Ambient music. Hmm. After nearly 25 years on this planet, I’m not entirely convinced. Sure, I own some ambient albums worth mentioning: the excellent Selected Ambient Works vol. 2 by Aphex Twin, Future Sound of London’s Lifeforms is interesting but ultimately inattentive, KLF’s Chillout album is notable for the song titles and seemed aimed at the post-clubbing comedown of yore while Music has the right to Children is ambient-tinged but it has too many amazing beats to be labelled as so. Most stuff in the genre is too wishy-washy or samey for it to stick.
Another obstacle to appreciating the genre depends on when and where I listen to it. The odd timewhile working, I’ll put on something ambient to drown out any day-by-day noise while I’m concentrating on something else. It serves as a distraction to the hum-drum of phones and office machinery and allows me to focus. Occasionally, I’ll put on some ambient music when I have trouble sleeping (Should music that facilititates sleep be considered a good thing?). Ultimately, while I flirt with the genre there is very little I love about it.
Take the recently released Digital Shades vol.1 by M83. Essentially, this not-counted-as-an-official-album release is this: a good M83 album stripped of all the great stuff: the blinding hooks, guitars, drums and vocals all thrown out. Removing elements that made previous album Before the Dawn Heals Us such a powerful, evocative piece of work, leaves the digital sheen underneath. Admittedly, it is occassionally beautiful, soaring and resonant but ultimately confined to expedite me to dreamland.
Maybe I’m being too harsh on the whole genre? Maybe I’ve been listening to it in the wrong circumstances? So most excellent reader, tell me:
What ambient releases float your boat?
and
When and where do you listen to them?
MP3
[M83 on Myspace | Digital Shades vol 1 on Amazon ]
[Other Digital Shades reviews : Audiversity ]
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
I think The Field is definitely ambient influenced.
Obviously the Brian Eno albums are worth a listen. Fennesz with Endless Summer could fit in ambient I reckon and that’s a classic. That new Eluvium album Copia, that’s a pretty deadly ambient album also.
The reason for liking I think is for the reason Eno gave, is that it’s ignorable. Doesn’t require direct focus to be enjoyed.
Ever try and read a book while playing other Aphex Twin albums?
I think The Field is definitely ambient influenced.
Obviously the Brian Eno albums are worth a listen. Fennesz with Endless Summer could fit in ambient I reckon and that’s a classic. That new Eluvium album Copia, that’s a pretty deadly ambient album also.
The reason for liking I think is for the reason Eno gave, is that it’s ignorable. Doesn’t require direct focus to be enjoyed.
Ever try and read a book while playing other Aphex Twin albums?
I never really know where ambient begins and electronica ends to here’s a list of faves that I’d define as ambient…I’d second the recommendation for Eluvium’s Copia which is a classic. Also Eno’s Apollo album, Susumu Yokota’s Sakura, William Basinski’s Disintegration Loops, Murcof’s Martes etc. I’d also catagorise the likes of Max Richter under the broader ambient label personally…
A great album that’s also worth picking up is David Toop’s Ocean of Sound http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ocean-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B0000076NZ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-0844851-6254819?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190666331&sr=8-1 which charts the influences that helped lead to ambient music…there’s everything from King Tubby and My Bloody Valentine to Ornette Colman and the Beach Boys.
Lastly, bed is always the place to listen to ambient…just lie back and let it wash over you.
I never really know where ambient begins and electronica ends to here’s a list of faves that I’d define as ambient…I’d second the recommendation for Eluvium’s Copia which is a classic. Also Eno’s Apollo album, Susumu Yokota’s Sakura, William Basinski’s Disintegration Loops, Murcof’s Martes etc. I’d also catagorise the likes of Max Richter under the broader ambient label personally…
A great album that’s also worth picking up is David Toop’s Ocean of Sound http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ocean-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B0000076NZ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-0844851-6254819?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190666331&sr=8-1 which charts the influences that helped lead to ambient music…there’s everything from King Tubby and My Bloody Valentine to Ornette Colman and the Beach Boys.
Lastly, bed is always the place to listen to ambient…just lie back and let it wash over you.
I tend to go through periods of listening to only what I describe as ambient music. I don’t know why that is, its just right depending on day/mood etc.
My recommendations are Scanner[ROBIN RIMBAUD] lots of free downloads at his web page, Stephen Vitiello: Listening to Donald Judd, 2007 & Bright and Dusty Things, 2001.
Also other names to lookout for, Motor from Russia, he hovers around the borders of many musical styles including ambient, Rafael Toral, KinoSport, and Alpha_Trajectory to name but a few.
Finally the Internet archive is a great place to find a lot of very interesting music including ambient.
I tend to go through periods of listening to only what I describe as ambient music. I don’t know why that is, its just right depending on day/mood etc.
My recommendations are Scanner[ROBIN RIMBAUD] lots of free downloads at his web page, Stephen Vitiello: Listening to Donald Judd, 2007 & Bright and Dusty Things, 2001.
Also other names to lookout for, Motor from Russia, he hovers around the borders of many musical styles including ambient, Rafael Toral, KinoSport, and Alpha_Trajectory to name but a few.
Finally the Internet archive is a great place to find a lot of very interesting music including ambient.
think it’s pretty hard to categorise anything, especially entire albums, as wholly ambient. sometimes i think it’s another (yawn) invented term to describe anything thats slower and alternative electronic, which could vary greatly. like lots of other music though i love it. the above 3 mentioned happen to be three of my favourite albums of all time. i think its stuff you can listen to whenever, wherever, all down to mood though, like evertything else. you’re not gonna stick on UF Orb if you’re psychin yourself up for somethin are ya?
think it’s pretty hard to categorise anything, especially entire albums, as wholly ambient. sometimes i think it’s another (yawn) invented term to describe anything thats slower and alternative electronic, which could vary greatly. like lots of other music though i love it. the above 3 mentioned happen to be three of my favourite albums of all time. i think its stuff you can listen to whenever, wherever, all down to mood though, like evertything else. you’re not gonna stick on UF Orb if you’re psychin yourself up for somethin are ya?
Though I t’aint delving into this discussion right now, I’ve just been listening to a bit of Amiina earlier and currently playing on my Winamp is Lambchop’s “Pre”.
That’s what I’d listen to for ambient music. I think it has it’s place and after more than 23 years on this planet, I find that while I still enjoy going mental to some ‘bangin tune’ while I’m out and still love listening to something exciting, I increasingly feel the need to stick on something that nicely compliments my physical exhaustion, rather than something that tries to prod me out of it at 140bpm.
Y’know.
Though I t’aint delving into this discussion right now, I’ve just been listening to a bit of Amiina earlier and currently playing on my Winamp is Lambchop’s “Pre”.
That’s what I’d listen to for ambient music. I think it has it’s place and after more than 23 years on this planet, I find that while I still enjoy going mental to some ‘bangin tune’ while I’m out and still love listening to something exciting, I increasingly feel the need to stick on something that nicely compliments my physical exhaustion, rather than something that tries to prod me out of it at 140bpm.
Y’know.
i love the stuff mentioned above, but i really must mention biosphere and theres some great stuff by ryoji ikeda. there’s a great ambient bside by radiohead called ‘a reminder’ …afx has a tune on drukqs 2nd on the 2nd cd.. sounds like its bells or something… amazing…
plus the best ambient tune of all time – vletrmx by autechre. unbelievable. all done with a guitar and pedals. apparently.
i love a bit of ambient, especially while i’m writing. i find it much more conducive to creative thought than anything with beats- distracting to that part of the brain..
i love the stuff mentioned above, but i really must mention biosphere and theres some great stuff by ryoji ikeda. there’s a great ambient bside by radiohead called ‘a reminder’ …afx has a tune on drukqs 2nd on the 2nd cd.. sounds like its bells or something… amazing…
plus the best ambient tune of all time – vletrmx by autechre. unbelievable. all done with a guitar and pedals. apparently.
i love a bit of ambient, especially while i’m writing. i find it much more conducive to creative thought than anything with beats- distracting to that part of the brain..
Stars of the Lid! some of the most beautiful music ever made.
http://www.myspace.com/starsofthelid
Also check out any of the more drone based stuff on the kranky label. Now!
Stars of the Lid! some of the most beautiful music ever made.
http://www.myspace.com/starsofthelid
Also check out any of the more drone based stuff on the kranky label. Now!
Full free album of boodaful moozik…
http://karhumusic.sesser.at/wordpress/?page_id=10
You have no excuse.
Full free album of boodaful moozik…
http://karhumusic.sesser.at/wordpress/?page_id=10
You have no excuse.
ops…
forgot to add a link to a site that offers reviews and dl’s of
***free***
gentle / electro-accoustic / ambient / experimental / underground music.
njoi.
ops…
forgot to add a link to a site that offers reviews and dl’s of
***free***
gentle / electro-accoustic / ambient / experimental / underground music.
njoi.
and that link would be this…
===> http://rubored.wordpress.com/
sorry. posting at work means absent mindedness.
[apologies to all]
and that link would be this…
===> http://rubored.wordpress.com/
sorry. posting at work means absent mindedness.
[apologies to all]
How could I have forgotten Vletrmx? The Autechre ‘Garbage’ EP is a must-have I reckon…I’m liking the sounds of Stars of the lid, never come across them before so good to get the recommendation
On a similar vein, can I recommend Rod Modell plays Michael Mantra? Don’t know if you know Modell, he’s better known for his Deepchord stuff…
Re: the original post…funnily enough, the M83 tracks posted on this site sound much better than other stuff I’ve heard from them. I don’t know the Before the Dawn Heals album but I had the Dead Cities one and while there were some great sounds on it, I also felt it got a little bombastic at times..it could just be me though i guess, everyone else seemed to love it.
How could I have forgotten Vletrmx? The Autechre ‘Garbage’ EP is a must-have I reckon…I’m liking the sounds of Stars of the lid, never come across them before so good to get the recommendation
On a similar vein, can I recommend Rod Modell plays Michael Mantra? Don’t know if you know Modell, he’s better known for his Deepchord stuff…
Re: the original post…funnily enough, the M83 tracks posted on this site sound much better than other stuff I’ve heard from them. I don’t know the Before the Dawn Heals album but I had the Dead Cities one and while there were some great sounds on it, I also felt it got a little bombastic at times..it could just be me though i guess, everyone else seemed to love it.
I don’t think I really know what ambient is, or it’s too wide-ranging a term to be very useful. It’s not a genre label I’ve been too conscious of for years. I guess all those ‘ambient’ compilations from way back really flogged the term to death.
Two things on the comments so far:
Kidney: Ryoji Ikeda has two installations/performances on for one night only in Dublin very soon. Should be very interesting.
Everyone who mentioned Copia – I concur!
I don’t think I really know what ambient is, or it’s too wide-ranging a term to be very useful. It’s not a genre label I’ve been too conscious of for years. I guess all those ‘ambient’ compilations from way back really flogged the term to death.
Two things on the comments so far:
Kidney: Ryoji Ikeda has two installations/performances on for one night only in Dublin very soon. Should be very interesting.
Everyone who mentioned Copia – I concur!
Howie B’s “Music for Babies” is a good un. Any of the Sosumu Yokota ambient stuff too, particularily Sakura and Grinning Cat.
Of course, the whole (original) point of the genre was that you didnt notice it and it just lent a certain ‘feel’ to a place kind of invalidates my recommendations.
this is an ambient post, pay no heed, and just let it seep into your subconscious. whooosshhhhhh, whoossshhhhhh etc
Howie B’s “Music for Babies” is a good un. Any of the Sosumu Yokota ambient stuff too, particularily Sakura and Grinning Cat.
Of course, the whole (original) point of the genre was that you didnt notice it and it just lent a certain ‘feel’ to a place kind of invalidates my recommendations.
this is an ambient post, pay no heed, and just let it seep into your subconscious. whooosshhhhhh, whoossshhhhhh etc
Would second Autechre and Sosumu Yakota (one of the toughest phone interviews EVER). I’d have to throw in older acts like the Orb and some stuff that I loved back in the early 90s but probably sounds crap and dated now like 808 State and Dave Angel.
Some of Orbital’s work probably counts too (‘Attached’ on Snivilisation).
Would second Autechre and Sosumu Yakota (one of the toughest phone interviews EVER). I’d have to throw in older acts like the Orb and some stuff that I loved back in the early 90s but probably sounds crap and dated now like 808 State and Dave Angel.
Some of Orbital’s work probably counts too (‘Attached’ on Snivilisation).
Great topic and questions.
As a recent and enthusiastic convertee to ambient music, I’d second Eluvium’s Copia, a beautiful album. I also adore KLF’s Chill Out which documents a train journey across America using ambient noises (in the true sense of the phrase) and the odd electrifying beat.
I’m currently listening to Yakota’s classical music-sampling Symbol, not exactly ambient but a record I’d highly recommend none the less.
I’m a huge fan, too, of Global Communication’s 76:14. I’d recommend most of the space bleepy back catalogue of Peter Namlook, especially his first collaboration with Richie Hawtin, the wonderful From Within I. I really dig Hawtin’s own Plastikman project, Sheet One. I’ve sourced most of these albums through the cheapo emusic website.
Like Nialler, I’d listen to ambient music when needing to concentrate at work and before taking a nap, but also for those quiet times at home when nobody else is around — it’s also good music to have on at dinner time. I’d wager its better for your digestion than the Sex Pistols.
Great topic and questions.
As a recent and enthusiastic convertee to ambient music, I’d second Eluvium’s Copia, a beautiful album. I also adore KLF’s Chill Out which documents a train journey across America using ambient noises (in the true sense of the phrase) and the odd electrifying beat.
I’m currently listening to Yakota’s classical music-sampling Symbol, not exactly ambient but a record I’d highly recommend none the less.
I’m a huge fan, too, of Global Communication’s 76:14. I’d recommend most of the space bleepy back catalogue of Peter Namlook, especially his first collaboration with Richie Hawtin, the wonderful From Within I. I really dig Hawtin’s own Plastikman project, Sheet One. I’ve sourced most of these albums through the cheapo emusic website.
Like Nialler, I’d listen to ambient music when needing to concentrate at work and before taking a nap, but also for those quiet times at home when nobody else is around — it’s also good music to have on at dinner time. I’d wager its better for your digestion than the Sex Pistols.
Oh god! I forgot about Plastikman! Consumed is one of the best ambient albums ever! So brooding and subtle. Must dig that one out, havent given it a listen in a long time.
Oh god! I forgot about Plastikman! Consumed is one of the best ambient albums ever! So brooding and subtle. Must dig that one out, havent given it a listen in a long time.
biosphere’s substrata.
well worth wrapping yourself up in.
biosphere’s substrata.
well worth wrapping yourself up in.
Have a listen to DJ Scallywag’s Aurora Borealis.
http://sscumberbun.blogspot.com/
….
Have a listen to DJ Scallywag’s Aurora Borealis.
http://sscumberbun.blogspot.com/
….
Thanks for writing a great blog. I am very happy to have found it.
Nice to see that I’m not the only one grappling with the borders of genres (see my blogentry on collective musical memory).
For me ambient is to electronica is like “string music” is to “classical music”. That said I am not a great consumer of ambient. I would however put music like Thievery Corporation and Röyksopp close, and perhaps also music that straddles the boundary between jazz/world/electronica like Gotan Project and Koop.
When I listen? All the time!
Thanks for writing a great blog. I am very happy to have found it.
Nice to see that I’m not the only one grappling with the borders of genres (see my blogentry on collective musical memory).
For me ambient is to electronica is like “string music” is to “classical music”. That said I am not a great consumer of ambient. I would however put music like Thievery Corporation and Röyksopp close, and perhaps also music that straddles the boundary between jazz/world/electronica like Gotan Project and Koop.
When I listen? All the time!
Wow, great response!
I’ll be checking as much as I can of this out in the next few weeks. we’ll see if it warrants a follow-up post.
Wow, great response!
I’ll be checking as much as I can of this out in the next few weeks. we’ll see if it warrants a follow-up post.
The new Stars Of The Lid album is incredibly beautiful. Walked up the Grand Canal listening to it for a few hours on Sunday, absolute bliss. Sakura and Grinning Cat by Susuma Yokata, Endless Summer by Fennesz. Music for Airports is great too.
The new Stars Of The Lid album is incredibly beautiful. Walked up the Grand Canal listening to it for a few hours on Sunday, absolute bliss. Sakura and Grinning Cat by Susuma Yokata, Endless Summer by Fennesz. Music for Airports is great too.
Click on the links below for
FREE and LEGAL (seriously)
‘ambient’ releases –
because the only meaningful discussion of music occurs with the ears.
http://www.12rec.net/Release_Crepusculum_036.htm
http://www.thinner.cc/releases.php?r=apl038&PHPSESSID=14044e731d0ec005d9ea64c5bbb8b148
http://www.serein.co.uk/music/ser013/
http://www.ionetlabel.com/io029.php
http://www.laridae.at/getrelease.php?release_id=laridae025
http://www.bleepwatch.com/?cat=2
njoi !
Click on the links below for
FREE and LEGAL (seriously)
‘ambient’ releases –
because the only meaningful discussion of music occurs with the ears.
http://www.12rec.net/Release_Crepusculum_036.htm
http://www.thinner.cc/releases.php?r=apl038&PHPSESSID=14044e731d0ec005d9ea64c5bbb8b148
http://www.serein.co.uk/music/ser013/
http://www.ionetlabel.com/io029.php
http://www.laridae.at/getrelease.php?release_id=laridae025
http://www.bleepwatch.com/?cat=2
njoi !
For my money, its gotta be Fila Brazilia or the KLF.
But Fila’s later stuff aint quite hitting the spot for me, their anotherlatenight album from almost a decade ago still gets a run out. Usually when i’m too brain dead to cope with dub or hip hip.
For my money, its gotta be Fila Brazilia or the KLF.
But Fila’s later stuff aint quite hitting the spot for me, their anotherlatenight album from almost a decade ago still gets a run out. Usually when i’m too brain dead to cope with dub or hip hip.
Many of these i’m sure are mentioned above. Eno maintained that ambient music was exactly for this..ambience. So treating it as enriched background music is nothing undermining to the music i think. It will permeate any setting better than so-called Muzak.
So my list-
Minimalist composers- Although not attributed to ambient, the use of repetition that creates meditation in the work of Glass, Reich, Riley and Young (the most praised of minimalists), is an essential basis for ambient works to follow.
Brian Eno- Ambient Works/ Discreet Music/ Music for Films etc
Stars Of The Lid, William Basinski, Deaf Center, Eluvium, Vangelis, Global Communications, The Caretaker, Harold Budd, Biosphere, Max Richter, Labradford and a heavy quota of the Kranky records family, Christ. (original Boards Of Canada collective guy), Library Tapes, Port- Royal, Susumu Yokota (especially the excellent ‘Sakura’), Brian Mcbride of SOTL’s solo work and some of the Hafler Trio’s pieces. Oh and Cliff Martinez’s soundtrack for the remake of Solaris is excellent if you find a copy.
There’s plenty i’ve missed but all the above have moments of real beauty and at time emotional poignancy in their work.
Many of these i’m sure are mentioned above. Eno maintained that ambient music was exactly for this..ambience. So treating it as enriched background music is nothing undermining to the music i think. It will permeate any setting better than so-called Muzak.
So my list-
Minimalist composers- Although not attributed to ambient, the use of repetition that creates meditation in the work of Glass, Reich, Riley and Young (the most praised of minimalists), is an essential basis for ambient works to follow.
Brian Eno- Ambient Works/ Discreet Music/ Music for Films etc
Stars Of The Lid, William Basinski, Deaf Center, Eluvium, Vangelis, Global Communications, The Caretaker, Harold Budd, Biosphere, Max Richter, Labradford and a heavy quota of the Kranky records family, Christ. (original Boards Of Canada collective guy), Library Tapes, Port- Royal, Susumu Yokota (especially the excellent ‘Sakura’), Brian Mcbride of SOTL’s solo work and some of the Hafler Trio’s pieces. Oh and Cliff Martinez’s soundtrack for the remake of Solaris is excellent if you find a copy.
There’s plenty i’ve missed but all the above have moments of real beauty and at time emotional poignancy in their work.
Excellent discussion, indeed, and good questions. While I’ve occasionally listened to ambient as a soporific or as a recovery aid after sticking head in bassbins, usually it’s empty-house/home-alone music for me. Great for cooking to.
One release I don’t think I’ve seen mentioned here, on Leaf, is Slim Westerns, a 2-volume affair by A Small, Good Thing, a decidedly odd, occasionaly unsettling yet often soothifying concoction of experimental ambience and slide-guitar and fingerpicky westernisms, replete with typewriter noises and barking dogs and chirruping insects; splendidly evocative of some sort of surreally desolate desert night-time…
Excellent discussion, indeed, and good questions. While I’ve occasionally listened to ambient as a soporific or as a recovery aid after sticking head in bassbins, usually it’s empty-house/home-alone music for me. Great for cooking to.
One release I don’t think I’ve seen mentioned here, on Leaf, is Slim Westerns, a 2-volume affair by A Small, Good Thing, a decidedly odd, occasionaly unsettling yet often soothifying concoction of experimental ambience and slide-guitar and fingerpicky westernisms, replete with typewriter noises and barking dogs and chirruping insects; splendidly evocative of some sort of surreally desolate desert night-time…