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Blue 11-11-2008 08:20 PM

Ambient music...
 
I was going to make an Eno thread since I couldn't find one, but in the process realized I don't know much ambient music outside of him. So, I figured we could have an ambient thread, where all fans could discuss artists they like, and talk about anything related to the music.

Anyways, I've always been a big Eno fan from the few albums of his I have (Music for Airports, Music for Films, Thursday Afternoon), and the bits I've heard here and there. There's still a number of his albums I really want to get, mainly Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks. But, does anyone have any other ambient artists they could suggest? I saw Eluvium and Slow Dancing Society in sleep thread, and I'm instantly interested in Eluvium. I checked out some clips on iTunes and really need to get some of his/her/their music. Anyone have any suggestions in terms of a good place to start.

By the way, if there is already a pre-existing ambient thread, I apologize. I also don't know if this belongs in Electronica or Avant-garde.

Dr_Rez 11-11-2008 08:35 PM

http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ent-drone.html

There kind of is, maybe that will help.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I am not sure on the artist you said, but I have quite a few relaxation/meditation/sleep ambient albums you may like. Here are the two that are probably my favorites. The first is a little more upbeat and good for getting you in a thinking state. The second is perfect for either falling asleep or just resting and having light background music.

Chakra's Dream : Peaceful Sleep (Last.fm Link)
Brain Sync : Super Learning
(Last.fm Link)

Roygbiv 11-11-2008 08:37 PM

My mind boggles at the fact that you have YET to mention Another Green World by Eno. It doesn't start as an ambient record, but it very much is in its second half. Seriously, listen to it. Right now.

GuitarBizarre 11-12-2008 10:15 AM

What kind of ambient are we talking here? Long slow drones and background noises, or more musical pulsing ambient?

Or even, the more traditional techno style ambient?

I highly reccomend Visit Venus, and Entheogenic if its that kind of thing. Very chilled out.

Also, for long drawn out stuff, and slightly more worldy stuff, Robert Rich's collaboration with Alo Die is awesome.


Also, for the most ambient of the ambient, you can find it all here, with reviews, categorization and sound samples:

Ambience by Sound :: Ambience for the Masses

Blue 11-12-2008 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RezZ (Post 543874)
http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ent-drone.html

There kind of is, maybe that will help.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I am not sure on the artist you said, but I have quite a few relaxation/meditation/sleep ambient albums you may like. Here are the two that are probably my favorites. The first is a little more upbeat and good for getting you in a thinking state. The second is perfect for either falling asleep or just resting and having light background music.

Chakra's Dream : Peaceful Sleep (Last.fm Link)
Brain Sync : Super Learning
(Last.fm Link)

That is definately helpful, thank you. I'm sure I can find lots of new artists in that thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roygbiv
My mind boggles at the fact that you have YET to mention Another Green World by Eno. It doesn't start as an ambient record, but it very much is in its second half. Seriously, listen to it. Right now.

As soon as I can scrape together the money, I will do just that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre (Post 544126)
What kind of ambient are we talking here? Long slow drones and background noises, or more musical pulsing ambient?

Or even, the more traditional techno style ambient?

I highly reccomend Visit Venus, and Entheogenic if its that kind of thing. Very chilled out.

Also, for long drawn out stuff, and slightly more worldy stuff, Robert Rich's collaboration with Alo Die is awesome.


Also, for the most ambient of the ambient, you can find it all here, with reviews, categorization and sound samples:

Ambience by Sound :: Ambience for the Masses

Well the only ambient music I really know is Brian Eno and Harold Budd. I'm not exactly sure what they're classified as. I'm not as much of a fan of the techno ambient music, that actually has a beat; I like ambient music that is more formless. I will definately make good use of that site though.

GuitarBizarre 11-13-2008 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RezZ (Post 543874)
Chakra's Dream : Peaceful Sleep (Last.fm Link)
Brain Sync : Super Learning
(Last.fm Link)

Just downloaded everything those 2 artists have.. its ****ing AWESOME

Anteater 11-13-2008 09:17 AM

Hmn. Try getting Dreamatorium by Death Cube K if you are looking for good ambient. It's very dark, but absolutely incredible. :)

Bulldog 11-13-2008 10:08 AM

Some good suggestions here. All I've got myself are Music For Airports and Tangerine Dream's Rubycon and Phaedra (if they count, which they probably don't when all's said and done). Good to know what I should be looking out for next

Demonoid 11-13-2008 03:19 PM

Mmmm, Ambient!
Now that's one confusing word(for me atleast). So many bands I listen to are considered "ambient" :banghead:.

There's Tangerine Dream/Klaus Schulze(collecting their stuff itself is a daunting task), Brian Eno, Harold Budd and Jean Michel Jarre.

Then there's Dark Ambient(scary kinda music which I usually sleep off to :p: ), 90s Ambient/IDM/Ambient-Techno/Drone-Ambient(some of it has this "beats" you are talking about), and many more weird soundscapes that are considered ambient.

Anyways, I'll just list a few(It's all ambient, but sounds keep varying) -

Steve Roach's Structures From Silence might interest you, but I haven't explored much of his stuff other than that. It's a great piece of ambient work though.

Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene - Not completely ambient for me, but still has a great atmosphere. Sounds a bit dated though.(I didn't like it the last time I listened to it)

Tangerine Dream - Zeit - Great place to start with Tangerine Dream(or atleast where I started). You could go with Phaedra as well, but I like this one more. I could make a compilation, but most of their tracks are quite long.

Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht - A lot of early german so called "Ambient" stuff sounds like this. Very spacey and dreamy. Some krautrock(like Ash Ra Tempel) might interest you as well if you like this.

Murcof - Martes - Ambient, techno kinda thing with a bit of classical thrown in.

Global Communication
- 76:14 and Future Sound of London - Lifeforms - Both amazing ambient-techo. Even if you don't prefer it, this might definitely change your mind. My favorite is definitely 76:14.

The Orb - The Orb Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld - Not exactly ambient-techno, but anyways, an amazing - very much 90s ambient work with a bit of everything thrown in.

Robert Rich & Lustmord - Stalker - Scary stuff. Your either goona sleep off here or **** in your pants :p:

If you don't mind the 90s ambient-IDM-Techno kinda stuff, then there are lot more I could suggest. I'm not much into this "Drone-ambient" kinda thing.(bah all these terms are screwing my brain :banghead:)
Or hey, I could just make a compilation with a track from all these artists.(If you are interested)

jackhammer 11-13-2008 03:28 PM

Don't forget Tubular Bells :D. I still think it's a great album.

Blue 11-13-2008 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonoid (Post 544721)
Mmmm, Ambient!
Now that's one confusing word(for me atleast). So many bands I listen to are considered "ambient" :banghead:.

There's Tangerine Dream/Klaus Schulze(collecting their stuff itself is a daunting task), Brian Eno, Harold Budd and Jean Michel Jarre.

Then there's Dark Ambient(scary kinda music which I usually sleep off to :p: ), 90s Ambient/IDM/Ambient-Techno/Drone-Ambient(some of it has this "beats" you are talking about), and many more weird soundscapes that are considered ambient.

Anyways, I'll just list a few(It's all ambient, but sounds keep varying) -

Steve Roach's Structures From Silence might interest you, but I haven't explored much of his stuff other than that. It's a great piece of ambient work though.

Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene - Not completely ambient for me, but still has a great atmosphere. Sounds a bit dated though.(I didn't like it the last time I listened to it)

Tangerine Dream - Zeit - Great place to start with Tangerine Dream(or atleast where I started). You could go with Phaedra as well, but I like this one more. I could make a compilation, but most of their tracks are quite long.

Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht - A lot of early german so called "Ambient" stuff sounds like this. Very spacey and dreamy. Some krautrock(like Ash Ra Tempel) might interest you as well if you like this.

Murcof - Martes - Ambient, techno kinda thing with a bit of classical thrown in.

Global Communication
- 76:14 and Future Sound of London - Lifeforms - Both amazing ambient-techo. Even if you don't prefer it, this might definitely change your mind. My favorite is definitely 76:14.

The Orb - The Orb Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld - Not exactly ambient-techno, but anyways, an amazing - very much 90s ambient work with a bit of everything thrown in.

Robert Rich & Lustmord - Stalker - Scary stuff. Your either goona sleep off here or **** in your pants :p:

If you don't mind the 90s ambient-IDM-Techno kinda stuff, then there are lot more I could suggest. I'm not much into this "Drone-ambient" kinda thing.(bah all these terms are screwing my brain :banghead:)
Or hey, I could just make a compilation with a track from all these artists.(If you are interested)

I most certainly would not say no, but you are by no means obliged. Thank you very much for all the artist tips too, I really appreciate it.

Blue 11-22-2008 12:11 AM

I have checked out some Eluvium, and I am thoroughly impressed. I love his music. I also love how he seems to have great changes in approach in a lot of his records. He has a couple Eno-esque records, as well as a solo piano record, and an ambient record involving an orchestra. I just really love the mood he sets too, and the overall quality of the music; he's probably going to become one of my favorite artists. Really incredible stuff, can't believe it took me so long to find him.

I'll give my thoughts on his records as I listen to them in full, in case anyone is interested in some reviews of sorts.

ployd 11-29-2008 04:38 PM

I was introduced to this cat Bluetech not to long ago. Very cool stuff. Check him out.

oh thanks to all of you for all the new artists to check out ;)

mr dave 11-29-2008 05:00 PM

it seems like a cliche answer to people who know the style, but seriously...

aphex twin - selected ambient works vol.2

get it. especially if you want more atmospheric ambient stuff. vol.1 is really good also but it's more beat based.

ployd 11-29-2008 05:02 PM

I peeped out the Eluvuim cat. Pretty good stuff. I like.

westony 12-01-2008 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer (Post 544728)
Don't forget Tubular Bells :D. I still think it's a great album.

I like them to :D:clap:

thegoldlaw 12-01-2008 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave (Post 554627)
it seems like a cliche answer to people who know the style, but seriously...

aphex twin - selected ambient works vol.2

get it. especially if you want more atmospheric ambient stuff. vol.1 is really good also but it's more beat based.


Anything Aphex Twin does I'd suggest get.. reguardless of what genre you're into.

Alkajazz 12-04-2008 10:09 PM

Ulrich Schnauss
Tycho

LOOMER 12-07-2008 01:14 PM

(Sadly, my initial impression of this forum is that it's full of boring threads of name-dropping without any real reflections about the music. Not that everyone does that, but why bother to post two names..?)

I love ambient music. My favorite ambient record has to be Pop by Wolfgang Voigt, under the project name GAS. One of my friend put it that way, that every song is like a painting, which is a really good description. If I'd compare the music to the work of a specific painter, it would be Turner - his more abstract and impressionist stuff that is. GAS is pretty easy to get into, since it's simply hypnotic and surreal, an really demonstrates what a soundscape really can do. The sound is built up of distorted orchestral samples and the likes, which gives the music a sort of organic feel. The second best album is the first one, entitled GAS.

Another great ambient music maker is William Basinski. He's a pretentious ****, and his music is very artsy, but that's half the point. There's a sort of mystique post-modern vibe to the whole thing, as much of his music originates from the playing with master tapes and the grainy sound which is the result of it. His works are really long, some pieces are about an hour, which sometimes is annoying. But they are very monotonous (in a good way), so they don't require the most attentive listener always. Sometimes I put his music on just to change the way I feel about the enviroment. Try going shopping with Watermusic II in your headphones! I recommend the works Watermusic II, The Disintegration Loops 3 and El Camino Real. I have also recently gotten into Variations for Piano & Tape: Variation #9: Pantelleria.

Other artist that I would recommend are Loscil, Tape, and of course Brian Eno.

Adonai 04-18-2009 03:08 AM

Ambient
 
I guess this thread goes in Electronica...Sorry if I'm wrong.

So, who listens to ambient music? Not the ambient house or ambient trance, but pure ambient (or noise)? I really like it and even compose it myself. Do I have some colleagues here?

Janszoon 04-18-2009 03:20 AM

Yep, I liked some of that kind of stuff too and have written stuff that would vaguely fall into that category.

Is there anyone you're into in particular?

Adonai 04-18-2009 08:17 AM

@Janszoon : Yes. I'm really into Lustmord, The Axis of Perdition, macabro, Rosewater, LULL.

Blue 04-18-2009 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adonai (Post 640667)
I guess this thread goes in Electronica...Sorry if I'm wrong.

So, who listens to ambient music? Not the ambient house or ambient trance, but pure ambient (or noise)? I really like it and even compose it myself. Do I have some colleagues here?

You definitely do. I love ambient and atmospheric music. I've dabbled in Eno, Eluvium, Harold Budd, William Basinski, Max Richter, and a few others. Though I have been making music in a different vein recently, I still really love writing ambient works and I feel a bit part of my musical heart lies there; I think that's where I really say things at times, as simplistic as it may be.

Glad to see another fan around. Do you have any favorites? Or do you have any works you'd like to share? I'd personally love to hear it.

Adonai 04-18-2009 01:15 PM

@Blue : as I told one post back, my favourites are Lustmord, The Axis of Perdition, macabro, Rosewater and LULL. You can hear some of my personal works here (those are like "sketches", they need some more work on them) :

Send big files the easy way. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!
and here
Send big files the easy way. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!

They are 100% legal, so feel free to download them :) OK, now back to music. My tracks now (including those two) are fluid and atmospherical. Before, I was creating harsh, dark and scary ones. But now I decided to change my style as I don't feel satosfaction anymore when creating dark and harsh tracks.

Anteater 04-18-2009 09:18 PM

I've actually been getting into Ambient lately, but still trying to figure out what people think are "essential" albums of the genre. :)

Adonai 04-19-2009 12:17 AM

@Anteater : AmbientMusicGuide.com - A Guide To Essential Ambient & Downtempo Albums
It's pretty helpful. The most essential releases ever, if you want to get into regular ambient. If you want to get into dark ambient/noise you can PM me and I will tell you essential dark releases.

Keigh 04-22-2009 11:44 AM

Im currently spinning Hammock, Alpha and Boards of Canada. Back in the day my main things were Eno, Steve Hillage, Vangelis (whose more of a New Age crossover), Neuronium, Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schultze.

Pink Floyd was my introduction to this kind of music as a genre but listening to what Herbie Han**** and alot of the jazz fusion acts like Soft Machine were experimenting with at that time, was my first time hearing anything like that.

Adonai 04-22-2009 11:58 AM

Guys, why does everyone like Eno's tracks? I personally respect him for actually starting the idea of ambient music, but his tracks are horrible imo. Not atmospheric and pretty boring. Someone cares to explain?

Keigh 04-23-2009 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adonai (Post 644175)
Guys, why does everyone like Eno's tracks? I personally respect him for actually starting the idea of ambient music, but his tracks are horrible imo. Not atmospheric and pretty boring. Someone cares to explain?

What tracks are you listening to? Have you tried Music for Airports, On Land, Apollo & Atmospheres, Discrete Music or his collaborations with minimalist Harold Budd, Robert Fripp or David Bowie from the album "Low"?? Many of those albums are more than just someone holding down some chords. They are tape loops and studio manipulations and other treatments. Quite revolutionary for a rock artist.

I grew up listening to his music in the late 70s so my perspective comes from hearing him as one of the pioneers of this music as a genre. His style is less active and more minimalist than his german counterparts in electronic music (Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, etc).

And of course, there's no reason to think you have to like an artist because he's considered a pioneer of a specific style. There are plenty of artists of whatever genre I'm listening to who are considered masters and whose albums are "must-haves" who do nothing for me. Maybe his style just isn't for you. Ambient music isn't just one style. It can be as multi-dimensional and sub-genre as classical, jazz or rock and all their branches.

Adonai 04-24-2009 07:18 AM

Keigh : I know :P Many years creating and writing ambient music have taught me something. And I have'nt found even a single track of Eno that was suitable for me. I just want to know why do people like him

Keigh 04-24-2009 10:37 AM

Well, personally his music speaks to me. I create ambient music also and I'm influenced by him as well as some of the other artists I mentioned. I can't speak for anyone else. His music just has a familiarity that seems to come from a place that says he understands me or what I like. Like some strange deja vu that I can't explain beyond that. It has nothing to do with his current popularity or his history with other musicians. I discovered him on college radio back in the late 70s though I had been listening to him and his influence for several years unbeknownst to me via Bowie's Berlin trilogy.

Adonai 04-24-2009 11:50 PM

I am more influenced by Lustmord

Adonai 05-04-2009 10:58 AM

Hey guys, new ambient album review here : http://www.musicbanter.com/album-rev...tml#post652108

milesahead 05-06-2009 12:27 PM

Cold Sun is a great ambient artist.

sirtoke 07-21-2009 07:09 AM

does anyone know where i can download full albums by -

the future sound of london
solar fields
steve roach

much appreciated

dispid 07-21-2009 03:02 PM

check out William Basinski. his The Disintegration Loops series is pretty good.

DJB1975 07-26-2009 12:37 PM

Sakura by Susuma Yokota is pretty tasty.

OccultHawk 01-02-2018 03:40 PM

I ran the name through the search engine and this may be the first mention the neo-classical ambient composer Dmitry Evgrafov.

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2822564488_16.jpg

pereehali by Dmitry Evgrafov

BandCamp https://dmitry-evgrafov.bandcamp.com/album/pereehali

I was going to post this in my journal but I’m currently doing only 2016 releases but it turns out this from 2013.

innerspaceboy 01-04-2018 05:46 PM

Innerspaceboy’s Ambient Essentials (Pt 1)
 
Spoiler for “Click to expand”:
Quote:

Originally Posted by LOOMER (Post 559522)
(Sadly, my initial impression of this forum is that it's full of boring threads of name-dropping without any real reflections about the music. Not that everyone does that, but why bother to post two names..?)

In an effort to acknowledge Loomer’s remark I’ve put together a more in-depth response than a mere list. I’ve included noteworthy recordings from the ambient family of subgenres and a chronology of essentials with a synopsis of each. These span the wider umbrella of ambient music to include downtempo electronic and ambient future jazz. If I’ve omitted any critical recordings let me know and I can amend the post.

Windham Hill Highlights:

William Ackerman - Passage, In Search of the Turtle's Navel, It Takes a Year, Past Light, Conferring with the Moon, Imaginary Roads, Childhood and Memory

George Winston - Autumn, December and Winter into Spring.

Liz Story - Solid Colors may be the finest Windham Hill release.

Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries

Alex De Grassi - Southern Exposure (a great stereo reference record)

Various - A Quiet Revolution: 30 Years of Windham Hill 4CD compilation is an excellent collection showcasing the most memorable works from the label’s history.

Classical Crossover / Ambient Modern Classical Highlights:

Canadian arranger and composer André Gagnon has released over forty albums of solo piano works. Piano Solitude (Un Piano Sur La Mer) is a good introduction.

Equally enjoyable are the quiet melodies of Sophie Hutchings and those of UK composer Helen Jane Long, whose Embers LP quickly became widely requested on worldwide classical radio stations, and was "most requested" on Classic FM radio.

Fax +49-69/450464 Label / Carpe Sonum Ambient Highlights:

https://i.imgur.com/GrtkYMal.jpg

The Dark Side of the Moog V is considered the apex of the FAX label.

Pete Namlook & Dr Atmo - Silence (1)

Pete Namlook - Air (1), (and see also the Die Welt ist Klang and Dark Side of the Moog box sets later in this write-up.)

Namlook & Laswell - Psychonavigation (1)

Jah Wobble & Bill Laswell - Radioaxiom (issued on the Palm label)

Rhythm & Sound - s/t and w/ the artists

Arctic Ambient / Drone Favorites:

The discographies of Deathprod, Deaf Center, Loscil, Carbon Based Lifeforms, William Basinski, Biosphere, Tim Hecker, Gas, Deepchord Presents Echospace, Thomas Köner, Higher Intelligence Agency, and Lull are all wonderful specimen of the genre.

A Note on the Illbient Subgenre:

https://i.imgur.com/QLBZGaBl.jpg

While I don't have an extensive catalog of illbient artists, (just the mainstays like Scorn, Third Eye Foundation, kIRk, and DJ Spooky ’Gas’ Optometry LP), I wanted to call attention to the pending vinyl reissue of Future Sound of London's masterpiece, Lifeforms. I'm friends with Gaz Cobain and he was delighted by the crowdsourced petition to reissue the genre classic, and the preorder has just gone live in the UK. I’ll be publishing a full feature once the LP arrives Stateside.

A Chronology of Ambient Highlights:

I apologize if most of this is review for many members, but we don't seem to have a solid roster of ambient classics so I wanted to contribute.

1970s

https://i.imgur.com/xNgc4pQl.jpg

Manuel Göttsching / Ash Ra Tempel - Inventions For Electric Guitar. A minimalist classic of the space music genre.

https://i.imgur.com/h0iuWP9l.jpg

Terry Riley - Persian Surgery Dervishes is four variations of a meditative cyclical piece for organ.

https://i.imgur.com/SNVJ3Vkl.jpg

Fripp & Eno - (No Pussyfooting) and Evening Star. I am a tremendous fan of frippertronic tape loop electric guitar treatments and these two albums showcase the effect exquisitely. These were followed 30 years later in 2004 by Equatorial Stars.

https://i.imgur.com/S3Nk1O5l.jpg

Brian Eno - Discreet Music, Another Green World, Music for Films, Cluster & Eno, Eno-Moebius-Roedelius - After the Heat, and the incomparable Ambient 1: Music for Airports. Eno is a one-man supergroup. With a catalog spanning hundreds of albums and production credits on many hundred more, the 1970s comprised many of the finest works of his expansive repertoire.

https://i.imgur.com/zFFg3hzl.jpg

In 2015 Harmonia issued a glorious vinyl box set of their complete recordings from 1973-1975 including Musik Von Harmonia, Deluxe, Live '74, Documents, and Tracks & Traces. Exquisite instrumental ambient rock bliss.

https://i.imgur.com/SHwP27zl.jpg

Tangerine Dream - Electronic Meditation, Alpha Centauri, Zeit, Atem, Phaedra, Rubycon, Ricochet, Stratosphere. Another band with well over 100 albums, their earliest efforts are by far their strongest.

https://i.imgur.com/usOjxRdl.jpg

Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht, Cyborg, Blackdance, Join Inn (with Ash Ra Tempel), The Cosmic Jokers (feat. Klaus Schulze), Timewind, Moondawn, and the minimal electronic symphony, "X". Schulze is one of the greatest Moog synthesizer virtuosos in the world, but unlike Keith Emerson, Schulze explores the minimal sonic space that the instrument can create.

https://i.imgur.com/KhD4fThl.jpg

Steve Hillage - Rainbow Dome Musick. This record was spun almost daily along with Gottsching's E2-E4 LP at the VIP room at Heaven in London around 1990 at the dawn of the ambient house explosion.

The next several parts will explore a chronology of essential ambient releases.

innerspaceboy 01-04-2018 05:46 PM

Innerspaceboy’s Ambient Essentials (Pt 2)
 
Spoiler for “Click to expand”:
1980s

https://i.imgur.com/3axoI8cl.jpg

Manuel Göttsching - E2-E4. Named after the most common opening move in a game of chess, E2-E4 showcases longform hypnotic minimal electronic guitar compositions and makes for great ambient music.

Since 1983 Stephen Hill has produced the radio program Hearts of Space: Slow Music for Fast Times. Over 1,100 programs showcase quality ambient and new age music commercial-free. The website provides listeners with a searchable index of all programs and the entire archive is available for download from various sources.

https://i.imgur.com/C1VY8B0l.jpg

Harold Budd / Brian Eno - Ambient 2 (The Plateaux Of Mirror), The Pearl (with Daniel Lanois), The Pavilion Of Dreams, The Serpent (In Quicksilver), Abandon Cities, Lovely Thunder, and The White Arcades. Budd’s music makes for magnificent sonic wallpaper and his 80s releases are his strongest.

Eno continued his work with Thursday Afternoon, Ambient 4 (On Land), Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks (with Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno), and Fourth World: Possible Musics with Jon Hassell.

Michael Stearns - Chronos. You’d be hard-pressed to find more epic scores than those of the Ron Frick filmography. Stearns produced Chronos, Baraka, and Samsara, and Philip Glass produced Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi. Stunning works both visually and sonically. Koyaanisqatsi is a strong favorite both visually and sonically.

George Winston - Autumn, December and Winter into Spring. Some of the finest recordings from the Windham Hill label.

https://i.imgur.com/0cviDFrl.jpg

Vangelis - Blade Runner (OST). While most die-hard fans pledge their allegiance to the unofficial 5-volume Esper 25th Anniversary ‘Retirement Edition’, Vangelis’ original score remains my favorite. In 2013 the original score was pressed for the very first time in a limited red wax audiophile edition, and I didn’t waste any time claiming a copy.

Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, Panaiotis ‎– Deep Listening. An iconic improvisational collaboration recorded 14 feet underground in the disused Dan Harpole Cistern in Port Townsend, Washington 200 feet in diameter with a reverberation time of 45 seconds. The trio brought a trombone, didgeridoo, accordion, garden hose, pipe, conch shell, and their voices, and allowed their sounds to stretch out slowly, like sonar, as if nodding to the chamber’s original two million gallon contents.

1990s

https://i.imgur.com/ioy2Tcxl.jpg

The KLF defined the chill out genre with their album of the same name. Chill Out is the sound of driving across the American Midwest after a weekend rave. Elvis on the radio… steel guitar in my soul.

https://i.imgur.com/Zy2gAt6l.jpg

And Jimmy Cauty of The KLF produced an impressive one-off side project called Space - a sparse drone album fully realized years later by M Ward who engineered an expanded edition dubbed, This Is Not What Space Is About.

https://i.imgur.com/shuOtSIl.jpg

Space was produced during Cauty’s collaboration with The Orb, concurrent with the production of the essential Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld. Buy this and The Blue Room LPs as soon as you see them.

https://i.imgur.com/xvMvCchl.jpg

Pete Namlook spent the 90s exploring ambient electronic soundscapes in collaboration with veteran minimalist Klaus Schulze with the 12-volume Dark Side of the Moog series. Each of the track titles play off of classics from Pink Floyd’s catalog, such as “Wish You Were There,” “A Saucerful of Ambience,” “Obscured by Klaus,” and “Careful with the AKS, Peter.” These were eventually issued as a series of CD box sets.

https://i.imgur.com/mRq8h9ll.jpg

The 90s also bore the realization of Namlook’s musical vision, founding the FAX +49-69/450464 ambient record label. After his untimely passing a tribute label was founded by his successors and fellow artists called Carpe Sonum, who issued a limited edition 8-disc box set housed in a wooden box etched with his FAX typeface reading, “DIE WELT IST KLANG.” The set features tracks by both FAX artists and fans alike and is a beautiful tribute to his memory and music.

https://i.imgur.com/B9nPylyl.jpg

In 1994 Aphex Twin released the genre classic, Selected Ambient Works Vol II. Definitely a staple to track down.

Another classic was also released in ‘94 - Global Communication’s downtempo/ambient techno opus, 76:14. Excellent for both active and passive listening.

In the field of psybient music there is a wonderful 8-volume independently-sourced collection of major works called The Psybient DVD Pack collection. DVD 1 features all of Simon Posford's related work (Celtic Cross, Dub Trees, Eclipse, The Infinity Project, Hallucinogen, Shpongle, etc.), while later volumes showcase collections like the Fahrenheit Project series, H.U.V.A. Network and Solar Field discographies, and more. It is quite a substantial archive, and thankfully there is a guidebook included with the set and a map of all featured recordings.

Brian Eno continued to add albums to his incredibly vast catalog, but perhaps the most noteworthy of his 90s releases is :Neroili: (Thinking Music Part IV). It is important to note that the 2014 reissue of this recording featured an hour-long b-side, “New Space Music” which is one of my all-time favorite minimal ambient drone pieces.

Prior to the release of their critically acclaimed debut LP Moon Safari, Air released an EP titled, Premiers symptômes. An incredibly satisfying listen, this instrumental record is arguably superior to the full-length album that followed.

https://i.imgur.com/n5FJRTsl.jpg

Kruder & Dorfmeister produced a 3LP set titled, The K&D Sessions - an atmospheric set of downtempo nu jazz and ambient dub which effectively transforms your listening space into a hip urban cafe.

Continued in pt 3.


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