Here's a list of wonderful ambient/drone albums that I've been enjoying lately and would highly recommend. Most of the awesome artists in this post are low-key and relatively (or completely) unknown, and they deserve our support.
We all know at this point that Bandcamp isn't perfect... but they're still BY FAR the best digital music platform to directly support independent artists.
If you have time, please check out my other general non-genre specific list of Bandcamp Friday recommendations that I published today.
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Rafael Anton Irisarri - Peripeteia (2020)
GENRE : dark ambient, modern classical, drone, electronica
RECORD LABEL : Dais Records
I might as well begin with one of my all-time favourite ambient artists, and in my opinion one of the very best in the game. Sweeping is the word I'd use to describe this album. Irisarri creates these enormous dark sweeping soundscapes that completely wash over you and envelope you, and this is one of his best. A proper emotional catharsis of an album.
Stream/Download the album here...
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Enmarta - The Hermit (2016)
GENRE : dark ambient, drone, gloom, soundscapes, field recordings, violin
RECORD LABEL : Cryo Chamber
Here's a haunting atmospheric gem of an album from the wonderful Swedish record label Cryo Chamber. Dark gloomy atmospheres and cinematic soundscapes made from layered drones, electro-acoustic instrumentation, field recordings and beautiful sweeping violins. Ideal for late night listening.
Stream/Download the album here...
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The Lonely Bell - s/t (2015)
GENRE : dark ambient, drone, noise, ethereal, post rock, Scotland
RECORD LABEL : Dead Forest Records
Intensely introspective and mesmerizing dark ambient/drone music from a cold wet Scottish island. This album sounds like it came from the depths of isolation, solitude and depression. The closing track in particular sounds like the end of life on earth. Beautiful stuff.
Stream/Download the album here...
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Marine Eyes - idyll (2021)
GENRE : ambient, new age, experimental, field recordings
RECORD LABEL : Stereoscenic Records
Marine Eyes is the solo ambient project of Cynthia Bernard. In this album she has created a gentle peaceful place for weary troubled souls to stop what they're doing and allow themselves to breathe deeply and heal for a while. Bernard uses mostly vocal ambience, nature samples and heavily effected guitars to make these wonderful expansive soundscapes that relaxes, heals and elevates the listener to a higher gentler dreamier plane of existence. A truly beautiful album from a super talented ambient musician. Perfect music for lying on the grass and watching clouds softly drift by...
Stream/Download the album here...
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Carrion - Her (2022)
GENRE : ambient, dark ambient, experimental, field recordings
RECORD LABEL : Veinte 33 Records
Do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in this soft dreamy 15-minute long ethereal ambient piece by Carrion. It feels like being at the top of a lonely hill at the dawning of the day when the world is only half awake, as the sun slowly rises soft and golden and birds begin to chirp their sweet morning songs in the distance, and you quietly reflect upon all of life's loves and losses.
Viente33 has a lot of great ambient releases on their label. You should take a good snoop through their Bandcamp catalogue.
Stream/Download the album here...
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The Gateless Gate - Hinterlands (2022)
GENRE : ambient, new age, drone, electronica, soundscapes
RECORD LABEL : self-released
This is a gorgeous dreamy journey of an album that I can't get enough of. In this inspired project, The Gateless Gate has named each sweeping ambient piece after place names in the books of fantasy giants Le Guin, Tolkien, Lewis & Moorcock. The music is sprawling and majestic, immersive and engulfing... it shimmers and swells and sweeps across your consciousness, transporting the listener to beautiful unknown lands.
Stream/Download the album here...
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Barley & Blush To The Snow - Aura (2022)
GENRE : ambient, dub techno, downtempo, electronica
RECORD LABEL : Not Yet Remembered Records
Stunning airier than air ambient dub techno music from a collaborative duo of whom I know nothing about. What I do know is that you probably need this album in your life. This is great music to brush away the cobwebs.
Technically I haven't heard the full album yet because it officially comes out tomorrow (05/06/22) but the 3 preview songs are incredible. I can't wait to hear the rest. And while you're at it, check out the other wonderful releases on the Not Yet Remembered Records Bandcamp page. They have such a beautiful eclectic array of ambient/noise/drone releases on their label.
Stream/Download the album here...
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Vapour Night - The Dirt Sea (2014)
GENRE : dark ambient, drone, noise, Scotland
RECORD LABEL : Dead Forest Records
This is one 25-minute long bleak ambient/drone/noise piece that feels like being caught out in an apocalyptic storm at the edge of the world. Dark engulfing drone music at its best.
As the music blog Fucked By Noise described it : ''a journey through largely grey and ambiguous landscapes, with little room for light''
Stream/Download the album here...
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Hawaiianvest - Chasms (2021)
GENRE : abstract, ambient, dark ambient, experimental, avant-garde
RECORD LABEL : No Thank You Recordings
This album is mental. It's actually very difficult to describe...it's basically an abstract dark ambient album, made up of haunting drones and hypnotic pulses, and creepy disturbing psychedelic spoken word sections about black holes, alternate universes, dark sexual perversions and serial killers. Total batshit crazy, but I love it.
Stream/Download the album here...
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Diamondstein - Asleep In The Creek (2021)
GENRE : electronica, ambient, techno, vaporwave
RECORD LABEL : Doom Trip Records
Hazy vaporous ambient techno music for dark lonely wanderings through deserted city streets at night. Asleep In The Creek is the two-part collaborative project of composer/musician Diamonstein and photographer Kait Fischer. I am totally enraptured by the ethereal beauty of this double-part release, both musically and visually.
Stream/Download the albums here...
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Seetcya - Bleakscapes (2011)
GENRE : dark ambient, doom ambient, gothic, experimental, Germany
RECORD LABEL : Essentia Mundi Records
This album is exactly as the title suggests - bleak, haunting, doom laden ambient music from the darkest depths. It's abstract and minimalistic, with very little melody to be found anywhere... but it really sucks you in a refuses to let you go.
Stream/Download the album here...
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