Ambient music

[AndyDT]

Does anybody listen to this kind of music?
I've been listening to some pieces by Thom Brennan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom_Brennan) which is good for relaxation or inspiration, contemplation etc.

[Portrucci]

One of my favourite genres of all

I personally don't get the "it's background music" argument, because if you take notice, you'll find most background music in ads, tv shows or anywhere is never actually ambient, it's usually some sort of inoffensive pop or rock. Ambient is simply too dynamic and subtle to be played with noise interference. So paradoxically to the stereotype, I'd say its some of the most engaging forms of music, best listened to on headphones in a quiet place 

There really is a plethora of great ambient artists, but my favourites would have to be Tangerine Dream, Aphex Twin, Bohren and der Club of Gore, Chroma Key, Tomáš Dvořák, Akira Yamaoka, Shpongle, The American Dollar, Nest, Global Communication, Brian Eno and Coil

[Zantera]

I like the genre, but i'm not that familiar with many artists.
I really love Bass Communion, but i also like Chroma Key, The American Dollar and some Aphex Twin.

[AndyDT]

Are these artists recording soundscapes or vocals or both?

[Portrucci]

Are these artists recording soundscapes or vocals or both?

Most of them are vocal-less. Shpongle, Nest and Chroma Key are the exception, but they are usually few and far between and don't detract from the atmosphere at all. The most soundscape-y bands there for me are probably Tangerine Dream, Bohren & der Club of Gore and Global Communication. Which co-incidentally happens to be my favourites It's really cool when you can just sit back and let your imagination match the music to a scene or a setting

Here are some links to check out;

Tangerine Dream - Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8J2doVjui4

Bohren & der Club of Gore - Prowler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyfX1OR_nk

Global Communication - 14:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbUqAn0rmxs

[Marvellous G]

I say it again, this is the best ambient song of all time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzN6gzMdZ_0

EXACTLY what I want from ambient.

[LTE]

Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Benn Jordan (The Flashbulb), Boards of Canada, Biosphere, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Helios, Lustmord, Sleep Research Facility, The Orb, Steve Roach.

Some of my favorites artists either completely ambient or with heavy ambient styling.

One of my favorite genres, simply THE most beautiful music on the planet.

[Marvellous G]

On a related note, I'm liking the direction PT are taking by incorporating some ambient elements into their 'proper' songs, I'd like to see more bands try it.

[Gorille85]

On a related note, I'm liking the direction PT are taking by incorporating some ambient elements into their 'proper' songs, I'd like to see more bands try it.

Yeah! I like bands that do that! Bands like Unexpect, Ulver, Agalloch (maybe?) and Pink Floyd in addition to PT comes to mind.

[Marvellous G]

Yeah, those are all really good examples of that sort of thing. I agree with you on Agalloch doing it from what I've heard, their whole sound has a sort of ambient feel to it.

[Zantera]

Bass Communion is probably the best ambient music i know, ranging from very dreamlike soundscapes to more noise-influenced pieces.
I'm surprised actually that Portrucci didn't mention it, or maybe he isn't familiar with it.
Anyhow it's a sideproject by Steven Wilson, and even though his other work gets more attention (Porcupine Tree, producing for Opeth, Blackfield), Bass Communion is fantastic.
I would recommend the following albums depending on what you're looking for:

*Ghosts on Magnetic Tape - My personal favorite, pretty dark and experimental.. subtle and creepy stuff.
*Molotov and Haze - half of the album is focused on noise & very experimental stuff, the other half being dreamy & beautiful soundscapes.

[ClairvoyantCat]

Shpongle is so awesome!  Tangerine Dream is also really good. 

[Portrucci]

Bass Communion is probably the best ambient music i know, ranging from very dreamlike soundscapes to more noise-influenced pieces.
I'm surprised actually that Portrucci didn't mention it, or maybe he isn't familiar with it.

I actually forgot about it, I only have Ghosts on Magnetic Tape, but from what I remember of my last listen it was very good. I'll look for that Molotov and Haze one as well 

[AndyDT]

Are these artists recording soundscapes or vocals or both?

Most of them are vocal-less. Shpongle, Nest and Chroma Key are the exception, but they are usually few and far between and don't detract from the atmosphere at all. The most soundscape-y bands there for me are probably Tangerine Dream, Bohren & der Club of Gore and Global Communication. Which co-incidentally happens to be my favourites It's really cool when you can just sit back and let your imagination match the music to a scene or a setting

Here are some links to check out;

Tangerine Dream - Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8J2doVjui4

Bohren & der Club of Gore - Prowler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyfX1OR_nk

Global Communication - 14:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbUqAn0rmxs

Thanks, the last one sounded quite emotive.

[Fuzzboy]

Mega bamp

I just checked out Michael Stearns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSUSXeurDNo) and it made my soul feel tingly. Other than Devy's Hummer album, I have little experience with ambient music, but I think I'm in love now. God bless the /mu/tard that showed me this.

[AndyDT]

Sounds promising. Hopefully I'll listen to this in the background a bit more next week.

[Sigz]

God bless the /mu/tard that showed me this.

I don't believe this part, the link you posted isn't In the Aeroplane in the Sea.

[LTE]

Or Loveless, or ITCOTCK, or MWPP....

[hefdaddy42]

I like ambient, but I have to be in the mood.  I can't listen to it all the time.

Also, interestingly enough, Brian Eno freaks out my dog big time.

[King Postwhore]

Shpongle is so awesome! 

My neice slept over and she played this all night for us as we talked.  She loves them.

[sonatafanica]

i   ambient

[faemir]

SWilson has some free ambient oldie stuff free here:

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wilson/tracks?page=2 (be sure to get the other 6 songs on the previous page)

[Fuzzboy]

God bless the /mu/tard that showed me this.

I don't believe this part, the link you posted isn't In the Aeroplane in the Sea.

The link I posted was the only thing in that thread that WASN'T In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Jokes aside, I love that album

[HarlequinForest]

Can't say I listen to ambient music actively, but I certainly appreciate a film with a good ambient score, such as: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSwyJ0aaM4k

[Portrucci]

Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Benn Jordan (The Flashbulb), Boards of Canada, Biosphere, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Helios, Lustmord, Sleep Research Facility, The Orb, Steve Roach.

Some of my favorites artists either completely ambient or with heavy ambient styling.

One of my favorite genres, simply THE most beautiful music on the planet.

I've only recently discovered Carbon Based Lifeforms and the whole psychill genre, but I love it so far.

My favourite artist atm is probably Magnus Birgersson aka Solar Fields (and his side project H.U.V.A Network). Aweomse stuff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiicwxXem-I

another good artist is Entheogenic. 

[AndyDT]

Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Benn Jordan (The Flashbulb), Boards of Canada, Biosphere, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Helios, Lustmord, Sleep Research Facility, The Orb, Steve Roach.

Some of my favorites artists either completely ambient or with heavy ambient styling.

One of my favorite genres, simply THE most beautiful music on the planet.

I've only recently discovered Carbon Based Lifeforms and the whole psychill genre, but I love it so far.

My favourite artist atm is probably Magnus Birgersson aka Solar Fields (and his side project H.U.V.A Network). Aweomse stuff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiicwxXem-I

another good artist is Entheogenic. 

Just listened to solar fields on Amazon. Some of it sounds pretty hardcore, some more relaxing.

[Marvellous G]

Instead of all this, you can all just listen to the links they have on this Cracked article about what the planets sound like, and they actually all sound like ambient stuff.