Intoxicating ambient indie folk, enchanting world rhythms and layers of harmonised female voices, like a Church choir lost in a trance – Denis Sedov captures something brilliantly beautiful, with the depth and rhythmic grip of Winter (Зима).
Ambient
For immersing yourself in the ambient healing tones of both the natural world and organic, hopeful melodies and progressions, look no further than the music and mantras of Matthuji. As we lean into the warmth and wonder of Gayatri Invocation, the sound is quickly enveloping, inviting, and deeply soothing.
Svartsengi emerges at just the right time it seems, when it can often feel as if music has lost its way, lost its depth, lost its magic. OUTER and Arve Henriksen capture something profound and powerful with this composition and song. The subtle artistry is phenomenal. An easy highlight from the year.
There’s so much to witness, notice and unpack, but in short, Sad Dad Autumn have settled upon a sound and songwriting approach that’s entirely their own right now. If you’re interested in the feelings and stories of grief, in Greek mythology, the natural world, and the cinematic possibilities of organic music – The Great Dying is a rather spellbinding place to lose yourself for a while.
Reclaiming the audio landscape with an exceedingly rare balance of emotional conviction and intricate attention to detail. Australian composer and ambient producer Darren Harris presents a compelling and provocative yet boldly healing audio journey, and takes on the concept of time repeating itself for all of eternity.
Following a string of collaborations and subtle shifts in genre, established producer and artist Big O returns to an immersive conceptual pathway this season, with the immensely atmospheric, soulful to funky new album When It’s Not Said, But Done.
For fans of spiritual or etheric music, SilentButSpiritual delivers a masterful fusion of mantra-like vocals and meditative music, with cinematic textures and details building up towards a modest bass and beat combination that’s profoundly hypnotic.
An unexpectedly provocative organic ambiance emerged this August, the heavy atmospheric reverberation of guitar tones, not evolving nor gathering momentum, but simply meandering through a space, to recreate the essence or feeling of a setting sun.
Contemporary by design, a fuzzy overtone that’s easy to escape into, and the contrasting lightness of those ethereal, colourful keys – Fall Again carefully walks the line between stylish and deeply moving. It’s simple but incredibly memorable, and engaging; rare qualities amidst a saturated music realm.
My biggest ambition is to create music that feels like a refuge, something people can step into and feel completely safe, understood, and connected. I don’t just want to release songs; I want to build experiences that stay with people, moments that can offer them peace or strength when they need it most.
Intoxicating tones and an intricate balancing of complexity and simple warmth – the enchanting and euphoric single Deflector marks a rather divine and thoughtful introduction, to the unique stylings and sentiments of Vancouver-based producer Chamber Glow.
The music is divinely delicate, but also quietly commandeering, and this strength is piercingly notable throughout the likes of highlights Plaza and Misterioso. There’s also a profoundly all-consuming depth of sound to the healing frequency and power of Cavern – an intoxicating closing track, confirming the essential power of music in temporarily freeing us from the jagged edges of modern life.