#65: This is Where I Leave You
Hum, Buzz, & Hiss will be on hiatus for a few weeks while I get married! So, I've got a bunch of music recs to tide you over
Currently listening to: By Your Side (Sade cover) by The 1975
<3
Hello, friend.
First off…
Second, today is…
And finally, friend, this is the last time I’ll be writing to you for about a month! That’s because, in 8 days, I’ll be getting married to my best friend. :-) <3
Now, technically, we already got legally married at our local courthouse last month—if you saw the cover photo of Issue #62, then you actually saw a pic of me carrying her across the threshold of our apartment right after that ceremony.
However, our real, big wedding is happening on October 11! We’re very excited to celebrate with so many friends and family members. My cup has felt incredibly full lately, and I’m so grateful for Christine along with everyone else in our lives who love and support the 2 of us.
I’m also very much looking forward to taking a little break from everything—work, everyday life, and even this newsletter—just to get away and enjoy a good chunk of time slowing down together. We’ll be embracing every moment of our 2-week honeymoon under the Italian sun. (Do I have any readers in Italy? Send me last-minute recommendations if so, please!)
So, my friend, this is where I leave you… for now. I’ll probably be back to write to you again on Halloween. Until then, read on for a special bunch of music that includes a Coming Soon list, so you have some records to look forward to while I’m away.
P.S. If you have any suggestions for stuff to listen to on planes, trains, and other means of transportation, let me know in the comments. I could use some good recs!
The Living Music List + dyschronometria is Name Your Price!
Hello again, friend. Time for the last Living Music List for a while!
But first, a quick note that my album, dyschronometria, is now name-your-price on Bandcamp! For a limited time, you can download my album on digital for free, or pay what you like to support my work and be able to stream it in the Bandcamp app. I’m also offering 25% off the limited edition CD for this weekend only! That means you can get dyschronometria on CD for only $9, but you gotta snag it before Sunday ends: use code cd25.
Also, just want to show gratitude to a few fellow music writers who have kindly shouted out dyschronometria since it’s release. Stephan Kunze included the album in his Best New Ambient of October 2025 list. Shanté mentioned my chronicling of the album release here on Substack in her latest issue of The Medley. And I can’t forget JustSomeMustard who gave me my first interview opportunity over on his website.
Okay, enough about me—here are the rest of the tunes! I’ve got one featured write-up at the top of the ambient list, and the rest (mostly) are up to you, friend.
Happy listening!
Ambient—Out Now
Forever Elusive by Forest Dweller (album / electronic, meditative) [Peak]^
Julien Demoulin’s first appearance in this newsletter was back in February when he released A Trial of Distances, a three-parter of brass and synthesizer that earned remixes from zakè, .foundation, and HTDC. After repeatedly listening to that record, I was thrilled when he shared his new project with me: Forever Elusive. Taking on the new, mysterious alias of Forest Dweller, Demoulin was inspired by the infamous Patterson–Gimlin film from 1967 that supposedly showcased footage of Bigfoot.
Demoulin imagines what the cryptid’s life might be or have been like—perhaps mostly uninterrupted and beautifully peaceful. To my ears, the furry behemoth seemingly goes about his own business in the forest, bathing in the streams, resting under the cover of trees, and meandering through the woods as a being who is content in its own, vast nature sanctuary. You can add this to the growing list of nature-inspired ambient records that successfully manage to use synthetic bleeps and bloops as the primary mode of conveying organic life.
Meditative and subtle, Forever Elusive is an easy-going album of ambient electronics, soft bells, and occasional field recordings that simply sits back and takes in the magic of the natural world—even the unseen parts.
Conversion by Guentner + Spieth (album / drone, dub) [Affin]
Across the Horizon, Volume I by Various Artists (compilation / ambient Americana, acoustic instrumental) [Northern Spy Records]
pola by sea + i (album / drone, meditative) [Home Normal]
Forces, Reactions, Deflections by Scanner (album / drone, experimental) [quiet details]
Hi, okay, I’m here again quickly just to mention how cool the latest quiet details release is. Sometimes I’m like “should I include every single qd release in my newsletters” and then I hear them and I’m like “how can I not??” Especially when they’re like Scanner’s latest, that is “forged entirely from the resonant clangs, echoes, and whispers of a stainless steel staircase at [the artist’s] home, transforming everyday architecture into an unexpected orchestra.” So fucking cool and the resulting sound is incredible.
All Genres—Out Now
Getting Killed by Geese (album / rock) [Partisan Records]
Look at me! I mentioned Geese!! Now you have to subscribe to me because I’m obviously a real music writer.
Worldwide by Snõõper (album / punk rock) [Third Man Records]
Sasquatch Landslide by The Dwarfs of East Agouza (album / experimental psych rock) [Constellation]
Somehow, we’ve got a second Sasquatch/Bigfoot reference in today’s music list.
Coming Soon
Changes by David Aimone (album / ambient guitar, contemporary classical) [Out October 10 via Passed Recordings]^
Disquiet by The Necks (album / experimental jazz) [Out October 10 via Northern Spy Records]
The Human Language ‘goat’ Tape by Goat & human language (remix album / psych rock) [Out October 10 via Rocket Recordings]
Aeropsia by Steve Hauschildt (album / electronic, ambient) [Simul Records]
Time is Coming to An End by Glacis & Polaroid Notes (album / contemporary classical, ambient piano) [Out October 18 via Whitelabrecs]
Stars & Silence by Slow Dancing Society & zakè (album / drone, IDM) [Out October 22 via Past Inside the Present]
Nine Reflections: Music for Cats by Take Me There (album / drone, field recordings) [Out October 24 via Passed Recordings]^
Radio Player by Josaleigh Pollett (single / indie electronic) [Out October 28 via Audio Antihero]^
Music List Reminders: Bold and ^ denote reader-submitted work. Bandcamp links provided first when available—if an album is not on Bandcamp, YouTube or other streaming links are provided. List format: Title by Artist (release type / approximate genre or subgenres) [Label].
That’s all for this week’s issue. Thank you for reading. Until next time.
Your friend,
Melted Form
Remember to listen to the hum, buzz, & hiss of the world around you—there is music to be heard there.
Read the previous issue of The Living Music List:
Afterword—Let’s Get In Touch
Are you an artist, a label owner, or a member of the press? Want to share an in-depth feature of your upcoming release, an advertisement, or a guest post for a future Hum, Buzz, & Hiss issue? Get in touch with me at meltedform@gmail.com or join our Discord Community. As always, I would love to hear and recommend your music, especially if it’s new and ambient/electronic/experimental.
1975 mentioned!!!!
congratulations! have a wonderful time :) thanks for including qd33 scanner ❤️