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)
Ilyas Ahmed – Between Two Skies / Towards the Night Read More »
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)
75 Dollar Bill – Wood / Metal / Plastic / Pattern / Rhythm / Rock Read More »
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
Monypeny + Meanstreetz – The Beating Stutter of Hope Read More »
Style: Jazz-Folk, American Primitivism
Vibe: Desert, Impressionistic, Pastoral, Peaceful, Meandering, Meditative, Western, Nature
Instrumentation: Vibraphone, 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Drums
Elkhorn – On the Whole Universe in All Directions Read More »
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
Folk Music & Songs from the Middle East Read More »
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
Derek Monypeny – Cibola Read More »
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
Sandy Bull: E pluribus unum Read More »
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
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
Naujawanan Baidar – Volume 1 & 2 Read More »
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
Scott Hirsch – Blue Rider Songs Read More »
Style: Psych, Free-Rock, Noise Rock
Vibe: Bombastic, Energetic, Desert, Thorny, Chaotic, Psychedelic, Serpentine, Western
Musical Qualities: Shred, Fuzzy, Improvisation, Instrumental, Noisy
Rangda – False Flag Read More »
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
Aram Arakelian ensemble – The Oud Read More »
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
Bardo Pond | Yo La Tengo – Parallelograms Read More »
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
Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andres Werliin – Ghosted Read More »
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.
Land of Kush – Against the Day Read More »
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
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions – Until the Hunter Read More »
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
Abronia – Obsidian Visions / Shadowed Lands Read More »
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
Rangda – Formerly Extinct Read More »
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
Sun City Girls – Torch of the Mystics Read More »
Style: Tishoumaren, Desert Blues
Vibe: Desert, Hypnotic, Journeying, Spiritual, Flowing, Psychedelic, Mellow, Communal, Uplifting
Musical Qualities: Slow, Group Vocals, Repetitive, Percussive, Rhythmic
Tinariwen – Amadjar Read More »
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
Hardin & Russell – Ring of Bone Read More »
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
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
Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders – The Trance of Seven Colors Read More »
Style: Fingerstyle Folk, Psych, American Primitive Guitar
Vibe: Pastoral, Sunny, Hypnotic, Desert, Mellow, Psychedelic, Warm, Intertwined
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Improvisation, Acoustic
Elkhorn – Sun Cycle Read More »
Style: Drone Rock, Post-Rock
Vibe: Meditative, Desert, Hypnotic, Soothing, Spiritual, Western, Lethargic, Determined, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Slow, Riffs, Repetition, Improvisation, Minimalistic, Instrumental
Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I Read More »
Style: Space Rock, Folk Rock
Vibe: Desert, Spacey, Western, Moody
Musical Qualities: Riffs, Repetitive, Driving, Atmospheric
Kendra Amalie – Intuition Read More »
Ry Cooder’s beautifully spacious ambient-western compositions are a transcendent pairing with this meditative, expansive film.
Ry Cooder – Paris, Texas (Soundtrack) Read More »
Style: Tishoumaren, Desert Blues, Psych
Vibe: Hypnotic, Desert, Groovy, Energetic, Warm, Uplifting, Conscious, Passionate, Psychedelic
Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime Read More »
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
The Mars Volta – The Bedlam in Goliath Read More »
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
Agitation Free – Malesch Read More »
Released in 2009 on Southern Lord Records Recorded live in 2007 and 2008 Format: LP
Earth – Radio Live Read More »
Style: Ambient, Progressive Electronic
Vibe: Suspenseful, Desert, Desolate, Earthy, Mysterious, Eerie, Ethereal, Contemplative, Lonely, Impressionistic
Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Instrumental, Analogue, Abstract
Brian Eno – Ambient 4: On Land Read More »
Originally released in 2008 on Southern Lord 2014 Pressing Format: LPx2, Red Vinyl
Earth – The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull Read More »
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
Sleep – Dopesmoker Read More »
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.
Six Organs of Admittance – Asleep on the Floodplains Read More »
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.
Mdou Moctar – Sousoume Tamache Read More »
