john | relaxed machinery
@ahalftintoyrobot.bsky.social
I post about what I’m listening to for myself and as an advisor/librarian for SomaFM. Record as Relaxed Machinery and owned a label of the same name. Also, a half tin toy robot. musician, coffee addict, sql coder, former label owner, mini painter, he/him
🎧 Tim Corpus - Place of Rest Just met @timcorpus.bsky.social this morning in the Ambient Server on discord. this new album is peaceful, textural drones. Well crafted, relaxing with occasional hints of tension. #ambient #drone timcorpus.bandcamp.com/album/place-...
Place of Rest, by Tim Corpus
5 track album
timcorpus.bandcamp.com
I am listening now and loving the music DJ Synth Ack is dishing out. 🎧 #SomaFM Live at DEF CON
SomaFM@somafm.com · 7d agoGood morning from Las Vegas! We are broadcasting live from DEF CON in Las Vegas today, starting with DJ Synth Ack, then Merin MC at 11:30. Tune in at somafm.com/live/
🎧 Skee Mask - Compro (2018) This is hitting me perfectly today. Ambient Breakbeat Drum n Bass So much great use of space and pads and slow beats and no beats and active beat grooves. Well rounded lovely album. iliantape.bandcamp.com/album/itlp04...
ITLP04 - Compro, by Skee Mask
12 track album
iliantape.bandcamp.com
🎧 MTRL - Ancient Voices (2020) I was looking at my old playlists on the site I no longer use and spotted this one. #deeptechno Goodness Lots of atmopsher and slower minimal drums throughout. Just spotted there's a collab with Kaf which will be next. mtrl-io.bandcamp.com/album/ancien...
Ancient Voices, by MTRL
7 track album
mtrl-io.bandcamp.com
🎧 Komarken Electronics - Expanded Consciousness (2016) In an #electro mood this morning. Title track is the one to hear, but I enjoy the whole ep. Cleaning up some data at work. Happy to have my own coffee again after being away a week. brokntoys.bandcamp.com/album/expand...
Expanded Consciousness, by Komarken Electronics
4 track album
brokntoys.bandcamp.com
🎧 Louigi Verona - Firelake (2018) Louigi is a good friend for a long time now. An excellent artist. This one is a 45 minute drone / textural atmospheric tapestry of awesomeness. #ambient louigi.bandcamp.com/album/lava-l...
Lava Lake, by Louigi Verona
1 track album
louigi.bandcamp.com
🎧 @robertrichmusic.bsky.social - Trances and Drones Sticking with the early 80s ambient classics. Robert Rich is one of those darn good eggs across the decades and has been friendly to so many artists and fans over the years. I love tons of Robert's albums en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trances...
Trances/Drones - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
🎧 Michael Stearns - Planetary Unfolding My second full listen (that I remember at least) - this is truly a lovely "classic" ambient album. Still shocked at the sudden loss of Loren Nerell. Back from s week trip to sell my dad's house. Coffee and coding. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planeta...
Planetary Unfolding - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Loren was a good friend to many artists. I’ve known him a very long time. Scroll down two posts to see the album I was listening to two weeks ago.
SomaFM@somafm.com · 3w agoSad news in the Ambient Music community today. Loren Nerell, a good friend to SomaFM as well as an amazing ambient and world musician, has passed away unexpectedly. We will miss you so much, Loren, but your music will live on. #ambient
Chad is a dear friend. 🎧 Chad Kettering - Pathways (2017) I haven’t listened to this in a while and I’m listening with fresh ears. Track 1 sets the tone. Stunning cello by Chad’s wife on many tracks. Lovely depth to this. #ambient #cinematic chadkettering.bandcamp.com/album/pathways
Pathways, by Chad Kettering
10 track album
chadkettering.bandcamp.com
Listening to an old friend and all around good person … 🎧 Loren Nerell - Lilin Dewa #ambient #fieldrecording #gamelan lorennerell.bandcamp.com/album/lilin-...
Lilin Dewa, by Loren Nerell
5 track album
lorennerell.bandcamp.com
In the #SomaFM promo queue this morning 🎧 redgreenblue - sunflowers butterflies and dust Mix of chill, downtempo, ambient. I’m enjoying this one. Some little surprises in it. Just kind of a nice chill listen. Coffee and code this morning. redgreenblue.bandcamp.com/album/sunflo...
sunflowers butterflies and dust, by redgreenblue
7 track album
redgreenblue.bandcamp.com
🎧 Alio Die - Vimana Mercury Vortex Engine #ambient I expected autocorrect to fight me on Vimana but changing Engine twice to other words … what is going on. Peaceful drifting soft beatless ambient so far. first spin. From May 2026. aliodie.bandcamp.com/album/vimana...
Vimana Mercury Vortex Engine, by ALIO DIE
3 track album
aliodie.bandcamp.com
🎧now playing Louigi Verona @louigiverona.bsky.social - Live set at DEF CON 29 In the @somafm.com Chillout Lounge. this #ambient set is fantastic! In fact, the vast majority of Louigi’s work is fantastic. Whether it’s the ambient, drone, or house stuff. music.youtube.com/watch?v=58aH...
Louigi Verona at DEF CON 29 in the SomaFM Chillout Lounge.
YouTube video by SomaFM
music.youtube.com
This very Cuban infused dub album is just lovely. Totally didn't know what to expect going in. Mala - Mala in Cuba (2012) The Cuban rhythms and sounds make this such a rich album. The bass is heavier than I'd like, but that's me and easily overlooked. :-) mala-music.bandcamp.com/album/mala-i...
Mala in Cuba, by Mala
14 track album
mala-music.bandcamp.com
Listening to Indo Tribe / FSOL. My first listen to this. Nice. Had Arovane - Icol Diston on earlier Back to ye olde sql farm to cultivate some clauses.
I initially commented on this, but I feel it deserves a share it’s so nicely said.
Ureterocele@ureterocele.bsky.social · 2mo agoIn Japan, there is an art form called suminagashi, where ink is dropped onto water to create a one-of-a-kind pattern that can never be replicated. I see my bass playing and my music in much the same way. I want to keep returning to that feeling,even though I’ll never encounter it the same way twice.
I have an old favorite spinning this morning 🎧 Steve Roach - Early Man (2001) wow… 25 years ago. Where does the time go. I hurt my toe kicking the Slabs o Slate edition of this one time. #ambient sound worlds Otherwise coffee and coding as usual steveroach.bandcamp.com/album/early-...
Early Man, by Steve Roach
15 track album
steveroach.bandcamp.com
Sometimes I run into a new (to me) artist on discord and really enjoy their album. This is one of those cases. Just met Vlad today and love his new #ambient album. I’ll be putting this in the #SomaFM review queue for sure. 🎧 Brokebless - Orphancy brokebless.bandcamp.com/album/orphancy
Orphancy, by Brokebless
10 track album
brokebless.bandcamp.com
Following a rabbit hole that started with Azu Tiwaline to Al Wooten to Valentina Magaletti to thus duo that includes Magaletti: 🎧 Tomaga - Intimate Intensity (2021) This is awesome. So perfectly up my alley I regret not finding it earlier. #Electronic tomaga.bandcamp.com/album/intima...
INTIMATE IMMENSITY, by TOMAGA
10 track album
tomaga.bandcamp.com
🎧 Al Wootton - Forest Trilogy This is super nice #techno … minimal with wonderful rhythms and percussion. Some deep bass rolling underneath it all. My first listen and enjoying. alwootton.bandcamp.com/album/forest...
Forest Trilogy, by Al Wootton
12 track album
alwootton.bandcamp.com
#SomaFM promo queue #ambient #drone 🎧 Nick May - Drones: Ambient Works This one is really hitting me nice on this Monday morning. Drones, textures, layers, all the elements I like in my drones. nickmaymusic.bandcamp.com/album/drones...
Drones: Ambient Works, by Nick May
11 track album
nickmaymusic.bandcamp.com
#SomaFM promo queue Old friends @scott-m2.bsky.social are on this release on the @imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com compilation. This is also going to be on vinyl. #ambient (yes, I'm attempting to post again :-) ) imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com/album/lake-e...
Lake Effect: Quiet Music From Toronto, by Various Artists
15 track album
imaginarynorth.bandcamp.com
#SomaFM promo queue Lemongrass - Cirque Lunaire (April 2026) SomaFM plays older tracks on a lot of stations: Beat Blender Black Rock Deep Space One DEF CON Drone Zone 1/2 Groove Salad 1/2/Classic Lush Mission Control Secret Agent Space Station Soma lemongrassmusic.bandcamp.com/album/cirque...
Cirque Lunaire, by Lemongrass
10 track album
lemongrassmusic.bandcamp.com
🎧 Sverica 🎧 Svarog 🎧 Steve Roach 🎧 Donato Dozzy 🎧 Carbon Based Lifeforms 📻 Gunsmoke - old time radio drama ☕️ Coffee 💻 troubleshooting some records in ye olde sql
🎧 Susumu Yokota - Baroque (1994) This album is a joy to listen to. So much fun stuff going on and each track a little different. We got techno, house, downtempo going on. Deep Sea Diva track I recognized. I don’t remember hearing the whole album. modernobscuremusic.bandcamp.com/album/baroque
Baroque, by Susumu Yokota
10 track album
modernobscuremusic.bandcamp.com
🎧 Carl Craig - Meditations (2026) Beatless synth tracks. Minimal. But rhythmic. My first listen and I’m enjoying this. Nice atmosphere in between the sparse notes. Still hints at Detroit techno at its core. Ambient lover could also enjoy this. carlcraig.bandcamp.com/album/medita...
Meditations, by Carl Craig
6 track album
carlcraig.bandcamp.com
