Leisure suíte

These things are so beautiful!

Orchestre de la Paillote (dir. Kélétigui Traoré), Kadia Blues (Guinea, 1960s)

Route 77, the third studio album from Mirror System, Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy's chillout project, offers a serene sonic journey through spacious, dreamy soundscapes. A mellower counterpart to their work as System 7, Mirror System's music blends soft tech-house rhythms with lush electronics and Hillage's signature guitar. With a travel theme inspired by the vast American Southwest, Route 77 is rich in atmospheric grooves. The album features contributions from The Orb's Alex Paterson, Dan Donovan and Marv Brookes, adding to its laidback yet intricate vibe. Standout moments include reimaginings of Manuel Göttsching's 'Sunrain' and Ry Cooder's 'Paris, Texas', which fit seamlessly into the album's flowing textures. The closing bonus track, 'Sonora Desert Edge (The Abyss)', incorporates a poem by Allen Ginsberg, creating a vivid, immersive auditory experience. Demonstrating mastery of the chillout genre, Route 77 represents an evolution of the Mirror System warm and distinctive psychedelic sound.

Voyager 1, Saturn Planet, 1980

NGC 2207 and IC 2163, Angel Wing

Statue Of Yuri Gagarin, Moscow, 1980

our solar systems traveling in space

“Flying Saucers Rock N Roll”, Billy Lee Riley and his Little Green Men, 1957

While down below the trees Bathed in cool breeze Silver starlight breaks down the night And so we pass on by the crimson eye Of great god Mars As we travel the universe

Elis Regina, Madalena, 1972

Credits: R. Sahai, JPL, Hubble Heritage, ESA, NASA

earth rotation

Credits: NASA, ESA, Hubble, ASU

Cassini flyby over the Great Red Spot of Jupiter catches Europa and Io in transit.   Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI/CICLOPS/Kevin M. Gill

Credits: Harvard-Smithsonian CfA, et al., JPL, Caltech, NASA