The shift from ranking to letting each album stand on its own merit feels right for a genre where context and mood matter so much. Jefre Cantu-Ledesma's Gift Songs is a strong choice, especially with the Zen Buddhist practice informing the compositional approach. That blend of decades-long improv practie with mindful chaplaincy work comes thru in the sound.
Solid curation across electronic and acoustic ambient territory. The decision to seperate vaporwave makes sense given how that genre builds its own refrence language. The Jefre Cantu-Ledesma pick especially nails it, combining meditative practice with sound-design in away that goes beyond just calling something ambient and hoping it lands. Looking forward to the vaporwave followup to see how that list handles nostalgia vs innovation.
Thank you so much for the kind words about the book, Stephan! You totally got what I was going for. Great list too. So many favorites and albums I missed that I can’t wait to dig into.
Thanks for including Almost An Island’s debut, Stephan! Excited to dig into the releases I missed here. Your curation, writing and dedication is very appreciated.
Risked it and decided to look before I’ve finished my own top 5 ambient list, but as always, a diverse and beautifully concise list that still had a few albums I missed. Thanks for all your work, Stephan! What a great year for ambient music it has been.
I don't listen to a lot of ambient music but I definitely loved the Duval Timothy and Patricia Wolf records. Plus, Cola Ren's Mekong Ballad is a truly excellent record. Chapeaux all round.
When the Distance is Blue was one of my favorites this year too!
Thank you for compiling this. I'm not familiar with a number of these albums, and I look forward to checking them out.
Thank you so much for including Hrafnamynd on your list. I’m grateful for your thoughtful reflections on music and life. Wishing you happy holidays:)
The shift from ranking to letting each album stand on its own merit feels right for a genre where context and mood matter so much. Jefre Cantu-Ledesma's Gift Songs is a strong choice, especially with the Zen Buddhist practice informing the compositional approach. That blend of decades-long improv practie with mindful chaplaincy work comes thru in the sound.
100% agree!
Solid curation across electronic and acoustic ambient territory. The decision to seperate vaporwave makes sense given how that genre builds its own refrence language. The Jefre Cantu-Ledesma pick especially nails it, combining meditative practice with sound-design in away that goes beyond just calling something ambient and hoping it lands. Looking forward to the vaporwave followup to see how that list handles nostalgia vs innovation.
Yeah that will be the challenge...
nice list! thanks for including qd38 aiko takahashi 🙏🩵
Thank you so much for the kind words about the book, Stephan! You totally got what I was going for. Great list too. So many favorites and albums I missed that I can’t wait to dig into.
Thanks for including Almost An Island’s debut, Stephan! Excited to dig into the releases I missed here. Your curation, writing and dedication is very appreciated.
Risked it and decided to look before I’ve finished my own top 5 ambient list, but as always, a diverse and beautifully concise list that still had a few albums I missed. Thanks for all your work, Stephan! What a great year for ambient music it has been.
Great list! I need to revisit Gift Songs - thanks for the reminder.
I don't listen to a lot of ambient music but I definitely loved the Duval Timothy and Patricia Wolf records. Plus, Cola Ren's Mekong Ballad is a truly excellent record. Chapeaux all round.