john | relaxed machinery
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ahalftintoyrobot.bsky.social
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
I read a great post on @theblackdog.bsky.social facebook on seeing Cabaret Voltaire recently and the joy of that experience.

So I have a small marathon going.

🎧 Eight Crepuscule Tracks
🎧 Code

I spun Tranklements earlier this morning

theblackdog.bandcamp.com/album/trankl...
Tranklements, by The Black Dog
18 track album
theblackdog.bandcamp.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Revisiting

TM404 - Syra (2021)

One of Andreas Tilliander‘s aliases…. The track 1998 is the superstar of this release. Dearly love that throbbing, slowly evolving, insistently moving forward sound.

#techno

kontra-musik.bandcamp.com/album/syra
Syra, by TM404
8 track album
kontra-musik.bandcamp.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I’ve been enjoying this one

Shawn Rudiman - Reality In Quotes (2025)

#techno #ambient

Very nice album. lighter on the beats, more on the atmospheres.

itma.bandcamp.com/album/realit...
Reality in Quotes, by Shawn Rudiman
13 track album
itma.bandcamp.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
We received some #SomaFM promo from old friend and #ambient artist @philwilkerson.bsky.social - we’ve bumped into each other around the various forums and networks for years now.

Give Phillip Wilkerson a listen if new to you.

phillipwilkerson.bandcamp.com/album/kieta-ne
kieta ne, by Phillip Wilkerson
2 track album
phillipwilkerson.bandcamp.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Next up in fun ambient history is

Vidna Obmana - Crossing The Trail (1998)

projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crossi...
Crossing the Trail - deluxe 20th anniversary edition, by vidnaObmana
8 track album
projektrecords.bandcamp.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Listening to this old collab between @robertrichmusic.bsky.social and Steve Roach. Been a long time since I played this one. Released 1990.

Has some utterly sublime amazing tracks and one I don’t care for much. :-)

heartsofspacerecords.bandcamp.com/album/strata
Strata, by Steve Roach and Robert Rich
10 track album
heartsofspacerecords.bandcamp.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:53 PM
We went on the Michiana Pottery Tour yesterday. Saw so many gorgeous and amazing pieces and a few studios. A very nice time with friends visiting us.
September 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
things that mildly annoy me

promo sent today using wetransfer - required me to enter email to send notification to the label. which, ok, I get it helps the label. I've been there.

So I do - and that means I'm signing up for a wetransfer account now. verification code sent, etc.

I almost deleted.
September 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by john | relaxed machinery
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA

10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
This is such a great track I’ve loved since I got the cd many moons ago when it came out.

Morcheeba - Big Calm (1998)

The groove is perfection. Triphop

youtu.be/jMXkU_4VE_g
Big Calm
YouTube video by Morcheeba - Topic
youtu.be
September 24, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I’m doing the preview of the Criterion Channel.

No “continue watching“ anywhere. just downloaded the app to my amazon fire cube so it’s up to date. If we pause a movie I have to start over and fast forward.

Two movies had bad glitches.

Rare glitches, or common?

@criterionchannl.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Revisiting this awesome #ambient #electronic

🎧 Louigi Verona - Abiogenesis (2024)

He probably won’t like me saying he’s a master of ambient, drone, & house, but he is. Happy to also call him friend.

This album is spectacular.

@louigiverona.bsky.social

louigi.bandcamp.com/album/abioge...
Abiogenesis, by Louigi Verona
9 track album
louigi.bandcamp.com
September 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Currently spinning

🎧 Ascendant - Source Transmission (2016)

On the excellent Synphaera label.

If you’ve never heard and you like Aes Dana, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Solar Fields, Ishq… you’ll feel at home.

@s1gnsofl1fe.bsky.social @dontyler47.bsky.social

synphaera.bandcamp.com/album/source...
Source Transmission, by Ascendant
10 track album
synphaera.bandcamp.com
September 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Spent a nice afternoon marathon of Spazio Disponibile label.

Valentino Mora
Kangding Ray
Neel
Konduku
Donato Dozzy
Marco Shuttle

So much good stuff.

spaziodisponibile.bandcamp.com
Spazio Disponibile
Anything can happen
spaziodisponibile.bandcamp.com
September 20, 2025 at 11:07 PM
#SomaFM promo listening

Cyclical Dreams newest compilation has a nice lineup.

Max Corbacho
Altus @altusmusic.bsky.social
Lorenzo Montana
Chuck Van Zyl
Andrea Cichecki
Radagast
Cartas de Japón
Synth replicants
BySenses
Sophos
Micado
Liam J Boyle

cyclicaldreams.bandcamp.com/album/gemsto...
Gemstones VI [CYD 0141], by Various
12 track album
cyclicaldreams.bandcamp.com
September 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I love this track

2 minute quieter intro

Another minute at slightly kicked in

At 3 minutes the kick finally fully kicks in the track

🎧 Etienne Jaumet - Metallik Cages (Acid Arab Remix)

youtu.be/gbPL5q-OVFY?...
Etienne Jaumet - Metallik Cages (Acid Arab Remix)
YouTube video by Versatile Records
youtu.be
September 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Revisiting an album I bought in 1986 because it was on MUTE And I liked the title. I ended up liking the album. It goes from quirky sample goofiness to very nice almost pop songs. Closer to Blancmange in tone.

🎧 I Start Counting - My Translucent Hands (1986)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQJt...
Introduction
YouTube video by I Start Counting - Topic
www.youtube.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Revisiting

🎧 Tetsu Inoue - Ambiant Otaku (1994)

A lovely album.

youtu.be/Hld-bcNg7nI
Tetsu Inoue - Ambiant Otaku (Full Album)
YouTube video by Healing Songs Space
youtu.be
September 11, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Went through about 5 #SomaFM promos this morning

Now listening to a favorite from 25 years ago

🎧 Shuttle 358 - optimal.lp (1999)

released on @taylordeupree.bsky.social ’s 12k. I collected a bunch of those early cds.

shuttle358.bandcamp.com/album/optima...
optimal.lp, by Shuttle358
13 track album
shuttle358.bandcamp.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This was a nice live set

Azu Tiwaline

youtu.be/jGpm9SSNEso
Azu Tiwaline | Boiler Room Festival Berlin: Third Space
YouTube video by Boiler Room
youtu.be
September 8, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I utterly love this album

🎧 Azu Tiwaline - Draw Me a Silence (2021)

Try the track Berbeka

Atmospheric techno. inspiring rhythms. Lovely repetition. Ambient goodness.

azutiwaline.bandcamp.com/album/draw-m...
Draw Me a Silence (Extended Version), by Azu Tiwaline
11 track album
azutiwaline.bandcamp.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by john | relaxed machinery
Did you know that every day can be like #BandcampFriday over at @ampwall.com? Whenever you buy music from an artist there, you can check a box to cover the artist's fee (which is lower there than Bandcamp in general). Go make an artist's day TODAY and pick up some new tunes. Might I recommend:
September 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
In an absolutely 1,000% unrelated to the previous post… I am listening to

🎧 Nthng - Trun To Gaia (2017)

Love this ep on Delsin. I couldn’t remember the artist name or title… and finding it was a challenge.

#techno #minimaltechno

nthngnthng.bandcamp.com/album/turn-t...
Turn To Gaia, by nthng
3 track album
nthngnthng.bandcamp.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A rare hot take from me

Please don’t name your artist name something that‘s impossible to spell, always autocorrected, and a scrunched up version of such a common word it takes me many tries to find your bandcamp.

Thank you.
September 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I got a new guitar pedal!

Reissue of the Disaster Transport from Earthquaker Devices.

I haven't bought new gear in a while - this was on a really nice sale so snagged it.
September 3, 2025 at 11:52 PM