01 Mar 10 Jukebox #43 HIA/Biosphere - Cimmerian Shaft

Jukebox LS edition: Tromso, 70 degrees north, in the Arctic region, in the middle of the most active northern lights zone. In summer time, land of the midnight sun. In winter, total darkness.

In October 1995, as part of the annual Polar Music Festival, Geir Jenssen of Biosphere and Bobby Bird of the Higher Intelligence Agency, were commissioned by Nor Concerts to collaborate together on a musical project to take place in Geir’s home town of Tromso, Norway. The brief was for them to perform three concerts, using sounds sourced from the area as the basis of the music - the machinery of the local mountain cable lift, the snow, the ice etc…

The performances from which this recording is taken, took place on top of a mountain above Tromso, in a cabin reached by the cable car, in which the audience were transported up the mountain in turn.

First release: 1996 on Beyond, limited edition 5000 pieces. Reissue: 2003 on Headphone. The Jukebox plays with kind permission of (HIA) Bobby Bird (that’s so cool!!!!) the opening track ‘Cimmerian Shaft’ which sets the tone for this album, a musthave in your ambient collection. Probably one of the best releases ever in the genre: Polar Sequences.

 

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Artist: Higher Intelligence Agency + Biosphere
Track: Cimmerian Shaft
Album: Polar Sequences

Visit the Biosphere website here
Visit the Higher Intelligence Agency website here
Buy the album ‘Polar Sequences’ on iTunes Store here

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©2010 Jukebox - spacemusic.nl

Tags: Beyond, Biosphere, Bobby Bird, Cimmerian Shaft, Geir Jenssen, Headphone, Higher Intelligence Agency, Jukebox, longsong, podcast, Polar Sequences

03 Feb 10 Jukebox #33 Biosphere - Microgravity

Biosphere is the main recording name of Geir Jenssen (born 1962), a Norwegian musician who has released a notable catalogue of ambient and electronic music. He is well known for his ‘ambient techno’ and ‘arctic ambient’ styles, his use of music loops and particular samples from sci-fi sources. His track ‘Novelty Waves’ was used for the 1995 campaign of Levi’s. His 1997 album ‘Substrata’ was voted by www.hyperreal.org as one of the all time classic ambient albums.

Biosphere regularly performs live during electronic music festivals and in clubs throughout Europe and various other locales around the world. Live performances usually consist of Jenssen performing improvisations or variations on newer tracks on a laptop while video art is projected behind him. In 2008 Jenssen announced a year-long break from touring due to his reported hatred of ‘airports, security checks, unhealthy food, air conditioning, hotels, etc.’ However he resumes concert activity in 2009….

Today’s Jukebox track is the first track we ever heard from Biosphere. We go back to 1992… it’s the timeless ‘Microgravity’ with many thanks to ‘Origo Sound’.

 

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Artist: Biosphere
Track: Microgravity
Album: Microgravity

Visit the Biosphere myspace website here
Buy the album ‘Microgravity’ on iTunes Store here

©2010 Jukebox - spacemusic.nl

Tags: Biosphere, Geir Jenssen, Jukebox, Microgravity, Origo Sound, podcast, spacemusic