Pretty bummed that this thread got ghosted like this...
I have developed lots of love for ambient music during the last few years. The trigger might have been Steven Wilson stating that Tangerine Dream's ZEIT is his favourite album. His favourite album! That's a pretty big statement for an artist that covers such a huge variety of music within his own output. While listening to it, I couldn't understand why I loved it, but I couldn't stop.
I proceeded to listen to more Tangerine Dream albums. Until now, I worked my way up to Stratosfear (what an awesome name for an album right?). And I checked out a few other ambient/electronic artists, like Klaus Schulze, Brian Eno, Nils Frahm and Steven Wilson himself. I have posted this in other places before, but: Bass Communion's/Steven Wilson's ambient stuff is amazing, at times it's even hauntingly beautiful (the Drugged trilogy... wow). I feel the same way about piano master Nils Frahm, who has dived into electronic/ambient music on his last few outputs. These ambient guys have helped me appreciate electronic music more in general. I can't say I have become a techno fan ever since, but I no longer have that attitude that "computer music" is always shit and everything has to be made by guitar, bass, drums,... Also I came to appreciate silence even more in music. There's no need for something to be "going on" all the time in music.
I have yet to get to know MOST of Hassell's music, but what I heard of him left me pretty impressed. His 2018 album and follow-up to the mentioned Last Night The Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes In The Street, named Listening To Pictures, once again combines his electronic, weird and masterful scapes with his characteristic trumpet playing (what a combination). He released a new album this year, I haven't heard it yet thought. Looking forward to diving into his music a lot more!