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:
Fragmented Dialogue
Not seeing is a flower
Dub Train Dub Station
Sea of Stars 2020
Sunday Morning Music vo. 20 - Exhale
Serenity, Hope & Grace by Paul Asbury Seaman
DEVS - a real & unreal soundtrack
Of Reed and Breath
Lockdown - by Peter Van Cooten of Ambientblog.net
Piano Day 2020
Alone Time - music for self-isolation
Lullabies for a Night Train by Paul Asbury Seaman
Music for Meditation - healing vibes for election season
Sequential Circuits 2.0.2.0
Guitarscapes 2020
Worlds Within Worlds - Field Recordings 2020
Sunday Morning Music Vol. 19 - Rhodes to the 70s
The Voice of Silence: Bells, Gongs & Gamelan - by Paul Asbury Seaman
A Decade of Ambient
Films Scores of the Decade
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
Immediately Kinfolk
Turned On
Resident by Hernan Cattaneo
Markus Schulz presents Global DJ Broadcast