Tatiana Plakhova conjures Light Beyond Sound
Tatiana Plakhova is a data visualization magician, conjuring up paths, nodes and vectors; creating a spectacle to behold. Dense and complex, Tatiana’s illustrations map out information that exists solely in her own mind, with to my knowledge, no scientific merit. Perhaps she sees a world to come or fragments of what may have been, eons in our past. Regardless of time and space collected, the data now exists. Its here for us to analyze and each discover new meaning within. Observe and let yourself wander, then make your way over to her geosphere for another journey.

Free Music Collection: June 2011
Out of my own music addiction, the Free Music Collection was born. It began, one year ago, as a way to share and chronicle the massive amounts of music that was being filtered through my ears and into my hard drive. Everyday, I follow links, posts or tweets down the digital rabbit hole in search of something new, something worth looking for. Over time I began to realize that many a path would lead to a few of the same places, places that became staples in my audio diet. Of the last 12 months worth of material I’ve shared, much of it was found at these sources I began to religiously follow. This next step only seemed natural.
I’m absolutely delighted to present the next phase in the evolution of the Free Music Collection. The collection is now expanded thanks to the help of music bloggers that I daily look to for new audio finds, bloggers that I respect, admire and am honored to call friends. I feel these blogs/bloggers need no introduction but I’ll briefly explain why I’ve asked each to be apart of this with me.
Stadiums & Shrines: Curated and written by Dave Sutton, aided by photo master Victoria Masters, S&S has become my go to when in need of something transcendental. Not in the sense of being beyond oneself (although that is an entirely possible side effect), but more in reference to the sounds he unearths. Dave artistically presents us with artists and experiences that have no concrete boundaries. Often ambient, psychedelic or atmospheric his finds will likely launch you into a journey of unknown destination.
Smoke Don’t Smoke: Tim Thompson, the mastermind behind SDS, welcomes the new with open arms. I’ve come to rely on Tim’s ear for exposing me to experimental pop, the kind of music that sounds both familiar and new at the same time. He’s integral in giving the blogosphere it’s first glimpse at budding bedroom artists. You can expect everything from synthpop to electro and beats to disco. All set against a sun drenched backdrop.
Friends With Both Arms: Curated and written by Nada Alic, FWBA is where I go to feel human again. I look to her for music that’s full of heart, soul and natural instruments. Nada has a distinct ability to provide you with a moment of comfort in the dizzying digital world, be it via word, sound or vision. You’ll find Canadian kindness and California warmth wrapped in one.
Once through exploring their finds here take some time to visit each of their respective blogs.
Free Music Collection: June 2011
“These selections were pulled from S&S headspace as of late, each mined-out and found to be an exceptional, golden spec in this continuous dust storm that is the Internet.” – Dave Sutton, Stadiums & Shrines
- Headaches – Short Temper // Poor Decisions: electric currents stirred into existential purpose. Not to be observed, but rather, entered.
- Various Artists – Act So Big Forest Compilation Vol. 2: AURIEL: Fort Collins based collective arranges one giant sound forest to showcase an eclectic and ever-progressing Colorado world.
- Co La – Dial Tone Earth: Technically, it’s a collect call (only free to stream), but this ringing phone must be answered. On the other end is transcontinental reggae-wave—collage work for dream life.
- World Series – Episodes of El Niño: A burnt-out set of extraterrestrial pop songs gone-human.
- Stephen Molyneux – Cambodian Field Recordings: A sabbatical drift through Cambodia, with aural surveillance panning over jungles, marketplaces, and an abandoned mansion filled with the echoes of wedding party music. ((real recordings))
- Various Artists – Save MJ MJ Compilation: 31 tracks from FRNDS and FMLY run wild in an effort to Save MJ MJ, “a small cassette label with big dreams” whose founders recently got hit by a truckload of bad luck. Noises range from gritty to sublime.
“The musical internet landscape has been a daunting one as of late. And in the midst of already busy lives, the task of foraging for new music tends to lose weight in the hierarchy of needs. These are some of the essentials I’ve managed to gather this month. I hope that by sharing, it can tide us over for at least a little while.” – Tim Thompson, Smoke Don’t Smoke
- Stephen Farris – Cosmic Sound II: More VHS space beats from master Stephen Farris.
- Arrange – Plantation: ambient dream pop.
- Lesvilles – Flow: Beautiful electronic introspection.
- Moon Bounce – Darn Your Best Frock: from intergalactic glory, to spacial seclusion.
- Snowmine – Laminate Pet Animal: Brooklyn orchestral pop majesty $
- Giraffage – Pretty Things EP: Top shelf beats from San Fransisco $
- Sean Nicholas Savage and Kool Music – Won Ton Jaz: musical landscapes and an intergalactic lounge singer. $
- Lord Boyd – Bison EP: abstract glitch beats. $
“When Nathaniel asked me to collect some free music that I found throughout this month to share with you, I felt all squirrel-like, finding mixes and gathering them, just for you. The Very Best “Super Mom” is an awesome mixtape because all the donations go towards the organization I work for, Invisible Children. Also, the Neil Young tribute is fantastic- indie artists re-apropriating some of his classics in a unique and experimental way. Hope you find something you love!
” – Nada Alic, Friends With Both Arms
- Turntable Kitchen – the May 2011 Mix
- Lucky Lucky – a yvynyl mixtape
- Headed For The Ditch – A Tribute To Neil Young
- Middle Brother Daytrotter Session
- Bon Iver’s 10 Best Cover Songs
- The Very Best – Supermom
As always, my selections tend to be electronics hailing from various realms of the soul. – Nathaniel Whitcomb, Think or Smile
- Dabrye – first ever dabrye mix: beat king, hip-hop producer has his way with a library of sound, a library of soul.
- Richie Hawtin vs. Plastikman | XLR8R: cut up, slowed down, shifted, and time-displaced to take the feel and experience of Hawtin into the realm of Plastikman.
- Monster Rally – Deep Sea EP 7″: looping exotica. $
- Ryan Hemsworth – No Plans: warm, funk, soul, and R&B infused electronics. $
- Worst Friends – AUTOBRENNT Podcast: filled with sunny melodies, mellow disco-funk, Spanish guitar solos, Afro-flavored Balearica, folk rock and hypnotic vocals.
- Stones Throw Podcast 66 – Flying Lotus: no theme, no loops, just “records found in the valley.”
- Ra Cailum & Guerre – Call and Response: spaced out collaborative split.
- Mogi Grumbles – End of Line – Original Tron Re-score: french, disco, house style. $
- The Cyclist – Bending Brass: techno filtered through a sort of dark futurism. $
- Toro y Moi – Modcast #72: a mellow ride but one worth getting on.
- boyscout discovery – LP (In Progress): as if you’ve fallen asleep while playing the video game that is life.
- LYFSTYL Compilation – Mad Love In Crazy Times: remixes/covers of a proper love song.
- Yojimbo Billions – A friend with freaky needs is a freaky friend indeed.: laid back electronics. $
- TWO BICYCLES mix for DIAMOND A/T/L/A/S: celestial guest mix has the ability to wake up the sunlight.
- ArnHao’s Soul Train Mix: short and sweet and mellow.
Support music you love. See shows, buy physical releases, show love.

Think or Smile | Nathaniel Whitcomb © 2011