Ambient
Noah’s Barks pages relating to the ambient music genre.
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Akira Yamaoka – “Silent Hill: Original Soundtrack” (1999)
For better or worse, the first Silent Hill soundtrack is quite different from its successors. While the soundtracks after this one showcased great haunting dark ambient melodies and trip hop influences that made them pleasant even outside of the game, the first Silent Hill game’s soundtrack focuses on lumbering, reverberating industrial noise that frequently features… (read more)
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The xx – “Coexist” (2012)
Come on, did The xx run out of album covers already? Anyway, Coexist isn’t much of a departure from their first album—I don’t know how you could have expected it to be. Likewise, it’s just as inoffensive, overly self-conscious indie-pandering with token “chill” minimalist beats and lyrics about Sad Things that express genuine emotion just… (read more)
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David Bowie – “Heroes”
Bowie’s vocals possess his typical rock swagger, and Robert Fripp’s erratic guitar work and Brian Eno’s backing synthesizers all combine perfectly to make "Heroes" one of the most schizophrenic pop rock albums ever made. Move over Ziggy Stardust; this is real music from Mars. (read more)
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Massive Attack – “Danny the Dog” (2004)
Danny the Dog sounds like a soundtrack album. It is, of course. My point is that it doesn’t stand well on its own, in my opinion. If you’re thinking there might be some songs with vocals here that might be worth salvaging, then no, there aren’t. There are no songs with vocals. Unless you’re a… (read more)
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David Bowie – “Low”
Evidently, every time I come back to Low by David Bowie, I’m a little less impressed. It’s a condensed, lightened version of textures that were already thoroughly explored in the Berlin School movement. I don’t see the point. When he pulls the reigns in a bit more and develops a sort of ambient pop sound… (read more)
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Ladytron – “Gravity the Seducer” (2011)
A huge departure for Ladytron. ‘Gravity the Seducer’ has an atmospheric vibe that borders on ambient pop as it softly glides by. (read more)