Welcome to Ambient Explorations! This is your first visit so please feel at home. Comments are appreciated! -Flict

I just watched this video on TED and was really impressed. It appears that finally Youtube found a way to ID the videos that are being uploaded based on a type of  ”image signature”. Then they can notify the copyright owner or even reject it.

But what left me thinking was the possible uses for this technology. Soon we will be able to detect commercials and remove them from a recording! Is it the beggining of the end of TV as we know it?

Each day that passes I think we are approaching “Minority Report” type of controllers more and more. Have you heard of Soundbeam?

“Soundbeam is an award-winning device which uses sensor technology to translate body movement into digitally generated sound and image. In performance, education and therapy, this unique creative and expressive medium is now widely recognised as ‘must-have’ 21st Century technology.”

The applications on music, specially helping musicians with disabilities, is jaw-dropping. But imagine the multitude of applications when combined with other technologies and areas, like controlling home appliances, cars, sports… What else can you think of?

My track “Against the Wind” has been featured on the last episode of TV Plurall, an Youtube channel (in Portuguese) produced by the Brazilian electronic music forum Plurall.com.

This episode is an interview with with progressive psy-trance producer Tacit. Check it out:

You can download “Against the Wind” here.

Released some months ago by the great Israeli record label Aleph Zero, the long awaited Eitan Reiter album is a perfect companion for the European summer (or to warm us here on the Brazilian winter). Who?! Maybe you know him by his more famous project, the awesome trance act Loud.

I admit that I was expecting something more experimental based on the “Coffee” track (released on the “Natural Born Chillers 2″ and reappearing here), which I love, but instead we got half of smooth loungy tracks and half of morning warm ambient journeys. The more conventional loungy jazzy ones are cool but doesn’t really tell me much… Maybe on a summer festival siting on the grass?

With the other half we get something different. Deeper, very warm and emotional morning ambient gems. Most of the times a very happy vibe is obtained, reminding me of some crazy caribbean atmospheres (if this make sense). In my opinion is worth getting the album for this tracks! Here is one of my favorites: Smile.

It’s clear that Aleph Zero is trying to release push the envelope of the psychedelic ambient scene on every release. Even if their latest releases are not your style there is no doubt that it’s extremely well done and different. Worth a listen for sure!

I have two very good news but I’ll wait a little to tell you guys to built the anticipation… I can tell that one is about a very cool participation on a documentary (soon to be released) and the other is a new track to be released on a major electronic music label…

People have been asking me about my DJ Sets so I decided to bring back the latest 3 for download. You can find the link on the toolbar on the botton of the page (“Flict DJ Sets”).

As for new ones I confess that I’m focusing more on my own music nowadays. But… I have been thinking about creating a dj set of post-rock ambient. Let’s see how the idea evolves.

Been listening to a lot of old Windam Hill Records lately. They released great folk and new age albums during the 80′s but sadly they are inactive nowadays.

My two favorite artists are Michael Hedges and Leo Kottke, both ridiculous talented acoustic guitar players. It’s incredible the range of feelings they can express with the guitar. Chek it out:

If there’s one ambient music album you should buy this year is the latest Carbon Based Lifeforms (“Interloper”). It features an amazing array of deep feeling and textures, without ever loosing their characteristic warmness.

The sequence consisting of “Frog”, “M” and “20 minutes” leave me speechless every time. (the last track being on the most beautiful ever)

Thanks Johannes, Daniel and Ultimae records for releasing such a masterpiece! Wow!

Get it here.

After some months of absence, the flictmusic blog is back! Chek it out periodically to find updates on music, arts, technology and weird stuff. Welcome back!