STAR'S END Update 05.08.22

[Star'sEndRadio]

An artist of independent mind, Chuck van Zyl has sighted common goals with industry8, which has now released THE WINTER WIND (41:22) - the first vinyl LP project for both artist and label. Leaning into Spacemusic's expressive potential, Chuck van Zyl directs our attention inwardly - where it expands. Across two side-long aural odes to wind, frost, snowflakes and ice he generates meaning from an array of analogue and digital studio devices and instruments. Referencing classics of the Berlin-School, sounds and energy arise, combine, change and melt away - gradually, as all things sub-zero must.

Side A's "In the Dull Soft Skies of Coming Snow" (20'50") conjures ice, frost and snow, as well as a sense of scale. Navigating between tundral gloom and arctic brilliance the sequencer notes tumble one over another in echoing syncopation. The motoring pulse expands and contracts beneath lilting lead lines and gelid chords. Synthesized strings freeze and thaw, while silvery strains hold fast to the heart. This lovely electronic wandering sonifies the bold proportions of the wintertime, and electrifies the listener in its chilled charm. It seems for a season yet to come - further ahead than our own, but not too far removed.

The hibernal texture of Side B's "On the Swift Howlings of the Winter Wind" (20'32") are bright, crisp and clear, producing the feel of the confidently cold. As crystalline tones tinkle and twinkle under hovering reverberation, a slow storm forms a quiet force. Snowflakes chase along ten banks of sequencers - returning a vision as fresh as the new fallen snow. This magical boreal region of shining auroras and starlit melodies freezes time by inundating the mind with thought. Searching and contemplative, then striding into the deep, it achieves a satisfying, consistent level of creativity beyond the cold logic of the machines used to create it.

Whether describing the bareness of a vast tundral landscape or the complexity of an individual snowflake - THE WINTER WIND offers unique insight into our realm through the infinite perspectives of music. Finding our way into this work should be a familiar adventure. It has been made for a particular kind of listener - determined to collect unique feelings and enjoy each span of sonic spirit while it lasts. Chuck van Zyl believes that this kind of music has the potential to contain the world, and asks only that we please listen to his album, and the world, together.

Please tune in to the 05.08.22 broadcast of STAR'S END Ambient Radio for music from THE WINTER WIND the new LP by noted Electronic Musician Chuck van Zyl

For more on THE WINTER WIND, please access: http://chuckvanzyl.bandcamp.com

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All-Vinyl Edition of STAR'S END: 8 May 2022

The entire 05.08.22 edition of STAR'S END will be comprised of music released on the 12" vinyl record format. This special all-vinyl broadcast is a throwback to the earliest days of STAR'S END, before the advent and proliferation of audio cassettes or today's common digital medium - and will be carried out in the program's first tradition of live on-air impromptu music mixing. Please tune in for classic tracks for the ages aired right alongside brand new releases by succeeding generations - including THE WINTER WIND, the new vinyl Spacemusic album by STAR'S END host and noted Electronic Musician Chuck van Zyl. Please tune in for details. Thanks!

Please Note: the 05.08.22 playlist will be posted to the STAR'S END website at a time following the completion of this broadcast

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STAR'S END broadcasts every Saturday Night/Sunday Morning from 1:00am til 6:00am (EDST) on:

88.5fm WXPN Philadelphia, PA
88.1fm WXPH Harrisburg, PA
90.5fm WKHS Worton/Baltimore, MD
91.9fm WXPJ Hackettstown, NJ
104.9fm Allentown, PA

and live on the world wide web at: http://www.xpn.org

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Chuck van Zyl
Host of STAR'S END Ambient Radio
http://www.starsend.org