Ambient Recommendations

so sleepy so awake

http://soundcloud.com/etape/t-12

Surprised Biosphere's substrata did not get mentioned as a "field recordings mixed with music" example.

I'm not sure if there are actual field recordings on that album? I remember reading a interview of him before the album was released, where he mentioned that the album was inspired by his visit to Tibet, and to some Buddhist monastery there. The interviewer then asked if he'd taken a recorder with him, to record the music of the Buddhists and use it on the album. And he said no, he felt that it would've been wrong to record their music and use it like this, because it's sacred to them. He then explained that he didn't have any recorder with him in Tibet; the album is thematically based on the Tibet trip, but what he did was try to recreate the sounds he heard there after he trip was over, in his studio. (Though of course it's possible he did some field recordings in Norway and used them on the album,)

That seems like an interesting approach to doing this sort of ambient music, and I think that between the lines he was also criticizing the cultural appropriation of the "world techno" artists of that era, such as Banco de Gaia, who were straightforwardly sampling the (sacred) musics of other peoples.

Though of course it's possible he did some field recordings in Norway and used them on the album,)
Yeah I'm just talking about what I'm hearing on the record, not anything Tibet related. Incidentally, he did release an album of field recordings from mountain climbing in the Himalayas, it was pretty cool.

Okay, I checked the interview, it's in the book that accompanies the Trance Europe Express 3 comp, I misremembered it a bit. It was Nepal where he went, not Tibet, but he did go to some Buddhist monastery. And he says he actually meant to bring a DAT machine along, but forgot to. He told one of the Sherpas helping him that some Westerners sample the music from this place and use it in their productions, and it was the Sherpa who said, oh, it's sacred music, they probably wouldn't be happy if you sample it. So in the end he says it was a good thing he forgot the DAT. In the interview he also explains how Substrata came to be formed by his experience in Nepal and the lack of recorder (the interview is from 1994, and he never mentions the name of the album he's working on, but I assume it's Substrata, because it was the next solo album he released after the interview, and it totally sounds like what he's describing there):

In the end, I had to use my brain as a sampler, just remember what I was hearing. You know how, sometimes you might pick a particular smell in a particular situation and then, afterwards, that smell will always bring back the original memory. I find sounds are like that too. I played my friends some stuff I was working on the other day, and they all said it brought back Nepal for them.

I guess the mountain climbing field record was done at another time, then? There's also that album he did with Higher Intelligence Agency, which was recorded live at a festival in his hometown, and which uses mostly just sounds recorded there, like the snow melting and cable cars creaking. That one's pretty good too, real old-school conceptual ambient.

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/musicophilia_00_various_-_translucence_1974-2018_cover.jpg?w=1536

Various – ‘Translucence‘
A Tribute to Brian Eno | (1974-2018)

01 [00:00]
Yazz Ahmed – “Exhale” (2017)
Egisto Macchi – “Le Genti del Deserto” (1974)
Mnemonists – “Limbs” (1981)

02 [05:00]
Earthen Sea – “Delicately In the Sunlight” (2017)
Cliff Martinez – “Will She Come Back” (2002)

03 [09:50]
Pauline Oliveros – “Suiren” (1989)
Francisco – “Cosmic Beam Experience” (1976)
Susumu Yokota – “Saku” (2000)

04 [15:50]
Passengers – “Theme From ‘The Swan'” (1995)

05 [18:50]
Luciano Cilio – “Studio for Winds” (1977)
Paul Motian – “Psalm” (1982)
Bernard Parmegiani – “Geologie Sonore” (1975)

06 [24:20]
Daniel Littleton – “Elegy #1” (2002)
Monoton – “HZ Waltz” (1982)
David Sylvian – “The Wooden Cross” (1986)

07 [29:20]
Huun Huur Tu – “Harmonics in the Wind” (1999)
Brian Eno – “Unfamiliar Wind (Leeks Hills)” (1982)
Peter Gabriel – “Powerhouse at the Foot of the Mountain” (1985)
Matthew Herbert – “Forest Montage” (2002)

08 [34:20]
Shoko Hikage – “Sakura Zukiyo” (2013)
Chuck Johnson – “Riga Black” (2017)

09 [41:50]
Yo La Tengo – “Shortwave” (2018)
Tod Dockstader – “Approach” (2005)
Gigi Masin – “Tharros” (1986)
Michael Brook with Brian Eno – “Pond Life” (1985)

10 [46:00]
Arvo Part – “Spiegel im Spiegel” (1976)
Robert Fripp & Brian Eno – “Wind on Water” (1975)
The Haxan Cloak – “The Mirror Reflecting (Part 1)” (2013)

[Total Time: 56:30]

Really pleased with this "thick" ambient mix--I'd say it works per the "wallpaper music" definition but works even better as sound given your attention. Features a lot of heavy mixing of multiple tracks in a very seamless flow, and stumbled across a lot of great interactions--the blend between Shoko Hikage's koto and Chuck Johnson's pedal steel pieces at around 34:20 especially seemed as if they were born to be together. Hope you'll enjoy:

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/tribute-to-brian-eno-translucence/

Been listening to this tonight - really lovely! Did you use lossless sources at all? If so could I get a lossless copy?

Looks great, can’t wait to delve in. Thx soundslike!

the meadow and the trees cracking up some bank holiday bevvies before climate change and developers pummel with fists

Melina Serser at Pluie/Noir https://soundcloud.com/pluie-noir/pluienoirpodcast079

and

Nathalia at Intrinsic https://soundcloud.com/experimentintrinsic/intrinsic-nathalia

deru - 1979 (full thing is on youtube)

really great and underrated

Been listening to this tonight - really lovely! Did you use lossless sources at all? If so could I get a lossless copy?

― octobeard, Monday, August 27, 2018 3:59 AM (yesterday

It was all sourced from 320 or V-0 mp3s, because I just don't have enough room (or good enough ears) to rip my collection in FLAC, tend to keep only absolute favorites in lossless (like maybe 200 out of 8000 albums). I think I uploaded it for download at 320 to minimize the effects of reencoding--suspect Mixcloud doesn't maintain the bitrate. Sorry : \ But glad you like the mix!

the Taphephobia & Kave - Monuments album is really fucking good!

selected choice ambient cuts i have gathered over the years for those seeking sleeping/zoning music:

what happened - emeralds
eingya - helios
everyone goes home when the sun sets - andrew chalk
from gardens where we feel secure - virginia astley
explanation II - the olivia tremor control
let night come on bells end the day - sarah davachi
organ dirges - kali malone
eclipses - robert AA lowe/rose lazaar

I'd recommend H. Takahashi if you want something soothing like that

happy to see OTC in that list above

I see Chuck Johnson briefly mentioned above, his Balsams album has healing powers:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2rWkvguXepRyMmxIe8Brx3?si=9C9To1yqR06rqHa-Qx7WeQ

https://soundcloud.com/kukka-dj/wintermix-vol-ii

Since winter has properly come here this week, I decided to do a sequel to a wintery ambient mix I made a few years ago. The link is above, maybe you will enjoy it too. It's not all strictly ambient but I did try to make the mood transitions smooth, hope it works.

Tracklist
1. Lucette Bourdin - With Silver Claws
2. Alio Die & Amelia Cuni - Apsaras
3. Omni Vu Deity - Gobekii
4. Cosmic Baby - Stille
5. Zalys - Aftermath
6. Mariolina Zitta & Alio Die - Suono ipogeo (Part II)
7. Meg Bowles - Twilight Embrace
8. Alquimia - Processión
9. Ania Losinger - Ballet III
10. Jlin - Anamnesis (Part 1)
11. Mary Youngblood - Cold Wind

Nice. Any chance of turning on the download on soundcloud (or is that a premium feature now)?

Eh, I feel a bit dodgy doing that, since obviously I don't have the copyright for those tracks... But email me at tuomast dot alho at Google's mail, and I can help. :)

enjoying this, thanks T

Glad you like it!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4NLOZNxzCHkLVn8DKC3WWx?si=lqv5b4qlQkWspdYhjvY3tA

playlist by tom lea of local action and others

150 ambient songs isn’t nearly enough but it’s a start

My latest album is here (and there's 50% off thru the 31st with the code "synth"):

https://templo.bandcamp.com/album/roman-birds

Got a very nice writeup in Pitchfork this week as well.

New Sangam
This guy keeps getting better and better
http://kudatah.bandcamp.com/album/you-make-me

Abandoned 実体 - Virtual Graduation
https://open.spotify.com/track/4pR6Mwf31ibgtMlICSJVyq?si=iA7p6z9ZTK-c0pbx3oRTtQ

Big Fauna vibes from leaf observer Takashi Kokubo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEgmpe8nToU

lol that came up on my yt algorithm earlier. serene as hell but did feel like i needed to check on my stardew valley crops.

Weird! it has 78,000 views and it came up randomly for me as well. Wonder whats making it be recommended, is it an alt-right anthem?

can only hope yt finally fixed their shit so that it delivers people this rather than joe rogan clips

+Minus - A Rainy Koran Verse [UK Live]

effing gorgeous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiHHR9I3XAc

Following on from the Takashi Kokubo is this 2004 release from Hiroshi Yoshimura, not sure if he died immediately prior to release or whether its a collection of earlier works

Kelela's done an ambient mix for the Warp 20th anniversary NTS thing and sung over the top. It's very nice

https://soundcloud.com/kelelam/aquaphoria

小久保隆 - 01 [00:00 - 04:06]
Susumu Yokota - Hagoromo [04:06 - 7:52]
Marc Cary - Rhodes Ahead Intro [07:52 - 10:07]
Autechre - Altibzz [10:07 - 13:41]
Jonny Nash & Suzanne Kraft- Beluga’s Song [13:41 - 18:04]
Aphex Twin - Untitled [18:04 - 21:12]
Oneohtrix Point Never - Physical Memory [21:12 - 23:22]
Kareem Lotfy - FR3SH [23:22 - 26:55]
Biosphere - Chukhung [26:55 - 28:34]
Leila - Underwaters [28:34 - 31:28]
OCA - Heaven Cent [31:28 - 34:49]
Visible Cloaks - Screen [34:49 - 38:03]
Jaco Pastorius solo (live w/ Joni Mitchell, 1977) [38:03 - 41:10]
Iury Lech - Barreras [41:10 - 46:45]
Cliffdiver - Digital Dreams [46:45 - 51:30]

really feeling right now:

Polypores, the Impossibility
Aiden Baker, Deer Park

Polypores has a newer one but I haven't heard it yet.

Nice piece by vapor dreampunk kingpin HKE

https://nirvanaport.bandcamp.com/album/--4

Loscil's latest, Equivalents, and Visions' cinematically spaced-out Temples are both quite good.

Looks like a new Steve Roach is imminent as well.

super into Equivalents

On the more 'tribal' end of things, Alio Die's latest, with a Persian duo from Paris named Indalaska, is worth investigating as well.

The collaboration with Indalaska is a really strong album, although it's difficult to get a sense of what elements Indalaska are bringing to it (which happens to me a lot with Alio Die collabs, honestly)

a warped anthem
https://bedlamtapes.bandcamp.com/track/anthem-2

https://aescapesounds.bandcamp.com/track/night-city-ii-w-finlii

ISO slow, heavy reverb bright/clean guitar over soft drum machine, like first 7 minutes of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm9r0vIZYUw

^The first Durutti Column album comes to mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pddox1SYHko

Also on an unrelated note, Tetsu Inoue's Inland is the best ambient album ever, godlike sound design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYmND3Al4gI

that durutti column album is a good call. was just listening to that last night!

Tetsu Inoue's Inland is the best ambient album ever

Agreed!!!

listening now, good stuff, thanks

1st three DC albums so crucial

Thanks J.

/Tetsu Inoue's Inland is the best ambient album ever/

Agreed!!!

IslandMan - Rest In Space


https://open.spotify.com/track/3mb2fkaJUlrRnwxGRGQAGS?si=g3bwAgAcS0CvDHwi8miAew

Alexis Georgopolis - Fragments of a Season.


https://open.spotify.com/album/1ByGvgEkjwolQcJTGxMApn?si=fzP_FRjRT1aNWCM_3m1RZA

Wouldn’t call either of these Ambient but some songs fit the bill.

This is just what an isolated soul needs just now

https://open.spotify.com/album/59NTtP2nGwOTmfQJ0JjPET?si=VJxw_Fa-TpugK98e4aZpUQ

Selected Media 2016-18 by Bartosz Kruczynski