STM 077 - Simon Scott

Simon Scott (b. 1971), the creator of the mix, is a British electronic music producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Cambridge, England. Since the late 1990s, his work has been featured in various international films, sonic art exhibitions, dance productions, and digital multimedia projects. Touring worldwide since 1988, Scott served as the drummer for Slowdive between 1990 and 1994, collaborating with Brian Eno on the album Souvlaki. His music is a fusion of digital signal manipulation, micro-melodies, and minimalism intertwined with environmental sounds and organic acoustic textures. Inspired by his interests in sound ecology, music technology, digital media, illustration, photography, composition, and sound art, Scott's creations have been released on esteemed international record labels such as Miasmah, 12k, Sonic Pieces, Immune, Ghostly International, and his own imprint, Keshhhhhh Recordings. Additionally, he is a freelance music technology lecturer, illustrator, and composer for film and advertising.

Secret Thirteen Mix 077 is a lyrical and organic audio selection that deftly balances highly improvisational elements with deliberate acoustic sound expression. It comprises 16 harmonious records created between 1967 and 2013 by critically acclaimed artists such as Miles Davis, John Fahey, This Mortal Coil, Philip Glass, Swans, Bert Jansch, James Blackshaw, and others. The mix's ideological and emotional progression is graceful and patient, crafting a continuously evolving and uninterrupted wholeness. The presence of live instruments is profoundly perceptible; they imbue the meticulously measured musical line with vitality, sensitivity, intention, and at times, subtle dissonance. The improvisational and skillful arrangement of evocative melodies, gently flowing sonic interactions, and gradually expanding, sustained cinematic ambiance enables listeners to become wholly immersed in auditory satisfaction. Stylistically, the mix traverses modern classical, contemporary jazz, acoustic, and even folk rock genres. In two words, it is a "Relaxation Eden" that perfectly showcases Simon Scott's musical sophistication, foundational influences, and the breadth of his music library.

Secret Thirteen Mix 077 is reminiscent of František Kupka's picturesque and soothing Orphism painting Planes by Colors (Great Nude), where the emphasis on pure abstraction and vivid colors conjures feelings of lightness, coherence, intellect, and intimacy. Much like Kupka's kaleidoscopic and masterful work, Simon Scott's conceptual selection presents a sensitive tapestry of matured compositions, featuring refined transitions in texture and tone that flow from a harmonious musical expansion.