6forty project

6forty project’s primary goal is to be a comprehensive on-line resource for independent music, encouraging people to explore (and buy!) the releases that they read about on the site, or hear on a 6forty mixtape, or on 6forty radio. So when it comes to selecting favorites from 2023, I’ll leave that decision up to you. Listed below are the records that have been on heaviest rotation at 6forty HQ throughout the year (release date order). Follow the links, press play, click buy, and most importantly, spread the word about the music that you love, and encourage others to do the same. Even if you can’t afford to buy the releases, a simple social media post to your friends would be an invaluable benefit to the bands. Thanks! Please stay safe and well. Happy New Year! Michael

640.2022 || releases || discoveries

Feel free to download and share. I was consumed by a work project most of 2022, so I’m sure that there are many records missing from this document. My apologies if your release is not listed – please know that it wasn’t intentional, and you’re welcome to reach out to me (mike@6forty.com) with details so I can add it to my already-growing 2023 list. Thanks!

640.2022.pdf (click the file name to open)

640.2021 || releases || discoveries

Feel free to download and share. Thanks!

Produced in an ultra-small batch of 33, the first cassette in The Ascensionist series was released on March 30, 2018. Nine more editions followed, and all were sold-out within a few hours after the announcements landed on social media. The hand-made packaging is beautiful – screen-printed cardboard outer and inner sleeves; a large paper insert, gorgeously designed with liner notes and intricate imagery; a small envelope sealed with a wax stamp, containing a custom-made coin; and hand-numbered 1/33. This attention to detail and exceptional graphic design has become the standard on all output from A Thousand Arms, a boutique, independent record label from Bozeman, Montana (US), and home-base to Ranges and The Ascensionist. Each cassette’s elaborate package closely matches the design of the others in the series, and serves as a cohesive visual extension of the music contained within – moments of ambient exploration, quiet soundscapes, and gentle movement. Ranges fans will be comfortable here, as will fans of Harold Budd, Cocteau Twins/Moon and the Melodies, Talk Talk, and lovely music.

The final two cassettes in the series, IX and X, were released together in December 2020. Printed on the inside sleeve is this message:

DOWNLOAD CASSETTE IX // CASSETTE X
DOWNLOAD THE ASCENSIONIST // BABEL: CONFUSION OF TONGUES
SYNCHRONIZE THEM USING ANY SUITABLE METHOD

I spent a few hours syncing the tracks and then reached out to CJ Blessum to get his thoughts on a special presentation, featuring the two combined albums on 6forty web, along with a full shuffled playlist on 6forty radio of all of the cassettes, along with tracks from each of the Ranges releases. His reply, “Go for it. The goal for us with this was to hopefully get people to do exactly what you’re proposing.” You are about to experience something very special – the releases on their own are outstanding. Together, they are pure magic.

IX / The Ascensionist (click the arrow below to start play)

X / Babel: Confusion of Tongues (click the arrow below to start play)

The Ascensionist series on 6forty radio : http://www.6fortyradio.com/

Ranges / The Ascensionist
Bandcamp : https://ranges.bandcamp.com/
Bandcamp : https://theascensionist.bandcamp.com/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/rangesmusic/
Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/1iqjhf6W2YXUWwa2iKMybf/
Web : https://www.rangesmusic.com/

6forty project
facebook : https://www.facebook.com/6fortyproject/
instagram : https://www.instagram.com/6fortyproject/
radio: http://www.6fortyradio.com/
web: http://www.6forty.com/
twitter: https://twitter.com/6fortyproject/
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/6fortyproject/
email: mike@6forty.com

6forty’s goal is to be a comprehensive on-line resource for independent music, spreading the good word to as many ears as possible. As long as listeners are streaming and buying the releases that they read about on 6forty’s various social media feeds, or hear on a 6forty mix-tape or on the radio stream, my efforts have been a success. So when it comes to selecting favorites from 2020, I’ll leave that decision up to you. Listed below are 60 brilliant records (including a few collections/series) that have been on heaviest rotation at 6forty HQ throughout the year (release date order). Follow the links (click on the band names), press play, click buy, and most importantly, spread the word about the music that you love, and encourage others to do the same. Even if you can’t afford to pay for releases, a simple social media post can be an invaluable benefit to the bands. Thank you!

  ’20/20′ by Juneau (Belgium) released January 5, 2020
  ‘The Black Moon’ by HOLY FAWN (United States) released January 17, 2020
  ‘Distant After’ by Glories (United States) released January 24, 2020

  ‘On Circles’ by Caspian (United States) released January 24, 2020
   ‘Bystanders’ by Besides (Poland) released January 27, 2020
   ‘Circumnavigate’ by Fleet goes North (Hungary) released January 25, 2020
  ‘Samizdat’ by Képzelt Város (Hungary) released February 14, 2020
  ‘TLAMESS (Sortilège) O.S.T’ by OISEAUX-TEMPÊTE (France) released February 14, 2020
   ‘ZWARTGROEN’ by All shall be well (and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well) (the Netherlands) released February 20, 2020
   ‘Skrea’ by Skrea (Sweden) released February 6, 2020
   ‘Metempsychosis’ by hubris. (Switzerland) released March 13, 2020
   ‘It Will Become Itself’ by Whale Fall (United States) released March 27, 2020
   ‘ATHALASE’ by RO (Spain) released March 27, 2020
   ‘Bathala’ by Astodan (Belgium) released April 3, 2020
   ‘Tidal Garden’ by They Say We’re Sinking (United States) released April 3, 2020
   ‘Occult Tapes’ by Desbot (New Zealand) released April 3, 2020
   ‘Remnants’ by The Mighty Missoula (United States) released April 3, 2020
   ‘Generator’ by Vasudeva (United States) released April 10, 2020
   ‘PENUMBRA’ by Barrens (Sweden) released April 10, 2020
   ‘Vorokhtah’ by Sleeping Bear (Ukraine) released April 21, 2020
   ‘ZEROZEROZERO’ by Mogwai (UK) released May 1, 2020
   ‘Black Rain (I)’ by A-Sun Amissa (UK) released May 1, 2020
   ‘Mirrors’ by still motions (United States) released May 1, 2020
   ‘A FLOOD OF LIGHT Soundtrack’ by AMENRA (Belgium) released May 1, 2020
   ‘Final Quiet’ by Flies Are Spies From Hell (UK) released May 4, 2020
   ‘Left Alone’ by Of the Vine (United States) released May 8, 2020
   ‘Moira’ by Corin (United States) released May 21, 2020
   ‘To our memories’ by Star of Heaven (Sweden) released May 29, 2020
   ‘C O N T R O L’ by T E S A (Latvia) released May 29, 2020
   ‘Occupying The Blanks’ by The Declining Winter (UK) released May 30, 2020
   ‘Runes’ by Helicopter Quartet (UK) released June 1, 2020
   ‘Dread Sessions: Volume 1’ by Tangled Thoughts of Leaving (Australia) released June 5, 2020
   ‘A Thread of Light’ by Bruges (United States) released June 5, 2020
   ‘Brightness of an Endless Light’ by Zealand The North (United States) released June 19, 2020
   ‘Letargo’ by Jardín de la Croix (Spain) released June 19, 2020
   ‘Inlet’ by Hum (United States) released June 23, 2020
   ‘Sonorous Faith PT.1’ by Hope The Flowers (Thailand) released June 28, 2020
   ‘these are not your dreams (EP trilogy)’ by sleepmakeswaves (Australia) released July 17, 2020
   ‘Cavum Reimagined’ by Pillars (United States) released August 1, 2020
   ‘Silent Dusk’ by in:tides (UK) released August 3, 2020
   ‘The Ground Will Provide’ by A Collective Subconscious (United States) released August 28, 2020
   ‘O’ by La Vérité (United States) released September 2, 2020
   ‘Paralysis’ by Alpha du Centaure (France) released September 11, 2020
   ‘Captured Spirits’ by Mammal Hands (UK) released September 11, 2020
   ‘Stella Mori’ by I Hear Sirens (United States) released September 18, 2020
   ‘Confusion of Tongues’ by Ranges (United States) released September 30, 2020
   ‘Classical Re:works’ by We Stood Like Kings (Belgium) released October 2, 2020
   ‘Death’ by Coastlands (United States) released October 9, 2020
   ‘BOW’ by BOW (Belgium) released October 9, 2020
   ‘Perimeter’ by The Emergency Alert System (United States) released October 20, 2020
   ‘100,000 Whys’ by Wang Wen (China) released October 26, 2020
   ‘Vestiges’ by Sairen (France) released November 6, 2020
   ‘Coryphée’ by Format (France) released November 13, 2020
   ‘Oscillate’ by pg.lost (Sweden) released November 20, 2020
   ‘We Hovered With Short Wings’ by Gizeh Records (UK) released December 4, 2020
   ‘Dione EP’ by Lai delle Nubi (Italy) released December 11 2020
   ‘KMPXP’ by The Kompressor Experiment (Switzerland) released December 12, 2020
   ‘different ways’ by felperc (Austria) released December 16, 2020
   ‘The Ascensionist‘ series VI – X (United States) released throughout 2020
   SPC ECO 2020 monthly series (UK) released on the first of each month
   ‘Post-poned: The Livestream Series‘ (#postponedseries)

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