Monumental Movement Podcast

monumentalmovement

“Where sound becomes culture, and culture becomes a living archive of the unheard.” This podcast explores music not as entertainment alone, but as a cultural force, a historical thread, and an ever-shifting field of experimental possibilities. Each episode dives into the worlds of avant-garde composition, underground movements, contemporary sound practices, and the hidden connections that shape the way we listen today. From experimental electronica, post-industrial textures, and ambient minimalism, to folk mutations, noise-based practices, and hybrid global sound cultures, the show examines how artists expand—sometimes even break—the boundaries of what music can be. Rather than simply reviewing releases, we trace the historical context, aesthetic frameworks, and technological shifts that give these works meaning. Whether you are a producer, a sound artist, a researcher, or simply a curious listener, this podcast offers a deep, accessible, and globally-minded journey through the edges of music culture. Expect thoughtful commentary, references to influential scenes and movements, and occasional dives into the philosophy of listening itself. Join us as we build an international archive of sound—one episode at a time.

  1. What Is New Age Music? The Evolution of Sound and Spirit

    11H AGO

    What Is New Age Music? The Evolution of Sound and Spirit

    New Age music is often misunderstood as background sound—but its history tells a much deeper story. This episode traces the evolution of New Age music from its roots in 1960s counterculture, Eastern philosophy, and experimental electronics to its role in wellness culture, ambient music, and contemporary sound design. From early synthesizer explorations and acoustic meditation records to digital studios and algorithmic soundscapes, New Age has continually adapted to changing ideas of consciousness and technology. We explore key figures, labels, and movements that shaped the genre, including the influence of minimalism, ambient music, world traditions, and psychoacoustics. The episode also examines how New Age aesthetics migrated into film scores, yoga spaces, healing practices, and streaming-era playlists—transforming both listening habits and the meaning of “spiritual sound.” Attention is given to the tools behind the music: early analog synths, tape loops, digital reverbs, MIDI systems, and modern DAWs—revealing how production techniques shaped the genre’s immersive and calming qualities. Rather than a fixed style, New Age music emerges here as an evolving philosophy—where sound becomes a medium for inner exploration, environmental awareness, and altered perception. ▼【Related Column】New Age Music - The intersection of meditation and soundscapehttps://monumental-movement.jp/en/Column-New-Age/

    15 min
  2. P-Funk Revolution: The Cosmic Legacy of Parliament-Funkadelic

    1D AGO

    P-Funk Revolution: The Cosmic Legacy of Parliament-Funkadelic

    P-Funk was not just a sound—it was a universe. This episode explores the revolutionary legacy of Parliament-Funkadelic, tracing how George Clinton and his ever-expanding collective reshaped funk into a cosmic, political, and radically imaginative force. Emerging from soul and R&B roots, P-Funk fused distorted guitars, deep basslines, analog synthesizers, and Afrofuturist mythology into something entirely new. We examine how albums like Mothership Connection, Maggot Brain, and One Nation Under a Groove redefined groove as both physical and philosophical. The conversation moves beyond records to the full P-Funk ecosystem: stage theatrics, characters, alter egos, and the famous Mothership—where funk became liberation through spectacle. This episode also looks closely at the gear and studio practices behind the sound: Minimoogs, Clavinets, tape saturation, collective improvisation, and the blurred line between chaos and precision. P-Funk’s influence echoes through hip-hop, techno, house, G-funk, and modern electronic production—where sampling turned its grooves into DNA for future generations. At its core, P-Funk proposed a radical idea: that rhythm could rewrite reality, that funk was a weapon, and that freedom could be danced into existence. ▼【Related Column】Parliament / Funkadelic: The whole story of the P-Funk revolution - deciphering space myths, groove techniques, and cultural heritagehttps://monumental-movement.jp/en/column-parliament-funkadelic/

    16 min
  3. Psy-Trance History: A Chronicle of Sound, Gear, and Tracks

    2D AGO

    Psy-Trance History: A Chronicle of Sound, Gear, and Tracks

    Psy-Trance is more than a genre—it is a moving system of sound, technology, and altered perception. This episode traces the full arc of psychedelic trance, from its Goa origins in the late 1980s to its global festival dominance and contemporary digital evolution. We explore how early DJs, travelers, and sound engineers transformed beachside parties into a new electronic ritual—one driven by repetition, acceleration, and transcendence. The discussion dives deep into the machines behind the movement: analog synthesizers, early digital workstations, samplers, sequencers, and later DAW-based production environments. From TB-303 mutations and hypnotic arpeggiators to modern modular rigs and software ecosystems, psy-trance has always been inseparable from its tools. We also examine key records and stylistic shifts—Goa trance, full-on, dark psy, progressive, and forest—mapping how tempo, sound design, and spatial effects evolved alongside dancefloor expectations. Rather than linear progress, psy-trance reveals a spiral: constant innovation anchored to a core pulse. At its heart, psy-trance is collective architecture—a shared rhythmic hallucination built from circuits, sweat, and sound systems. This episode documents how music, gear, and community combined to create one of electronic music’s most immersive cultures. ▼【Related Column】Psy-Trance history, masterpieces, and 10 recommended trackshttps://monumental-movement.jp/en/Column-Psy-Trance/

    17 min
  4. Sabrina Malheiros: The Radiant Evolution of Modern Brazilian Soul

    3D AGO

    Sabrina Malheiros: The Radiant Evolution of Modern Brazilian Soul

    Sabrina Malheiros represents a living bridge between Brazil’s musical past and its global present. Born into the lineage of MPB legend Azymuth’s Alex Malheiros, Sabrina carries forward Brazilian soul not as nostalgia, but as evolution. This episode traces her journey from traditional samba and bossa nova roots into a refined fusion of jazz harmony, electronic production, and contemporary soul aesthetics. We explore how her music balances warmth and sophistication—lush vocal phrasing, understated groove, and production that reflects both Rio’s rhythmic heritage and international club culture. Rather than chasing trends, Sabrina’s work embodies continuity: Brazilian music as a fluid, adaptive language. The discussion also touches on the role of producers, labels, and transatlantic collaboration in shaping a modern Brazilian sound that resonates globally while remaining deeply rooted. Her recordings demonstrate how subtle electronics, live musicianship, and spiritual calm coexist within a single sonic identity. Sabrina Malheiros’ music is not loud or revolutionary by force—it is radiant, confident, and enduring. A modern Brazilian soul that moves forward by listening carefully to its origins. ▼【Related Column】Sabrina Malheiros: The brilliance of modern Brazilian soul - The horizon of a new generation of samba soul revealed by Clareia and its remixhttps://monumental-movement.jp/en/column-sabrina-malheiros/

    16 min
  5. Reggae and the Global Evolution of Cassette Culture

    FEB 10

    Reggae and the Global Evolution of Cassette Culture

    Before streaming, before CDs, and often outside official distribution networks, cassette tapes played a crucial role in the global spread of reggae.This episode explores how cassette culture reshaped reggae’s circulation, sound, and social meaning—connecting Kingston’s sound systems to a worldwide underground network. We begin in Jamaica, where cassette tapes functioned as fast, informal carriers of music: live sound system recordings, dubplates, radio sessions, and unreleased versions circulated hand to hand, market to market. These tapes bypassed traditional industry structures, allowing reggae to evolve in real time while remaining rooted in community exchange. As reggae traveled through migration and diaspora, cassette culture adapted to local contexts. From the Caribbean to the UK, Africa, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, tapes became tools of translation—reshaping rhythm, language, and production aesthetics while preserving reggae’s core principles of rhythm, bass, and message. The episode also examines how the physical limitations of cassette technology—tape hiss, saturation, duplication loss—became part of reggae’s sonic identity in many regions. What began as a practical medium evolved into an aesthetic one. Rather than treating cassettes as obsolete artifacts, this episode frames them as a global communication system—one that helped reggae become not just a genre, but a transnational cultural force. ▼【Related Column】Reggae music and cassette culture: the relationship between sound and material media spreading from Jamaica to the world https://monumental-movement.jp/en/Column-Reggae-Tape-Cassette/

    15 min

About

“Where sound becomes culture, and culture becomes a living archive of the unheard.” This podcast explores music not as entertainment alone, but as a cultural force, a historical thread, and an ever-shifting field of experimental possibilities. Each episode dives into the worlds of avant-garde composition, underground movements, contemporary sound practices, and the hidden connections that shape the way we listen today. From experimental electronica, post-industrial textures, and ambient minimalism, to folk mutations, noise-based practices, and hybrid global sound cultures, the show examines how artists expand—sometimes even break—the boundaries of what music can be. Rather than simply reviewing releases, we trace the historical context, aesthetic frameworks, and technological shifts that give these works meaning. Whether you are a producer, a sound artist, a researcher, or simply a curious listener, this podcast offers a deep, accessible, and globally-minded journey through the edges of music culture. Expect thoughtful commentary, references to influential scenes and movements, and occasional dives into the philosophy of listening itself. Join us as we build an international archive of sound—one episode at a time.