deeper. If you’re curious about the broader scope of music I’ve supported this year, my Bandcamp collection is always up to date. And for the ASIP year-end label compilation, you can find the feature and mix here.

~

Starting this year’s mix was no easy task. It’s been a whirlwind of a year, with my family relocating from Los Angeles back to Oregon. For a significant stretch, my ideal listening setup was in flux, and I wasn’t commuting to work as much—two key times I’d normally dive deep into the music I’d collected.

That said, I still managed to accumulate a fair share of vinyl this year (probably too much), so that became my starting point. I began shortlisting from my unsorted crate—my go-to spot for new acquisitions—despite knowing the mix would eventually be recorded digitally I always intend on ripping some vinyl-only releases. Since most of my purchases are through Bandcamp, I typically have digital files ready to go, but there are still a few frustrating cases where I’ve had to double-dip and buy the digital files separately (labels, let’s get those Bandcamp download codes in vinyl sleeves—it’s almost 2025!).

This year’s shortlist started with over 80 artists/tracks from albums I’ve loved, which I eventually narrowed down to 40 for the final mix. It’s a good representation of what’s been on heavy rotation for me. As always, I stuck to my usual self-imposed rule of no ASIP artist related tracks. I’d easily fill an entire mix with their music if that rule weren’t in place (also that’s what 9128.live is good for). I like to take this time to highlight other incredible, often overlooked releases that haven’t made the rounds in our circles, or through the usual “best of” lists.

I intended to rip some of my vinyl-only releases for this mix as a few really stood out this year, but time wasn’t on my side, and no digital was available. On the bright side, nearly all the music included here is readily available on Bandcamp for you to support.

A few callouts as you skim through the tracklist.

The latest Röyksopp album leans heavily into ambient tropes, but it’s undeniably comforting—a continuous flow reminiscent of the classic Art of Chill mixes, blending atmospheric textures with accessible pop crossovers. It nails that sweet spot, and I’m not one to turn my nose up at that.

Isabel Pine, whose demo first landed in my inbox some time ago, continues to impress—her latest release is an absolute gem. Aja’s ‘Lullaby’ is pure sweetness, so addictive I often found myself hitting repeat. C.K. didn’t drop any new ambient projects this year, but he did finally upload his phenomenal catalog to Bandcamp The track I included serves from his only 2024 release as an ambient counterpart to his more techno-focused album from this year.

Music From Memory’s Virtual Dreams compilation was a highlight for me—every track on it felt like a guaranteed vibe, no matter the mood (#1 on my HHV list). Casino Versus Japan’s comeback might just be his finest work yet, even if it hasn’t made it onto other lists out there. Its stripped-back, raw quality made it a challenge to incorporate into this mix without it becoming the centerpiece.

Minotaur Shock was a standout discovery in 2024, offering a blend of IDM-infused drum-oriented sounds. This track, in particular, is one of his most melodic. Another new find was Civilistjävel!, courtesy of Juan (OKRAA), who introduced me to the record while we were record shopping in New York. Florian T M Zeisig made waves with a ’90s-inspired album, consistently impressing with his inventive approaches (and even debuting a new alias).

nthng remains a regular on my year-end mixes, and deservedly so. My favorite track of his this year was ‘Echo Track,’ though it didn’t quite fit into this mix. Synkro returned as Ovïd with a mesmerizing slice of gaseous dub-techno—I even let it run long to max out its hypnotic qualities in the mix. Brian Grainger and his aliases are extremely productive, so it’s hard to cut through sometimes, but I always gravitate to his Coppice Halifax output.

Vril delivered an audio-sensory onslaught with his new album. While my favorite track didn’t make this mix, the entire release is excellent. I bent one of my own rules by including two tracks from Daniel[i]—a testament to the quality of that record. Rising Sun also deserves a mention. Even though his uploads this year were from his back catalog, the music is as timeless as ever (and I have a special memory of hearing this amazing track at Public Records, cementing a solid 2024 core memory).

Solar Alliance saw me bending another rule, as this is technically from the Ute collective but for anyone into '90s-style trance and downtempo- not to be missed. Xylitol, another new artist on my radar, delivered a release perfectly aligned with its Planet Mu home—think Aphex-inspired IDM with breaks and bass. Metamatics took an unexpected turn, dropping a drum’n’bass album with a '90s vibe featuring vocal samples from the emotional worlds normally assigned to DJ Healer or Rising Sun.

Finally, the closer comes from Mortal—a 1997 gem I only discovered in 2024. Though technically from December 2023, it missed last year's mix and felt like the perfect way to wrap up this year’s edition.

astrangelyisolatedplace · ASIP - Reflection on 2024

Listen on Soundcloud the ASIP Podcast or the 9128.live iOS and Android app

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Tracklist:

01. Chihei Hatakeyama - Insects Chirping At Night (Field Recs)
02. CHANTSSSS - Lose My (Theory Therapy)
03. Endless Trains & Taennya - Lifeless Place (Archives)
04. Röyksopp (Feat. Alison Goldfrapp) - We Enter (Self Released)
05. Merely & Malibu - outlanders intro (Year 0001)
06. anthéne - Crimson (Floralia Editions)
07. Isabel Pine - Silhouettes (Where The Flowers Grow)
08. Old Amica - Klorofyll (Self Released)
09. Aja - Absolune (Grand Musique Management)
10. Winter Silhouette - Solidarity (Peak)
11. C.K - We Share The Skies (Private Recording System)
12. Dub Squad - Blown Fruit (Music From Memory)
13. Shokunin - Darlands (Bonse1)
14. Li Yilei - Yip, Yip, Yip (Métron Records)
15. Voyage Futur - Marina Botany (Vill4in)
16. Casino Versus Japan - Licht (Self Released)
17. Minotaur Shock - With Me? (Bytes)
18. Civilistjävel! - XII (Felt)
19. Ear To Ear - Live Recordings D (Astral Industries)
20. Strategy - Numeros (Community Library)
21. Florian T M Zeisig - Wave Guide (Stroom)
22. nthng - Dont Be Scared (Self Released)
23. Brendon Moeller - Pressure (Quiet Details)
24. Lb Honne - Musium (Project Indigo)
25. Priori ft. Sabola - Learn To Fly (Naff Recordings)
26. Ovïd - Dream Sequence (Fauxpas Musik)
27. Coppice Halifax - Ceremonial (Milieu Music)
28. pondlicker - orchid media (Naff Recordings)
29. Daniel[i] - Jobkas Dom (Muzan Editions)
30. Vril - Pneuma (Omnidisc)
31. Low End Activist - Airdrop 02 (Yarnton Rd 2 Cassington) (Peak Oil)
32. Daniel[i] - Dom Amb (Muzan Editions)
33. Wardown - 5 It Is The Mercy (Blu Mar Ten)
34. Rising Sun - The Ascend (Original) (Self Released)
35. Vera Logdanidi - Euphoria (Semantica)
36. Donato Dozzy - Lucrezia (Spazio Disponibile)
37. Solar Alliance - Tri-Mind (Self Released)
38. Xylitol - Monte Mare (Planet Mu)
39. Metamatics - A Second Chance Is Rare (Self Released)
40. Mortal - Minus One (Sunny Crypt)

Buy Music Club List

isolatedmix 128 - Will Oirson

Willem van der Ploeg, hailing from the Netherlands, is a DJ, producer, and co-founder of the label The Something Something, alongside Rutger Paulusse. Willem has been a long-time follower of ASIP, often supporting our mixes and asking for track IDs—something that always piques my curiosity and often leads to unexpected finds. So I was delighted to stumble across another amazing cave of DJ sets through The Something Something’s Red Light Radio show, offering up sessions from recognizable guests such as Alex Albrecht, Wanderwelle and Ario, and then going on to see the fruition of the label in recent years.

As part of The Something Something label, Willem has been gaining momentum with his own production work, leaning toward serene, textured ambient, enriched by found sounds and often shimmering, beautiful melodies. This is showcased perfectly by his 2020 EP, Inland / Tomorrow, of till the end of time, and his most recent single, Escapism.

Will’s DJ sets recently earned him a spot at the prestigious Draaimolen Festival, officiating his keen curatorial ear, which will no doubt lead us all to a world of new artists to explore - a perfect requirement for the isolatedmix series and the mix at hand for #128.

"Thank you for the opportunity to create a mix for ASIP, Ryan!

Many times in life, music helped me to overcome certain hurdles. It always gives me a feeling of escapism and on many occasions it shined a light on dark days. The same goes with this mix; I feel a sense of lightness after experiencing a big burnout a year and a half ago, in which time I’ve made a lot of music. It had no intention, it was just about frequencies and emotions. Now that I'm feeling better, I’ve started releasing tracks and even performed a dj set at Draaimolen Festival Festival featuring some of this music. This mix for A Strangely Isolated Place is about seeing light again, the overcoming of obstacles, and a rekindling of dreams.

It includes some of my favourite tracks from the past few years, such as ‘stasis__relief__’ by 𝚐𝚊𝚋_𝚒 and 'Pillow, Mantra and Trance’ by Li Yilei. And I’m also pleased that I could slip in some amazing music by friends like Bas Dobbelaer, Ramses3000 and Brian Omen. 

Please take a moment to explore the artists and labels included in this mix. They’ve created truly remarkable work, and many continue to do so.” - Will Oirson 

astrangelyisolatedplace · isolatedmix 128 - Will Oirson

Listen on Soundcloud the ASIP Podcast or the 9128.live iOS and Android app

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Tracklist: 
01. The Humble Bee - Section V Light [Astral Industries]
02. Brian Omen - 430 [The Something Something…]
03. Leo Cunningham - Dreaming In Threads [Opal Tapes]
04. Azu Tiwaline & Al Wootton - Last Scene [Livity Sound]
05. 𝚐𝚊𝚋_𝚒 - stasis__relief__ [self released]
06. Li Yilei - Pillow, Mantra and Trance [Métron Records]
07. other joe - a cat can look at a king (ft. J) [ost]
08. Will Oirson - Doubting the Hardness of the Spider, I eat the Nest [The Something Something…]
09. John Beltran - You Internalise Them [Delsin]
10. Dettinger - Intershop (7) Remastered 2024 [Kompakt]
11. Bas Dobbelaer - Rest [Something Happening Somewhere] 
12. Jonny Nash & Lindsay Todd - The Gecko That Wore Its Skin Inside Out [Island Of The Gods]
13. Daniel.mp3 - 3 am walk (Slowed & Reverb Version) [self released]
14. Igor Dyachenko - Object (feat. Nikolay Kozlov) [self released]
15. Illuvia - Afterlife Prism [A Strangely Isolated Place] 
16. Zane Trow -haklne [Room40]
17. NEXCYIA - hydro [self released]
18. The Kyoto Connection - Memories From Japan [Temples Of Jura]
19. Luke Elliott - Refractory Cores [AKP Recordings]
20. shinetiac - Dodge Viper Lullaby [West Mineral Ltd.]
21. Jo Johnson - Orbit [Mysteries of the Deep]
21. Ramses3000 - Aphasia [Intercept]

~

The Something Something Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Instagram

isolatedmix 127 - David Douglas & Applescal

Two familiar names step up for our next isolated mix, with a highly conceptual approach that matches their new (and similarly conceptual) collaborative album, ‘Démarrage’.

I’m unsure where I would start if I were to create an album based on a love of cycling. Weirdly enough, it wouldn’t be the first electronic album to do so (See Kraftwerk’s, Tour De France, of course), but it’s obviously a big enough inspiration to spur electronic producers David Douglas and Applescal. After listening to t‘Démarrage’, it makes total sense, in more ways than one. The energy, euphoria, drive - even the pop of color and variation in approach - an effervescent continual movement throughout its 10 tracks.

Applescal contributed an isolatedmix some twelve (!) years ago now, and it remains one of our most popular in the series. Combining multiple styles across an addictive hour of listening, the session proved Pascal is a master at developing a conceptual narrative in mix form, and now evidently in album form. David Douglas, who has made numerous appearances on Pascal’s Atmonation label, with one highlight for me being 2014’s, Moon Observation’s, is similarly a man of conceptual understanding and many undercurrents, spending time scoring music for films and commercials, while also releasing under a new alias HATY HATY, which combines electronic and indie music tendencies.

I imagined a hybrid of styles to appear on their mix submission, and I wasn’t disappointed. But for it to also match the concept of their new album, takes it up a notch. The mix, goes as slow as Chihei, with the euphoric highs of The Paradise, sudden bursts of pace in Eversines, the anguish in Bersarin Quartett, and the comforting (I can see the finish line-vibes) of Ulrich Schnauss, in an unexpecting manner that’s on par with the unexpectedness of Fourtet’s not-so-secret secret side project.

“Just like our album "Démarrage," which is essentially a long mix of interconnected tracks, we aimed to tell a broad story with this mix. We love to approach music as a continuous mix, as you can set a certain different vibe and have tracks complement each other. Our mix for ASIP begins gently, like a warm bath, with the calming sounds of Chihei Hatakeyama's "Calm Sea." Later on, we bring up the pace with the remix from Roman Flugel. We end with a return to tranquility and introspection with work from Bersarin Quartett and Skúli Sverrisson. Just like on our new album, we added a bunch of samples of cyclists to capture the emotion of the race” - David & Pascal

astrangelyisolatedplace · isolatedmix 127 - David Dougls & Applescal

Listen on Soundcloud the ASIP Podcast or the 9128.live iOS and Android app

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Tracklist:

01. Chihei Hatakeyama - Calm Sea
02. Tomaga - Intimate Immensity
03. Kyle Hall, Kero - 19FT
04. Unit Moebius - Dolfinarium
05. Tambo’s House - Jhe Gu Jye
06. Dusky - Metropolis
07. C.A.R - Idle eyes. (Roman Fluegel Remix) Applescal body Edit
08. The Paradise - In Love With You (Alan Braxe Remix)
09. Fasme - Sweet Flux
10. David Douglas & Applescal - Galibier
11. David Douglas & Applescal - Galibier (Gruppetto)
12. ⣎⡇ꉺლ༽இ•̛)ྀ◞ ༎ຶ ༽ৣৢ؞ৢ؞ؖ ꉺლ - ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(ƟӨ)ʃ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡ ꐑ(ཀ ඊູ ఠీੂ೧ູ࿃ूੂ✧✧✧✧✧✧ළඕั࿃ूੂ࿃ूੂ
13. Eversines - Vlaag
14. Eversines - Vlaag (Beatless Version)
15. Ulrich Schnauss - A Letter from Home
16. Bersarin Quartett - Verflossen ist das Gold der Tage
17. Skúli Sverrisson - Instants

Applescal | Bandcamp
David Douglas | Website