Ak’Chamel – Rawskulled
Style: Ritual Psych, “Apocalyptic Desert Folk”
Vibes: Ritualistic, Apocalyptic, Desert, Visceral, Raw, Surreal, Earthy, Haunting, Hypnotic, Thorny, Psychedelic, Shadowy
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Desert
Elkhorn – Red Valley
Style: Acid Western, Psych Folk
Vibe: Journeying, Desert, Western, Hazy, Intertwined, Road Trip, Nature, Summer, Adventure, Earthy, Exploratory, Flowing, Focused, Impressionistic, Luminous, Pastoral, Patient, Psychedelic, Reflective, Rural, Spiritual, Warm
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Naujawanan Baidar – Khedmat Be Khalq
Style: Arabic Psych-Punk, Pashto Folk Music, Lo-Fi Psych
Vibes: Determined, Hypnotic, Journeying, Rebellious, Epic, Desert, Triumphant, Psychedelic, Energetic
Musical Qualities: Fuzzy, Modal, Lo-Fi, Riffs, Loops, Repetitive, Sampling
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Ilyas Ahmed – With Endless Fire
Hazy, Lethargic, Dreamy, Desert, Gentile, Nocturnal, Peaceful, Contemplative, Cryptic, Loner, Mellow, Psychedelic, Soothing
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Andrew Weathers – A Cardinal with a Sign of Blood
Style: Electroacoustic, Ambient Americana
Vibes: Reflective, Personal, Tender, Desert, Conversational, Haunting, Meditative, Western, Sombre, Rural, Mellow, Meandering, Intimate, Heartfelt
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Cassia Streb – Marginal Habitats
Style: EAI, Reductionism
Vibes: Meditative, Desert, Ecological, Desolate, Meandering, Lonely, Contemplative, Morning, Intimate, Lethargic, Primordial, Raw, Restrained
Musical Qualities: Graphic Score, Sparse, Slow, Soft, Instrumental, Improvisation, Dissonant, Electro-Acoustic
Instrumentation: Field Recording, Viola, Small Objects
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Ilyas Ahmed – Between Two Skies / Towards the Night
Style: Drone-Folk, Acid Folk, Guitar Soli (LP2)
Vibes: Nocturnal, Intimate, Desert, Raw, Lethargic, Melancholy, Autumnal, Haunting, Mellow, Peaceful
Musical Qualities: Home Recording, Acoustic, Sparse, Lo-Fi, Droney, Instrumental (LP2)
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75 Dollar Bill – Wood / Metal / Plastic / Pattern / Rhythm / Rock
Style: Desert Blues, Psychedelic Trance Rock, Tishoumaren, Post-Minimalism
Vibes: Hypnotic, Desert, Earthy, Psychedelic, Communal, Driving, Ritualistic
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Riffs, Improvisation, Instrumental, Repetitive, Microtonal
Instrumentation: Homemade Percussion, Plywood Crate, 12-String Guitar, Shakers, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Upright Bass, Viola, Trumpet, Saxophone (Baritone & Alto)
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Monypeny + Meanstreetz – The Beating Stutter of Hope
Style: Free Improvisation, Psychedelic Noise, Drone
Vibe: Ritualistic, Hypnotic, Spiritual, Desert, Nocturnal, Eerie, Meditative, Sombre
Musical Qualities: Noisy, Improvisation, Droney
Instrumentation: Drums, Electric Guitar, Shaahi Baaja
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Elkhorn – On the Whole Universe in All Directions
Style: Jazz-Folk, American Primitivism
Vibe: Desert, Impressionistic, Pastoral, Peaceful, Meandering, Meditative, Western, Nature
Instrumentation: Vibraphone, 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Drums
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Folk Music & Songs from the Middle East
Style: Lebanese Folk
Moods: Communal, Passionate, Spiritual, Rootsy, Devotional, Ecstatic, Desert, Nocturnal, Intertwined
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Modal, Microtonal, Percussive
Instrumentation: Oud, Group Vocals, Naye, Rabab, Derbake
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Derek Monypeny – Cibola
Style: “Desert Continuum”, Psychedelic Drone, Free Improvisation, Avant-Folk
Moods: Desert, Ritualistic, Spiritual, Meditative, Hallucinogenic, Nocturnal
Musical Qualities: Droney, Electro-acoustic, Solo Improvisation, Noisy, Instrumental
Instrumentation: Shahi Baaja, Electric Guitar, Autoharp
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Sandy Bull: E pluribus unum
Style: Acid Folk, Folk-Rock Influences: Arabic Folk, Blues, Raga
Moods: Mysterious, Confident, Serpentine, Searching, Psychedelic, Desert, Determined, Earthy, Flowing, Impressionistic, Introspective, Meandering, Meditative, Ritualistic
Musical Qualities: Modal, Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Solo, Bluesy
Instrumentation: Oud, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Electric Bass
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Mako Sica – Ronda
Style: Psychedelic Jazz, Free-Psych, Post-Rock
Moods: Ritualistic, Mysterious, Serpentine, Nocturnal, Exploratory, Desert, Moody, Spiritual, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Percussive, Thematic, Collective Improvisation, Atmospheric, Rhythmic
Instrumentation: Drums, Tabla, Electric Piano, Chants, Trumpet, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Electric Bass, Harmonica, Gong, Cello, Upright Bass, Flute, Organ, Piano, Bells, Teponaztli, Tambourine, Viola
Naujawanan Baidar – Volume 1 & 2
Styles: Psychedelic Tape Music, Pashto Folk, Arabic Psych, Organic Beat Music
Moods: Desert, Mysterious, Ritualistic, Epic, Hypnotic, Rebellious, Political, Triumphant
Musical Qualities: Percussive, Fuzzy, Loops, Modal, Field Recordings, Group Vocals, Sampling, Lo-Fi, Repetitive
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Scott Hirsch – Blue Rider Songs
Style: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Country-Psych, Roots Rock
Moods: Reflective, Western, Road Trip, Desert, Warm, Groovy, Laid Back, Cinematic, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Dub Production, Melodic, Rhythmic
Instrumentation: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Organ, Drum Machine, Slide Guitars (Pedal Steel & Lap Steel), Harmonica, Synthesizers, Saxophone, Drums, Electric Bass
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Rangda – False Flag
Style: Psych, Free-Rock, Noise Rock
Vibe: Bombastic, Energetic, Desert, Thorny, Chaotic, Psychedelic, Serpentine, Western
Musical Qualities: Shred, Fuzzy, Improvisation, Instrumental, Noisy
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Aram Arakelian ensemble – The Oud
Style: Armenian Folk, Arabic Classical Music, Islamic Modal Music
Moods: Mystical, Elegant, Traditional, Reflective, Longing, Desert, Mysterious, Energetic
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Microtonal, Modal, Dynamic, Percussive, Technical
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Bardo Pond | Yo La Tengo – Parallelograms
Style: Free Psych, Shoegaze, Space Rock, Noise Rock, Jam Band
Moods: Mysterious, Desert, Nocturnal, Cathartic, Cryptic, Primordial, Murky, Ethereal, Lethargic, Meandering, Melancholy, Hypnotic
Musical Qualities: Washy, Collective Improvisation, Fuzzy, Repetitive, Jams, Slow, Droney, Noisy, Climactic, Riffs
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Ulaan Passerine – Sun Spar
Style: Shadow Americana, Free Folk, Country-Drone, Post-Rock
Moods: Western, Haunting, Desert, Impressionistic, Meditative, Rustic, Cinematic
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental, Droney, Atmospheric
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Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andres Werliin – Ghosted
Style: Atmospheric Jazz, Post-Minimalism
Moods: Nocturnal, Suspenseful, Motorik, Western, Desert, Cinematic, Hypnotic
Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Electroacoustic, Rhythmic, Instrumental
Instrumentation: Upright Bass, Electric Guitar, Drums
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Land of Kush – Against the Day
Land of Kush’ Against the Day is a passionate, adventurous & rebellious masterpiece of mystical electrified big-band compositions, inspired by the surreal novel of the same name by Thomas Pynchon. Bilocal oudist & composer Osama Shalabi (Montreal/Cairo) bravely leads this 20+ member orchestra through a progressive suite of long form arrangements that synthesize sounds of spiritual jazz, Arabic folk & experimental rock into a sound that’s overwhelmingly unique and gripping.
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Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions – Until the Hunter
Style: Ethereal Country, Psychedelic Folk, Slowcore, Singer-Songwriter, Dream Pop
Vibe: Enchanting, Dreamy, Hypnotic, Forest, Wistful, Brooding, Western, Nocturnal, Sensual, Lethargic, Soothing, Melancholy, Reflective, Autumnal, Ethereal, Desert, Romantic, Bittersweet, Spectral
Musical Qualities: Slow, Lush, Soft, Atmospheric, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical
Instrumentation: Slide Guitar, Vibraphone, Keyboards, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Drums, Cello
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Abronia – Obsidian Visions / Shadowed Lands
Style: Desert Rock, Spaghetti Western, Heavy Psych
Vibe: Adventure, Epic, Desert, Triumphant, Western, Cinematic, Focused
Musical Qualities: Fuzzy, Riffs, Atmospheric, Dynamic
Instrumentation: Saxophone, Electric Guitars, Slide Guitar, Bass, Drums, Melodica
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Rangda – Formerly Extinct
Style: Psychedelic Math Rock, Free Rock
Vibe: Desert, Serpentine, Epic, Adventure, Intertwined, Energetic, Bombastic, Mystical
Musical Qualities: Shredding, Riffs, Improvisation, Dynamic, Instrumental, Uncommon Time Signatures, Noisy
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Sun City Girls – Torch of the Mystics
Style: Free Psych, Experimental Rock, Surf, Arabic Folk
Vibe: Desert, Mystical, Manic, Ritualistic, Tribal, Surreal, Eccentric, Playful, Psychedelic, Spiritual, Eclectic, Raw
Musical Qualities: Riffs, Dissonant, Fuzzy, Dynamic, Improvisation
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Tinariwen – Amadjar
Style: Tishoumaren, Desert Blues
Vibe: Desert, Hypnotic, Journeying, Spiritual, Flowing, Psychedelic, Mellow, Communal, Uplifting
Musical Qualities: Slow, Group Vocals, Repetitive, Percussive, Rhythmic
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Hardin & Russell – Ring of Bone
Style: Country, Folk
Vibes: Melancholy, Desert, Western, Sombre, Lonely, Sad, Breezy, Peaceful, Dreamy
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Lush
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica, Dobro, Piano, Fiddle, Trombone, Saxophone, Sousaphone, Trumpet, Flute, Congas, Electric Bass
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Elkhorn – Elk Jam
Style: Folk Rock, Psych, Jam Band
Vibe: Scorched, Summer, Desert, Stoned, Pastoral Peaceful, Sunny, Traveling, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Instrumental, Improvisation, Fuzzy, Mellow, Riffs, Loose
Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders – The Trance of Seven Colors
Style: Gnawa, Spiritual Jazz
Vibe: Ceremonial, Hypnotic, Communal, Ritualistic, Spiritual, Uplifting, Serpentine, Warm, Desert, Tribal
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Acoustic, Repetitive, Chants, Improvisation, Microtonal
Instrumentation: Guimbri, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, Group Vocals, Clapping
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Elkhorn – Sun Cycle
Style: Fingerstyle Folk, Psych, American Primitive Guitar
Vibe: Pastoral, Sunny, Hypnotic, Desert, Mellow, Psychedelic, Warm, Intertwined
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Improvisation, Acoustic
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Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I
Style: Drone Rock, Post-Rock
Vibe: Meditative, Desert, Hypnotic, Soothing, Spiritual, Western, Lethargic, Determined, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Slow, Riffs, Repetition, Improvisation, Minimalistic, Instrumental
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Kendra Amalie – Intuition
Style: Space Rock, Folk Rock
Vibe: Desert, Spacey, Western, Moody
Musical Qualities: Riffs, Repetitive, Driving, Atmospheric
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Ry Cooder – Paris, Texas (Soundtrack)
Ry Cooder’s beautifully spacious ambient-western compositions are a transcendent pairing with this meditative, expansive film.
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Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime
Style: Tishoumaren, Desert Blues, Psych
Vibe: Hypnotic, Desert, Groovy, Energetic, Warm, Uplifting, Conscious, Passionate, Psychedelic
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The Mars Volta – The Bedlam in Goliath
Style: Progressive Rock, Psych, Experimental Rock
Vibe: Bombastic, Mystical, Cerebral, Chaotic, Cryptic, Desert, Energetic, Epic, Hallucinogenic, intense, manic, Psychedelic, Complex
Musical Attributes: Dense, Odd Time Signatures, Progressive Structures, Polyrhythmic, Riffs, Technical
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Agitation Free – Malesch
Style: Kosmische Music, Psychedelic Rock, Space Rock
Influences: Arabic Music, African Music, Prog
Vibe: Exploratory, Psychedelic, Desert, Tribal
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Studio-as-an-instrument, Sound Collage, Riffs
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Earth – Radio Live
Released in 2009 on Southern Lord Records Recorded live in 2007 and 2008 Format: LP
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Brian Eno – Ambient 4: On Land
Style: Ambient, Progressive Electronic
Vibe: Suspenseful, Desert, Desolate, Earthy, Mysterious, Eerie, Ethereal, Contemplative, Lonely, Impressionistic
Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Instrumental, Analogue, Abstract
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Earth – The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull
Originally released in 2008 on Southern Lord 2014 Pressing Format: LPx2, Red Vinyl
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Sleep – Dopesmoker
Album Information: Originally released in 1999 as Jerusalem on London Records, and then in 2003 as Dopesmoker on Tee-Pee Records. This is the 2012 pressing on Southern Lord Format: LPx2, Blue vinyl, limited to 1000 copies
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Six Organs of Admittance – Asleep on the Floodplains
Pastoral psychfolk from guitar master Ben Chasney. Here his serene acoustic fingerpicking is occasionally accompanied by harmonium drones and trippy guitar overdubs, but overall the album is extremely sparse and meditative.
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Mdou Moctar – Sousoume Tamache
Guitar-genius Mdou Moctar visits Portland, Oregon from his home country of Niger to record a hypnotic solo album of desert folk sung in Tamasheq. Most songs consist of intricate fingerstyle acoustic guitar with occasional electric guitar overdubs to accent the melodies.
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