The AM
@theam.ca
Weekly radio show on @cjsw.bsky.social hosted by @peterhemminger.com. Offbeat easy listening to start your week right. Live at cjsw.com every Monday morning from 7-10am MT, or stream past episodes at https://linktr.ee/the.am
Based in Treaty 7.
Based in Treaty 7.
If you told me ten years ago that King Khan would be making devotional instrumental sitar music with a traditional Anishnaabe flute player, I guess I may have believed you but I would certainly have been surprised.
Wolf Clan Jo & King Khan, by King Khan & Wolf Clan Jo
9 track album
khannibalism.bandcamp.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
If you told me ten years ago that King Khan would be making devotional instrumental sitar music with a traditional Anishnaabe flute player, I guess I may have believed you but I would certainly have been surprised.
Always confusing seeing people talk about how hard it is to find good independent music/art/film/etc.
Sure, relative to just throwing on a Spotify playlist or whatever Netflix is featuring, digging for hidden gems is harder. But relative to any other point in history? It's never been easier.
Sure, relative to just throwing on a Spotify playlist or whatever Netflix is featuring, digging for hidden gems is harder. But relative to any other point in history? It's never been easier.
November 23, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Always confusing seeing people talk about how hard it is to find good independent music/art/film/etc.
Sure, relative to just throwing on a Spotify playlist or whatever Netflix is featuring, digging for hidden gems is harder. But relative to any other point in history? It's never been easier.
Sure, relative to just throwing on a Spotify playlist or whatever Netflix is featuring, digging for hidden gems is harder. But relative to any other point in history? It's never been easier.
The new live EP from Toronto's Orbital Ensemble is a blast—loving the slightly more muscular take on their Brazilian-jazz-psych debut. Released on @wearebusybodies.bsky.social, but I found it through the single on Caju Collective (cajucollective.bandcamp.com/album/orbita...). Both doing vital work.
Live at Gold Standard, by Orbital Ensemble
6 track album
orbitalensemble.bandcamp.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:39 AM
The new live EP from Toronto's Orbital Ensemble is a blast—loving the slightly more muscular take on their Brazilian-jazz-psych debut. Released on @wearebusybodies.bsky.social, but I found it through the single on Caju Collective (cajucollective.bandcamp.com/album/orbita...). Both doing vital work.
Bit of a glitch with this week's episode, so the recording may or may not be available tomorrow. But there's always the Apple Music and Spotify playlists, if you want the music without the rambling:
Apple: music.apple.com/ca/playlist/...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/62R...
Apple: music.apple.com/ca/playlist/...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/62R...
November 18, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Bit of a glitch with this week's episode, so the recording may or may not be available tomorrow. But there's always the Apple Music and Spotify playlists, if you want the music without the rambling:
Apple: music.apple.com/ca/playlist/...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/62R...
Apple: music.apple.com/ca/playlist/...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/62R...
Reposted by The AM
Somewhere in the last decade the Notwist went from a band I appreciated to one of my all-timers. These songs have technically been released before, but I’ll take anything resembling new music from them. Lovely stuff as always.
thenotwist.bandcamp.com/album/magnif...
thenotwist.bandcamp.com/album/magnif...
Magnificent Fall, by The Notwist
13 track album
thenotwist.bandcamp.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Somewhere in the last decade the Notwist went from a band I appreciated to one of my all-timers. These songs have technically been released before, but I’ll take anything resembling new music from them. Lovely stuff as always.
thenotwist.bandcamp.com/album/magnif...
thenotwist.bandcamp.com/album/magnif...
This week's AM on @cjsw.bsky.social: Animator Winston Hacking joins the show in advance of his visit to the GIRAF animation festival. Listen to that conversation, plus ambient electronics, psychedelic grooves, dreamy tropicalia, and other sounds to make Monday mornings a little more pleasant.
The A.M. — The AM: November 10, 2025
The AM: November 10, 2025Animator Winston Hacking joins the show in advance of his visit to the 21st annual GIRAF animation festival (giraffest.ca). Listen to that conversation, plus your usual AM mix...
theam.ca
November 10, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This week's AM on @cjsw.bsky.social: Animator Winston Hacking joins the show in advance of his visit to the GIRAF animation festival. Listen to that conversation, plus ambient electronics, psychedelic grooves, dreamy tropicalia, and other sounds to make Monday mornings a little more pleasant.
Looks like I also neglected to include The Besnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation in that October roundup, yet another example of people who should know better taking one of Canada’s finest psych rock acts for granted. Shame.
thebesnardlakes.bandcamp.com/album/the-be...
thebesnardlakes.bandcamp.com/album/the-be...
The Besnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation, by The Besnard Lakes
8 track album
thebesnardlakes.bandcamp.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Looks like I also neglected to include The Besnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation in that October roundup, yet another example of people who should know better taking one of Canada’s finest psych rock acts for granted. Shame.
thebesnardlakes.bandcamp.com/album/the-be...
thebesnardlakes.bandcamp.com/album/the-be...
Picking up this thread with eight more October releases.
I'm also just realizing I missed including Buildings and Food's excellent Provincial Park VIP Mixes EP, which puts a more propulsive spin on tracks inspired by BC landscapes. Don't overlook it:
buildingsandfood.bandcamp.com/album/provin...
I'm also just realizing I missed including Buildings and Food's excellent Provincial Park VIP Mixes EP, which puts a more propulsive spin on tracks inspired by BC landscapes. Don't overlook it:
buildingsandfood.bandcamp.com/album/provin...
An alphabetical thread rounding up some of the finer ambient, jazz, psychedelic, and otherwise dreamy releases of this past October. As always, I'm astounded by how much good stuff is steadily released, so this is just scratching the surface.
Bandcamp links in thread, Apple Music playlist below.
Bandcamp links in thread, Apple Music playlist below.
The AM: October Favourites 2025 by Peter Hemminger on Apple Music
Playlist · 22 Songs
music.apple.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Picking up this thread with eight more October releases.
I'm also just realizing I missed including Buildings and Food's excellent Provincial Park VIP Mixes EP, which puts a more propulsive spin on tracks inspired by BC landscapes. Don't overlook it:
buildingsandfood.bandcamp.com/album/provin...
I'm also just realizing I missed including Buildings and Food's excellent Provincial Park VIP Mixes EP, which puts a more propulsive spin on tracks inspired by BC landscapes. Don't overlook it:
buildingsandfood.bandcamp.com/album/provin...
An alphabetical thread rounding up some of the finer ambient, jazz, psychedelic, and otherwise dreamy releases of this past October. As always, I'm astounded by how much good stuff is steadily released, so this is just scratching the surface.
Bandcamp links in thread, Apple Music playlist below.
Bandcamp links in thread, Apple Music playlist below.
The AM: October Favourites 2025 by Peter Hemminger on Apple Music
Playlist · 22 Songs
music.apple.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 AM
An alphabetical thread rounding up some of the finer ambient, jazz, psychedelic, and otherwise dreamy releases of this past October. As always, I'm astounded by how much good stuff is steadily released, so this is just scratching the surface.
Bandcamp links in thread, Apple Music playlist below.
Bandcamp links in thread, Apple Music playlist below.
No one does Halloween mixes better than @vintageobscura.net. Here's a decade-worth of their playlists to set the right mood for today.
Halloween Mixes (2014 - Present) - YouTube
Every October, Vintage Halloween Mixes.
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
No one does Halloween mixes better than @vintageobscura.net. Here's a decade-worth of their playlists to set the right mood for today.
This week’s episode is back to the normal AM mix, with a jangle-pop throwback, plenty of brand new music, a bit of early 2000s YYC nostalgia, and other low-key sounds for the last week of October. Happy Hallowe'ek!
The A.M. — The AM: October 27, 2025
The AM: October 27, 2025Thanks to everyone who donated to The AM and CJSW for this year’s funding drive—so many donations to the show is a wonderful thing to see and I’m glad that this show means...
theam.ca
October 28, 2025 at 2:33 AM
This week’s episode is back to the normal AM mix, with a jangle-pop throwback, plenty of brand new music, a bit of early 2000s YYC nostalgia, and other low-key sounds for the last week of October. Happy Hallowe'ek!
Picking up on this thread, here's the other 17 selections from September 2025. Yes, it's almost the end of October now, but it takes a while to process this muhc music, y'know?
Anyone else find that September was shockingly good for new music? I feel like I could happily spend a year with just the releases from last month. Here's a playlist running down selections from just under 30 albums from September 2025, plus bandcamp links in the thread.
(In alphabetical order)
(In alphabetical order)
The AM: September Favourites 2025 by Peter Hemminger on Apple Music
Playlist · 28 Songs
music.apple.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Picking up on this thread, here's the other 17 selections from September 2025. Yes, it's almost the end of October now, but it takes a while to process this muhc music, y'know?
Have I mentioned on Bluesky that the @cjsw.bsky.social funding drive is on now? Support Canada's best campus and community radio station at CJSW.com/donate, and use the link below to hear three hours of me sharing tracks from this year's two FD mixes and flogging the benefits of independent radio.
The A.M. – Episode October 20, 2025 – CJSW Radio
cjsw.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Have I mentioned on Bluesky that the @cjsw.bsky.social funding drive is on now? Support Canada's best campus and community radio station at CJSW.com/donate, and use the link below to hear three hours of me sharing tracks from this year's two FD mixes and flogging the benefits of independent radio.
Anyone else find that September was shockingly good for new music? I feel like I could happily spend a year with just the releases from last month. Here's a playlist running down selections from just under 30 albums from September 2025, plus bandcamp links in the thread.
(In alphabetical order)
(In alphabetical order)
The AM: September Favourites 2025 by Peter Hemminger on Apple Music
Playlist · 28 Songs
music.apple.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Anyone else find that September was shockingly good for new music? I feel like I could happily spend a year with just the releases from last month. Here's a playlist running down selections from just under 30 albums from September 2025, plus bandcamp links in the thread.
(In alphabetical order)
(In alphabetical order)
Reposted by The AM
It’s hard to put into words what it means to lose D’Angelo. Not just the man, but the sound, the feeling, the very essence of soul that he embodied.
Remembering D’Angelo and the Eternal Rhythm of Neo-Soul | Black Girl Nerds
It’s hard to put into words what it means to lose D’Angelo. Not just the man, but the sound, the feeling, the very essence of the man
blackgirlnerds.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
It’s hard to put into words what it means to lose D’Angelo. Not just the man, but the sound, the feeling, the very essence of soul that he embodied.
All-timer autumn albums. I’ll start:
Bibio - Vignetting the Compost
Overshadowed by Ambivalent Avenue’s pop transformation that same year, VtC bridges that album with his warblier early releases, delicate fingerpicked melodies falling like fresh leaves.
Bibio - Vignetting the Compost
Overshadowed by Ambivalent Avenue’s pop transformation that same year, VtC bridges that album with his warblier early releases, delicate fingerpicked melodies falling like fresh leaves.
Vignetting The Compost, by Bibio
16 track album
bibio.bandcamp.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
All-timer autumn albums. I’ll start:
Bibio - Vignetting the Compost
Overshadowed by Ambivalent Avenue’s pop transformation that same year, VtC bridges that album with his warblier early releases, delicate fingerpicked melodies falling like fresh leaves.
Bibio - Vignetting the Compost
Overshadowed by Ambivalent Avenue’s pop transformation that same year, VtC bridges that album with his warblier early releases, delicate fingerpicked melodies falling like fresh leaves.
Jonathan Richman is joy and sincerity and wisdom and silliness, an absolute blessing to see him perform. It’s a wonder how he makes every song sound so alive, and forces the audience to be so present.
October 8, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Jonathan Richman is joy and sincerity and wisdom and silliness, an absolute blessing to see him perform. It’s a wonder how he makes every song sound so alive, and forces the audience to be so present.
This week's AM on @cjsw.bsky.social: a throwback to the album that introduced a generation of insufferable indie rockers (myself included) to experimental electronics, plus your usual AM mix of ambient electronics, shoegaze, dream pop, pastoral jazz, and other soothing sounds.
It's a good one, IMO.
It's a good one, IMO.
The A.M. — The AM: October 6, 2025
The AM: October 6, 2025Hey Calgary: Early voting starts today,so if you know which way you’re leaning, look up your nearest voting station and fill out your ballot. Everyone else: Enjoy three more...
theam.ca
October 7, 2025 at 12:48 AM
This week's AM on @cjsw.bsky.social: a throwback to the album that introduced a generation of insufferable indie rockers (myself included) to experimental electronics, plus your usual AM mix of ambient electronics, shoegaze, dream pop, pastoral jazz, and other soothing sounds.
It's a good one, IMO.
It's a good one, IMO.
Can't resist tossing out a few #BandcampFriday suggestions for fans of pastoral ditties, ambient electronics, dreamy psychedelia, and gentle kosmische. A thread of great recent releases from the past month or so, in alphabetical order:
October 3, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Can't resist tossing out a few #BandcampFriday suggestions for fans of pastoral ditties, ambient electronics, dreamy psychedelia, and gentle kosmische. A thread of great recent releases from the past month or so, in alphabetical order:
100% agreed, this is fantastic. Especially the title track’s mix of Floydian/Fortean grooves and vocals recorded through the black lodge’s curtains. Perfect October vibes.
Piotr Kurek's excellent new album for Unsound is like a Gastr del Sol album collaged from AI hallucinations crossed with Vincent Gallo's classic sides for Warp, assembled with Escher-like levels of detailed eccentricity
boomkat.com/products/son...
boomkat.com/products/son...
October 3, 2025 at 4:24 AM
100% agreed, this is fantastic. Especially the title track’s mix of Floydian/Fortean grooves and vocals recorded through the black lodge’s curtains. Perfect October vibes.
New episode: My return to The AM after a three-week absence. A throwback to the 20th anniversary of Broadcast’s Tender Buttons, new music from Juana Molina, The Leaf Library, Project Gemini, and wihtikow, and other early morning goodness awaits.
theam.ca/post/7960807...
theam.ca/post/7960807...
The A.M. — The AM: September 29, 2025
The AM: September 29, 2025Peter returns to The AM after a three-week absence. Hopefully this is good news to you. A throwback to the 20th anniversary of Broadcast’s Tender Buttons, new music from...
theam.ca
September 30, 2025 at 3:14 AM
New episode: My return to The AM after a three-week absence. A throwback to the 20th anniversary of Broadcast’s Tender Buttons, new music from Juana Molina, The Leaf Library, Project Gemini, and wihtikow, and other early morning goodness awaits.
theam.ca/post/7960807...
theam.ca/post/7960807...
I've been on holidays, what September releases have I missed? Already been looping Shrunken Elvis, Rachel Kitchlew, Area 3, and Go Kurosawa, and enjoying Yoo II avec Nolan Potter, the Oruã & Reverse Death split EP, and new Kara-Lis Coverdale.
What else is good in the ambient/jazz/dream/psych world?
What else is good in the ambient/jazz/dream/psych world?
September 23, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I've been on holidays, what September releases have I missed? Already been looping Shrunken Elvis, Rachel Kitchlew, Area 3, and Go Kurosawa, and enjoying Yoo II avec Nolan Potter, the Oruã & Reverse Death split EP, and new Kara-Lis Coverdale.
What else is good in the ambient/jazz/dream/psych world?
What else is good in the ambient/jazz/dream/psych world?