ecorded live between 1971-1973
Style: Country Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Vibes: Ramshackle, Sentimental, Raw, Longing, Angsty, Energetic
Musical Qualities: Live, Noisy, Dynamic, Fuzzy
Neil Young – Time Fades Away Read More »
Style: Acid Folk, Free Folk, Ritual Psych
Moods: Aquatic, Meditative, Mysterious, Ritualistic, Nocturnal, Morning, Pastoral
Instrumentation: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Percussion, Tabla, Violin, Kazoo, Tambura, Slide Guitar, Cornet, Gong, Alto Saxophone, Electric Bass, Vibraphone, Drums
Six organs of Admittance / Azul Read More »
“But stand brave, life-liver, bleeding out your days in the river of time.
Stand brave: time moves both ways, in the nullifying, defeating, negating, repeating joy of life.
The moment of your greatest joy sustains: not axe nor hammer, tumor, tremor, can take it away, and it remains.
And it pains me to say, I was wrong. Love is not a symptom of time. Time is just a symptom of love”
Joanna Newsom – Divers Read More »
Style: Americana, Roots Rock
Moods: Rural, Playful, Rootsy, Warm, Sunny, Energetic
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Drums, Electric Bass, Violin, Mandolin, Strings, Piano, Slide Guitar
Ry Cooder – Ry Cooder Read More »
Style: Noise Pop, Shoegaze, Dream Pop
Moods: Autumnal, Warm, Twee, Heartfelt, Tender, Eclectic, Hypnotic, Romantic, Soothing, Lethargic, Melancholy
Musical Qualities: Melodic, Noisy, Catchy, Soft, Washy, Lush, Motorik
Yo La Tengo – I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One Read More »
Style: Avant-Folk, Acid Folk, Free Folk
Moods: Cryptic, Thorny, Communal, Witchy, Anxious, Haunting, Ominous, Nocturnal, Eerie, Mystical, Psychedelic, Surreal, Shadow, Dark
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Cello, Vocal Harmonies, Mbira, Zither, Percussion, Slide Guitar, Drums, Electric Guitar, Organ, Xylophone, Autoharp, Harmonium, Spike Fiddle, Thumb Piano, Lap Steel
Spires that in the Sunset Rise – Four Winds the Walker Read More »
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Cosmic Country, Dream Folk
Moods: Contemplative, Peaceful, Spiritual, Existential, Flowing, Soothing, Ethereal, Road Trip, Cosmic, Dreamy
Musical Qualities: Lush, Slow, Lyrical, Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies
Jakob Battick – To Be Born Again & Again 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 »
featuring members of Tortoise, Codeine, Rex, Tower Recordings, etc.
Style: Chamber-Folk, Back-Porch Minimalism, Post-Rock
Moods: Peaceful, Back-Porch, Mellow, Airy, Focused, Impressionistic, Intertwined, Light, Open, Warm
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Minimalist, Instrumental, Repetitive
Pullman – Viewfinder Read More »
Style: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Alt-Country
Moods: Drifter, Surreal, Poetic, Twangy, Colorful, Eccentric, Sunny, Uplifting, Playful, Observational, Contemplative, Warm, Rural, Sentimental, Storytelling
Jim White – Waffles, Triangles & Jesus Read More »
featuring PG Six, Chris Corsano, Ben Chasny, Dredd Foole, Matt Moran, Matt Valentine, etc
Style: Loner Folk, Free Folk, Lo-Fi Psych
Moods: Introspective, Surreal, Shadowy, Nocturnal, Intimate, Haunting, Whispery, Eerie, Imaginative, Loner, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Suite, Home Recording, Lo-Fi, Raw, Droney, Electro-Acoustic, Atmospheric, Dissonant
Joshua Burkett – Gold Cosmos Read More »
Style: Country, Singer/Songwriter
Moods: Autumnal, Heartbreak, Longing, Sentimental, Tender, Rustic, Bittersweet, Introspective, Warm
Musical Qualities: Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Soft, Melodic
Emmylou Harris – Pieces of the Sky Read More »
These ceremonial meanderings are the interrupted transmissions of campfire songs picked up by intergalactic satellites. Past and future collapse as old-timey banjo melodies fade into squiggly synthesizers and lo-fi electronics. Distant harmonicas sink behind thick fogs of ghostly whirring, while warped slide guitar, drone fiddle and echo percussion bubble through the folky primordial soup
The Futuristic Folk of The Tower Recordings [Vol. 1 & 2] Read More »
Style: Ritual Folk, Experimental Songwriter
Mood: Nocturnal, Ritualistic, Shadowy, Occult, Dark, Alchemical, Mystical, Sombre, Funereal
Musical Qualities: Slow, Microtonal, Droney, Lyrical, Dissonant, Acoustic
Jaköb Battick & Tongue Depressor – Raise the Dead Read More »
features vocals from Bill Callahan, Emily Cross (Loma), Adam Torres, & Julia Holter
Style: Haunted Folk, Ambient Americana, Southern Gothic
Moods: Desolate, Bleak, Haunting, Western, Cinematic, Stark, Sombre, Rustic, Melancholy, Brooding, Contemplative, Depressive, Nocturnal, Alienation, Dystopian, Impressionistic, Lonely, Moody, Mournful, Mythic, Noir, Personal
Musical Qualities: Suite, Atmospheric, Slow, Sampling, Electro-acoustic, Droney
Style: Free Folk, Drone, Avant-Folk
Vibe: Nocturnal, Shadowy, Cautious, Hypnotic, Ritualistic, Eerie, Existential, Murky, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Droney, Improvisation, Loops, Slow, Loose, Dissonant, Chants, Atmospheric
Charalambides – Joy Shapes Read More »
Style: Country-Rock, Psychedelic Americana
Vibe: Sunny, Ragged, Warm, Freewheelin’, Messy, Tender, Romantic, Rustic, Raw
Musical Qualities: Fuzzy, Loose, Vocal Harmonies, Jams, Dense
MV & EE with Golden Road – Gettin’ Gone 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: Cosmic Folk, Psych Rock, Space Ambient
Vibe: Cosmic, Whimsical, Surreal, Bright, Sunny, Mystical, Mythic, Poetic, Uplifting
Qualities: Atmospheric, Conceptual, Eclectic
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizers, Spoken Word, Tabla, Flute, Violin, Harp, Drums, Slide Guitar
Daevid Allen – Now is the Happiest Time of Your Life Read More »
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Progressive Country
Vibe: Introspective, Reflective, Heartfelt, Bittersweet, Longing, Lush, Warm, Soothing, Rustic, Tender, Sentimental, Spiritual, Contemplative, Intimate
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lyrical, Melodic, Orchestral, Polished, Background Vocals
Mickey Newbury – I Came to Hear the Music Read More »
While Magnolia Electric Co’s final record is still tinged with the weariness & melancholy that pervades all of Jason Molina’s previous work, Josephine also feels imbued with vital life force, bittersweet romance, and hopefulness that make it uplifting despite the odds.
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Recommended if you dig dobro & lap steel, ditch-trilogy Neil young, and autumnal contemplation
Magnolia Electric Co. – Josephine Read More »
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Slowcore, Alt-Country, Loner Folk
Vibe: Existential, Warm, Morning, Spiritual, Deadpan, Peaceful, Poetic, Introspective, Lonely, Melancholy, Mellow, Contemplative, Intimate
Musical Qualities: Slow, Lo-fi, Lush, Soft, Sparse, Lyrical
Instrumentation: Pedal Steel, Piano, Hammond Organ, Guitar, Trumpet, Drums, Drum Machine, Hurdy Gurdy, French Horn
Smog – Red Apple Falls Read More »
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
John Fahey – Volume 2: Death Chants, Breakdowns, & Military Waltzes Read More »
Vibe: Contemplative, Tender, Soothing, Warm, Bittersweet, Rustic, Open, Pastoral, Light
Themes: Family, Existential, Spirituality, Love
Musical Qualities: Soft, Melodic, Vocal Harmonies, Atmospheric Production, Lyrical
Instrumentation: Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Banjo, Piano, Organ, Harmonica, Mandolin Synthesizer, Electric Bass, Lap Steel Slide Guitar, Omnichord, Drums, Percussion
Hiss Golden Messenger – Terms of Surrender Read More »
Style: Alt-Country, Americana, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Bittersweet, Warm, Angsty, Rustic, Heartfelt, Confident, Passionate, Twangy, Love, Breakup, Reflective, Sentimental, Lush, Rootsy
Instrumentation: Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Lap Steel & Pedal Steel Slide Guitars, Fiddle, Electric & Upright Basses, Drums, Vocal Harmonies, Banjo, Mandolin, Organ, Accordion
Neko Case – Furnace Room Lullaby Read More »
Style: Americana, Folk
Vibe: Pastoral, Breezy, Sunny, Morning, Rustic, Warm, Rootsy
Instrumentation: Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar, Pedal Steel, Upright Bass, Drums, Harmonica
Moon Bros – These Stars Read More »
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Loner Folk, Slowcore-Country
Vibes: Contemplative, Bittersweet, Warm, Loner, Mellow, Uplifting, Love, Break-up, Intimate, Heartfelt, Playful, Soothing, Intertwined
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lush, Lyrical, Vocal Harmonies
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Beware Read More »
Style: Mystical Americana, Free Folk, Post-Rock, Drone
Vibe: Haunting, Meandering, Rootsy, Rustic, Nocturnal, Mysterious, Deconstructed, Ragged, Communal, Murky, Abstract, Lethargic, Hallucinogenic, Raw
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental (except B1,C1), Loose, Lo-fi, Dynamic, Droney, Noisy, Group Vocals (B1), Harmonies (B1, C1)
Jackie-O Motherfucker – Fig 5. Read More »
Style: Free Folk, Mystical Americana, Post-Rock
Vibe: Ragged, Deconstructed, Rustic, Warm, Communal, Ritualistic, Messy, Raw, Triumphant, Mystical, Eerie
Musical Qualities: Group Vocals, Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Loose, Lo-fi
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Vibraphone, Slide Guitar, Fiddle, Saxophone, Drums, Upright Bass
Jackie O Motherfucker – Change [Tour Edition] Read More »
Style: Dream Country, Slow-Drip Americana, Gothic Country, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Sedated, Nocturnal, Contemplative, Dreamy, Haunting, Pastoral, Soothing
Musical Qualities: Slow, Sparse, Acoustic, Lyrical
Jakob Battick – Rabbit’s Moon Read More »
Style: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Folk
Vibe: Peaceful, Rustic, Deadpan, Mellow, Lethargic, Nature, Warm, Morning
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Slow, Vocal Harmonies, Lush, Simple
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Lap Steel & Pedal Steel Guitars, Strings, Upright Bass, Vibraphone, Tabla, Bongos
Jerry David Decicca – Understanding Land Read More »
Style: Avant-Chamber Jazz, Poly-Free Improvisation
Vibe: Abstract, Open, Suspenseful
Musical Attributes: Thematic Collective Improvisation, Instrumental
Instrumentation: Slide Guitar, Violin, Electric Guitar, Drums, Upright Bass
Susan Alcorn Quintet – Pedernal 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: Singer/Songwriter, Ditch Americana, Country Rock, Folk Rock
Moods: Loner, Introspective, Melancholy, Alienation, Bittersweet, Apocalyptic, Depressive, Lonely, Sombre, Rebellious
Neil Young – On the Beach Read More »
Style: Warped Americana, Free Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Heartfelt, Airy, Raw, Lethargic, Soft, Psychedelic, Peaceful
Musical Qualities: Loose, Lyrical, Acoustic
Instrumentation: Vocals, Banjo, Electric Guitar w/ Fx, Lap Steel, Drums
Eric Chenaux – Dull Lights Read More »
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.
Golden Retriever & Chuck Johnson – Rain Shadow Read More »
The Invisible Comes to Us is a haunting, modern take on Appalachian and Irish folk songs. Beautiful close-harmonies, banjos and acoustic guitars are juxtaposed with droning atmospheres of woodwinds, Moog bass, pump organ, and euphonium. Guest musicians include Jim White on drums and Susan Alcorn on slide guitar.
Anna & Elizabeth – The Invisible Comes to Us Read More »
Style: British Folk, Country-Influenced
Vibe: Contemplative, Earthy, Introspective, Melancholy, Rootsy, Rural, Storytelling
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Melodic, Simple, Sparse
Mike and Lal Waterson – Bright Phoebus Read More »
Released in 2019 on Western Vinyl Format: LP
Moon Bros – The Easy Way is Hard Enough Read More »
Released in 2011 on Jagjaguwar Format: LP
Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver Read More »
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.
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – Tracing Back the Radiance Read More »
Eucalyptus is a beautiful, enveloping excursion of aquatic psych-folk characterized by flowing, hallucinogenic instrumentation, atmospheric production, nature field recordings, and ghostly background vocals from one of my favorite singers, Angel Deradoorian. Avey Tare’s introspective and intimate lyrics mix psychedelic revelations, reminiscing, surreal imagery, and nature/water themes, often leading to profound realizations of a very personal sense of spirituality. The lush orchestrations are arranged by the amazing and unique violist Eyvind Kang, which include woodwinds, horns, strings, and pedal steel slide guitar from Susan Alcorn.
For fans of Animal Collective’s “Campfire Songs” and the slow portions of “Feels”.
Click for full review
Avey Tare – Eucalyptus Read More »
