Currently enjoying Dust to Dust very much. Great interview, too.
I want a recommendation engine for 'wide open desert' music - stuff like Dust to Dust, the Hired Hand soundtrack, any Scott Tuma, Eyvind Kang's Live Low to the Ground...
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Saturday, March 18, 2017 12:39 PM
Those last three are the biggies, imo, assuming you probably already know the Paris, Texas soundtrack. Do you know a band called Padang Food Tigers? They definitely hit on this vibe quite a bit, despite being about as far from the desert landscape as you can get (UK, iirc). Also, there are a lot of people working this angle from a dronier / noisier angle, like pedal steel guitarist Chas Smith (not to be confused with drummer Ches Smith), William Fowler Collins, and probably a few others.
There are probably people who can direct you to the "right" Calexico records, too (there are instrumental albums that definitely touch on this style) but I'm not really well-versed enough to say
― Wimmels, Saturday, March 18, 2017 1:03 PM
Yes - love the Food Tigers! And, aye, definitely uk based. Paris, Texas is all-time. I'd forgotten Chas Smith. Santa Fe is a hell of a thing. Will check William Fowler Collins, for sure. Cheers.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Saturday, March 18, 2017 1:10 PM
I want a recommendation engine for 'wide open desert' music
See also:
Susan Alcorn - And i await the Resurrection (maybe not her best, but its what I have)Barn Owl - anyRy Cooder - Paris, Texas of course, also look for Trespass, Last Man Standing OSTsDead Texan - eponymous debutBruce Kaphan - Slider: Ambient Excursions for Pedal Steel GuitarLong Desert Cowboy - anyRainer (Ptacek) - Nocturnes
― Sanpaku, Saturday, March 18, 2017 11:14 PM (five minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
if Live Low To The Earth In The Iron Age is part of this genre, I'm starting a thread
― sleeve, Saturday, March 18, 2017 11:19 PM (0 seconds ago) Bookmark
― sleeve, Sunday, 19 March 2017 06:21 (seven years ago) link
that Eyvind Kang record is one of my favorite things ever.
does Scenic fit in here? it's been a long tiem since I heard those records.
― sleeve, Sunday, 19 March 2017 06:22 (seven years ago) link
thanks in advance thread
― example (crüt), Sunday, 19 March 2017 06:30 (seven years ago) link
I forgot to mention the two Slim Westerns albums by A Small, Good, Thing (aka O Yuki Conjugate).
― Sanpaku, Sunday, 19 March 2017 06:48 (seven years ago) link
I think of Scenic as more western tinged instrumental rock. There's an omnipresent drum kit, which keeps it out of ambient territory.
― Sanpaku, Sunday, 19 March 2017 06:50 (seven years ago) link
Though they include a few songs, the two albums by Maggie Björklund (Coming Home (2010) and Shaken (2014)) may belong here, too.
― Sanpaku, Sunday, 19 March 2017 06:58 (seven years ago) link
most calexico, i think?friends of dean martinez
― mookieproof, Sunday, 19 March 2017 06:58 (seven years ago) link
thx for the A Small, Good, Thing recommendations, I am a big OYC fan and have always meant to check them out.
― sleeve, Sunday, 19 March 2017 07:04 (seven years ago) link
I feel like some specific Dirty Three tracks might fit in here as well, or Tren Brothers?
― sleeve, Sunday, 19 March 2017 07:05 (seven years ago) link
Funny somebody mentioning Scenic which I think was intentionally influenced by the local Arizona scenery.I always get images of the long range desert group driving landrovers across the sahara when listening to tracks from Jamahiriya by Licher's earlier Savage Republic. Which was my immediate response to the title question.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 19 March 2017 07:09 (seven years ago) link
The most recent Daniel Lanois album, Goodbye to Language - a whole album of droney pedal steel. My favorite album of 2016.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Sunday, 19 March 2017 07:22 (seven years ago) link
surprised no one's mentioned earth this side of hex; or printing in the infernal method. or are they outside the boundaries?
― The sandwiches looked quite dank. (contenderizer), Sunday, 19 March 2017 07:56 (seven years ago) link
William Tyler?
― just sayin, Sunday, 19 March 2017 08:27 (seven years ago) link
earth - hex was my second thought
my first thought was the track 'despite the roar' by bardo pond
― an uptempo Pop/Hip Hop mentality (imago), Sunday, 19 March 2017 09:55 (seven years ago) link
black sun ensemble - the self-titled one on reckless with a goldfish flying thru space on the cover
― Benylin Ascent (NickB), Sunday, 19 March 2017 10:09 (seven years ago) link
Yeah was going to mention Mr Acedo and folks. 1st lp got a cd reissue a few years ago but not sure fi it's still around.I came in via Lambent Flame and wasn't sure what track was very deserty but since Acedo came from the desert region I think it is heavily reflected in the music.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 19 March 2017 10:14 (seven years ago) link
gosh lambent flame, that record was not kind to my ears. 2nd s/t is just lovely the whole way through
― Benylin Ascent (NickB), Sunday, 19 March 2017 10:17 (seven years ago) link
Neil Young's Dead Man soundtrack.
― MikoMcha, Sunday, 19 March 2017 11:07 (seven years ago) link
This is magnificent. A day imagining the loneliness, the wind a fibrous wall... I keep thinking of a line from the Monkey Wrench Gang: 'the desert eased his vague anger'.
I know vocals and drums wreck the spirit of this kind of stuff, but Whitewater by Kyuss is pure desert.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Sunday, 19 March 2017 11:10 (seven years ago) link
I bought a Scenic record once just because of the impressive brown paper packaging. I didn't go back to the music inside very much though.
The Bruce Kaphan slide guitar thing sounds cool
― calstars, Sunday, 19 March 2017 11:17 (seven years ago) link
Probably goes without saying but the new Hired Hand tribute record on Scissor Tail is beautiful and is wide open space music all the way. It's on Spotify if that's your thing.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Sunday, 19 March 2017 11:30 (seven years ago) link
african desert music (made by people who grew up in and live in deserts!) like BARGOU 08, TAMIKREST, TINARIWEN, and BOMBINO isn't half bad, either
― reggie (qualmsley), Sunday, 19 March 2017 15:52 (seven years ago) link
Six Organs of Admittance (especially the albums The Sun Awakens and Shelter From the Ash)
― bernard snowy, Sunday, 19 March 2017 16:18 (seven years ago) link
Would including Gil Evans's arrangements be too much of a stretch? Sketches of Spain and parts of Out of the Cool and Indvidualism of... always evoke the desert for me.
Western Skies Motel are good at this stuff. Settlers from last year is great.
Cheers for the Slim Westerns recommendation.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Sunday, 19 March 2017 16:25 (seven years ago) link
A couple other aesthetics that are distinct but related: I see Dead Texan has been mentioned already, but I want to put in a plug for "Sun Drugs" off the underrated Stars of the Lid release The Ballasted Orchestra, as it totally nails the feeling of laying in a wide-open field under a cloudless sky listening to the rumble of distant jet aircraft. Also, the recent GYBE album with the title beginning Asunder, Sweet... gives me a very strong out-of-the-blistering-midday-heat, into-the-cool-shade-of-the-suq vibe
― bernard snowy, Sunday, 19 March 2017 16:28 (seven years ago) link
Labradford - Mi Media Naranja
^ good twangy morricone vibes, but also twinkly electronics that make me think of satellites flying across a vast starry sky
― Benylin Ascent (NickB), Sunday, 19 March 2017 18:24 (seven years ago) link
^ a midway point between eno and morricone, a desert drifter looking up into the night sky and seeing twinkling satellites sailing across the vastness overhead
― Benylin Ascent (NickB), Sunday, 19 March 2017 18:32 (seven years ago) link
Lol fucking phone playing tricks on me
― Benylin Ascent (NickB), Sunday, 19 March 2017 18:33 (seven years ago) link
― example (crüt), Sunday, March 19, 2017 1:30 AM (twelve hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― jason waterfalls (gbx), Sunday, 19 March 2017 18:34 (seven years ago) link
Should add for anyone who missed it on the Steve Roach thread that the Dust to Dust mentioned up top which started this is his collaborative album with Roger King:
https://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dust-to-dust
It is and remains one of my all time favorite albums.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 19 March 2017 18:36 (seven years ago) link
If people have mentioned Sketches of Spain the Grateful Dead's lift as Spanish Jam should also fit as should other of their stuff.
I was thinking bits of QMS too especially Calvary.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 19 March 2017 18:41 (seven years ago) link
oh yeah and on the QMS tip there are some longer Rangda pieces ("Plain Of Jars", "...Hermetic Museum") that fit in here, and Sun City Girls' Funeral Mariachi album (but not much else of theirs imo)
― sleeve, Sunday, 19 March 2017 19:09 (seven years ago) link
this thread was better when it was a little more specialized and not "this drone band used clean guitars and a slide once"
― Wimmels, Sunday, 19 March 2017 19:45 (seven years ago) link
ah yes the long 13hr lifespan of this thread
― jason waterfalls (gbx), Sunday, 19 March 2017 19:48 (seven years ago) link
Brokeback, Brokeback and the Black Rock
― Wozniak on Kimye's Baby (jaymc), Sunday, 19 March 2017 19:52 (seven years ago) link
― just sayin, Sunday, March 19, 2017 4:27 AM (eleven hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Absolutely William Tyler!
― Evan, Sunday, 19 March 2017 19:57 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRGns0huaCM
This is my favorite kind of Calexico and as mentioned above it fits the thread theme very well.
― Evan, Sunday, 19 March 2017 20:01 (seven years ago) link
I could certainly recommend the proper instrumental/experimental Calexico stuff if anyone was actually interested.
― Evan, Sunday, 19 March 2017 20:08 (seven years ago) link
Train Songs by Two Dollar Guitar.
― heaven parker (anagram), Sunday, 19 March 2017 20:13 (seven years ago) link
Brian Grainger – Blue Wheatfield: https://wil-ru.bandcamp.com/album/blue-wheatfieldlots of stuff by Expo '70; e.g., Inaudible Bicoastal Trajectory: https://aguirrerecords.bandcamp.com/album/inaudible-bicoastal-trajectory
― example (crüt), Sunday, 19 March 2017 20:19 (seven years ago) link
https://www.discogs.com/Garlo-Vent-De-Guitares/release/1575820
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jjIhVE7ek4
― Milton Parker, Sunday, 19 March 2017 20:29 (seven years ago) link
man I had forgotten about that Two Dollar Guitar album
thanks to crut for those last two as well
probably everyone here has heard Brightblack Morning Light but they definitely fit
Brightblack Morning Light ... WTF?
― sleeve, Sunday, 19 March 2017 20:50 (seven years ago) link
"Susan Alcorn - And i await the Resurrection (maybe not her best, but its what I have)"
you need to get her extremely lovely Soledad album, Sanpaku or anyone who digs this aesthetic.
― calzino, Sunday, 19 March 2017 20:56 (seven years ago) link
I'd take a more desert-focussed Calexcio primer, Evan. Cheers. 'Hot Rail' is fantastic.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Sunday, 19 March 2017 21:10 (seven years ago) link
Date Palms "Dusted Sessions"
― daily growing, Sunday, 19 March 2017 21:39 (seven years ago) link
re: Calexico, The Black Light and Spoke are both great for winding/long stretches, southern Utah driving. also, seconding Dirty Three and Tren Brothers. Whatever You Love You Are is a beauty, though it's less propulsive. Bad Timing by Jim O'Rourke is an absolute slam dunk.
― braunld (Lowell N. Behold'n), Sunday, 19 March 2017 21:47 (seven years ago) link
I recall Lanterna, who incidentally did a split release with Scenic, being described as "atmospheric desert music" or some such
― a but (brimstead), Sunday, 19 March 2017 22:22 (seven years ago) link
I loved all the Yo La Tengo music in Old Joy--not sure if that fits your definition, but it does recall the Paris, Texas soundtrack, I think, and they do do a lot of driving in the movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcuXOtwZSiw
― clemenza, Sunday, 19 March 2017 22:27 (seven years ago) link
Yawning Man
Meat Puppets debut and second
― Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Sunday, 19 March 2017 22:58 (seven years ago) link
http://www.bendingcorners.com/2005/desert_moments/ is a good mix of this sort of thing
― I hear from this arsehole again, he's going in the river (James Morrison), Sunday, 19 March 2017 23:33 (seven years ago) link
Would like to nominate “Ain’t Talkin’” by Bob Dylan (Modern Times album) for this thread.
Also: Andean music is pretty much made for this - high desert in particular (e.g., Inti Illimani, Atahualpa Yupanqui)
― never have i been a blue calm sea (collardio gelatinous), Thursday, 22 February 2018 05:17 (six years ago) link
Co-sign the Lotto album. The Instant Classic label is a goldmine right now.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Thursday, 22 February 2018 09:12 (six years ago) link
Bull of Heaven have a (mostly deserved) reputation for being a meme/gimmick/rymbait act, but I must admit that Return of Ghost Sheriff is some of the better desert ambient I've heard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibu4bdRWCZQ
― the yolk sustains us, we eat whites for days (unregistered), Monday, 2 April 2018 01:31 (six years ago) link
Thought this would be about Become Desert
― Moo Vaughn, Monday, 2 April 2018 03:22 (six years ago) link
My son out of the blue asked me if I'd 'ever been to a desert' before and I sort of have (drove from LA to Vegas, Dungeness is classified as a desert, a couple of the Cape Verde islands, particularly Boa Vista) but damn do I want to go to the desert right now. Doing the next best thing and listening to Paris, Texas.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Monday, 20 April 2020 18:36 (four years ago) link
this is more like a fata morgana in the desert:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3YwOYjrqbQ
― walking towards the sun since 2007 (alex in mainhattan), Monday, 25 May 2020 15:25 (three years ago) link
some incredible acoustic psych released a few months ago that i believe fits this mold:https://gardenportal.bandcamp.com/album/beacon
― trapped out the barndo (crüt), Monday, 25 May 2020 17:21 (three years ago) link
I love them!!!!
― sleeve, Monday, 25 May 2020 17:25 (three years ago) link
really happy we have this connection crut, I am in a FB record geek group with Matt and Jen and it has been great to hear their sound develop.
― sleeve, Monday, 25 May 2020 17:26 (three years ago) link
the solo Rolin and the Powers-Rolin duo recs are more post-Fahey but I agree that Cercyz' singing bowls etc. take this to a different wide-scope psychedelic place
― sleeve, Monday, 25 May 2020 17:32 (three years ago) link
nice! I'm friends w/the dude who runs the label :)
― trapped out the barndo (crüt), Monday, 25 May 2020 19:42 (three years ago) link
Beacon is a pretty cool record
― weekly shopper helper (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 26 May 2020 05:28 (three years ago) link
been lucky to play a handful of times with matt and jen, they are some of nicest people i've ever met and the real deal. happy to see them getting more reknown. true underground stalwarts
― global tetrahedron, Tuesday, 26 May 2020 18:59 (three years ago) link
they've also been putting on shows at a laundromat in cleveland, and i think it might be the coolest venue in the country. well, was, with covid. you get the idea. imagine seeing bitchin bajas at a laundromat!
― global tetrahedron, Tuesday, 26 May 2020 19:10 (three years ago) link
SUSS posted the playlist for their recent Ambient Country mix and it's pretty great:
1. Swimming in a Western Hotel - PanAmerican2. Body in a Room- Bing & Ruth3. Thresholds ( through a hole in the fence) - Walt McClements4. News About Heaven- Marisa Anderson, William Tyler 5. Ending- Bruce Langhorne6. Love Scene - Jerry Garcia7. When You Sleep - Japancakes8. Welcome - Harmonia & Eno9. Desert Rose - Daniel Lanois10. Anteludium - Luke Schneider11. Wichita - SUSS12. Clouds - Bruce Kaphan
― Elvis Telecom, Thursday, 21 April 2022 06:27 (two years ago) link
Thanks Elvis - this feels right up my alley. Going to check out everything here I've not heard before.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 22 April 2022 20:16 (two years ago) link
Thinking that Bruce Langhorne's Hired Hand soundtrack is to ambient country as Paul Giovanni's Wicker Man soundtrack is to acid folk
― doug watson, Saturday, 23 April 2022 00:04 (two years ago) link
About half of that playlist is new to me and I’m thrilled to find them. Lots to dive into as this is my exact sweet spot these days.
By coincidence I’ve been fiddling around with a playlist to scratch this itch - not just the ambient but also some more traditional songs that rise and fall out of the moodier bits. There is no order to it, and I’m still adding and subtracting as I hone it. But in any case folks on this thread might enjoy this as a kind of radio station. Shuffle away: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hfogoxEEmNfs3b8eG4u3X?si=rJI-IObaShi0kY4KxuXU9A
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Saturday, 23 April 2022 00:25 (two years ago) link
This playlist is great pgwp! Thanks for the share.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 24 April 2022 10:34 (two years ago) link
Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying it.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Sunday, 24 April 2022 13:37 (two years ago) link
Cross post from the Fahey thread: the latest Imaginational Anthem compilation, featuring latest pedal steel excursions totally fits this thread's remit: https://tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com/album/luke-schneider-presents-imaginational-anthem-vol-xi-chrome-universal-a-survey-of-modern-pedal-steel (on Spotify too, if that's your thing).
― Shard-borne Beatles with their drowsy hums (Chinaski), Wednesday, 18 January 2023 21:08 (one year ago) link
oo la la, thanks for the cross post
― ꙮ (map), Thursday, 19 January 2023 02:54 (one year ago) link
Speaking of SUSS, the new self-titled one, a compilation of four different EPs, is really incredible. I love the vibe.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 30 January 2023 22:53 (one year ago) link
seems relevant
https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/ambient-country-list
― broken breakbeat (sleeve), Sunday, 4 June 2023 20:16 (ten months ago) link
so I guess this stuff is called "ambient country" now, ok
Uncut included this Ambient Americana compilation CD with the Velvet Underground issue they put out a couple of years ago, might be relevant:https://www.discogs.com/release/17866393-Various-Ambient-Americana-A-Road-Trip-Across-Psychic-State-Lines
― brimstead, Sunday, 4 June 2023 20:23 (ten months ago) link
There was a nice NTS show back in February: https://www.nts.live/shows/the-nts-guide-to/episodes/the-nts-guide-to-ambient-americana-16th-february-2023
― Stars of the Lidl (Chinaski), Sunday, 4 June 2023 20:33 (ten months ago) link
I've been slowly putting together a playlist of 'wide open desert' and adjacent stuff. It's called Vaulted Ceiling, Vaulted Sky as some of it is in cathedrals and resonating chambers but chambers/canyons who's counting? Fill yer boots if it's your thing.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/504idjJNXjNKl2xajh8Pbv?si=b5fed292a37f4e41
― Stars of the Lidl (Chinaski), Sunday, 4 June 2023 20:41 (ten months ago) link
i know the stuff in this thread is more of an 'ambient' focus, but easter everywhere always sounds great in the desert ime
― ꙮ (map), Sunday, 4 June 2023 20:56 (ten months ago) link
They were mentioned before upthread, but last week I took a road trip through the desert and can confirm that this album is a playlist must.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5ZmZd6fRRQ
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 5 June 2023 07:35 (ten months ago) link
New Boxhead Ensemble!
https://boxheadensemble.bandcamp.com/album/ancient-music
― daily growing, Tuesday, 1 August 2023 16:37 (eight months ago) link
This band from Tuscon is on tour and I'm feeling their wide open desert vibe:
https://compersionmusic.bandcamp.com/track/kitchen-mirror
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 2 August 2023 16:05 (eight months ago) link
Swell's 41
― Cow_Art, Wednesday, 2 August 2023 16:33 (eight months ago) link
That's a favorite!
― But his face would not turn into hot Kirby (Evan), Wednesday, 2 August 2023 16:34 (eight months ago) link
This JAB release is very wide, very open
https://johnalsobennett.bandcamp.com/album/out-there-in-the-middle-of-nowhere
― ionjusit (P. Flick), Wednesday, 2 August 2023 18:59 (eight months ago) link
that JAB record is incredible, love it.
w/o being too self-promo here, my band's stuff definitely fits into this zone
https://prairiewolfcf.bandcamp.com/album/prairiewolf
― tylerw, Friday, 4 August 2023 16:55 (eight months ago) link
it does and it's good!
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 4 August 2023 17:30 (eight months ago) link
*looks up a few entries* Steve S I'm seeing that Compersion band playing at a venue called the Warehouse in SF next Wednesday but googling for it is impossible. (They're not talking about the bar out at Port Costa, are they?)
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 5 August 2023 00:13 (eight months ago) link
It is a uh... "low-key venue" that's been shut down a few times for obvious reasons.
I've only been 2x, Spiritual Cramp last year and then Fentanyl last month.
That said: not sure I feel posting the details on this thread, what is the best way to get a hold of you in a private manner?
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Saturday, 5 August 2023 05:20 (eight months ago) link
How did I not hear about a new, 90 minute Boxhead Ensemble album? They strike me as the sweet spot for this thread. Listening now, and it's predictably gorgeous. I had no idea Michael Krassner now runs a pizza restaurant in Phoenix.
― JonR345, Saturday, 5 August 2023 05:31 (eight months ago) link
I live in Phoenix and it is a legitimately great pizza restaurant, I strongly recommend it!
― intheblanks, Saturday, 5 August 2023 22:43 (eight months ago) link
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 6 August 2023 04:28 (eight months ago) link
emailed ya... 🙊
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Monday, 7 August 2023 19:26 (eight months ago) link
Thank ya. In 'well that's irony' territory, though, I've suffered a slight sprain around my left knee so I'm mostly not moving for a few days, so hopefully next time!
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 7 August 2023 20:08 (eight months ago) link
Get well soon Ned. I'd happily wheel you around but the pavement in that neighborhood is particularly jagged.
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 8 August 2023 15:39 (eight months ago) link
I can guess!
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 8 August 2023 16:30 (eight months ago) link
What with one thing and another, I've barely listened to music in the last two weeks. To be a fresh lawn on which the new Boxhead Ensemble falls like the first leaves of autumn makes the whole thing entirely worth it.
― (picnic, lightning) very very frightening (Chinaski), Friday, 11 August 2023 22:34 (eight months ago) link
loving this compersion track
― budo jeru, Friday, 11 August 2023 22:48 (eight months ago) link
Compersion were not only incredible live but were total IRL sweeties. <3
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Friday, 11 August 2023 23:32 (eight months ago) link
Compersion track is lovely. Making me think of 'Constant Craving', played by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Love the metal shirts, obvs (even if one is a Sade shirt, masquerading as a metal shirt).
― (picnic, lightning) very very frightening (Chinaski), Friday, 11 August 2023 23:39 (eight months ago) link