Awesome Ambient 2014
It’s been an unusual year for me, music-wise.
First, I finally bailed on eMusic.com, for basically doing everything in their power to piss off their non-USian customers. Previously, they were my main source of ambient music, via their recommendation and new release algorithms. Since giving them the flick, I’ve been following a couple of sites and have found a few new favourites that way, but I haven’t quite settled into a new routine. Recommendation from friends are awesome.
Second, I got back into prog in a big way, thanks to Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Storm Corrosion, et al). I am late in discovering his mighty oeuvre, but making up for that in a big way. When I might normally be searching for new music to write to, these days I am buying the next title in line, working chronologically backwards through Wilson’s discography, and settling back to have my mind blown.
Nevertheless, writing continues, and these are the tunes and albums that kept the words flowing in 2014:
Most played tracks from my most played albums
(This year the two lists overlapped. Links in bold.)
“Journey’s End” by Altus – chiming, pulsing, smooth refreshment for the brain (from Excursion Three)- “Monophaser 2” by Alva Noto – like anything sublime, constantly on the brink of being too intense (from Xerrox, Vol.2)
- “Half the Words You Say” by ASC – melodically rhythmic bliss (from Truth be Told, my most-played album this year)
- “Convergence” by Greg Plummer – one of many inspired tracks on the Structures from Silence tribute album Quiet Friends
- “Sand Painting” by Steve Roach – for the Tangerine Dream fan inside me (from Spiral Meditations)
- “Structures from Silence” by Steve Roach – an oldie but a goodie, still my #1 most-played ambient track ever, lifted out of the background by the 30th anniversary reissue of the original album
- “Atomos II” by A Winged for the Sullen (this actually links to “Atomos” VIII but you’ll get the idea) – if you like Stars of the Lid’s organic chill, you’ll love this (from Atomos)
Awesome stuff missing from the above list
- June ’14 Studio Access by Black Tape for a Blue Girl – stretched remixes that go deliciously on and on
- Satie Slowly by Philip Corner – exactly what’s on the box
- We Drink to Forget the Coming Storm by Leyland Kirby – muddy darkness from the genius behind The Caretaker (here’s a YouTube link to the entire album)
- Timelines and Tundra by Erik Wøllo – diverse and brilliant, as ever
Music I’m looking forward to trying next
- Caught in the Passage by Lights Dim
- Counting Raindrops by Palancar
- Sense and Strands by Radiant Minds
Have a chilled-out silly season and a blissful start to the new year.
To close, here are some “Yule Tidings” from Scott Lawlor.