The Handpan, or Hang, is a percussion instrument related to the Caribbean steelpan instrument. It is like a convex version of a steel drum with the two halves attached together. The instrument has been used in a lot of new age music and faux new-age eastern mysticism. Like a lot of new age music instrumentation there is a fine line between enjoyable, relaxing ambient and new age schlock. Unfortunately, many time use of the handpan falls into the latter category.
That being said, I do occasionally like the sound of the handpan and I don't care about healing energy and mystical power crapola. I just like the sound. While relaxing outside on my deck I came across Musical Incense vol. 1 by Laura Inserra. It became my go to music for zoning out in a chaise lounge while doom-scrolling Twitter, a habit I really need to break.
I decided to make an all handpan mix. The vibe is slow and relaxing. Sometimes handpan players can show off with their hands racing around the instrument to create intricate patterns. That style has its place but not in this mix. I tried to keep the pace slow and the vibe relaxing.
I can imagine some folks complaining that it all sounds the same. But that's what I like about this mix - it feels like one long handpan track. I can really zone out to it.
Here are links to all the albums used in this mix in the order in which they appear:
Remember Tomorrow V2
The Undersea World of Low Light Mixes
Current Ambient Obsessions
A Decade of Electronic Music - 1970
Lost In Transmission
Forbidden Colours - A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto
Piano Day 2023
Replicant Memories
Strange Dream - The Curious World of the Ondes Martenot
Sunday Morning Music Vol. 23 - A Sunday Kind of Love
Now That’s What I Call Ambient
Artificial Harmonies - A Hymn to the Vocoder
Ambient Solar System
A Foggy Winter’s Dub
The Frozen Wild: An Antarctic Expedition
Jazz Tracks 2022
Best Ambient 2022 part 3
Best Ambient 2022 part 2
Best Ambient of 2022 part 1
A Tribute to Manuel Gottsching
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Markus Schulz presents Global DJ Broadcast