STM 088 - The Sight Below

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An enchanting sonic journey by Rafael Anton Irisarri, a.k.a. The Sight Below, takes us across soundscapes as expansive as mountains, valleys, and deserts.

An enchanting sonic journey by Rafael Anton Irisarri, a.k.a. The Sight Below, takes us across soundscapes as expansive as mountains, valleys, and deserts.

The creator of the mix, Rafael Anton Irisarri, is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and media artist based in Seattle, Washington. Over the past decade, Irisarri has released more than a dozen captivating LPs on labels such as Ghostly International, Touch, Miasmah, Room40, and others. His distinctive brand of ambient music is emotionally immersive and deeply moving, defying easy description. Besides his solo work, Irisarri organizes the Substrata Festival and collaborates in projects like Orcas with Benoit Pioulard, and more recently, Gailes with Thomas Meluch. Some time ago, he gave an in-depth interview that we invite you to read for further insight into this fascinating artist.

“Secret Thirteen Mix 088” is an enthralling audio expedition across a range of sublime sonic landscapes. Irisarri has woven together 19 unforgettable records, blending sounds that resonate with even the most discerning listeners. With timeless pieces from artists such as Kraftwerk, John Cage, Seefeel, Scanner, Harold Budd & Eno, and Cluster, the mix speaks for itself. By incorporating his own track “The Rains of Castamere,” Irisarri completes this monumental selection. His thoughtful arrangement creates a sense of organic wholeness and emotional depth, each part flowing seamlessly into the next to evoke new layers of feeling. This mix requires no defense; its intimate atmospheres and hypnotic rhythms, wrapped in harmonious melodies, are irresistibly captivating. For full appreciation, a high-fidelity sound system, a comfortable setting, and a clear, open mind are recommended to truly absorb this radiant beauty.

“Secret Thirteen Mix 088” resembles Terry Frost’s abstract painting R.B. and W. Spiral for A., where fluid brushstrokes evoke an imagined sunlit desert journey. Like the painting, the mix dispels pretension and harshness. The three large spirals reflect Irisarri’s core idea—an expression of his past, present, and future in music.

[0:00] Arvo Pärt - Trivium Part I (Trivium | ECM Records, 1992)
[2:31] Cluster - Umleitung (Sowiesoso | Sky Records, 1976)
[5:55] Dif Juz - Soarn (Out of The Trees | 4AD, 1986)
[12:46] Paik - Loops for Chrome (The Orson Fader | Clairecords, 2003)
[14:16] Kraftwerk - Radioland (Radio-Aktivität | Kling Klang, 1975)
[20:04] Panasonic - Puhdistus (Kulma | Blast First, 1997)
[22:31] Seefeel - Ch-Vox (Ch-Vox | Rephlex, 1996)
[24:15] Scanner - Passage De Recherche (Lauwarm Instrumentals | Sulfur Records, 1999)
[29:00] Arvo Pärt - Trivium Part III (Trivium | ECM Records, 1992)
[31:11] R.A. Irisarri - The Rains of Castamere (House Lannister Theme, dronelife cover)
[33:50] Slowdive - Changes (Pygmalion re-issue | Cherry Red, 2010)
[38:40] Crystal Hell Pool - Strange Place and Time (Domain | Debacle Records, 2011)
[39:39] Akira Rabelais - 1671 Milton Samson 1122 Add thy Spear, a Weavers beam, and seven-times-folded shield (Spellewauerynsherde | Samadhisound, 2004)
[40:51] Stephan Mathieu - In my tree (Studio Entschleunigung | 2001)
[46:30] John Cage - Sonata XIII (Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano | Naxos, 1999)
[47:45] Harold Budd / Brian Eno - Wind In Lonely Fences (Ambient 2: The Plateaux Of Mirror | Editions EG, 1980)
[51:25] This Mortal Coil - Waves Become Wings (It'll End In Tears | 4AD, 1984)
[55:17] James Blackshaw & Lubomyr Melnyk - Haftorang (The Watchers | Important Records, 2013)
[59:42] Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - Schwarze Biene (Black Maja) (Dolores | PIAS, 2008)

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An interdisciplinary journal, offering eclectic mixes and smart interviews with original artists and label owners as well as contemporary art reviews.

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