Om – Advaitic Songs
Released in 2014 on Drag City Format: LPx2, 45rpm
Om – Advaitic Songs Read More »
Meditative
Natural Snow Buildings – Waves of the Random Sea
Released in 2011 on Blackest Rainbow Format: LPx2, 180g Ltd. to 750 copies
Natural Snow Buildings – Waves of the Random Sea Read More »
Earth – The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull
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 »
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Bitchin Bajas – Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties
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.
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Bitchin Bajas – Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties Read More »
Earth – Angels is Darkness, Demons of Light II
Released in 2012 on Southern Lord Records Format: LPx2, etching on D-side
Earth – Angels is Darkness, Demons of Light II Read More »
Arve Henriksen – Towards Language
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.
Arve Henriksen – Towards Language Read More »
Ravi Shankar – Three Ragas
Released in 1966 on World Pacific Records Recorded in 1956
Ravi Shankar – Three Ragas Read More »
Deradoorian – Eternal Recurrence
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.
Deradoorian – Eternal Recurrence Read More »
Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas – Automaginary
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)
Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas – Automaginary Read More »
Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians
A hypnotic, meditative minimalist classic whose influence can be traced throughout several threads of modern music.
Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians Read More »
Brian Eno – Ambient 1: Music for Airports
Information: Released in 1978 on PVC Records Format: LP
Brian Eno – Ambient 1: Music for Airports Read More »
Tonto’s Expanding Head Band – Zero Time [Alternate Cover]
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.
Tonto’s Expanding Head Band – Zero Time [Alternate Cover] Read More »
Sandy Bull – Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo
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.
Sandy Bull – Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo Read More »
The Books – Lost & Safe (2011 reissue)
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 Books – Lost & Safe (2011 reissue) Read More »
Tony Scott – Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys
Peaceful drone meditations and mantras for bass clarinet and sitar. The improvisatory melodies are beautifully expressive, exploratory, and blanketed in a soft, soothing reverb.
Tony Scott – Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys Read More »
Pharoah Sanders – Karma
Album Information: Released in 1969 on Impulse Records 1972 pressing
Pharoah Sanders – Karma Read More »
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.
Six Organs of Admittance – Asleep on the Floodplains Read More »
Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld – Never Were the Way She Was
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.
Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld – Never Were the Way She Was Read More »
Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda
Album Information: Originally released in 1971 on Impulse Records This pressing was released in 1997 on Impulse/MCA Records Recorded November 8, 1970 Format: LP
Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda Read More »
Om – Pilgrimage
Style: Drone-Mantra, Drone-Metal, Stoner Metal
Moods: Spiritual, Devotional, Desert, Meditative, Epic, Monolithic
Musical Qualities: Slow, Droney, Dynamic, Fuzzy, Riffs, Heavy
Gimmer Nicholson – Christopher Idylls
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.
Gimmer Nicholson – Christopher Idylls Read More »
David Grubbs – Creep Mission
Album Information: Released in 2017 on Blue Chopsticks Records (Imprint of Drag City Records) Eli Keszler – Drums, Percussion (Tracks 1,2,4) Jan St. Werner – Electronics (1,4) Nate Woolley – Trumpet (1,2,4,6,7) Recorded by Mitch Rackin at the Seaside Lounge, Brooklyn, Jan-Mar 2017 Mastered by Douglas Henderson Cover Art: Albert Oehlen Back Photo: Tom Van
David Grubbs – Creep Mission Read More »
John Fahey – Volume 6: Days Have Gone By
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records Includes 15-page book of stories and song notes
John Fahey – Volume 6: Days Have Gone By Read More »
Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society – Magnetoception
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
Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society – Magnetoception Read More »
John Fahey – Volume 1: Blind Joe Death
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records This album was originally released on 100 copies in 1959, but was re-recorded in 1967 for this issue This album is included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being considered culturally significant.
John Fahey – Volume 1: Blind Joe Death Read More »
Shakti – Shakti with John McLaughlin
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.
Shakti – Shakti with John McLaughlin Read More »
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.
Mdou Moctar – Sousoume Tamache Read More »
Jim O’Rourke – The Visitor
A fingerpicking folk odyssey that traverses through passages of delicate piano motifs, tribal drum circles, meditative ambience, celebratory horn arrangements, reverent organ drones, and even a cathartic drum solo, all within a single 40 minute track.
Jim O’Rourke – The Visitor Read More »
Jim O’Rourke – Bad Timing
An introspective, instrumental journey of pastoral fingerstyle guitar, occasionally joined by piano, synth and horn arrangements
Jim O’Rourke – Bad Timing Read More »
Bitchin Bajas – Bitchitronics
Soothing, cosmic drones constructed with tape loops, synths, organs, guitar, mellotron and flute.
Bitchin Bajas – Bitchitronics Read More »
Jack Rose – Opium Musick
Primitivist acoustic guitar instrumentals in the form of droney ragas, jovial ragtime, and pastoral fingerpicking
Jack Rose – Opium Musick Read More »
Botany – Deepak Verbera
organic washes of piano and zither, analog synthesizers, wood flutes, saxophone, and the occasional free jazz drums recorded, looped, and manipulated through cassette and reel tape recorders and then masterfully woven into a cosmic tapestry of blissful, meditative drones
Botany – Deepak Verbera Read More »