Sonic research and explorations from the outer groove
Style: Spiritual Folk, Outsider Folk
Vibe: Mystical, Pantheistic, Contemplative, Uplifting, Enchanting, Intimate, Heartfelt, Forest, Ritualistic, Meditative, Morning, Warm, Storytelling
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Suite, Spoken Word, Melodic, Lyrical
Instrumentation: 12-String Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Marimba, Vibraphone, Vocal Harmonies, Gong, Percussion, Shakuhachi,
Style: Bedroom Psych, Drone, Noise Pop, Shoegaze, Space Folk
Vibe: Nocturnal, Murky, Dreamy, Introspective, Hazy, Hypnotic, Intimate, Washy, Ritualistic
Musical Qualities: Feedback, Drone, Atmospheric, Noisey, Lo-Fi
Style: Dream Folk, Jazz-Folk, Warped Americana
Vibes: Warm Melancholy, Springtime Reflection, Rootsy, Early Afternoons in the Garden, Dreamy, Intertwined, Heartfelt
Musical Qualities: Lush; Improvised Arrangements; Studio-as-an-Instrument, Melodic, Vocal Fx
Instrumentation: Banjo, Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Flute, Acoustic Bass, Synthesizers, Piano
Style: American Primitivism, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, Raga
Vibe: Mystical, Nature, Open, Passionate, Pastoral, Peaceful, Airy, Contemplative, Earthy, Impressionistic, Meditative, Morning, Spring, Spiritual,
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Indian-Influenced, Sparse, Technical
Style: American Primitivism, Acoustic Blues, Folk
Vibe: Meditative, Loner, Morning, Rustic, Spring, Spiritual, Pastoral, Bittersweet, Hypnotic, inspiration, Melancholy, Nature, Raw, Warm
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Technical, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Sparse, Progressive
Style: Inner Space Music, Ambient Pop, Tape Music, Minimal Wave
Vibe: Ethereal, Suspenseful, Introspective, Soothing, Nocturnal, Hypnotic, Meditative, Cinematic, Dreamy, Ominous (A2, B2, B3)
Musical Qualities: Pulse, Home Recording, Minimalistic, Atmospheric, Vignettes
Instrumentation: Keyboards, Drum Machine, Vocals, Tape Loops, Electric Guitar, Marimba, Echo
Style: Ambient Folk, ECM-Jazz, New Age
Vibe: Soothing, Airy, Meditative, Pastoral, Winter, Open, Hypnotic, Nature
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Percussive, Sparse, Progressive
Instrumentation: 6 & 12-String Acoustic Guitars, Percussion (Kalimba, Shaker, Bongos, Congas, etc), Tape Loops
Style: Ambient Pop, Progressive Pop (LP1), Ambient (LP2)
Vibe: Ethereal, Introspective, Sombre, Sentimental, Spiritual, Winter, Lush, Meditative, Longing, Soothing
Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Progressive, Polyphonic, Polyrhythmic, Polished, Ballads
Style: Spiritual Folk, Kosmische, Prog
Vibe: Devotional, Ritualistic, Ethereal, Exploratory, Visionary, Mystical, Cosmic, Meditative, Mysterious
Musical Qualities: Progressive, Chants, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Acoustic, Atmospheric, Spoken Word, Raga, Dynamic, Percussive, Choral Vocals, Jams
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Tabla, Organ, Mellotron, Bongo, Chimes, Bells, Flute, Harmonica
Style: World Fusion, Spiritual Jazz, Avant-Folk
Influences: Raga, Brazilian Folk, Minimalism, Turkish Folk, African Music
Vibe: Utopian, Communal, Spiritual, Warm, Hindu, Hypnotic, Colorful, Meditative, Sunny, Uplifting, Peaceful
Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Percussive, Acoustic, Polyrhythmic
Style: Free Folk, Psychedelic Electroacoustic Music, Post-Minimalism
Vibe: Forest, Ritualistic, Visceral, Hypnotic, Mystical
Musical Qualities: Loops, Electro-acoustic, Extended Techniques, Suite, Electro-Acoustic, Repetitive
Instrumentation: Flute, Cello, Saxophone, Keyboards, Vocals
Style: Free Rock, Inner Space Music, Krautrock, Kosmsiche
Vibe: Adventurous, Epic, Exploratory, Mysterious, Hypnotic, Groovy, Psychedelic, Nocturnal, Meditative
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Repetitive, Live, Rhythmic, Atmospheric
Style: Drone Metal, Post-Rock
Vibe: Aquatic, Meditative, Monolithic, Suspenseful, Cathartic, Apocalyptic, Melancholy, Epic
Musical Qualities: Slow, Dynamic, Suite, Loops, Repetitive, Droney, Minimalistic
Style: Drone Rock, Post-Rock
Vibe: Meditative, Desert, Hypnotic, Soothing, Spiritual, Western, Lethargic, Determined, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Slow, Riffs, Repetition, Improvisation, Minimalistic, Instrumental
Style: Experimental Rock, Post Rock
Vibe: Cathartic, Visceral, Spiritual, Brooding, Shadowy, Apocalyptic, Ritualistic, Suspenseful, Climactic, Dark, Powerful, Heavy, Cryptic, Philosophical, Surreal, Epic, Hypnotic, Sombre, Meditative, Mysterious, Monolithic, Longing, Existential, Disorienting
Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Repetitive, Dense, Crescendo, Rhythmic, Droney
Ry Cooder’s beautifully spacious ambient-western compositions are a transcendent pairing with this meditative, expansive film.
Style: Ritual Folk, Drone
Vibe: Ancient, Forest, Meditative, Ritualistic, Intimate, Devotional, Earthy, Nature, Autumnal, Contemplative
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Field Recordings, Drone, Atmospheric, Sparse, Suite
Style: Progressive Electronic, Ambient House, Collage Pop, Sound Sculpture
Moods: Cryptic, Surreal, Aquatic, Hypnotic, Nocturnal, Futuristic, Melancholy, Collage, Urban, Mellow, Meditative, Ethereal, Eclectic, Rainy, Romantic
Musical Qualities: Sampling, Electro-Acoustic, Field Recordings, Atmospheric, Melodic, Loops
Style: Ambient Blues, Solo Electric Guitar
Vibe: Longing, Soothing, Nocturnal, Impressionistic, Lonely, Meditative, Melancholy, Suspenseful,
Musical Qualities: Sparse, Improvisation (solo), Atmospheric, Instrumental, Lo-fi
Style: Ecstatic Minimalism, New Age, Drone
Vibe: Spiritual, Meditative, Heavenly, Cosmic, Hypnotic, Mystical, Longing, Intertwined
Musial Attributes: Just Intonation, Instrumental, Minimalistic, Repetitive, Suite, Improvisation, Drone
Instrumentation: Yamaha YC-45D Organ with multiple digital delay channels for live layering & interactions
Style: Kosmische Musik, Progressive Electronic, Space Ambient, New Age
Vibe: Meditative, Cosmic, Soothing, Hypnotic, Spacey, Peaceful, Ethereal, Futuristic
Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Minimalistic, Polished, Repetitive
Instrumentation: Synthesizers, Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Loops
Joshua Abrams – Guimbri
Chad Taylor – Mbira
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Repetitive, Sparse, Acoustic, Minimalist
Style: Drone, Tape Music, Ambient, Drone-Folk
Vibe: Nocturnal, Haunting, Hypnotic, Ethereal, Meditative, Warm, Nature, Nostalgia
Musical Qualities: Sound Collage, Instrumental, Field Recordings, Collage, Electro-Acoustic, Noisy, Home Recording, Vignettes
Instrumentation: Tapes, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Piano, Drum Machine, Synthesizers, Bass, Keyboard, Percussion, Bass Clarinet (B2)
Style: Free Jazz, Spiritual Jazz, Post-Bop
Vibe: Mysterious, Nocturnal, Adventure, Spiritual, Communal, Eclectic, Epic, Meditative
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Progressive, Thematic
Style: Drone, Free Improvisation, Ambient
Vibe: Suspenseful, Haunting, Murky, Mysterious, Meditative, Responsive, Noir
Musical Qualities: Lo-Fi, Improvisation, Noisy, Atmospheric, Heavy Reverb
Style: American Primitvism, Ambient Blues, Solo Electric Guitar
Vibe: Meditative, Longing, Spiritual, Pastoral, Loose, Kinetic
Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Dissonance, Instrumental, Sparse
Style: Tape Music, Drone, Ambient
Vibe: Meditative, Dreamy, Quiet Catharsis, Alien, Mysterious, Contemplative, Hypnotic, Mellow, Cosmic
Musical Qualities: Loops, Atmospheric, Repetition, Instrumental, Droney, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Progressive, Improvisation
Style: Kosmische Musik, Prog, Space Rock, Progressive Electronic
Vibe: Cosmic, Ethereal, Aquatic, Groovy, Exploratory, Hypnotic, Meditative, Hallucinogenic, Spiritual, Futuristic
Musical Qualities: Progressive, Suite, Raga, Headphone Album, Raga, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Dense
Lyrics: Conceptual, Egyptian Book of the Dead, Spiritual, Philosophical
Released in 2021 on Lion Productions Recorded 1977, Archival Release Format: LP, includes 12-page 12″ booklet Style: British Folk, Psych … More
Style: Free Folk, Cosmic Appalachia, Ambient Folk, Healing Music
Vibe: hypnotic, amorphous, confident, cosmic, dreamy, earthy, ethereal, existential, exploratory, forest, warm, spiritual, spontaneous, soothing, psychedelic, passionate, nature, meditative, hallucinogenic
Musical Qualities: Suite, Electro-Acoustic, Studio-as-an-instrument, Loops, Home Recording, Progressive, Field Recordings
Style: Psychedelic Chamber Music, Kosmische Musik, Ritual-Folk, Global Fusion
Vibe: Spiritual, Meditative, Communal, Psychedelic, Earthy, Forest, Ritualistic, Tribal
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Atmospheric, Chamber, Droney, Raga, Percussive, Chants
Instrumentation: Oboe, Keyboards, Conga, Acoustic Guitar, Bamboo Flute
Style: Dark Ambient, Free Improvisation, Ambient Blues
Vibe: Murky, Meditative, Washy, Haunting, Suspenseful, Mysterious, Ethereal
Musical Attributes: Solo Electric Guitar Improvisation, Sparse, Atmospheric, Slow, Lo-fi
Style: Ritual Folk, Dhrupad, Free Folk
Vibe: Meditative, Mysterious, Psychedelic, Spiritual, Earthy, Hypnotic
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Drone, Improvisation, Instrumental, Repetitive, Raga
Style: Psychedelic Trance Music, Avant-Jazz, Creative Music, Post-Minimalism
Influences: Gnawa, Spiritual Jazz, Raga, Kosmische Musik
Vibe: Earthy, Hypnotic, Meditative, Cosmic, Psychedelic, Ritualistic, Spiritual, Tribal
Musical Attributes: Polyrhythmic, Acoustic, Minimalistic, Improvisation, Percussive, Instrumental
Style: Post-Rock, Experimental Rock
Influences: Dub, Kosmische Musik, Bossa Nova, Lounge, Minimalism, Jazz, Electronic
Vibe: Contemplative, Eclectic, Focused, Futuristic, Impressionistic, Lush, Meditative, Peaceful, Soothing
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Complex, Digital Production, Percussive, Polyphonic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Loops, Headphone Album, Rhythmic, Pulse, Instrumental, Progressive, Polished
Style: Ambient Pop, Free Folk, New Age
Vibe: Cosmic, Dreamy, Earthy, Ethereal, Lethargic, Meditative, Mystical, Passionate, Ritualistic, Soothing, Spiritual
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Droney, Slow
Style: Experimental Singer/Songwriter, Avant-Folk, Drone
Vibe: Winter, Existential, Imaginative, Introspective, Contemplative, Epic, Philosophical, Poetic, Ethereal, Loner, Meditative, Eclectic
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Droney, Lo-Fi, Lyrical, Progressive
Style: Organic Beat Music, Tribal Ambient, Ritual Psych-Folk, Progressive Electronic
Vibe: Hallucinogenic, Exploratory, Mysterious, Meditative, Hypnotic
Musical Attributes: Electro-Acoustic, Beats, Percussive, Polyphonic, Loops
Released in 2020 on Other People Records
Artist: Nicolas Jaar
Format: LPx2
Style: Progressive Electronic, Ambient Pop, Sound Sculpture
Vibe: Introspective, Mysterious, Nocturnal, Shadowy, Abstract, Dark, Hypnotic, Meditative
Musical Attributes: Electro-Acoustic, Progressive, Digital, Studio-as-an-Instrument
Overview
Bass clarinet, pedal steel guitar, and synthesizer swirling together into a highly immersive and emotive combination of voices. Truly beautiful soundscapes that melt the worry away, with moments of quiet catharsis that I don’t experience very often in ambient music.
While the luminescent drones and angelic simulacra of Deepak Verbera expanded out into the cosmos, Botany’s newest LP feels more rooted in the soil of our material reality. The bass heavy beats and impassioned vocal samples inspire movement and action rather than contemplation alone, not to say the results aren’t heady. Rich tapestries of resonant acoustic instruments (harps, flutes, percussion, strings), woozy synths, and warm tape hiss are as intricate as ever and easy to lose (or find?) yourself in. Recommended to fans of Flying Lotus’ Until the Quiet Comes, Boards of Canada, and Alice Coltrane.
Style: Raga-Jazz, Hindustani Classical Music
Vibe: Passionate, Spiritual, Energetic, Focused, Meditative, Peaceful
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Acoustic, Instrumental, Technical
Style: Collage-Pop, Glitch-Folk, Plunderphonics
Vibe: Surreal, Psychedelic, Peaceful, Cerebral, Meditative, Philosophical, Spiritual, Uplifting, Warm, Playful, Hallucinogenic
Musical Attributes: Sampling, Electro-Acoustic, Melodic, Sound Collage, Vocal Manipulation
Style: Minimalism, Tape Music, Chamber Music
Vibe/Themes: Pulsing, Hypnotic, History, Meditative
Musical Attributes: Repetitive, Sampling, Electro-Acoustic, Spoken Word
Originally released in 1972 on CBS Records 2019 Superior Viaduct Reissue Format: LP Style: Free Improvisation, Ambient Jazz, Drone Vibe: Ritualistic, … More
These communal sound rituals express a digital-era longing to reconnect to the Earth. The grooves here are circular and ceremonial, not rooted to any specific musical traditions but borrowing from many, including cosmic jazz, kosmische musik and undoubtedly inspired by Holden’s collaboration with legendary Gnawa musician Maleem Mahmoud Ghania. Drums and percussion ground the proceedings while muscular sequencer and fiery saxophone arpeggiations hypnotically intertwine. The sounds of fluttering recorder and modular synthesizer swirl through the air like offerings to the cosmos.
Recommended for fans of The Comet is Coming, Tonto’s Exploding Head Band, Maleem Mahmoud Ghania & Pharoah Sander’s Trance of Seven Colors, Natural Information Society, Colin Stetson
Style: Free Folk, Chamber Music, Progressive Folk
Vibe: Ritualistic, Hypnotic, Earthy, Tribal, Nature, Meditative, Medieval, Exploratory
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Minimalistic
Instrumentation: Oboe, Violin, Viola, Recorder, Percussion (Tabla, Drums, Chimes), Cello
Released in 2006 on Drag City Records Format: LP
Style: Celtic New Age, Symphonic Prog
Vibe: Ethereal, Medieval, Spring, Mellow, Meditative, Rainy, Soothing, Cinematic, Eclectic, Epic, Pastoral
Musical Qualities: Suite, Orchestral, Lush, Atmospheric, Progressive, Studio-as-an-Instrument
Instrumentation: harp, electric guitar, acoustic bass, electric bass, bagpipe, uilleann pipes, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, classical guitar, mandolin, bodhran, bouzouki, banjo, spinet, piano, Organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel, percussion, choral vocals, brass, tympani, drums, percussion
Released in 2011 on Software Records Format: LP
Released in 2018 on Friends of Friends Records Format: LP, Clear Vinyl
Originally released in 1958 on World Pacific Records 1963 Pressing Format: LP
Washes of piano, harp, and other ephemeral sonic artifacts float through Ledesma’s peaceful, almost static atmospheres like a night breeze through the quiet woods.
Released in 2009 on Southern Lord Records Recorded live in 2007 and 2008 Format: LP
Released in 1971 on Takoma Records Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP Limited pink vinyl
Released in 1973 on Takoma Records Format: LP
Released in 2006 on Southern Lord Format: LPx3 Limited to 1500 on Yellow Opaque vinyl
Another interesting one from Fahey, side A consists of some amazingly intricate guitar duets with Woodrow Mann, including my favorite Fahey song “Jaya Shiva Shankarah”. Side B takes a strange turn though…halfway through the title track a 10-piece dixieland band kicks for a few tracks of New Orleans-style jazz. The album closes in a more familiar place with a contemplative solo piece that most Fahey fans would dig.
Originally released in 1965 on Impulse Records 2010 Analogue Productions Pressing Format: LPx2, 45RPM
Originally released in 2013 on Erased Tapes 2015 VinylMePlease Pressing Format: LPx2
Released in 2010 on Domino Records Format: LPx2 Recommended Tracks: Angel Echoes – A1(Mellow, Hypnotic, Lush) Love Cry – A2 … More
Released in 1977 on Sky Records Format: LP Original German Pressing
Released in 2019 on Eremite Records Recorded in 2017 Format: LPx2, Screen-printed jacket
The Books’ music is simultaneously funny, innovative, catchy and enlightening. They use found sound and spoken word mixed with innovative recording techniques and acoustic instruments to create beautiful sound-collages that somehow create unity between all these disparate sources, as if they were all meant to be together. Everything these guys do, solo or together, is absolute genius.
Progressive Cool Jazz with thematic structural development, and ECM-Style reverbed production. Recommended track: Ark La Tex
These transcendent drone meditations will envelop you in a dark blanket of fuzzy guitars and blooming synthesizers.
Released in 2009 on Drag City Format: LP Recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, Chicago, March 2009
Released in 2014 on Drag City Format: LPx2, 45rpm
Released in 2011 on Blackest Rainbow Format: LPx2, 180g Ltd. to 750 copies
Originally released in 2008 on Southern Lord 2014 Pressing Format: LPx2, Red Vinyl
A far cry from the sparse folk usually recorded by Will Oldham, “Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties” finds his intimate voice and warbly acoustic guitar enveloped by the cosmic drones, blooming synths, airy flutes, and hypnotic tape loops of Chicago new age trio, Bitchin Bajas. The lyrics are essentially fortune cookie mantras and, while there’s a chance they’re tongue-in-cheek, it’s difficult not to smile and feel a brightening of the spirit when hearing uplifting phrases like “Your hard work is about to pay off, keep on keepin’ on” or “you and your whole family are well” get repeated over and over. This collaboration is a soothing, heartwarming listen and a refreshing change-of-pace from Oldham’s tendency towards melancholy and solemn lyrical content.
Released in 2012 on Southern Lord Records Format: LPx2, etching on D-side
On Towards Language, Norweigan trumpeter Arve Henriksen creates a blend of meditative and suspenseful ambient-jazz, demonstrating a more soothing side to his playing than his noisier output with electro-acoustic improvisers Supersilent.
Released in 1966 on World Pacific Records Recorded in 1956
There is a fathomless void within each of us. And while many choose to run from it, clinging to anything to keep from falling in, Deradoorian dove right in on her meditative release, Eternal Reccurrence. Here she provides somewhat of a sonic roadmap for diving deep within yourself, guided by the blooming drones of harmonium, Juno synthesizers, and flutes. Arising from the ether, layers of otherworldly voices sing mantras of facing our Shadow (“Mirrorman”), finding the love that resides in the core of our being, and bringing it back with us into this material dimension.
On Automaginary, the Gnawa-inspired cosmic jazz of Natural Information Society is augmented by the flowing textures of Chicago new age trio Bitchin Bajas to create an album of enveloping drones and trance-inducing rhythms. (Follow link for full Review)
A hypnotic, meditative minimalist classic whose influence can be traced throughout several threads of modern music.
Information: Released in 1978 on PVC Records Format: LP
A psychedelic synth odyssey created with only an expanded Series III Moog by Robert Margouleff and synth-guru Malcolm Cecil (who programmer synths on legendary albums by Stevie Wonder and Gil-Scott Heron in addition to his ambient solo work). The intricately layered results here feel like a synthetic wilderness, with a wide variety of colors and textures that sound warm, organic, and natural despite their electronic origins.
On his debut album, the guitar and banjo virtuoso starts off with a 22-minute droning epic fusing American and Arabic Folk music with Indian Raga on his acoustic guitar (often trying to imitate the feeling of the oud). Here, he is accompanied by the fluid, driving drums of Billy Higgins. Side 2 is made up of 4 shorter solo pieces, mostly for the banjo, including an impressive rendition of “Carmina Burana” by German composer Carl Orff and a folky mountain song.
Originally released in 2005 on Tomlab Temporary Residence Reissue (2011) Format: LP
Peaceful drone meditations and mantras for bass clarinet and sitar. The improvisatory melodies are beautifully expressive, exploratory, and blanketed in a soft, soothing reverb.
Album Information: Released in 1969 on Impulse Records 1972 pressing
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.
Saxophonist Colin Stetson and violinist Sarah Neufeld employ innovative performance techniques, mutating ostinatos and an atmospheric sense of texture to compose minimalist compositions that are as brooding and haunting they are hypnotically beautiful.
Album Information: Originally released in 1971 on Impulse Records This pressing was released in 1997 on Impulse/MCA Records Recorded November … More
Album Information: Released in 2007 on Southern Lord Records Produced by Steve Albini and Om Recorded and mixed by Steve … More
Performed on acoustic guitar and an early delay pedal, Christopher Idylls is a soothing, reflective way to ease into the morning. It fits somewhere between ambient, new age, and American primitive guitar.
Album Information: Released in 2017 on Blue Chopsticks Records (Imprint of Drag City Records) Eli Keszler – Drums, Percussion (Tracks … More
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records Includes 15-page book of stories and song notes
Meditative jazz explorations of space, rhythm and textures inspired by Miles Davis’ ambient jazz pieces, Gnawa ceremonial music of North Africa, the spiritual jazz of Pharoah Sanders and Don Cherry, and the mutating minimalism of Steve Reich.
Click for full review
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records This album was originally released on 100 copies in 1959, but was … More
Shakti means “Creative Intelligence, Beauty & Power” and trust me, these are all in abundance on these devotional jazz ragas. Featuring John McLaughlin joined by a quartet of Indian master musicians, this album is a blissfully uplifting and meditative release.
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.
No Food Just Wax 