Favorite Ambient Albums - Post Your Top 5

Page 1 of 101 2 3 ...10 Next

- litemotiv said...
- User
- 20 Dec 2005, 00:16
Favorite Ambient Albums - Post Your Top 5

which do you consider to be the most essential ambient albums in your collection?

post your 5 all time favorite albums here. if many people reply i might accumulate the results for an overall top 10. :) i know it might be hard leaving out a few of your other favorites, but please stick to 5 max to avoid flooding the topic with names.

here are mine:

1. Global Communication - 76:14
2. Pete Namlook & Richie Hawtin - From Within
3. Biosphere - Patashnik
4. Craig Padilla - Vostok
5. Gas - 0095

[quote][b][user]litemotiv[/user][/b] said: which do you consider to be the most essential ambient albums in your collection? post your 5 all time favorite albums here. if many people reply i might accumulate the results for an overall top 10. :) i know it might be hard leaving out a few of your other favorites, but please stick to 5 max to avoid flooding the topic with names. here are mine: 1. Global Communication - 76:14 2. Pete Namlook & Richie Hawtin - From Within 3. Biosphere - Patashnik 4. Craig Padilla - Vostok 5. Gas - 0095 [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- litemotiv said...
- User
- 21 Dec 2005, 13:41
nobody?! :-/

[quote][b][user]litemotiv[/user][/b] said: nobody?! :-/[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- Dapto said...
- User
- 22 Dec 2005, 20:51
Old School

Budd & Eno - The Plateaux of Mirror
Not Drowning, Waving - The Little Desert
Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon
GAS - Zauberberg
Banco de Gaia - Last Train to Lhasa

In no particular order. How do you rank friends?

[quote][b][user]Dapto[/user][/b] said: Budd & Eno - The Plateaux of Mirror Not Drowning, Waving - The Little Desert Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon GAS - Zauberberg Banco de Gaia - Last Train to Lhasa In no particular order. How do you rank friends? [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- tommynchucky said...
- User
- 23 Dec 2005, 17:56
I love 76:14 but it didn't make my top 5. Track 3 9-25 is my favorite one.

1) Settling Density - ethereal ambient, atmospheric and uplifting, swirling layers of ether, great for falling asleep to

2) Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces - 4CD masterpiece by one of the most profilic ambient artists. Beatless ethereal ambient, dark and meditative and and epic feel. It's amazing how Roach never seems to run out of ideas with his huge discography.

3) Quiet Music 1 & 2 - Another great Roach release that is good for meditation or falling asleep to. This one is a bit dated but still sounds great with a slight new age feel in some tracks. I love how he uses theme and variations or starts off with a simple melody that builds up into something epic.

4) Organic Cloud- At first I didn't like this album because of the dark tracks (1-3). I was hooked on Ring of Power because it was uplifting and epic with its layers of melodies. After listening to the whole album in the dark with headphones, the nuances of the album started coming out.

5) 76:14 - Classic ambient house album from 1994. Melodic and the beats are just perfect. It flows really well from start to end!

Choose Reality - http://www.churchofreality.org

[quote][b][user]tommynchucky[/user][/b] said: I love 76:14 but it didn't make my top 5. Track 3 9-25 is my favorite one. 1) [album artist=Exuviae]Settling Density[/album] - [i]ethereal ambient, atmospheric and uplifting, swirling layers of ether, great for falling asleep to[/i] 2) [album artist=Steve Roach]Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces[/album] - [i]4CD masterpiece by one of the most profilic ambient artists. Beatless ethereal ambient, dark and meditative and and epic feel. It's amazing how Roach never seems to run out of ideas with his huge discography.[/i] 3) [album artist=Steve Roach]Quiet Music 1 & 2[/album] - [i]Another great Roach release that is good for meditation or falling asleep to. This one is a bit dated but still sounds great with a slight new age feel in some tracks. I love how he uses theme and variations or starts off with a simple melody that builds up into something epic.[/i] 4) [album artist=Tetsu Inoue]Organic Cloud[/album]- [i] At first I didn't like this album because of the dark tracks (1-3). I was hooked on [track artist=Tetsu Inoue]Ring of Power[/track] because it was uplifting and epic with its layers of melodies. After listening to the whole album in the dark with headphones, the nuances of the album started coming out.[/i] 5) [album artist=Global Communication]76:14[/album] - [i]Classic ambient house album from 1994. Melodic and the beats are just perfect. It flows really well from start to end![/i] [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- peachofsilence said...
- User
- 29 Dec 2005, 11:09
1. Shuttle358 - Understanding Wildlife
2. Tim Hecker - Radio Amor
3. Susumu Yokota - Magic Thread
4. Tlon - Acoustic Lazy Dolls (free to dl at the netlabel autoplate)
5. Sogar - Stengel

A necessarily incomplete list; i could fill a top 5 list solely with Shuttle358 or Susuma Yokota releases, but this one is a bit more diverse. So no Eno or Roach for a change, I got into ambient via labels like 12k, mille plateaux and leaf, i'm not really into the space ambient of the pioneers. Maybe Endless Summer by Fennesz needed to be in here, or AFX selected ambient works.

[quote][b][user]peachofsilence[/user][/b] said: 1. Shuttle358 - Understanding Wildlife 2. Tim Hecker - Radio Amor 3. Susumu Yokota - Magic Thread 4. Tlon - Acoustic Lazy Dolls (free to dl at the netlabel autoplate) 5. Sogar - Stengel A necessarily incomplete list; i could fill a top 5 list solely with Shuttle358 or Susuma Yokota releases, but this one is a bit more diverse. So no Eno or Roach for a change, I got into ambient via labels like 12k, mille plateaux and leaf, i'm not really into the space ambient of the pioneers. Maybe Endless Summer by Fennesz needed to be in here, or AFX selected ambient works.[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- karatemaster said...
- User
- 4 Jan 2006, 19:55
In no specific order.
1. Loscil - First narrows
2. Stars Of The Lid - Avec laudenum
3. Dead Texan - Dead texan
4. Andrew Thomas - Fearsome jewel
5. Eluvium - Talk amongst the trees

I think its because of the calm texture of each of these albums, and the fanstastic drones that really just perfectly fit my mood sometimes. If I was ranking my classics i'd definatly have 76:14 and some David parsons, and Pete namlook.

[quote][b][user]karatemaster[/user][/b] said: In no specific order. 1. Loscil - First narrows 2. Stars Of The Lid - Avec laudenum 3. Dead Texan - Dead texan 4. Andrew Thomas - Fearsome jewel 5. Eluvium - Talk amongst the trees I think its because of the calm texture of each of these albums, and the fanstastic drones that really just perfectly fit my mood sometimes. If I was ranking my classics i'd definatly have 76:14 and some David parsons, and Pete namlook.[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- marcnm said...
- User
- 11 Jan 2006, 20:10
I don't have a huge collection

I enjoy ambient but am not a guru yet. I do enjoy the Myst and Riven soundtracks by Robyn Miller.

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
--Douglas Adams

[quote][b][user]marcnm[/user][/b] said: I enjoy ambient but am not a guru yet. I do enjoy the Myst and Riven soundtracks by Robyn Miller.[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- Paradoks said...
- Subscriber
- 12 Jan 2006, 12:45
I enjoy the books by Rand Miller :O

(It's all in the family with that game? :P)

Last.fm is getting worse

[quote][b][user]Paradoks[/user][/b] said: I enjoy the books by Rand Miller :O (It's all in the family with that game? :P)[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- HappyAudio said...
- User
- 16 Jan 2006, 20:24
1. Brian Eno - Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks
2. T.I.T - Ambient Factory
3. Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II
4. Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra
5. Bonobo - Animal Magic

[quote][b][user]HappyAudio[/user][/b] said: 1. Brian Eno - Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks 2. T.I.T - Ambient Factory 3. Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II 4. Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra 5. Bonobo - Animal Magic [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- zakmckracken said...
- User
- 18 Jan 2006, 04:50
Biosphere - Substrata
Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II
Maitreya - From the Mothership
Psychic TV - Kondole

These are the ambient albums that I listen to most frequently. Also, in no particular order.

[quote][b][user]zakmckracken[/user][/b] said: Biosphere - Substrata Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II Maitreya - From the Mothership Psychic TV - Kondole These are the ambient albums that I listen to most frequently. Also, in no particular order. [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- AdriaNnLA said...
- User
- 18 Jan 2006, 08:48
Re: I don't have a huge collection

Quoth marcnm:
Re: I don't have a huge collection

No. What you do have is a HUGE SIG.

Have you not learned from the experience of others that sigs of that size (forum rules state three lines and 50 pixels high) are frowned upon here @ last.fm?

Especially when I read that quote within your giant sig, I couldn't resist asking! ;->

...and now for something completely different and to stay somewhat OT, I have to say that while many of my favorite artists cross in and out of what one might label as ambient, perhaps Phobos as an album is a favorite. Note that here on last.fm as in many other places net, two artists known as Phobos are mistakenly intertwined. See Phobos @ RYM.

Two artists somewhat ambient in nature which I've discovered since playing here at last.fm are Cairo Trip Hop Underground and David Schombert, both of which are quite good.

Mehdi is pretty cool in a chilled and ambient sort of way.

I also find that several tracks (though not whole albums per se) of Delerium and Zero 7 carry an ambient effect.

and I've used my five.

UnderKnown Artists you might like?

[quote][b][user]AdriaNnLA[/user][/b] said: [quote][b]Quoth [user]marcnm[/user][/b]: Re: I don't have a huge collection[/quote] No. What you [i]do[/i] have is a HUGE SIG. Have you not [i]learned from the experience of others[/i] that sigs of that size ([url=http://www.last.fm/forum/rules.php]forum rules[/url] state three lines and 50 pixels high) are frowned upon here @ last.fm? Especially when I read that quote within your giant sig, I couldn't resist asking! ;-> ...and now for something completely different and to stay somewhat OT, I have to say that while many of my favorite artists cross in and out of what one might label as ambient, perhaps [artist]Phobos[/artist] as an album is a favorite. Note that here on last.fm as in many other places net, two artists known as Phobos are mistakenly intertwined. See [url=http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/mark_adams_allison]Phobos @ RYM[/url]. Two artists somewhat ambient in nature which I've discovered since playing here at last.fm are [artist]Cairo Trip Hop Underground[/artist] and [artist]David Schombert[/artist], both of which are quite good. [artist]Mehdi[/artist] is pretty cool in a chilled and ambient sort of way. I also find that several tracks (though not whole albums per se) of [artist]Delerium[/artist] and [artist]Zero 7[/artist] carry an ambient effect. and I've used my five.[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- eyevar said...
- User
- 18 Jan 2006, 17:52
Organic Cloud really is something special. "Chill In Chill Out" is my favorite track.. veeeery deeeep. ;-)

hard to pick 5 favorites, but at the top off my head:

Patashnik
Ambiant Otaku
Air
Lifeforms
Avalon Sutra

Hmm... I just realized that 4 of these are ten years old. I think 1993-1995 was kind of a "golden age" for ambient music. Still, there's lots of good stuff being released nowadays too.

[quote][b][user]eyevar[/user][/b] said: [album artist=Tetsu Inoue]Organic Cloud[/album] really is something special. "Chill In Chill Out" is my favorite track.. veeeery deeeep. ;-) hard to pick 5 favorites, but at the top off my head: [album artist=Biosphere]Patashnik[/album] [album artist=Tetsu Inoue]Ambiant Otaku[/album] [album artist=Pete Namlook]Air[/album] [album artist=The Future Sound Of London]Lifeforms[/album] [album artist=Harold Budd]Avalon Sutra[/album] Hmm... I just realized that 4 of these are ten years old. I think 1993-1995 was kind of a "golden age" for ambient music. Still, there's lots of good stuff being released nowadays too.[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- HappyAudio said...
- User
- 19 Jan 2006, 18:42
And yeah, Harold Budd is one great too!

[quote][b][user]HappyAudio[/user][/b] said: And yeah, Harold Budd is one great too![/quote]

Permalink Quote
- [Deleted user] said...
- User
- 28 Jan 2006, 14:30
..at this very moment..

1. Nuuk (Driftworks)
2. Organic Cloud
3. Pop
4. Stalker
5. Myein

..but it keeps changing as I explore the world of ambient music.

[quote][b][user][/user][/b] said: ..at this very moment.. 1. [album artist=Thomas Köner]Nuuk (Driftworks)[/album] 2. [album artist=Tetsu Inoue]Organic Cloud[/album] 3. [album artist=Gas]Pop[/album] 4. [album artist=Robert Rich & B. Lustmord]Stalker[/album] 5. [album artist=Maeror Tri]Myein[/album] ..but it keeps changing as I explore the world of ambient music.[/quote]
Edited by a deleted user on 29 Jan 2006, 10:51

Permalink Quote
- darkgnome said...
- User
- 28 Jan 2006, 22:55
Stalker
Substrata
Vir Unis - The Drift Inside
Blood Machine
Uumenissa

[quote][b][user]darkgnome[/user][/b] said: [album artist=Robert Rich & B. Lustmord]Stalker[/album] [album artist=Biosphere]Substrata[/album] Vir Unis - The Drift Inside [album artist=Steve Roach & Vir Unis]Blood Machine[/album] [album artist=Jääportit]Uumenissa[/album][/quote]

Permalink Quote
- antaruma said...
- User
- 2 Feb 2006, 13:00
Re:

Well, such questions were always difficult for me to answer...
At this moment they're:

1. Global Communication - Global Communication - 76:14
2. Global Communication - Pentamorous Metamorphosis
3. Biosphere - Substrata
4. Vidna Obmana - The River of Apperance
5. Spacetime Continuum - Sea Biscuit

But I know they'll change, 'cause they change every week, every day and night... :) Not so long time ago, I discovered, that i enjoy with almost all ambient music. So choice is always hard )

[quote][b][user]antaruma[/user][/b] said: Well, such questions were always difficult for me to answer... At this moment they're: 1. Global Communication - Global Communication - 76:14 2. Global Communication - Pentamorous Metamorphosis 3. Biosphere - Substrata 4. Vidna Obmana - The River of Apperance 5. Spacetime Continuum - Sea Biscuit But I know they'll change, 'cause they change every week, every day and night... :) Not so long time ago, I discovered, that i enjoy with almost all ambient music. So choice is always hard )[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- maxinemogadon said...
- Subscriber
- 5 Feb 2006, 21:37
Richard H. Kirk - virtual state
Woob - 0095
B12 - time tourist
Cabaret Voltaire -the conversation
The Orb -UFOrb

but so many more!

[quote][b][user]maxinemogadon[/user][/b] said: Richard H. Kirk - virtual state Woob - 0095 B12 - time tourist Cabaret Voltaire -the conversation The Orb -UFOrb but so many more![/quote]

Permalink Quote
- MIKutuzov said...
- User
- 12 Feb 2006, 09:39
Biosphere - Autour De La Lune
Pete Namlook and Klaus Schulze - The Dark Side Of The Moog 2
Steve Roach - Early Man
Deaf Center - Pale Ravine
Julien Neto - Le Femeur de Ciel

[quote][b][user]MIKutuzov[/user][/b] said: Biosphere - Autour De La Lune Pete Namlook and Klaus Schulze - The Dark Side Of The Moog 2 Steve Roach - Early Man Deaf Center - Pale Ravine Julien Neto - Le Femeur de Ciel[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- bimbopbimbop said...
- User
- 13 Feb 2006, 17:50
Amber
76:14
Quiet City
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Claro

[quote][b][user]bimbopbimbop[/user][/b] said: [album artist=Autechre]Amber[/album] [album artist=Global Communication]76:14[/album] [album artist=Pan*American]Quiet City[/album] [album artist=Aphex Twin]Selected Ambient Works 85-92[/album] [album artist=Brothomstates]Claro[/album] [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- craque said...
- Subscriber
- 21 Feb 2006, 23:08
My favorites tend to be live performances and improvisations, but off the top of my mp3 collection, these five stand out to my ears (at least this week):

Arovane - Atol Scrap
Burger/Ink - Las Vegas (if ambient is allowed to groove...)
Gramm - Personal Rock (aka Jan Jelinek)
Calika - Small Talk Kills Me
Lithops - Uni Umit

[quote][b][user]craque[/user][/b] said: My favorites tend to be live performances and improvisations, but off the top of my mp3 collection, these five stand out to my ears (at least this week): Arovane - Atol Scrap Burger/Ink - Las Vegas (if ambient is allowed to groove...) Gramm - Personal Rock (aka Jan Jelinek) Calika - Small Talk Kills Me Lithops - Uni Umit[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- room said...
- User
- 9 Mar 2006, 16:04
Steve hillage - rainbow dome music
Shuttle358 - Understanding Wildlife
OTI - recollection www.audiobulb.com
Fennesz - venice
Taylor Deupre - stil. (12K)

Audiobulb Records :|exploratory electronic music|: Listen @ LastFM

[quote][b][user]room[/user][/b] said: Steve hillage - rainbow dome music Shuttle358 - Understanding Wildlife OTI - recollection [url]www.audiobulb.com[/url] Fennesz - venice Taylor Deupre - stil. (12K) [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- MIKutuzov said...
- User
- 13 Mar 2006, 09:19
Re:

Quoth craque:
Gramm - Personal Rock (aka Jan Jelinek)

yeah, I've only recently caught on to the Jan Jelinek sound. I really liked the Triosk & Jan Jelinek album 1+3+1 so I thought i'd try "Kosmischer Pitch", and I'm loving it!!! Nice thick textures, I can really hear where Triosk ends and Jan Jelinek begins now :)

What is Gramm - Personal Rock like? Can anyone else recommend any of his other gear?

[quote][b][user]MIKutuzov[/user][/b] said: [quote][b]Quoth [user]craque[/user][/b]: Gramm - Personal Rock (aka Jan Jelinek) [/quote] yeah, I've only recently caught on to the Jan Jelinek sound. I really liked the Triosk & Jan Jelinek album 1+3+1 so I thought i'd try "Kosmischer Pitch", and I'm loving it!!! Nice thick textures, I can really hear where Triosk ends and Jan Jelinek begins now :) What is Gramm - Personal Rock like? Can anyone else recommend any of his other gear? [/quote]

Permalink Quote
- HappyAudio said...
- User
- 14 Mar 2006, 10:32
Re:

Quoth room:
Steve hillage - rainbow dome music
Shuttle358 - Understanding Wildlife
OTI - recollection www.audiobulb.com
Fennesz - venice
Taylor Deupre - stil. (12K)

Yeah! Fennesz good one.

[quote][b][user]HappyAudio[/user][/b] said: [quote][b]Quoth [user]room[/user][/b]: Steve hillage - rainbow dome music Shuttle358 - Understanding Wildlife OTI - recollection [url]www.audiobulb.com[/url] Fennesz - venice Taylor Deupre - stil. (12K) [/quote] Yeah! Fennesz good one.[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- Vastad said...
- User
- 21 Mar 2006, 01:04
New to the Group and intent on Exploring

Fantastic, I've just discovered this group. Hello everyone!
The following are in no particular order so I will avoid using numbers:

<> Paul Ruskay - Official Game Soundtrack for 'Homeworld' (If you ever got to hear it, you'd know why....the battle music is stunning.)
<> Laraaji - Ambient 3: Day of Radiance (feat. Brian Eno)
<> Michael Brook - Hybrid (Distant Village is the track that hooked me. It was on 'A Brief History of Ambient 3', without a doubt, THE best compilation to recommend to anyone who is new to AMbient and wants an introduction. Laraaji was on there too.)
<> Transient Waves - Sonic Narcotic (This American trio were the earliest group to bridge the gap between post-rock and ambient. Paradise is the best track. Sadly, they broke up.)
<> The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms (Arguably more an IDM album if we must be strict, but surely quite the ambient work as well, if for nothing else but that it can transport me to another world simply with sound.)

I'd like to get into IXOHOXI, but I can't seem to get his stuff anywhere. I'd hear his stuff on winamp radio and immediately fall in love with it. Arovane I know of, but everytime I bid on an album of his on eBay, someone with more to spend snatches it away from me :-(

Steve Roach for me is erratic. Sometimes his music is mindblowing. Most of the time its feels too 'new-agey' and pretentious....the Ambient equivalent of the cheese factor. And I can't stand cheese in ambient. "The Memory Pool" is pretty much the only thing I can stand of his. But it's usually too creepy to listen to for long.

[quote][b][user]Vastad[/user][/b] said: Fantastic, I've just discovered this group. Hello everyone! The following are in no particular order so I will avoid using numbers: <> [b]Paul Ruskay[/b] - [b]Official Game Soundtrack for 'Homeworld'[/b] ([i]If you ever got to hear it, you'd know why....the battle music is stunning.[/i]) <> [b]Laraaji[/b] - [b]Ambient 3: Day of Radiance (feat. Brian Eno)[/b] <> [b]Michael Brook[/b] - [b]Hybrid [/b]([i]Distant Village is the track that hooked me. It was on 'A Brief History of Ambient 3', without a doubt, THE best compilation to recommend to anyone who is new to AMbient and wants an introduction. Laraaji was on there too.[/i]) <> [b]Transient Waves[/b] - [b]Sonic Narcotic[/b] ([i]This American trio were the earliest group to bridge the gap between post-rock and ambient. Paradise is the best track. Sadly, they broke up.[/i]) <> [b]The Future Sound of London[/b] - [b]Lifeforms [/b]([i]Arguably more an IDM album if we must be strict, but surely quite the ambient work as well, if for nothing else but that it can transport me to another world simply with sound.[/i]) I'd like to get into IXOHOXI, but I can't seem to get his stuff anywhere. I'd hear his stuff on winamp radio and immediately fall in love with it. Arovane I know of, but everytime I bid on an album of his on eBay, someone with more to spend snatches it away from me :-( Steve Roach for me is erratic. Sometimes his music is mindblowing. Most of the time its feels too 'new-agey' and pretentious....the Ambient equivalent of the cheese factor. And I can't stand cheese in ambient. "The Memory Pool" is pretty much the only thing I can stand of his. But it's usually too creepy to listen to for long.[/quote]

Permalink Quote
- ZawHeR said...
- User
- 30 Mar 2006, 08:04
Oooh, if i have to create Top 5... no no, isnt possible, sorry :) I have so many favourites artist and albums, how i can choose? Anyway, i will try ;)

1. Asura - Lost Eden 2003 (Ever! That's the most genius album ever i heard!)
2. Asura - Code Eternity 2000 (no comment! Just wonderful)
3. Aes Dana - Memory Shell 2004 (One of Asura... one of the Gods!)
4. Aes Dana - Aftermath 2003 (Hehe, here we have team work between Aes Dana & his wife - DJ Mahiane in Aftermath #5)
5. Carbon Based Lifeforms - Hydroponic Garden 2003 (I love these swedens :)) Daniel is gorgeous!)
...
...
...
...

:))))))

[quote][b][user]ZawHeR[/user][/b] said: Oooh, if i have to create Top 5... no no, isnt possible, sorry :) I have so many favourites artist and albums, how i can choose? Anyway, i will try ;) 1. Asura - Lost Eden 2003 (Ever! That's the most genius album ever i heard!) 2. Asura - Code Eternity 2000 (no comment! Just wonderful) 3. Aes Dana - Memory Shell 2004 (One of Asura... one of the Gods!) 4. Aes Dana - Aftermath 2003 (Hehe, here we have team work between Aes Dana & his wife - DJ Mahiane in Aftermath #5) 5. Carbon Based Lifeforms - Hydroponic Garden 2003 (I love these swedens :)) Daniel is gorgeous!) ... ... ... ... :))))))[/quote]

Permalink Quote