Essential Ambient Albums
This piece was originally written in 2011 but never saw the light of day. I found it in my Evernote archive the other day and figured it might be worth sharing. The term essential ambient albums is a pretty bold statement of which I'm not defining ambient history here, simply some albums I was enjoying at the time of writing.
I have a really hard time writing about music because so much of the enjoyment of music is how it makes me feel. It’s like a soundtrack of day-to-day life that changes from season to season. The emotions and tones of deep ambient music I find to be very meditative sending me adrift on a mental journey. If I sit on a beach or in a forest and close my eyes, I let the sounds take me away. The connection and harmony between deep ethereal music and nature can be very powerful.
Choosing some of my favourites was not very difficult but of course there are more than 5 so I've included a shortlist of other favourite albums. Not all of these albums are straight ambient because I feel where the genre borders blur is where the magic happens.
Sit back, close your eyes and listen.
Michael Mantra — Sonic Alter (Deepchord Remix)
Glacial paced trance inducing ritual music with Rod Modell and Michael Mantra. Anything these two is a must have. An transcending journey of the deepest magnitude.
Michael Halcyon Presents Oscillations
My introduction into ambient music around the time I was listening to Rod Model and Deepchord. I used to listen to this album every morning while riding my bike to work along the ocean. Very many meditative moments happened listening to this album.
Gas — Nah Und Fern
Classic 4 album compilation by Wolfgang Voigt. A must have for fans of Gas. Deep ambient techno at its finest.
Mind Over Midi — Habitat
Personal classic ambient album by Mind Over Midi that I'm very honoured to have released on Silent Season. It’s the soundtrack to nature and being outside. Listening to it is like watching a movie or reading a good book.
Krill.Minima — Nautica
Nice deep ambient dub album by Martin Juhls who is responsible for many other excellent projects. I first learned of Martin from the label Thinner which was a big influence for starting Silent Season.
ASC — The Light That Burns Twice As Bright
This beautifully crafted album has so much to offer. There’s a stillness to the sounds that matches my preoccupation with nature. These tracks are like field recordings from an imaginary world. Buy digital at Bandcamp.
Short List
Nils Petter Molvær – Re-Vision
Rod Modell / Michael Mantra – Sonic Continuum
Jasper TX – Black Sleep
Variant – The Setting Sun
The Sight Below — Glider
Boards Of Canada – The Campfire Headphase
Cinematic Orchestra, The & London Metropolitan Orchestra, The – Crimson Wing — Mystery Of The Flamingos
Atheus – Soundscapes & Drones
