Meditative

Daniel Higgs – Say God

Style: Mystical Folk, Devotional Poetry, New Age

Moods: Poetic, Mystical, Devotional, Spiritual, Meditative, Surreal, Eccentric, Cosmic, Ecstatic, Utopian

Musical Qualities: Mantra, Spoken Word, Acoustic, Sparse, Improvisation

Instrumentation: Voice, Banjo, Sruti Box, Harmonium

Michael O’Shea

Style: Avant-Folk, Post-Minimalism

Moods: Hypnotic, Mysterious, Meditative, Ritualistic, Nocturnal, Haunting, Ethereal

Musical Qualities: Pulse, Homemade Instrument, Minimalistic, Solo, Improvisation, Repetitive, Electro-Acoustic, Extended Technique, Sparse

Ravi Shankar – Chants of India

Produced by George Harrison

Style: Vedic Chants, Hindustani Classical Music

Vibe: Devotional, Meditative, Nocturnal, Spiritual, Peaceful, Ritualistic, Reflective, Soothing, Ecstatic, Hypnotic, Intricate, Psychedelic

Instrumentation: Group Vocals, Sitar, Autoharp, Strings (Viola, Violin, Cello), Flute, Tabla, Veena, Mridangam, Morsing, Tamboura, Harp, Santoor, Acoustic Guitar, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone

Black Forest / Black Sea – Portmanteau

Style: Free Folk, Electroacoustic Drone, Ritual Psych

Moods: Witchy, Meditative, Visceral, Nocturnal, Ritualistic, Occult

Musical Qualities: Dhrupad, Noisy, Acoustic, Improvisation, Dissonant

Instrumentation: Cello, Guitar, Violin, Tamboura, Electronics, Strumstick, Maestro Rhythm King, Vocals, Omnichord

Ravi Shankar – Six Ragas

Style: Hindustani Classical Music

Moods: Ecstatic, Joyful, Meditative, Spiritual, Warm, Flowing, Energetic, Hypnotic

Musical Qualities: Raga, Improvisation, Acoustic, Percussive, Microtonal

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

Jon Hassell – Vernal Equinox

featuring Nana Vasconcelos, David Rosenboom, Bill Winant, Miguel Frasconi, & Nicholas Kilbourn

Style: Fourth World, Ambient Jazz, Tribal Ambient

Moods: Mysterious, Tropical, Ethereal, Exploratory, Hypnotic, Impressionistic, Meditative, Soothing, Focused, Warm, Surreal, Woozy, Aquatic

Byard Lancaster – It’s Not Up to Us

featuring Sonny Sharrock

Style: Post-Bop, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Airy, Searching, Peaceful, Hypnotic, Warm, Spring, Uplifting, Devotional

Instrumentation: Flute, Electric Guitar, Congas, Drums, Electric Bass, Upright Bass, Alto Saxophone

Planet TR – Let the Cosmos Ring

Style: Free Folk, Mystical Folk

Moods: Cosmic, Meandering, Exploratory, Ritualistic, Spiritual, Spacey, Communal, Haunting, Hypnotic, Meditative, Murky, Mystical, Raw, Eerie

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lo-Fi, Improvisation, Repetitive, Percussive, Home Recording, Slow, Dissonant, Spoken Word

Pelt – Ayahuasca

Style: Free Folk, Appalachian Dhrupad, Psychedelic Drone, American Primitive

Moods: Ritualistic, Meditative, Spiritual, Rural, Hallucinogenic, Eerie, Mysterious, Rootsy, Woods

Musical Qualities: Droney, Acoustic, Noisy, Dissonant, Improvisation

Instrumentation: Banjo, Hurdy Gurdy, Acoustic Guitar, Esraj, Tanpura, Bowls, Fiddle, Concertina, Chord Organ, Cymbals

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

Friends of the Road – Now You Know Something Right Here and I’ll Tell You For a Fact

This collective of experimental Seattle musicians perform back-porch seances on old-time jigs & folk tunes, half of which can be found in Alan Lomax’s Folk Songs of North America book. The ritualistic, droning dissonance of cello, banjo, harmonium, & fiddle recall Pelt, Henry Flynt, & Tongue Depressor. Despite an often haunting atmosphere, folksiness and camaraderie pervade the tape in the form of warm lo-fi sing-a-longs and friendly, candid banter between tracks. The original social function of the music lives eternally, a nonlinear communication with fellow travelers from the past, present, & future.

Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – On the Echoing Green

Style: Drone Pop, Shoegaze, Noise Pop, Dream Pop, Tape Music

Moods: Ethereal, Hypnotic, Warm, Sedated, Blissful, Deconstructed, Tender, Summer, Romantic, Peaceful, Passionate, Dreamy, Meditative, Surreal

Musical Qualities: Loops, Washy, Lush, Melodic, Noisy, Sampling, Dense, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Tortoise – Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters

Tracks from Tortoise’s debut LP remixed by Bundy K. Brown, John McEntire, Jim O’Rourke, Steve Albini, Mike Watt, Brad Wood, Rick Brown, Casey Rice

Styles: Ambient Dub, Electroacoustic, Electronic, Post-Rock

Moods: Deconstructed, Futuristic, Meditative, Mechanical, Cold, Open, Abstract, Airy, Eclectic, Mysterious, Peaceful, Spacey

Musical Qualities: Remix, Atmospheric, Sparse, Sampling, Loops, Instrumental, Electro-Acoustic

Bola Sete – Ocean

Style: Guitar Soli, Brazilian Classical Music, Folk

Musical Qualities: Aquatic, Soothing, Meditative, Intricate, Mellow, Searching, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Instrumental, Soft, Technical, Solo

Instrumentation: Nylon String Guitar

Grouper – A I A: Alien Observer

Style: Ambient, Dream-Folk, Drone Pop

Moods: Melancholy, Nocturnal, Cosmic, Grainy, Contemplative, Lethargic, Meditative, Peaceful, Intimate, Ethereal, Loner, Haunting, Dreamy, Hazy, Meandering, Monochrome, Murky, Soothing

Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Droney, Lo-Fi, Home Recording, Loops, Simple, Slow, Soft, Solo

Cecil Taylor – Indent

Style: Free Improvisation, Free Jazz

Moods: Passionate, Kinetic, Complex, Ecstatic, Dramatic, Energetic, Angular, Exploratory, Meditative, Focused

Musical Qualities: Solo Improvisation, Dense, Acoustic, Progressive, Dynamic, Percussive, Atonal, Active Listening, Instrumental, Technical, Rhythmic, Live

Scorces – Vivre avec la bête

Style: Drone, Ritual-Psych

Moods: Haunting, Ritualistic, Nocturnal, Shadowy, Eerie, Meditative, Open, Abstract, Primordial, Summoning, Sombre, Intimate, Mellow, Raw

Musical Qualities: Sparse, Soft, Slow, Repetitive, Droney, Lo-fi, Improvisation

Instrumentation: Electric Guitar, Experimental Vocals

Vapour Theories – Celestial Scuzz

Style: Ritual-Psych, Drone, Dark Ambient

Moods: Nocturnal, Meditative, Mysterious, Murky, Spiritual, Hypnotic, Psychedelic, Ritualistic

Musical Qualities: Droney, Improvisation, Repetitive, Atmospheric, Instrumental

P.G. Six & Louise Bock – All Summer Long is Gone

Style: Post-Minimalism, Ambient Chamber-Folk, New Age

Moods: Soothing, Flowing, Dreamy, Meditative, Nature, Peaceful, Hypnotic, Pulse, Intertwined, Reflective

Instrumentation: Celtic Harp, Alto Saxophone, Keyboards, Voice

Natural Information Society Community Ensemble – Since Time is Gravity

Style: Organic Music, Psychedelic Jazz, Ecstatic Minimalism, Gnawa

Moods: Ritualistic, Communal, Contemplative, Meditative, Earthy, Transcendent, Psychedelic, Colorful, Soothing, Spiritual, Peaceful

Featuring Ari Brown, Hamid Drake, Ben Lamar Gay, Mai Sugimoto, Jason Stein, Mikel Patrick Avery, Lisa Albarado, Kara Bershad, Josh Berman, and Nick Mazzarella

Pelt – Brown Cyclopaedia

Style: Free Rock, Ritual-Psych, Noise Rock, Experimental, Drone Rock

Mood: Raw, Ritualistic, Primordial, Suspenseful, Cathartic, Eerie, Hypnotic, Meandering, Meditative, Murky

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Noisy, Dissonant, Droney, Fuzzy, Lo-fi, Heavy, Repetitive, Spoken Word, Feedback

Joseph Shabason – The Fellowship

Styles: Ambient Jazz, Fourth World, Chamber Jazz, New Age

Moods: Ethereal, Introspective, Healing, Reflective, Inner Turmoil, Existential, Meditative, Personal, Religious

Musical Qualities: Electro-Acoustic, Field Recordings, Melodic, Percussive, Pulse, Technical

Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians

Style: Appalachian Folk, Piedmont Blues

Vibe: Pastoral, Rootsy, Morning, Rustic, Bright, Spiritual, Warm, Passionate, Contemplative

Musical Qualities: Solo Instrumentals, Acoustic, Melodic, Sparse, Fingerstyle

Instruments: Fiddle, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Dulcimer, Harmonica

Bitchin Bajas – Bajas Fresh

Features Masaki Batoh, Ben Lamar Gay, Jim Becker,

Style: Space Ambient, Progressive Electronic, Kosmische, New Age

Moods: Meditative, Cosmic, Peaceful, Warm, Intertwined, Hypnotic, Psychedelic

Musical Qualities: Pulse, Instrumental, Progressive, Atmospheric, Washy, Droney

Instrumentation: Analogue Synthesizers, Organ, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Cornet

Jack Rose – Raag Manifestos

Style: Free Folk, Appalachian Raga, Piedmont Blues

Feelings: Searching, Tangled, Spiritual, Sombre, Intense, Thorny, Introspective, Cathartic, Meditative, Nature, Ominous, Mysterious, Focused, Complex, Hallucinogenic, Forest, Epic, Visceral, Jagged

Musical Qualities: Raga, Acoustic, Polyphonic, Modal, Droney, Technical, Dissonance

Sonic Gnostic Research: Moonlit Hermetics [bedcrumbshow Ep. 42]

Throw on some headphones and sink into a meditative zone for this nocturnal vinyl mix of kosmik travelers and innerspace wanderers from Germany, America, Jamaica, and India. Let the shadowy sounds of kosmische musik, free folk, drone-pop, and raga wash over as you drop out of linear time under dimly lit consciousness of the midnight hour.

Featuring Klaus Schulze, Collie Ryan, Gunter Schickert, Fursaxa, Sonny Sharrock, Dennis Wise and other innerspace travelers.

Rob Mazurek – Alternate Moon Cycles

Style: Ambient Jazz, Minimalism, Drone

Moods: Peaceful, Meditative, Elegant, Patient, Soothing, Nocturnal, Focused, Ritualistic

Musical Qualities: Slow, Sparse, Minimalistic, Lo-fi, Thematic, Improvisation, Live

Om – Live

Style: Spiritual Metal, Stoner Rock, Mantra Drone, Heavy Psych

Moods: Meditative, Epic, Spiritual, Sombre, Stoned

Musical Qualities: Live, Slow, Heavy, Riffs, Chants, Repetitive, Dynamic

P.G. Six – Parlor Tricks and Porch Favorites

Style: Loner Folk, Chamber Folk, heavily influenced by Celtic Folk & British Folk-Rock

Moods: Reflective, Intimate, Autumnal, Pastoral, Soothing, Melancholy, Medieval, Peaceful, Tender, Mournful, Meditative

Instrumentation: Celtic Harp, Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Piano, Frame Drum, Shakuhachi Flute, Farfisa Organ, Djembe, Dumbek, Tabla, Synthesizers

Bitchin Bajas – Bajascillators

Styles: Psychedelic Minimalism, Kosmische, New Age, Progressive Electronic

Moods: Cosmic, Meditative, Hypnotic, Colorful, Psychedelic, Spiritual, Focused

Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Pulse, Polyrhythmic, Minimalistic, Instrumental

Ulaan Passerine – Sun Spar

Style: Shadow Americana, Free Folk, Country-Drone, Post-Rock

Moods: Western, Haunting, Ritualistic, Impressionistic, Meditative, Rustic, Cinematic

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental, Droney, Atmospheric

Shabaka – Afrikan Culture

Style: New Age, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Meditative, Devotional, Soothing, Mellow, Flowing, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Atmospheric

Instrumentation: Shakuhachi, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Harp, Flute, Synthesizers, Percussion, Kora

Popol Vuh – Agape-Agape, Love-Love

Style: Mystical Chamber Music, Neoclassical New Age, Kosmische

Feeling: Devotional, Flowing, Meditative, Ethereal, Hypnotic, Solemn, Elegant, Exploratory

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Atmospheric, Choral, Chamber

Osjan – Roots

Style: Free Folk, Organic Music, Progressive Folk, Psychedelic Chamber Music

Moods: Ritualistic, Ancient, Flowing, Tribal, Earthy, Communal, Hypnotic, Intertwined, Medieval, Mysterious, Mystical, Nocturnal

Musical Qualities: Percussive, Collective Improvisation, ?Acoustic, Suite, Thematic, Progressive, Atmospheric, Repetitive

John Surman – Upon Reflection

Style: Post-Minimalism, Ambient Jazz, Folk-Jazz, ECM Style

Moods: Meditative, Pastoral, Futuristic, Mysterious, Impressionistic, Hypnotic, Soothing, Searching

Musical Qualities: Electro-Acoustic, Minimalist, Instrumental, Pulse, Solo

Instrumentation: soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, synthesizer

Klaus Schulze – Timewind

Style: Kosmische Musik, Berlin School, Space Ambient, Progressive Electronic

Moods: Spacey, Desolate, Meditative, Exploratory, Suspenseful, Cosmic, Hypnotic, Cinematic

Musical Qualities: Slow, Thematic, Atmospheric, Progressive, Instrumental

Swans – leaving meaning.

Style: Gothic Americana, Neo-Folk, Post-Rock

Moods: Brooding, Existential, Shadowy, Eerie, Sombre, Spiritual, Apocalyptic, Contemplative, Cryptic, Hypnotic, Focused, Nihilistic, Patient, Philosophical, Suspenseful

Musical Qualities: Slow, Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Repetitive, Lyrical, Droney, Rhythmic, Atmospheric

John Fahey – The Yellow Princess

Style: American Primitive Guitar, Appalachian Folk, Avant-Folk

Moods: Contemplative, Spring, Pastoral, Bluesy, Meditative, Rustic, Mellow, Hypnotic, Rootsy, Nature

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Sparse, Progressive

Sandy Bull – Inventions

Styles: Free-Folk, Jazz-Folk, Classical Guitar, Country Blues

Moods: Searching, Impressionistic, Hypnotic, Meditative, Exploratory, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Instrumental, Acoustic, Improvisation, Virtuosic

Sélène Saint-Aimé – Potomitan

Style: Avant-garde Chamber Jazz, Afro-Carribean Jazz, Gwoka

Moods/Themes: Ancestry, Ritualistic, Meditative, Hypnotic, Communal, Rootsy, Poetic, Sombre, Elegant, Flowing, Warm, Mystical

Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Acoustic, Repetitive, Improvisation, Technical

Instrumentation: Upright Bass, Bèlè Drum, Ka Drum, Trumpet, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Cello, Violin

Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – A Year With 13 Moons

Distorted ghosts of past love and futures lost haunt the spaces between these woozy, blown-out guitar loops and the fragmented rhythms of decaying drums machines. Occasional bursts of noise tear through the sedating static of bittersweet nostalgia.

Rich Ruth – I Survived, It’s Over

Style: Kosmische Jazz, Progressive Electronic, New Age

Vibe: Healing, Cosmic, Warm, Ethereal, Colorful, Uplifting, Spiritual, Exploratory, Heartfelt, Soothing

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Repetitive, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Atmospheric, Instrumental

Instrumentation: Keyboards, Synthesizers, Upright Bass, Saxophone, Electric Guitar, Drums, Flute, Harp

Fountainsun – Music Today

Style: Mystical Folk

Vibe: Forest, Poetic, Hypnotic, Meditative, Ritualistic, Nocturnal, Ancient, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Suite, Field Recordings, Chants, Spoken Word

Instrumentation: Banjo, Percussion, Vocals, Flute, Nylon Guitar

Dirty Three – Ocean Songs

Style: Chamber Rock, Slowcore, Post-Rock

Vibe: Aquatic, Melancholy, Flowing, Patient, Soothing, Meditative, Longing, Lonely, Dreamy, Mellow, Lethargic

Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Loose, Soft, Instrumental, Loops, Improvisation

Instrumentation: Violin, Drums, Electric Guitar, Loops, Melodica, Piano, Harmonica

Fountainsun – Sweep the Temple

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,

Flying Saucer Attack – Chorus

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

Sam Amidon – Sam Amidon

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

Robbie Basho – Visions of the Country

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

John Fahey – Volume 2: Death Chants, Breakdowns, & Military Waltzes

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

Peter Kardas – I Saw You

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

Steve Tibbets – Northern Song

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

David Sylvian – Gone To Earth

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

Sergius Golowin – Lord Krishna von Golka

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

Don Cherry – Organic Music Society

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

Spires that in the Sunset Rise – Beasts in the Garden

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

Can – Live in Stuttgart 1975

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

boris – Flood

Style: Drone Metal, Post-Rock

Vibe: Aquatic, Meditative, Monolithic, Suspenseful, Cathartic, Apocalyptic, Melancholy, Epic

Musical Qualities: Slow, Dynamic, Suite, Loops, Repetitive, Droney, Minimalistic

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

Swans – The Glowing Man

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

Fletcher Tucker – Unlit Trail

Style: Ritual Folk, Drone

Vibe: Ancient, Forest, Meditative, Ritualistic, Intimate, Devotional, Earthy, Nature, Autumnal, Contemplative

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Field Recordings, Drone, Atmospheric, Sparse, Suite

Nicolas Jaar – Space is Only Noise

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

Terry Riley – Shri Camel

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

Ash Ra Tempel – New Age of Earth

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

Ilyas Ahmed & Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – You Can See Your Own Way Out

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)

Cecil McBee – Mutima

Style: Free Jazz, Spiritual Jazz, Post-Bop

Vibe: Mysterious, Nocturnal, Adventure, Spiritual, Communal, Eclectic, Epic, Meditative

Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Improvisation, Progressive, Thematic

Bill Orcutt – Odds Against Tomorrow

Style: American Primitvism, Ambient Blues, Solo Electric Guitar

Vibe: Meditative, Longing, Spiritual, Pastoral, Loose, Kinetic

Musical Qualities: Improvisation, Dissonance, Instrumental, Sparse

Fripp & Eno – (No Pussyfooting)

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

Brainticket – Celestial Ocean

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

Earthforce – Earthforce

Released in 2021 on Lion Productions Recorded 1977, Archival Release Format: LP, includes 12-page 12″ booklet Style: British Folk, Psych Folk, Spiritual Folk, Raga-Influenced Vibe: Hippie, Morning, Communal, Spiritual, Pastoral, Earthy, Eclectic, Nature, Peaceful, Mystical, Meditative Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar (6 & 12 String), Sitar, Harmonium, Doogi, Synthesizers, Percussion, Fretless Bass, Flageolet, Table, Electric Piano

Sarah Louise – Earth Bow

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

Between – And the Waters Opened

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

Pelt – Pearls from the River

Style: Ritual Folk, Dhrupad, Free Folk

Vibe: Meditative, Mysterious, Psychedelic, Spiritual, Earthy, Hypnotic

Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Drone, Improvisation, Instrumental, Repetitive, Raga

Joshua Abrams – Natural Information

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

Tortoise – TNT

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

Natalie Rose Lebrecht – Mandarava Rose

Style: Ambient Pop, Free Folk, New Age

Vibe: Cosmic, Dreamy, Earthy, Ethereal, Lethargic, Meditative, Mystical, Passionate, Ritualistic, Soothing, Spiritual

Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Droney, Slow

Golden Retriever & Chuck Johnson – Rain Shadow

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.

Botany – End the Summertime F(or)ever

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.?

Ravi Shankar – Improvisations

Style: Raga-Jazz, Hindustani Classical Music
Vibe: Passionate, Spiritual, Energetic, Focused, Meditative, Peaceful
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Acoustic, Instrumental, Technical

The Books – Lost and Safe

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

The Taj-Mahal Travelers – July 15, 1972

Originally released in 1972 on CBS Records 2019 Superior Viaduct Reissue Format: LP Style: Free Improvisation, Ambient Jazz, Drone Vibe: Ritualistic, Mysterious, Hypnotic, Open, Meditative, Slow, Psychedelic

James Holden & the Animal Spirits – The Animal Spirits

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

Third Ear Band – Alchemy

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

Mike Oldfield – Ommadawn

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

Anenon – Tongue

Released in 2018 on Friends of Friends Records Format: LP, Clear Vinyl