Amidst the icy winds of tribal drones and pagan folk rituals, there are moments of mystical serenity in the music of Natural Snow Buildings, like serendipitously finding warm shelter while lost in a punishing blizzard.
Tag: sombre
Flying Saucer Attack – Further
Style: Psychedelic Folk, Drone-Folk, Lo-Fi Songwriter, Neo-Psychedelia
Vibe: Loner, Nocturnal, Forest, Sombre, Autumnal, Spacey
Musical Attributes: Lo-Fi, Noisy, Atmospheric, Droney
David Bowie – Black Star
Style: Art Rock, Jazz-Rock
Vibe: Introspective, Moody, Passionate, Sentimental, Sombre, Conceptual
Musical Attributes: Lyrical, Complex, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Rhythmic, Progressive
Lyrical Themes: Death, Existential, Personal, Reflective
Sixteen Horsepower – Folklore
Style: Gothic Country, Americana, Chamber Folk Vibe: Rustic, Sombre, Murky, Rootsy, Ominous, Loner, Western, Melancholy, Moody, Dark Musical Attributes: Acoustic Instrumentation (Banjo, Upright Bass, Cello, Acoustic Guitar, Accordion, Piano), Atmospheric, Droney, Slow, Lyrical Lyrical Themes: Alienation, Religious, Christian, Storytelling
Mogwai – Mr. Beast
Style: Post-Rock, Shoegaze, Slowcore
Vibe: Cinematic, Moody, Contemplative, Focused, Fuzzy, Melancholy, Sombre, Cathartic
Musical Attributes: Dynamic, Melodic, Noisy, Repetitive, Slow, Atmospheric, Polyphonic
Brand New – The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me
Style: Emo, Indie Rock, Post-Hardcore
Vibe: Introspective, Angsty, Dark, Depressive, Introspective, Passionate, Poetic, Sombre
Themes: Personal, Self-Loathing, Regret, Death, Alienation
Portishead – Portishead
Released in 1997 on Go! Beat Records Format: LPx2 Style: Trip-Hop Vibe: Noir, Nocturnal, Sad, Dark, Witchy, Sinister, Depressive, Angsty, Anxious, Sombre, … More
Espers – II
Released in 2006 on Drag City Records Format: LP Style: Progressive Folk, Psych Folk Vibe: Melancholy, Psychedelic, Nocturnal, Sombre, Forest Musical Attributes: … More
Swans – Soundtracks for the Blind
Originally released on CD in 1996 on Young God Records First vinyl pressing (2018) Format: LPx4
Bark Psychosis – Hex
Originally Released in 1994 on Circa Records 2017 Fire Records reissue Format: LPx2, 45 RPM
Portishead – Third
Released in 2008 on Mercury Records Format: LPx2, 45rpm
Burial – Truant / Rough Sleeper
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra – Kollaps Tradixionales
Released in 2010 on Constellation Records Format: 10″x2
Radiohead – Kid A
Released in 2000 on EMI Records Format: 10″x2
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend, Ascend
Released in 2012 on Constellation Records Format: LP + 7″
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennae to Heaven
Released in 2000 on Constellation Records Format: LPx2
The National – Sleep Well Beast
Released in 2017 on 4AD Records Format: LPx2, Blue Vinyl
The Flaming Lips – The Terror
Released in 2013 on Bella Union UK Pressing Format: LPx2, Bonus 7″, Holographic Cover Studio album takes up sides A, … More
Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
Released in 2015 on Asthmatic Kitty Records Format: LP, clear vinyl First Pressing, limited to 10,000 copies
David Sylvian & Holger Czukay – Plight & Premonition | Flux & Mutability
Originally released as 2 separate releases in 1988 and 1989 on Venture Records 2019 Grönland compilation Format: LPx2
Wrekmeister Harmonies – Light Falls
Released in 2016 by Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP
Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band – Horses in the Sky
Released in 2005 on Constellation Records Format: LPx2, etching on D-side
Magnolia Electric Co. – What Comes After the Blues
“Human hearts and pain should never be separate, then they wouldn’t tear themselves apart both trying to fit”. The first album under the Magnolia Electric Co. name touches on the loneliness and depression of much of Jason Molina’s work, but it also contains a fair amount of the hope, light, and perseverance one needs in times of struggle. The musicians here were recorded live in a room by the great Steve Albini, featuring slide guitar, fiddle, and beautiful vocal harmonies from Molina’s band members. With its mix of melancholy Americana, country-tinged rock, and stripped back folk, What Comes After the Blues feels like a continuation of Neil Young’s great ditch trilogy.
Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
Released in 1964 on Columbia Records Recorded in 1963 Format: LP
Miles Davis & Gil Evans – Sketches of Spain
Released in 1960 on Columbia Records Original 6-Eye Pressing Format: LP Second Copy 1974 Pressing