I really dislike “earthly” sounds in my ambient; sounds of rain, birds, sea etc. It locks the scenery into something very concrete.
No, I want my ambient so abstract that I can fill out the canvas all by myself – just let the imagination run unhinged.
Here’s two wonderful pieces to let your fantasy run free.
Alaskan Tapes – And, We Disappear
I prefer my ambient to be utterly abstract, the less recognisable sounds the better. But there is a combination going on here, of drone-like synths and a french horn. And that horn really makes a great contribution to this track, adds so much character.
And how about that title? Lovely.
Music from Alaskan Tapes can be found in a variety of short films, including “Birth Pangs”, “Childhood Trauma” and “Mag Sein” by Director Eliot Rausch, “ABADDON” by Director Rogerio Silva, and “Harvest Season”, a new documentary by Bernardo Ruiz.
Etxera – Millas de Altura
This is the kind of ambient that I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of. Long pads swelling, weird little noises here and there, a soundscape that triggers my imagination just so much more than anything else.
And the landscape really is quite deep here. I just love how the layers fulfil each other, and even though the background hum, voices and the metal noise really appears quite concrete, it’s just plain impossible to say what the source may be.
Excellent.
Both of these tracks are obvious additions to our fantastic ambient playlist: “Ambient universe” where they rest shoulder to shoulder with a wide selection of fantastic mental trips. Cause that’s really what ambient is all about, isn’t it?