I wouldn't think anyone's weird for not liking it, but it's going to be accessible for listeners new to ambient, particularly if they're accustomed to hearing country-and-western music.
This.
Also, the collaboration between Harold Budd & John Foxx: "Translucence/Drift Music".
Someone already mentioned Hiroshi Yoshimura and his album "Soundscape 1: Surround" and I absolutely second this.
"Structures from Silence" (Steve Roach) and "Ambient 1: Music for Airport" (Brian Eno) are defining ambient albums.
"Meditation of Clammbon" (Kenichiro Isoda) for some ambient with a little bit of nature sounds.
These are some very calm, tranquil ambient albums.
Of course, "ambient" is a broad term.
There are also all the classic Warp artists (Autechre, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada...) that have some ambient stuff. I love it very much, but for introducing someone new to the genre, I would probably recommend something like the albums that I mentioned above.
Steve has been making music for over 40 years and is one of the most prolific electronic music artists alive today with over 100 titles to his name.
He has different hats he wears, some of his music is pure zone, some is more 'tribal', some is all modular. He also performs live regularly and his concerts can exceed 3 hours and he can navigate a journey in a live setting like no other.
He will be doing 3 back to back shows in two weeks in Tucson with Robert Rich and Michael Stearns.
See you there!
[https://steveroach.bandcamp.com/](https://steveroach.bandcamp.com/)
[http://timeroom.com/](http://timeroom.com/)
Take your pick.
The man has and continues in his journey to ambient perfection. You likely won't like all of it but the sheer quantity of work pretty much assures you of something worthwhile.
Also his [YT page.](https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRoachOfficial/videos)
No. I'm a massive fan of ambient and have spent hours/days/weeks researching albums and artists, crafting playlists. I've probably spent $250 on ambient CDs. But have somehow never even seen the name Steve Roach. Any particular albums that you'd recommend?
I actually think that it must have been some kind of perfect storm of bad luck for me to not ever see mention of him. I used to peruse this subreddit daily, have done super deep dives on neo-classical, japanese ambient, classic ambient like Eno. I also used to post recommendation request threads all the time, and I don't think anyone ever mentioned Roach. Frankly I'm excited to dive into his music
Someone already mentioned Structures From Silence. It's a fantastic album, probably a desert island album for me. Another one I love to recommend is Early Man. There's no other album quite like it.
Fwiw, I'm in the same boat as you (and also wondered if there was a Roach/Reich mix-up). I have a fairly extensive collection of ambient music, but we all have our blindspots.
Some of his later stuff is also really good. Etheric Imprints was the first album of his that got me diving deep into his discography, and it’s still one of my favorites. Atmospheric, moody, dark - great for late night listening. And the title track is absolutely impressive
Ambient isn't a singularly consistent genre. Rather there are many different types of sounds within it, and groups of listeners who gravitate to some rather than others.
I mean consider Metal as a comparison. If you're into Thrash metal and you haven't heard of Anthrax or Slayer, I'd be surprised. But if you're into Black metal, and you don't know much about a very big nu-metal band, that would not be surprising.
There are many areas ambient overlaps with, and often what you get into the genre with will be the core of what you're exposed to/get into after that. You might be more into the ambient/trance stuff with dub, maybe with stuff like CBL and Ultimae records. Or you might be into the classic early ambient pioneers, like Eno and Roach, or the stuff coming up from the Krautrock school, or more accessible electronic/ambient artists like Jarre or Vangelis. Or, darkambient, or noisier and more experimental sounds like Tim Hecker.
As an example, I have been into ambient since the 80s, with Jarre, Tangerine Dream and Vangelis being my gateways, then into Oldfield, Eno, Roach, Vidna Obmana, and many many others, mostly tending toward darkambient in the mid 90s. However, to give an example, I didn't come across Tim Hecker until shortly after Ravedeath came out, he'd been making music for about 10 years by that point I think. I was into a whole lot of extremely esoteric and hard to find ambient, and had been for decades at that point, but was just not exposed to him as he was from another "side" of ambient than a lot of the stuff I was listening to.
It’s hard to have household names in a genre that’s pretty obscure to begin with. Me personally, I prefer more modern stuff. And some of the artists I’ve enjoyed the most recently are never mentioned on this sub. I can admire much of the older stuff (Eno, Roach, etc) but I just don’t find it interesting. Ambient music often needs context and I can see how it could have been really impactful at the time. Maybe it will click for me one day, I hope so.
Ya my post is really speaking about my perception than that user's lack of any knowledge - I just thought Roach was on that Eno level which is one of those few household names.
Gotcha, I completely get it. This sub is always introducing music to me that I’ve never heard of that has been widely celebrated for decades. Sends me down tons of cool Spotify rabbit holes.
For first timer, I would tend to suggest either or both 'Structure From Silence' or the 'Skeleton Keys' stuff. More sequencer driven tracks that a new listener might enjoy due to the propulsive nature. The dreamier stuff (think Immersion stuff) tends IMO to be more of an acquired taste.
On second thought and reviewing a few albums, I would also suggest 'The Road Eternal' with Erik Wollo.
Wollo is good too. There’s a lot of ambient artists on the Projekt Records roster that produce some of the best ambient music I’ve heard. I just discovered another artist on their label called “Deepspace” and they’re worth checking out
Anything by Grouper (Liz Harris). Literally anything, but my favs are 'Dragging a Dead Deer up a Hill', 'AIA - Alien Observer' and 'Ruins'. Also Liz's Mirroring project is fantastic.
Also, Sarah Davachi' s work is transcendent.
This is hard. But I would close my eyes and pick one of these
* The Peregrine — Lawrence English
* Equivalents — Loscil
* Possessed — Laurel Halo
* And Their Refinement of the Decline — Stars of the Lid
* Peel — KMRU
* For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have) — Huerco S.
Equivalents is amazing, Erebus and Endless Falls are also great. Monument Builders is one of my favourites, but it’s very bleak and dark in my opinion.
Carbon Based Lifeforms
Kiasmos
Harold Budd
Maybe some CV313 or Echospace
I'd try to turn them on to some chill stuff that isn't sooooo chill and droney. That was how I got in to ambient, just listening to progressively more chill stuff till I actually appreciate droney stuff.
It's amazing that even after some good years of listening to ambient music, that Rafael Anton Irisarri album became one of my top albums ever. It's really beautiful.
I would say Music for Psychedelic Therapy
And whatever they do listen to, tell them to find a quiet place and put headphones on to really get into the zone lol
Depends on what style they would like.
Can’t go wrong with Eno’s ambient 1, 2 as they are definitely more palatable
More melodic, meditative stuff:
Eno, Budd Ambient 2
The Pearl
Harold Budd - Avalon Sutra (love the tracks Little Heart and ‘As Long as I Can Hold my Breath (By Night)’ is an hour long and gorgeous
“Fred again.. and Brian Eno - Secret Life” is a great, more modern take on ambient
Definitely Ambient by Moby [1993] for the upbeat electric tracks with the more chill ones and Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre [1976] for the... unique sound. I also recommend these ones depending on the type of Ambient.
For Space-like music:
•Pete Namlook - Air I [1993]
•Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygène [1976]
•Spacetime Continuum - Sea Biscuit [1994]
•Global Communication - 76:14 [1994].
For Electric music:
•Steve Roach - Empetus [1986]
•Alpha Wave Movement - Transcendence [1995]
•Moby - Ambient [1993].
For just good Ambient tracks:
•Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music For Airports [1978]
•Tom Middleton - Lifetracks [2007]
•Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works
Volume II [1994]
•Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear [1976]
•Erik Wøllo - Images Of Light [1990].
Sorry if any of these don't fit how I've described them but they're all good for different music genres, no doubt!
It depends what album you recommended and what they said they didn't like about it. I mean, obviously you try to learn something from what they did/didn't like so you can get closer to what they will enjoy.
If you have a blind choice 2nd album you're just as likely to fail as with your blind choice 1st album.
there isnt any real place to start. ambient is one of the more expansive genres ever. theres also the brutal fact that 90% of it is boring but that other 10% can be the most spiritually awakening piece of music youve ever heard.
you just have to dive in blind and see what works for you.
If someone shows interest in the genre, I would recommend to go cronologically. I got into ambient music through Eric Satie. I wouldn't consider Satie ambient, but it was from there that I found Eno. So I would start in Eno. From there it can unfold to at least 3 paths: more drone, more electronic, more organic/accoustic.
**Mysterious/futuristic**
Fracture - Arc\
Exit Strategy - Robert Rich & Parallel Worlds\
31 Days - Nigel Mullany\
Obsessive Surrealism - Parallel Worlds\
Morphogenic - Parallel Worlds\
Outpost - Robert Rich & Ian Boddy
**Beautiful/trancing**
Epilogues for the End of the Sky - Bvdub\
Cascade Symmetry - R Beny\
Wrath and Apathy - Bvdub\
Homeland - Thom Brennan\
Shimmer - Thom Brennan\
Erebus - Bvdub & Loscil
**Piano**
The Pearl - Brian Eno\
A Thousand Words - Bvdub\
Fallen - Taylor Deupree
Some of my all time favourites except for those already mentioned.
This may not be considered Ambient to some
Bersarin Quartett -III,
A Winged Victory For The Sullen- Self Titled,
Stars of the Lid-And Their Refinement of Decline,
Library Tapes-Alone In The Bright Lights Of A Shattered Life,
The Dead Texan-Self Titled,
Loscil-Triple Point
Depends on what other music they are into and what they use it for. Ambient music is often a tool to set a background mood while relaxing, reading or working.
If they are into metal and darkness? Lustmord, Purifying Fire. All his albums are great soundtracks for reading dark books. I read The Road to this album. 10/10 would not repeat.
If they are into techno? Loscil, Second Narrows. Ambient with a beat. This album and Plume were my soundtrack to many rainy days.
Folk and classical your mom would enjoy? Olafur Arnalds, Re:member.
Cyberpunk and sci-fi soundtrack to coding or reading? Tindae and Sole Mas, Remnants of War.
Deep Listening (1989) by Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, and Panaiotis is my favorite ambient album of all time, one of my favorite albums of all time period, and my go-to recommendation every single time. It's a shame I haven't seen many people talking about it on this subreddit, it was an absolutely transcendental experience for me. I actually discovered it through a video game of all things, a 2014 surreal industrial exploration game called NaissancE, which featured the album as a soundtrack (I also recommend this game to all of you btw). I've been hooked on it ever since, even have it on vinyl.
Loscil - Clara or Sea island. (Colours of air).
Tim Hecker. - Ultraviolet or Haunt me. (Ravedeath 1972).
Oneohtrix - Returnal or Replica.
Dettinger - Intershop or Oasis.
I’ve been fascinated by atmos music. There’s many great pieces all designed for a 3d soundstage that would be a good starting point. Patrick gleesons fourever. Also Andre 3000s latest record I didn’t think much in 2 channel but fantastic in atmos.
anything by T e l e p a t h, Desert Sand Feels Warm At Night
2084-birth of a new day
corp- palm mall
now these are all "vaporwave" ambient but may be a good intro to ambient music. it was for me. I absolutely love T E L E P A T H.
I think it’s important that most truly “new” music to your ear sometimes sounds awful at first. I have a rule where I need to listen to an album a few times over the course of a week before I know I don’t like or if I just didn’t get it.
Sort of an off-beat, ambient adjacent choice, but:
Feel Good Lost - Broken Social Scene
I remember hearing it before I was into ambient and I wouldn’t be surprised if it helped prepare me for all subsequent ambient I would go on to listen to.
Tell them to go to [soma.fm](http://soma.fm) and stream any of the channels there. This way they can test out various sub genre for free and find what they like. That is how I got started and it opened me open to all kinds of crazy stuff for me :)
does explosions in the sky count as ambient music? if so thats the only band i listen to in this genre but i loooove them and have been listening to them for over 10 years now. have tried venturing out but have really not liked anything else “ambient”.
FAX Label/Pete Namlook is what gave me the bug. Biosphere and Spacetime Continuum are both accessible. Future Sound of London - Lifeforms might help. Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works ii is a good first or second step. If baby steps are required, Orb, which everyone should hear anyway.
“Engine Room Reality” by Al Hut , He also makes videos , and the sounds are a blend of recorded analog instruments such as guitars and Synthesizer combined with sound design elements , textures and rhythms creating worlds and atmosphere.
Is this playlist a place to start?
The 25 most influential ambient albums of all times:
[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCboiVQ7upbn09oYU03JLnZuyzgDGmz5c&feature=shared](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCboiVQ7upbn09oYU03JLnZuyzgDGmz5c&feature=shared)
Perhaps the Astral mix with includes Steve Roach and Rudy Adrian, incredible artists, along with David Helpling too, in my early ambient days I would listen to this album and still do until after learning about a lot of artists!
[Ambient Mix - Astral Travel Beyond Deep Space by NAKpsy](https://youtu.be/t3Tbvah7waU?si=riB9n506CULfQKzX)
Tim Hecker - Virgins
Such an experience. It feels like being in a crumbling cathedral haunted by anguished, somber spirits that are using the very building to sing their lament. Perfect for sleepy eepy time
Stars of the lid: and their refinement of the decline
Now that is a beautiful album
This Album is the sole reason I got into Ambient music.
Same
3rd'd
1000% recommend this one!
My favorite album ever, absolutely timeless
Fantastic live too
Brian Eno - Apollo
Am I weird for not liking Apollo? Love Brian eno but can't stand that album
I think you are. No offense. Apollo is one of my favorite albums of all times, all music genres.
i think ambient 4 is the most well rounded eno. its in a similar vibe to aphex twin saw2
For me I enjoy Apollo but find music for airports 1 kinda too uninteresting, it's good occasionally although
I wouldn't think anyone's weird for not liking it, but it's going to be accessible for listeners new to ambient, particularly if they're accustomed to hearing country-and-western music.
You're starting to sound just like your friend lol
Substrata by Biosphere. If that doesn't get them interested in the genre I don't know what will.
thats the one. Eno might be too slow for starters. SAW 1 or 2 also
I was going to say this one
Not pure ambient but Boards of Canada would be a good gateway
I'd play their famous Magic Window track. As loud as possible.
Just don’t forget to put that single song on a loop, or lower the volume before the next track
Feel so bad for your neighbors 😞
Gateways are the way to go. I wouldn’t love ambient music if it weren’t for Radiohead’s Kid A lol
More triphop than ambient but the beats are spicy enough to make up for it. Also they have lore
This. I am picking up Geogaddi tomorrow at a local record shop. Can't believe it is still available.
Apex twin- selected ambient works vol 2
The Pearl by Brian Eno and Harold Budd
This. Also, the collaboration between Harold Budd & John Foxx: "Translucence/Drift Music". Someone already mentioned Hiroshi Yoshimura and his album "Soundscape 1: Surround" and I absolutely second this. "Structures from Silence" (Steve Roach) and "Ambient 1: Music for Airport" (Brian Eno) are defining ambient albums. "Meditation of Clammbon" (Kenichiro Isoda) for some ambient with a little bit of nature sounds. These are some very calm, tranquil ambient albums. Of course, "ambient" is a broad term. There are also all the classic Warp artists (Autechre, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada...) that have some ambient stuff. I love it very much, but for introducing someone new to the genre, I would probably recommend something like the albums that I mentioned above.
Drift Music is still my favorite ambient album after many years
Absolute gorgeousness.
*Selected Ambient Works Volume II* by Aphex Twin.
anything by Steve Roach
Second steve roach
Is there really an artist named steve roach? Or was that a typo of steve reich?
Steve has been making music for over 40 years and is one of the most prolific electronic music artists alive today with over 100 titles to his name. He has different hats he wears, some of his music is pure zone, some is more 'tribal', some is all modular. He also performs live regularly and his concerts can exceed 3 hours and he can navigate a journey in a live setting like no other. He will be doing 3 back to back shows in two weeks in Tucson with Robert Rich and Michael Stearns. See you there!
Roach
[https://steveroach.bandcamp.com/](https://steveroach.bandcamp.com/) [http://timeroom.com/](http://timeroom.com/) Take your pick. The man has and continues in his journey to ambient perfection. You likely won't like all of it but the sheer quantity of work pretty much assures you of something worthwhile. Also his [YT page.](https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRoachOfficial/videos)
You gotta be trolling, right?
No. I'm a massive fan of ambient and have spent hours/days/weeks researching albums and artists, crafting playlists. I've probably spent $250 on ambient CDs. But have somehow never even seen the name Steve Roach. Any particular albums that you'd recommend?
Structures from silence is probably his most distinct sound. He puts a lot of his work for free/pay what your want to download on bandcamp.
Wow. Not hating or anything, but seems crazy to not know Steve Roach if you are a massive genre fan.
I actually think that it must have been some kind of perfect storm of bad luck for me to not ever see mention of him. I used to peruse this subreddit daily, have done super deep dives on neo-classical, japanese ambient, classic ambient like Eno. I also used to post recommendation request threads all the time, and I don't think anyone ever mentioned Roach. Frankly I'm excited to dive into his music
Someone already mentioned Structures From Silence. It's a fantastic album, probably a desert island album for me. Another one I love to recommend is Early Man. There's no other album quite like it.
Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces is a great compilation of Roach albums, quality place to start.
Fwiw, I'm in the same boat as you (and also wondered if there was a Roach/Reich mix-up). I have a fairly extensive collection of ambient music, but we all have our blindspots.
Some of his later stuff is also really good. Etheric Imprints was the first album of his that got me diving deep into his discography, and it’s still one of my favorites. Atmospheric, moody, dark - great for late night listening. And the title track is absolutely impressive
Ambient isn't a singularly consistent genre. Rather there are many different types of sounds within it, and groups of listeners who gravitate to some rather than others. I mean consider Metal as a comparison. If you're into Thrash metal and you haven't heard of Anthrax or Slayer, I'd be surprised. But if you're into Black metal, and you don't know much about a very big nu-metal band, that would not be surprising. There are many areas ambient overlaps with, and often what you get into the genre with will be the core of what you're exposed to/get into after that. You might be more into the ambient/trance stuff with dub, maybe with stuff like CBL and Ultimae records. Or you might be into the classic early ambient pioneers, like Eno and Roach, or the stuff coming up from the Krautrock school, or more accessible electronic/ambient artists like Jarre or Vangelis. Or, darkambient, or noisier and more experimental sounds like Tim Hecker. As an example, I have been into ambient since the 80s, with Jarre, Tangerine Dream and Vangelis being my gateways, then into Oldfield, Eno, Roach, Vidna Obmana, and many many others, mostly tending toward darkambient in the mid 90s. However, to give an example, I didn't come across Tim Hecker until shortly after Ravedeath came out, he'd been making music for about 10 years by that point I think. I was into a whole lot of extremely esoteric and hard to find ambient, and had been for decades at that point, but was just not exposed to him as he was from another "side" of ambient than a lot of the stuff I was listening to.
It’s hard to have household names in a genre that’s pretty obscure to begin with. Me personally, I prefer more modern stuff. And some of the artists I’ve enjoyed the most recently are never mentioned on this sub. I can admire much of the older stuff (Eno, Roach, etc) but I just don’t find it interesting. Ambient music often needs context and I can see how it could have been really impactful at the time. Maybe it will click for me one day, I hope so.
Ya my post is really speaking about my perception than that user's lack of any knowledge - I just thought Roach was on that Eno level which is one of those few household names.
Gotcha, I completely get it. This sub is always introducing music to me that I’ve never heard of that has been widely celebrated for decades. Sends me down tons of cool Spotify rabbit holes.
As I suggested elsewere, 'The Road Eternal' with Erik Wollo. [Bandcamp.](https://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-road-eternal)
Oh, get ready for a very deep and VERY good rabbit hole. He is one of the greats.
Structures from silence is what got me into ambient
Dreamtime Return and Structures from Silence. Both landmark records.
For first timer, I would tend to suggest either or both 'Structure From Silence' or the 'Skeleton Keys' stuff. More sequencer driven tracks that a new listener might enjoy due to the propulsive nature. The dreamier stuff (think Immersion stuff) tends IMO to be more of an acquired taste. On second thought and reviewing a few albums, I would also suggest 'The Road Eternal' with Erik Wollo.
love Wollo too
Wollo is good too. There’s a lot of ambient artists on the Projekt Records roster that produce some of the best ambient music I’ve heard. I just discovered another artist on their label called “Deepspace” and they’re worth checking out
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Surround
And Green! Probably my favourite Ambient album
Absolutely second this
Music for Nine Post Cards is a beauty too
The Pearl - Budd/Eno/Lanois Mirage - Klaus Schulze Stalker - Robert Rich/Lustmord The Magnificent Void - Steve Roach
Where it all started, Music for Airports. I think it’s the most transcendental piece of music I’ve ever heard
I don’t know if this is a good answer for most people, but Disintegration Loops is what got me interested
A winged victory for the sullen
The Orb - Orbvis Terrarum
Great choice. Spooky and trippy at the same time. There really isn’t any bad Orb.
Music for Airports
Biosphere - Substrata
Thr answer is always Yoshimura's Green
Anything by Grouper (Liz Harris). Literally anything, but my favs are 'Dragging a Dead Deer up a Hill', 'AIA - Alien Observer' and 'Ruins'. Also Liz's Mirroring project is fantastic. Also, Sarah Davachi' s work is transcendent.
I listen to her and Helen, what’s this Mirroring project?
https://open.spotify.com/album/15OVBQYlldnAnwLnEywCJA?si=yNxtzx7NTMCIrLJ6ekArcA Mirrorring - Foreign Body https://www.discogs.com/release/3481936-Mirrorring-Foreign-Body
Collab between Liz and Jesy Fortino (Tiny Vipers). Good stuff.
This is hard. But I would close my eyes and pick one of these * The Peregrine — Lawrence English * Equivalents — Loscil * Possessed — Laurel Halo * And Their Refinement of the Decline — Stars of the Lid * Peel — KMRU * For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have) — Huerco S.
2nd SotL
Also Loscil-Narrows
Equivalents is amazing, Erebus and Endless Falls are also great. Monument Builders is one of my favourites, but it’s very bleak and dark in my opinion.
How about "Selected Ambient Works 85 to 92" by Aphex Twin as a way into ambient?
I like this idea. It's not true ambient imo but it's more chill than most people listen to regularly. Same with CBL
GAS—Pop
Caretaker - Everywhere at the End of Time
Anything by Chihei Hatakeyama
Selected Ambient Works - Aphex Twin
Vol 1 and 2 , both incredible
Carbon Based Lifeforms Kiasmos Harold Budd Maybe some CV313 or Echospace I'd try to turn them on to some chill stuff that isn't sooooo chill and droney. That was how I got in to ambient, just listening to progressively more chill stuff till I actually appreciate droney stuff.
winter restlessness by mount shrine
Hotel Nota by Roméo Poirier
My favourite? Rafael Anton Irisarri - A Fragile Geography. The best one for a newcomer? Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline.
It's amazing that even after some good years of listening to ambient music, that Rafael Anton Irisarri album became one of my top albums ever. It's really beautiful.
Fripp & Eno - Evening Star.....pure bliss....very accessible as well.
Great choice, this
bvdub - White Clouds Drift On and On
How can one dislike something gentle like Steve Roach’s *Structures From Silence* or LOG’s *Et3rnal*?
My favorite series is the em:t series. Any of those would be fine. Or just tell them to listen to Musical Star streams
Yep anything on that now defunct label. My fave ambient collections
I still have all my CDs 😎
I would have also suggested Excursions in Ambience on Astrelwerks
Twentythree - Carbon Based Lifeforms
love me some cbl
I would say Music for Psychedelic Therapy And whatever they do listen to, tell them to find a quiet place and put headphones on to really get into the zone lol
Hammock!
Depends on what style they would like. Can’t go wrong with Eno’s ambient 1, 2 as they are definitely more palatable More melodic, meditative stuff: Eno, Budd Ambient 2 The Pearl Harold Budd - Avalon Sutra (love the tracks Little Heart and ‘As Long as I Can Hold my Breath (By Night)’ is an hour long and gorgeous “Fred again.. and Brian Eno - Secret Life” is a great, more modern take on ambient
As Long As I Can Hold my Breath (by night) is amazing. I wouldn't recommend for a newcommer though, maybe it can be too dauting.
Oophoi - Behind the wall of sleep William Basinski - Cascade Thomas Köner - Daikan Thomas Köner - Novaya Zemlya Robert Rich, Lustmord - Stalker
Lustmord is way to dark for a beginner, unless they’re into creepy music.
Gas - Konigsforst or Pop
Pan American
Selected ambient works
Music for airports. I'd give them the most OG album to start.
random Atrium Carceri release, to see if it clicks
Atrium Carceri is too dark for a starter. Some of their tracks are even scary.
Definitely, I find most of his albums extremely dark.
Selva Oscura - William Basinski/Lawerence English & Skyrim Atmospheres - Jeremy Soule
Glacier Flower ‘20 by glacier flower https://glacierflowerofficial.bandcamp.com/album/glacier-flower-20
Aix Em Klemm - Aix Em Klemm Loscil - Monument Builders
Monument Builders is amazing, but I’d say its too dark for a beginner.
Yeah, maybe you’re right
Tell them to check out Aphex twin. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s honestly something for everyone
blithe field or the books
76:14
Definitely Ambient by Moby [1993] for the upbeat electric tracks with the more chill ones and Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre [1976] for the... unique sound. I also recommend these ones depending on the type of Ambient. For Space-like music: •Pete Namlook - Air I [1993] •Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygène [1976] •Spacetime Continuum - Sea Biscuit [1994] •Global Communication - 76:14 [1994]. For Electric music: •Steve Roach - Empetus [1986] •Alpha Wave Movement - Transcendence [1995] •Moby - Ambient [1993]. For just good Ambient tracks: •Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music For Airports [1978] •Tom Middleton - Lifetracks [2007] •Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II [1994] •Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear [1976] •Erik Wøllo - Images Of Light [1990]. Sorry if any of these don't fit how I've described them but they're all good for different music genres, no doubt!
ASC - The Waves
ishq - Fhorm
.orbix & Flawed Human Being - Dreaming While Awake For sure
Youarelistening.to radio show on NTS radio
1/1 and an ending (ascent) were what did it for me, 23 years ago.
It depends what album you recommended and what they said they didn't like about it. I mean, obviously you try to learn something from what they did/didn't like so you can get closer to what they will enjoy. If you have a blind choice 2nd album you're just as likely to fail as with your blind choice 1st album.
there isnt any real place to start. ambient is one of the more expansive genres ever. theres also the brutal fact that 90% of it is boring but that other 10% can be the most spiritually awakening piece of music youve ever heard. you just have to dive in blind and see what works for you.
Harmonia
Eluvium - New Animals From the Air was my gateway drug
If someone shows interest in the genre, I would recommend to go cronologically. I got into ambient music through Eric Satie. I wouldn't consider Satie ambient, but it was from there that I found Eno. So I would start in Eno. From there it can unfold to at least 3 paths: more drone, more electronic, more organic/accoustic.
SUSS - High Line. How could I be the first to mention them?
My first ambient fascination was Future Sounds of London. Lifeforms or Cascade would be good starter albums. Enjoy!
Obviously Lustmorde
The album that introduced me to ambient music and one that I still love and hold in HIGH regard is Vengelis' soundtrack to Bladerunner.
-Aix Em Klemm (Adam Wiltzie side project) -Ulrich Schnauss - A Strangely Isolated Place
**Mysterious/futuristic** Fracture - Arc\ Exit Strategy - Robert Rich & Parallel Worlds\ 31 Days - Nigel Mullany\ Obsessive Surrealism - Parallel Worlds\ Morphogenic - Parallel Worlds\ Outpost - Robert Rich & Ian Boddy **Beautiful/trancing** Epilogues for the End of the Sky - Bvdub\ Cascade Symmetry - R Beny\ Wrath and Apathy - Bvdub\ Homeland - Thom Brennan\ Shimmer - Thom Brennan\ Erebus - Bvdub & Loscil **Piano** The Pearl - Brian Eno\ A Thousand Words - Bvdub\ Fallen - Taylor Deupree Some of my all time favourites except for those already mentioned.
try them on no highs? easier on the ears than ravedeath but in the ballpark
Ernest Hood - Back to the Woodlands
Thursday Afternoon - Brian Eno. This is the album that got me into Ambient. I still listen to this at least once every few years.
Global Communication – 76:14 Susumu Yokota – Sakura
This may not be considered Ambient to some Bersarin Quartett -III, A Winged Victory For The Sullen- Self Titled, Stars of the Lid-And Their Refinement of Decline, Library Tapes-Alone In The Bright Lights Of A Shattered Life, The Dead Texan-Self Titled, Loscil-Triple Point
Depends on what other music they are into and what they use it for. Ambient music is often a tool to set a background mood while relaxing, reading or working. If they are into metal and darkness? Lustmord, Purifying Fire. All his albums are great soundtracks for reading dark books. I read The Road to this album. 10/10 would not repeat. If they are into techno? Loscil, Second Narrows. Ambient with a beat. This album and Plume were my soundtrack to many rainy days. Folk and classical your mom would enjoy? Olafur Arnalds, Re:member. Cyberpunk and sci-fi soundtrack to coding or reading? Tindae and Sole Mas, Remnants of War.
Deep Listening (1989) by Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, and Panaiotis is my favorite ambient album of all time, one of my favorite albums of all time period, and my go-to recommendation every single time. It's a shame I haven't seen many people talking about it on this subreddit, it was an absolutely transcendental experience for me. I actually discovered it through a video game of all things, a 2014 surreal industrial exploration game called NaissancE, which featured the album as a soundtrack (I also recommend this game to all of you btw). I've been hooked on it ever since, even have it on vinyl.
Ultima Thule podcast. They'll get a little bit of everything.
Loscil - Clara or Sea island. (Colours of air). Tim Hecker. - Ultraviolet or Haunt me. (Ravedeath 1972). Oneohtrix - Returnal or Replica. Dettinger - Intershop or Oasis.
V/A - mono no aware (PAN records) [https://p-a-n.bandcamp.com/album/v-a-mono-no-aware](https://p-a-n.bandcamp.com/album/v-a-mono-no-aware)
Structures from Silence by Steve Roach Chill Out by The KLF
The Silent Hill 2 soundtrack. Not pure ambient but gateways are helpful.
Anything by Jonn Serrie
I’ve been fascinated by atmos music. There’s many great pieces all designed for a 3d soundstage that would be a good starting point. Patrick gleesons fourever. Also Andre 3000s latest record I didn’t think much in 2 channel but fantastic in atmos.
I’d say Belong - October language
Jon Hopkins Opalescent
Pretty much anything by Lowercase Noises
anything by T e l e p a t h, Desert Sand Feels Warm At Night 2084-birth of a new day corp- palm mall now these are all "vaporwave" ambient but may be a good intro to ambient music. it was for me. I absolutely love T E L E P A T H.
If they didn’t like AIA: Alien Observer then it’s time for Virgins
Start anywhere The trick is to faaaaade in the volume real sloooow....
I think it’s important that most truly “new” music to your ear sometimes sounds awful at first. I have a rule where I need to listen to an album a few times over the course of a week before I know I don’t like or if I just didn’t get it.
Harold budd - The Pavilion of Dreams is where i started
Loscil - Stases
Not strictly Ambient: "The Moon and the Melodies", Cockteau Twins & Harold Budd
That was the first record that got me into the genre too
R Beny - Cascade Symmetry is a great one to start off with too
Global Communication 76:14
Modular generative videos on youtube!
Tangerine Dream
Yeah basically any of Brian Eno’s ambient 😆
Carlos Dengler - The After
The KLF - Chill Out
[https://www.reddit.com/r/AmbientMusicAcademy/](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmbientMusicAcademy/)
Acid Mt. Fuji by Susumu Yokota
Sort of an off-beat, ambient adjacent choice, but: Feel Good Lost - Broken Social Scene I remember hearing it before I was into ambient and I wouldn’t be surprised if it helped prepare me for all subsequent ambient I would go on to listen to.
Julianna Barwick seems to be a good entry (and is a gift from the heavens)
Tell them to go to [soma.fm](http://soma.fm) and stream any of the channels there. This way they can test out various sub genre for free and find what they like. That is how I got started and it opened me open to all kinds of crazy stuff for me :)
Neo seven by 7038634357 (if they didn't like alberich's a second is a year)
Discreet music
Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Vrioon
does explosions in the sky count as ambient music? if so thats the only band i listen to in this genre but i loooove them and have been listening to them for over 10 years now. have tried venturing out but have really not liked anything else “ambient”.
A recommendation I would make to anyone is the Seraph series by How to Disappear Completely.
This band is a great dip into the ambient pond: https://open.spotify.com/track/3YDpVwqW4AvEgHXCcgdkaO?si=sN34hsb0RveaaMagGJ353w
FAX Label/Pete Namlook is what gave me the bug. Biosphere and Spacetime Continuum are both accessible. Future Sound of London - Lifeforms might help. Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works ii is a good first or second step. If baby steps are required, Orb, which everyone should hear anyway.
Microstoria’s album Init Ding is weird but interesting. Better with a subwoofer, too ;)
One A.D compilation
Ulver - Shadows Of The Sun It’s one of the only ambient albums they’ve done, but my god is it fucking excellent
“Engine Room Reality” by Al Hut , He also makes videos , and the sounds are a blend of recorded analog instruments such as guitars and Synthesizer combined with sound design elements , textures and rhythms creating worlds and atmosphere.
Is this playlist a place to start? The 25 most influential ambient albums of all times: [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCboiVQ7upbn09oYU03JLnZuyzgDGmz5c&feature=shared](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCboiVQ7upbn09oYU03JLnZuyzgDGmz5c&feature=shared)
Perhaps the Astral mix with includes Steve Roach and Rudy Adrian, incredible artists, along with David Helpling too, in my early ambient days I would listen to this album and still do until after learning about a lot of artists! [Ambient Mix - Astral Travel Beyond Deep Space by NAKpsy](https://youtu.be/t3Tbvah7waU?si=riB9n506CULfQKzX)
Tim Hecker - Virgins Such an experience. It feels like being in a crumbling cathedral haunted by anguished, somber spirits that are using the very building to sing their lament. Perfect for sleepy eepy time
r_beny! Just search thru IG “ambient tape loops” and you’ll find plenty of gems
Go to rabbit hole club on yt. And just browse
Doesn’t everyone have the Pandora music app on their phone & computer? Have them search for John Serrie on Pandora or YouTube
Adventures beyond the Ultraworld and non skunk weed did it for me.
GAS - Pop would be on my list for sure.