An hour of favourites and classics.
1. Susumu Yokota – Sea Blue
I love the strings on this track and thought it would make a perfect start.
2. Sigur Ros - Takk
Reminds me of Benicassim 08. The sun was setting and a dark cloud was circling the mountains in the background as Sigur Ros charmed the crowd.
3. The KLF – Madruga Eterna
Taken from the ‘Chillout’ album which is by far one of the best ambient records known to man. This track features an awesome guitar lick straight out of mid-west USA which would be out of place on any other record.
4. Lightsway – A Sky Full Of Clouds
AKA Winterlight AKA Tim Ingham, this track is a slow burning atmospheric monster. Go get the album ‘Summer Interlude’.
5. Bibio – It Was Willow
A short masterpiece which encapsulates Bibio at his finest.
6. William Orbit – You Know Too Much About Flying Saucers
William Orbit makes outstanding music. Taken from ‘Hello Waveforms’, this is another track with delicate guitar melodies where the sounds seem to fit the title perfectly.
7. The Album Leaf – Over The Pond
Weird child noises and a lovely piano combine to form a masterpiece.
8. Winterlight – Hush Now
As if the Lightsway track wasn’t enough, how about some more.
9. Little Dragon – Twice
Nine tracks in and it’s time to feature the first full on vocal track. And a beautiful vocal at that. The best off the album and a fine video to match.
10. Leandro Fresco – Buenos Amigos
The epitome of ambient. Comatising (is that a word?!). If you like this then check out Kompakt’s annual Pop Ambient series.
11. Jon Hopkins – Cold Out There
A composer, pianist and a self-taught studio wizard. If you needed proof, this is it.
12. Delerium – Sensorium
Sampled on one of my favourite Drum & Bass tracks ‘Origin Unknown – Valley Of The Shadows‘, this is the intro to what is a 9 minute monster from Delerium.
13. Burial – UK
This is what makes Burial great. A track which easily crosses over into ambient when put in the right context.
14. Boards of Canada – Blockbusters
I remember hearing this sample for the first time and thinking ‘what the hell’? For some reason its a bit freaky.
15. Ulrich Schnauss – Molfsee
Ulrich goes Happy Cycling with Boards of Canada.
16. Ulf Lohmann – Burning Bright
Loops. Loops. Never knew it could work this well.
17. Aphex Twin – Blue Calx
Finish on a high. Or in this case, the best low there is.
Image from Leonid Tishkov
