Zeromancer
Super Member
Massive Attack is trip hop influenced.
Thievery Corporation is downtempo/lounge
It gets kinda confusing with all the subgenres out there.
today's AMBIENT selection
- Thread starter shrinkboy
- Start date
Thievery Corporation is downtempo/lounge
It gets kinda confusing with all the subgenres out there.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
I think Scuzzer's answer is a good one. I would add that much "ambient" music lacks any percussive aspect, but it doesn't have to in order to fit into the category. It's a broad ranging genre with many sub-categories.
The record I'm about to list in my next post is, IMO, a great example of truly ambient and very minimal "music."
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
Oophoi
Potala (10" translucent green vinyl)
Drone Records, 2008, First pressing limited to 500 copies.
Oophoi is an Italian artist who has quite a large catalog of titles under that name. If one is interested in listening to very minimal music that still has considerable depth and creativity, Oophoi is the first that comes to my mind. This record comprises swirling drone-like sounds - probably from Tibetan singing bowls, of which Oophoi is apparently quite fond - and very little happens, yet the recording can hold one's attention and evoke a quiet, contemplative mood.
As far as I know, this 2008 10" is the only thing by Oophoi on vinyl, unfortunately. Everything else is on CD, some CD-R (which used to be available on ebay until they banned such things), and you can deal directly with the guy behind Oophoi if you choose - at least you could years ago, don't know about now. His recording titled Athlit is the only one that was released in the US, AFAIK. Most of the dozens of CDs by Oophoi that I own are quite good, and epitomize ambient and minimal music IMO.
...
Potala (10" translucent green vinyl)
Drone Records, 2008, First pressing limited to 500 copies.
Oophoi is an Italian artist who has quite a large catalog of titles under that name. If one is interested in listening to very minimal music that still has considerable depth and creativity, Oophoi is the first that comes to my mind. This record comprises swirling drone-like sounds - probably from Tibetan singing bowls, of which Oophoi is apparently quite fond - and very little happens, yet the recording can hold one's attention and evoke a quiet, contemplative mood.
As far as I know, this 2008 10" is the only thing by Oophoi on vinyl, unfortunately. Everything else is on CD, some CD-R (which used to be available on ebay until they banned such things), and you can deal directly with the guy behind Oophoi if you choose - at least you could years ago, don't know about now. His recording titled Athlit is the only one that was released in the US, AFAIK. Most of the dozens of CDs by Oophoi that I own are quite good, and epitomize ambient and minimal music IMO.
...
Zeromancer
Super Member
A very good example of ambient music is this recording.
It's one of my favorites.
Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, & Panaiotis - Deep Listening
"One of New Music's most fascinating achievements has been the importation of music performance to physical places where performance hasn't yet happened. Iannis Xenakis, for example, scripted large works for musicians spread throughout an audience. Trombonist Stuart Dempster and accordionist Pauline Oliveros ventured into unexplored territory more definitively with Deep Listening, a CD that took them into the massive, 14-foot deep Fort Worden Cistern to record their performance. As a concept, deep listening involves vastly elongated tonalities that draw cavernous echoes into the music. Dempster's trombone sails like the largest hull tanker to make music, and Oliveros's accordion plays magical tones that barely seem from the real world. Panaiotis, who performed as the third member of the Deep Listening Band after this CD, provides stretched voice, whistling, and found sounds. Meditative with all the urgency of avant-garde music, Deep Listening is an entrancing, seamless wonder. --Andrew Bartlett"
It's one of my favorites.
Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, & Panaiotis - Deep Listening
"One of New Music's most fascinating achievements has been the importation of music performance to physical places where performance hasn't yet happened. Iannis Xenakis, for example, scripted large works for musicians spread throughout an audience. Trombonist Stuart Dempster and accordionist Pauline Oliveros ventured into unexplored territory more definitively with Deep Listening, a CD that took them into the massive, 14-foot deep Fort Worden Cistern to record their performance. As a concept, deep listening involves vastly elongated tonalities that draw cavernous echoes into the music. Dempster's trombone sails like the largest hull tanker to make music, and Oliveros's accordion plays magical tones that barely seem from the real world. Panaiotis, who performed as the third member of the Deep Listening Band after this CD, provides stretched voice, whistling, and found sounds. Meditative with all the urgency of avant-garde music, Deep Listening is an entrancing, seamless wonder. --Andrew Bartlett"
analog
Tubes Are Good
This is a great thread! Is anyone familiar with Red Shift, I have looked for their albums but have yet to find any locally. They get some air play on a radio program called Alien Air Music that is on KXLU 88.9 from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on Sunday evenings.
Keep up the suggestions...I feel a record quest coming on!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVwhMZWI0U
Keep up the suggestions...I feel a record quest coming on!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVwhMZWI0U
ekmanning5
Time has told me...
shrinkboy
Addicted Member
good post, analog. i remember coming across Redshift in a search for Ambient a long time ago, but this is a good reminder.
i think coming to an accurate understanding of what Ambient actually is, is a task worth staying with. i liked the Redshift cut, but still it doesn't quite achieve the level of emptiness that marks true Ambient for me. to me it is Electronica.
many kind of use Ambient and Electronica interchangeably. and Electronica is a genre of many sub-genres. there is the whole area called 'Chill', which for many is the same as Ambient, when it isn't. for one thing, Ambient has no beats. it is more empty than full; it suggests, rather than informs. it stretches the canvas on the frame, implies some colors, but stops there. it is a music of restraint, like haiku is a literature of substraction and implication.
another candidate for Ambient that i have been meaning to post is Biosphere. here is a Youtube of one of my favorites by him, Ambient in the strongest sense. to me, that is.
looking forward to hearing others thoughts on this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjoIOs6OzNc
i think coming to an accurate understanding of what Ambient actually is, is a task worth staying with. i liked the Redshift cut, but still it doesn't quite achieve the level of emptiness that marks true Ambient for me. to me it is Electronica.
many kind of use Ambient and Electronica interchangeably. and Electronica is a genre of many sub-genres. there is the whole area called 'Chill', which for many is the same as Ambient, when it isn't. for one thing, Ambient has no beats. it is more empty than full; it suggests, rather than informs. it stretches the canvas on the frame, implies some colors, but stops there. it is a music of restraint, like haiku is a literature of substraction and implication.
another candidate for Ambient that i have been meaning to post is Biosphere. here is a Youtube of one of my favorites by him, Ambient in the strongest sense. to me, that is.
looking forward to hearing others thoughts on this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjoIOs6OzNc
Zeromancer
Super Member
I love both of those radio shows. I especially love listening to Echoes show in my car late at night
analog
Tubes Are Good
Shrinkboy,
Glad you liked the RedShift video. Thanks for the description of ambient, it is sometimes hard to get a good grip on exactly what it is and of course opinions vary. Then there are all sub genres.
Just checked out the link to the Biosphere video, good stuff. I can imagine myself late at night sitting in the sweetspot and letting my mind wander.
Glad you liked the RedShift video. Thanks for the description of ambient, it is sometimes hard to get a good grip on exactly what it is and of course opinions vary. Then there are all sub genres.
Just checked out the link to the Biosphere video, good stuff. I can imagine myself late at night sitting in the sweetspot and letting my mind wander.
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Evening Star ~ Fripp & Eno
Antilles
Robert Fripp, Guitar; Brian Eno, Tape Loops and Synthesizer
Antilles
Robert Fripp, Guitar; Brian Eno, Tape Loops and Synthesizer
shrinkboy
Addicted Member
mentioned in post #3, pic in post #8, cactus.
zero, excellent suggestion. pauline oliveros is a real pioneer in this field.
has anyone thought back to the Paul Horn 'Inside' series? again, exploiting the acoustics of different spaces- the first one, 'Inside the Taj Mahal' is a frequent visitor to my TT. the second, 'Inside II' is a tape loop experiment, with one side being an acoustic expression of the Mahabhuta's, the Elements, the flip being an improvised dialog with whale song. Mahabhuta's works better for me.
zero, excellent suggestion. pauline oliveros is a real pioneer in this field.
has anyone thought back to the Paul Horn 'Inside' series? again, exploiting the acoustics of different spaces- the first one, 'Inside the Taj Mahal' is a frequent visitor to my TT. the second, 'Inside II' is a tape loop experiment, with one side being an acoustic expression of the Mahabhuta's, the Elements, the flip being an improvised dialog with whale song. Mahabhuta's works better for me.
Mr. Lin
Lunatic Member
Another album by Roach on vinyl, of which there may only be two or three. This one is fairly common, I have it on CD but should get the vinyl, it's a great album.
First of all: Biosphere, great call! Some of their albums IMO are right on the line between ambient and down-tempo electronica, but others are 100% in the ambient column. Two favorites of mine are Autour De La Lune, and Shenzou. Some of their older albums are a little pricey now, or at least last time I checked.
Second: I agree with your explanation of ambient vs. electronica, and it's good that you've pointed it out again. The stuff people in "chill out" rooms in clubs listen to while they're coming down off an ecstasy high is not quite what we're discussing here.
grillebilly
Empty Head
Aqua Velvets
Guitar Noir
Guitar Noir
Andy_H
Behind the Wall of Sleep
Currently listening to Stars of the Lid - Stars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the Decline (CD, 2007, Kranky)
While I am nowhere near as well-versed in ambient music as some of the contributors, the term ambient usually makes me think first and foremost of electronic music. Maybe that's one reason why I find Stars of the Lid to be so intriguing - in that they're not electronic. Led by two guitarists and joined on this album by strings, brass, woodwinds and choirs, I would describe this album as a sort of minimalist modern classical played slowly and softly. It really has the ability to take my mind away from the commonplace and draw me in to the pure sound. Beautiful stuff.
While I am nowhere near as well-versed in ambient music as some of the contributors, the term ambient usually makes me think first and foremost of electronic music. Maybe that's one reason why I find Stars of the Lid to be so intriguing - in that they're not electronic. Led by two guitarists and joined on this album by strings, brass, woodwinds and choirs, I would describe this album as a sort of minimalist modern classical played slowly and softly. It really has the ability to take my mind away from the commonplace and draw me in to the pure sound. Beautiful stuff.
voltcontrol
Fizheuer Zieheuer
Excellent dreamy soundscapes Andy, didn't know this group yet.
I'm gonna be looking into them for sure, love this kind of stuff. :thmbsp:
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onepixel
.
Cool thread. I'm sorta surprised but not completely that you, shrinkboy like ambient music. Here some from my pile.
BlueTonicWorld
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL9C0fY19Zg
Cocteau Twins & Harold Budd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbgSwJa_HS0
Bugge Wesseltoft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An9Iz56hAos
Energy 52 Caf Del Mar (Michael Woods Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwivD8hDF0c
Brian Eno H.Budd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgF99zTv6nY
Llewellyn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MudupxVPZA
Tabula Rasa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qucf72ekVDc
BlueTonicWorld
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL9C0fY19Zg
Cocteau Twins & Harold Budd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbgSwJa_HS0
Bugge Wesseltoft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An9Iz56hAos
Energy 52 Caf Del Mar (Michael Woods Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwivD8hDF0c
Brian Eno H.Budd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgF99zTv6nY
Llewellyn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MudupxVPZA
Tabula Rasa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qucf72ekVDc
Zeromancer
Super Member
Good selection there.
One of my favorite Harold Budd songs is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t6FxAeL4Yo
