Beyond the Black Crack (1976)
Ooh!...That was the comment about the music, not the title. Crazy mixture of electronics, experimental jazz, electroacoustic what-not and general weirdness. Not for the uniniciated. Anal Magic was the brainchild of Reverend Dwight Frizzell, a "musician, film maker, Doctor of Metaphysics and minister in the Universal Church of Life".
Analog Synthesizer Ensemble, The (USA)
Center of the Universe (2007)
Invisible In-Betweeners (2007)
Stoned Space Jams (2007)
The Analog Synthesizer Ensemble consists of Hal McGee, Brandon Abell, Jay Peele and Jen Abell, all playing analogue synths exclusively to create noisy, raw and spaced-out textures.
See also: McGee, Hal
Surface Tension / Connections (1981) (S)
Two instrumental electronic tracks by this New Wave / Synth-Pop outfit (David Rome and Martin Lloyd). Not sure it fits in stylistically, though, as it might as well be a mere dance crowd pleaser.
Anapthergal (Finland)
Alghoulist Aproteasis Impair.Log .896 (1998) (S)
Complectus Misanthropologos (1998)
An Intracranial Disclosure (2000)
Luonnonjärjestyksen Muistolle (2001)
Aaria Kuolemasta (2006)
Mysterious Ambient with forest atmospheres.
Sacred Engines (2001)
Transfiguration (2001)
Decencus Ad Inferos (2003)
Architects of Heresy (2004)
One of Jim Kirkwood’s pseudonyms.
See also: Kirkwood, Jim, Lucifaere, Section 37, Violence In Eden, Emerald Eye.
Dreams From the Blue Planet (1996)
Ancient Mind is Stefan Wiesendanger who was born in 1977 and soon after discovering the music of Jean-Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream started composing his own tracks where melody and atmosphere were the two key elements.
Horizon (1989)
Offshore Destination (1995)
The Sky Lab Tracks (2001)
Analog music in Tangerine Dream / Vangelis style. Tony Andersen started playing organ in the 1970's. Around 1981 he heard Tangerine Dream's Exit and this changed his music preferences forever. After parents bought him his first synthesizer (a Multivox) he started to combine this instrument with his organ playing to produce flowing electronic tracks. In 1986, Tony managed to expand his setup and acquired more synthesizers. By that time, his style had fully developed into a rhythmic, sequencer-based type, strongly influenced by classic Tangerine Dream. The first MC came out in 1989. Offshore Destination followed in 1995 and then The Sky Lab Tracks (2001) which was a sampler of previously unreleased material.
See also: Navigator
Olias of Sunhillow (1976)
Song of Seven (1980)
Famous Yes singer. Jon Anderson is probably best known to Electronic Music listeners for his collaborations with Vangelis. He also sings on Kitaro’s 1992 album Dream. Of his solo works, the 1976 album Olias of Sunhillow may be interesting for EM aficionados.
See also: Jon & Vangelis.
Music For Film And Exhibition (2007) (recorded in 1999 - 2006)
See also: Raison d'Etre, Bocksholm, Necrophorus, Nymph Faithest, Atomine Elektrine.
An Island In the Moon (1990)
Synth duo of Luigi Andreoni and Silvio Renardi. Somewhat Idustrial-like and a bit experimental music recorded with Riccardo Sinigaglia as guest.
Electrokinesis (2007)
Consciousness Evolving (2008)
Diverse electronic compositions from this musician and graphic designer from Tucson, Arizona.
Donnie Darko (2001) (soundtrack)
Ethereal soundtrack music, with piano, minimoog, mellotron, vocoder and a couple of other instruments. It features a Tears For Fears cover (in two versions) but the rest is original material. Michael Andrews is known mainly as a guitar player but the director did not want any guitars in the movie, hence we have this atmospheric music played on keyboards by someone who never played keyboards before. The score was fairly popular after its release, mainly due to the Tears For Fears cover song (performed by an old friend Gary Jules).
Project Zero (1999)
Synthopia (2000)
Neon Dreams
(2001)
Science & Fiction (2002)
Tides of Time (2002)
E=Motion (2002)
2019 (2003)
Slaves To the Machines (2003)
Universe of Love (2005)
Hand On String (2006)
Serve Chilled (2009)
Vangelis / Jarre copyist. The music is very well done but very derivative.
Andriessen, Jurriaan (Netherlands)
The Awakening Dream (1977)
Hardware Software (1978)
A Knight At the Theatre (1981)
Portret van Hedwig (1983)
Juriaan Andriessen is a brother of academic / avant-garde composer Louis Andriessen. He didn't follow his brother's steps, instead releasing several unusual Electronic Prog albums.
In Tune With Tomorrow (1982)
This album mixes rhythmic sequences with lots of vocoder voices, somewhat between Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Rare.
Starship / Shooting Star (1978) (S)
Single with melodic Space-like synth music. Andromeda was a duo of Gerhard Kämpfe and Alexander Gordon.
Paranoya (??)
Archipelag Wyobrazni (2002)
In the Garden of the Rainy King (2005)
Electronics by Andrzej Mierzynski. The style is halfway between Ambient and melodic Electronic Music.
Covered In Scars (2005)
Dark Ambient drone from Jonathan Canady made on analogue keyboards.
Angel Provocateur (1998)
Stars Below (2000)
Cloud Street (2003)
Once again we are confronted with a Mauve Sideshow offshoot. Once again we find ethereal and at times ghostly female voice and once again we hear electronics and tons of mellotron from Dusty Lee.
See also: Mauve Sideshow, Blessed Oblivion, Steeple of Fyre, Thistle, Minus Infinity, Mistress of Strands, Torn Curtain, Kangaroo Kourt.
Other Worlds (1993)
Shambala (1993)
Zvyozdnyi Put' Shambaly (1994)
Doliny Shambaly (1996)
Planetary System (1998)
Chronos - Out of Time (1999)
Breath of Silence (2002)
Alone In the Universe (??)
Born in Nalchik in 1973, Angelo Taylor (real name - Andrzej Kravtsov) started to take some interest in Electronic Music by the late 1980's. Inspired by the melodic sounds of Jean-Michel Jarre and Kitaro, he started creating his own synthesizer compositions, first as part of the duo Zov Kosmosa (later renamed to Aura) and then as a solo artist.
See also: Aura
Hybris (1992)
Epilog (1994)
Buried
Alive (1996) (recorded in 1994)
I know I'm stretching the definition of EM here. Yes, right. But even if its not your typical electronic stuff and sits more comfortably next to the "Progrock" releases, these are still great albums of instrumental Electronic Rock. The music has some resemblances to Schicke, Fuhrs & Frohling, but also to many other classic Symphonic Rock bands, with a unique "Anglagard" touch, of course. Very pastoral, flowing, mellotron-drenched instrumentals that can get it overdone sometimes but are generally a low-key affair.
Nocturnes (1999)
Solitudes (2001)
Melodic EM with a romantic flair by Michael Eriksson.
Tussilago Fanfara (1977)
Swedish electronic duo. Anna Sjaelv Tredje were Mikael Bojen and Ingemar Ljungstrom. The music is very much in the Klaus Schulze vein. This release is nearly impossible to get hold of.
See also: Cosmic Overdose
Anno Luz (1987)
Electronic Music in the vein of Tangerine Dream or early Neuronium. Anno Luz are Paulo Loureiro and Guilherme Orcutt.
Trips North, Trips South - Not Intended For Consumption B/W Downtime (??)
Tangerine Dream-styled band from the 70's. The members were Robert Carlberg, James Keller and Charles Bronson.
Anomalous Disturbances (Canada)
The Spirit Molecule (2002)
HovR (2003)
Archive One (2004)
Sadu Live (2006) (with Sylken and URM)
Archive Two (2009) (recorded in 2001 - 2008)
Inside (2009)
AD is Terry O'Brien, electronic musician living in Vancouver, Canada. Both albums contain great Ambient compositions and if you love the genre - be sure to check out Anomalous Disturbances! Despite the fact that the name of the project suggests something quite dark and spooky, the music is by no means Dark Ambient. In fact, on each album you will find only one track that can be considered Dark Ambient ("Disneyland of the Gods" from The Spirit Molecule and "Ploughing the Clouds" from HovR. Ok, the initial part of "Strange Fruit" is also dark). The mentioned tracks are done in the classic tradition of musicians like Lustmord. The rest of the music is not dark at all, although very atmospheric, at times comparable to some Steve Roach, or even Brian Eno. Pretty original Ambient stuff and comes as recommended.
See also: SADU
Field of Mutants (2007)
Timetraveller (2007)
Nation of Love (2009)
Offering a different perspective on the classic Space Disco (sometimes also called Spacesynth) sound, Field of Mutants features slower tracks than what this genre is known for. Anosphere is the project of Swiss musician Stefan Bieri, who had previously contributed material to several volumes of "Synthesizer Dance" sampler.
Pastales (1997)
Anoxie was formed by synthesist Pascal Lachaize and he is helped by a cast of musicians on this release (Thierry Sportouche, Bernard Riboulet, Laurent Roche, Remy Soriano and Lionel Gibaudan), so instead of just producing an album of Electronic Music, Lachaize set out to create another ambitious "Progrock" record. (tell me why is it that some people think that producing Rock stuff is way more "cool" than composing Electronic Music?) The production is flawed and overall it sounds more or less like a demo record. Take out the vocals and the Rock instrumentation and you will have a CD-single-length album with several completely electronic pieces that sound like old Tangerine Dream sometimes. P.S. I haven't heard this album - all of the above was written on the basis of what I've read about it in other sources, so use this info at your own risk. :-) Apparently, there's also an earlier single, released way back in 1986 titled A New Dawn. I don't know what style it is in but it's most likely Rock-oriented.
Egregore (1992)
Terra Orthodoxa (1993)
Tribal Art (1997)
Magellan (2006)
Antanas is Nenad Antanasijevic from Belgrade. His music combines elements of Ambient, melodic Electronic Music and environmental sounds.
The Ultra Soothing Sounds of the Alien Astronaut's Arpeggiator (2003)
Carina Cygnus (1987)
Areas (1990)
Timewindows (1994)
Periods (1997)
Alfred Göbel.
Poczatki (1999)
Between Heart And Mind (2004) (recorded in 1998 - 2004)
Anthares is Polish synthesist Jacek Wisniewski, who makes rhythmic and melodic, Jarre-influenced music. Jacek started composing during the 1990's, first with a computer and then with hardware synths.
Beyond Nimbostratus (2003)
I Killed (2004) (S)
Nebesnaya (2005)
City of Wire (1999)
One of the lesser known British musicians. The music is very dynamic and melodic with strong themes. Hints of Jarre and, especially, Robert Schroeder. He has released only one album so far.
Plus Loin vers l'Est (2006)
Aurora Polaris (2008)
360 Degrees (2009)
French artist (real name: Vincent Benesy), strongly influenced by the Berlin School of Electronic Music. His music is released on Musea's sublabel "Dreaming".
No Light (2001)
Ambient soundscapes, a bit dark.
In the Underground (1989)
Experimental electronic band consisting of people who call themselves Anton, Zazas, Penga and Electronique.
See also: Penga
Antonini, Vincent Gabriel (USA)
Unforeseen (2002)
Ambient artist whose album sounds like a mixture of Tim Story and Robert Rich styles, with synth, some acoustic instruments and concrete sounds.
Neque Semper Arcum Tendit Rex
(1974)
Anno Demoni (1975)
Zora (1977)
Ralefun (1978)
Praeternatural (1980)
Magic Ritual (2004)
Switch On Dark (2006)
Per Viam (2009)
This is indeed a later incarnation of Jacula, with Doris Norton handling the synth chores. It's dark and doomy e-prog. Comparisons: think a mixture of Jacula, some Floyd, dark Tangerine Dream (circa Sorcerer) and Goblin. Not for the average synth fan, of course. Especially when there are also some vocals (mostly spoken or whispered voices sinked in reverb, but some singing, too).
See also: Jacula, Norton, Doris.
Mind Erase (2008)
Antrilon is Greg Kozlowski who is known for his spacey guitar contributions to the music of Architectural Metaphor and Secret Saucer. Here, he presents abstract electronic soundscapes, done in real time on analogue modular synthesizers. Some of the pieces are totally formless, others slightly melodic. It will appeal to fans of Experimental EM and 1960's sci-fi soundtracks.
The Eternal Sky (1995)
Let Not the Flame Die Out (1998)
Live With Nik Turner (1999)
Naz Bar (2001)
Brainsquid (2002)
Crippled Dick Hot Wax (2002)
Phantascope (2004)
Should this be here? I say yes. Even if it's not always and completely electronic, the music has been described numerous times as a mixture of Hawkwind and Tangerine Dream. Anubian Lights are Adele Bertei, Tommy Grenas and Len Del Rio.
See also: Nik Turner's Sphynx, House, Simon.
Juma Densetsu (1982)
Best In the 80's (1995) (recorded in ??)
Kyrie Canto Cybernetico (1999)
God
Mars (??) (soundtrack)
Exclusive
Sequences (2001)
Silent Night (??)
Mission Asteroid (??)
Iti Harsa (??)
Japanese cartoon music writer and owner of Anz's synth museum. Analogue electronics with some Progrock tendencies (made with piano, synths, Mellotron...). Interestingly enough, Kyrie Canto Cybernetico combines Electronic Music with female operatic vocals. You think it won't work? Well, it does in this case!
Circuit (1989)
Twilight People (1991)
Imagic (1993)
Originell (1994)
Mirror Images (2001) (with
Vasudeva)
Apeiron is Andreas (formerly Konrad) Prinz. Melodic and rhythmic EM. Hints of the great masters are here, and the blend of these influences is very pleasant. Mirror Images is more ethnic sounding. Unfortunately, Andreas Prinz has abandoned music making completely after Mirror Images was released (or maybe even before that?).
Tumbleweed Obfuscated By Camera
Failure (2003)
Hinterland (2004) (EP)
Ambient / soundscapes by one Brian McWilliams.
See also: Remanence
666 (1972)
Aphrodite’s Child is a ‘Progressive Rock’ band formed in the 60’s. It included Vangelis and his long-time friend Demis Roussos. The early albums actually have nothing to do with Electronic Music, as it is simple Pop-Rock music with maybe occasional progressive touches and romantic (usually) lyrics. The most experimental album is 1972’s ‘666’. It was also their last one. On this record Vangelis is already showing his talent as a keyboardist and a few electronic manipulations are also involved. Hints of the famous sound that eventually would be born out of Vangelis’ studio/laboratory can already be noticed. Recommended for Vangelis completists and for those who are curious as to how he has arrived to his famous electronic sound.
See also: Vangelis
Descent (1997)
Sketches (??)
Ambient comparable to Robert Rich by Michael Bentley (aka eM, aka Mollusk).
Iscariot (??)
Strychnine (??)
Embracing the Shadows of Self-Doubt (2001)
Veror Aesik (2004)
ApollyoN is UK Ambient musician Roy Nash.
Phosphorescence (1988)
Echoes (1990)
Ruins (1993)
Cathedral (1995)
Cosmology (1998)
Chronicle (2003)
This Japanese artist fuses several styles together and mostly creates rather pompous and over-the-top compositions where one can hear influences of symphonic music, Progressive Rock, melodic Electronic Music of artists like Jean-Michel Jarre and Trance / Dance music. I am sure at least some of it will appeal to fans of Jarre and Oldfield. He calls his music "Symphonic Techno" but it's not like he is part of the Techno scene or culture, except maybe for Aurora Heads - a band AQi Fzono was involved in prior to starting his solo career. The first solo album was released under the pseudonym "Siamese Twin".
Jutro Bedzie Lepiej (2007)
Melodic music in the tradition of Jean-Michel Jarre and Marek Bilinski.
Recalls & Illusions (1994)
Soft, melodic, almost melanchonic electronics from member of Nautilus.
See also: Weiden, Ralph, Nautilus.
Water Music (2001)
Sound Chaser (2002)
Virus (2003)
Dream Designer (2003)
Electronic Music (2004)
I Remember Berlin (2006)
Cold (2008)
Memories (2009)
Music In Berlin / melodic Jarre style by Tadeusz Łuczejko. The project was formed in 1996 as a duo with Piotr Woltynski. After a while, Tadeusz went solo under the same name.
Tall Cloudtrees Falling (1995)
Meeting
the Magus (1997) (with Hans-Joachim Roedelius)
Entertaining Angels (1998)
Ambient duo of Andy Heath and Felix Jay heavily influenced by Cluster and, especially, Hans-Joachim Roedelius' solo work.
Burning Sigils (2008)
Dark soundscapes.
See also: Seeker
Isilme Ilrealasse (2004)
Relaxing Ambient and keyboard music in sedate Burzum vein. A limited edition tape that clocks at 38 minutes.
Moments (1998)
Beyond (2000)
Live (2000)
Traveller (2001) (with Polygon)
Serpent (2002)
Roam (2004)
Madurai (2006)
This is Tribal Ambient music in early 90's Roach realms. Fans of the American synthesist are recommended to check it out.
Octane (1998)
Radio Sputnik (2000)
Blaze (2003)
Arcturus (2005)
Fracture (2007)
Two well-known British synthesists Ian Boddy and Mark Shreeve collaborate under the name of ARC. Music of the duo is classic teutonic analog electronics. The emphasis is on sequences. Real fasten-your-seat-belts experience. Very good, indeed.
See also: Boddy, Ian, Shreeve, Mark.
Gather Darkness (1999)
Future Wreck (2000)
Alterstill
(2001)
33 1/3 RPM (2004)
Pulse (2007)
Classic analog Berlin School EM by Paul Lawler (aka Max van Richter). Tangerine Dream from early eighties comes to mind immediately. It is said to be quite good, but to my mind it lacks originality.
See also: Lawler, Paul, Richter, Max van.
Engines of Myth (1988)
100 Tapes
Project (1988)
Improvisations (1988)
Feedback Music (1988)
Feedback Music II (1988)
Feedback In Turmoil (1989)
Half Live (1989)
Four (1989)
Fetish (1990) (with PGR)
Six (1990)
Also
Sprach Zarathustra (1991)
Interstices (1992)
Diabolis Ex Machina (1992)
Arcane Device 6 + 4
(1993)
Trout (1993)
Envoi In Cumin (1993)
Dbl.Fdbk (1993)
(with Asmus Tietchens)
Speiseleitung (1996) (with Asmus Tietchens)
Experimental, at times dark soundscapes by David Lee Myers from New York, USA. I've seen comparisons to subtle Vangelis circa Bladerunner. Not sure he should be in this encyclopedia, because he uses mainly feedback devices, not synths. Besides, he is known more as an Industrial composer. Nevertheless, this Vangelis comparison made me leave him in. For now. But I'm still not certain. After 1996 or so, David proceeded to release albums under his own name.
Alaska - Behind the White Sea (1996)
Klang-Raum-Wort (1996)
Man In the Mirror (1997)
The Ancient Saga (1999)
Das Labyrinth (2000)
Klang-Raum-Wort X (2004) (with
friends)
Arcanum is German musician Bernd Franz Moritz Braun. Rhythmic Berlin style Electronic Music, but mostly rather laid-back. Actually, very convincing. Recommended for any EM fan, but those who hate electronics better look elsewhere. And stop reading this encyclopedia! :-)
Archaia (1977)
Heldon fans take note. Hard boiled mixture of Heldon / Magma influences resulting in an extremely intense and powerful brew.
Architexture (2003)
Architexture was formed in 2003 and consists of David Gurr (C.H.A.O.S., The Omega Syndicate - synths, samplers & sequencers) and Stuart Jackson (synths & rhythm machines). The music consists of mostly short melodic instrumentals influenced by Mind-Flux, Jarre, John Foxx and some others.
See also: C.H.A.O.S., The Omega Syndicate, Gurr, David.
Memento Mori (1991)
Virgin Birth (1991)
Beyond All Thee Sickness (1992)
Mind of Flesh And Bones (1993)
In Shelter (1993)
The Righteous
Way To Completion (1997)
Of Gospels Lost And
Forsaken (2002)
Quite legendary (in its own circles) Dark Ambient project from Sweden that was founded in 1990 by Tomas Pettersson and Mikael Stavostrand. Most of the time in the classic Dark Ambient mould ala Lustmord which means slowly morphing resonant structures, murky effects and low rumbles. At times approaches the territories of Black Ambient (in the more active moments) and Ritual Ambient (percussion!). Of Gospels Lost... is a compilation of their earlier material from the beginning of the 90's plus songs from the first LP.
See also: Desiderii Marginis, Inanna.
Kaleidoscope of Rainbows (1976)
Belief 1 (1977)
Harmony of the Spheres (1978)
Leap In the Dark / Summer Ice (1979) (S)
Evocations of the Peak (1979)
Now let's see if we can find something of interest in the archives of this British jazz musician. Kaleidoscope of Rainbows is mostly normal Jazz Fusion, but the 1996 reissue of this work features a bonus in the form of "Intimate Vistas" - a 13-nimute electronic composition written by Ardley in 1980 together with Richard Burgess and "Refracted Rainbow" - a Zyklus' 1991 reworking of one of the album's original themes. Belief 1 is a 10-minute narration of poem by Patrick Huddie and Electronic Music. It's not officially released yet. Harmony of the Spheres is quite interesting fusion / synthesizer work and Evocations of the Peak is a 20-minute unreleased work for string quartet and synthesizers.
See also: Zyklus
Jupiter Beyond (2004)
Message From
Another Time (2005)
Michel van der Kuy and Rob van Eijk. Music in the style of Rygar and Laserdance.
See also: Rygar, Machinery of Life.
Trans Plutonian Transmissions (1994)
This is actually Lustmord's alter ego. Perhaps, the music was too active to be released under his own name.
See also: Lustmord
Death Ovary Traces (1994)
Noise Daylife (1994)
Sepulchre Womb (1995)
Original Waters (1995)
Alter ego of Italian synthesist who is known as 'Deca'. Music released under the "Argiope" moniker is pretty experimental.
See also: Deca
Discophonia (1980)
Suiesa (1981)
Zeme L
(1985)
This was marketed as "Electronic Music" during the Soviet era, but in fact it features a full-band line-up: guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, etc.. The usual stuff, you know. Some tracks on their first album sound pretty good and inventive. It is maybe somewhat similar to Zodiac, albeit more complex and progressive (i.e. closer to "true" EM). Surprisingly, the tracks become more interesting as the album progresses. I haven't heard other works. Led by Giedrius Kuprevicius and Julius Vilnonis, Argo was born out of Kaunas Musical Theatre in Lithuania in 1979 and released three albums. Kuprevicius also released double solo LP in 1976 called Ugnies Medziokle. It's a musical that has nothing to do with EM.
The Planet's Morning (1983)
Russian band and this album is supposedly a mixture of electronics and Prog.
Should (2003)
Brooklyn-based soundscape artist Joseph Lisciandro.
Arkkon (1995)
Rotunda (2000)
Live.Torino.Italia.
27.02.02 (2002)
Mostly Dark Ambient from David Knight.
Cloudhenge (1983)
Noon And Night (1985)
The first album is a cassette release.
Mirrorion (2006)
Scorpion Milk (2006)
Ai Ma Ra (2009)
Ritual Ambient from Finland. Arktau Eos are Anti Ittna (Halo Manash, Aeoga, I.corax) and Antti Litmanen.
See also: Halo Manash, Aeoga, I'corax, Aural Holograms.
Minework In G (2003)
Pieces of A Larger Experiment (2003)
Air Is the Means (2004)
Varied ambient electronic material.
Space Between Us (1997)
Kiss of the Dragon (2001) (soundtrack)
British composer born in 1959 in Glasgow, Scotland. It seems that he mainly composes music for films. Fittingly, Kiss of the Dragon is a soundtrack with a diverse style (there's some rhythmic and ethnic-spiced material, as well as ambient floaters), while Space Between Us is very symphonic.
Arnaud, Jean-Philippe (France)
Selenium (1998)
Melodic, Vangelis-like.
World of Dreams
(1994)
Aquaphonia (1995)
Odes To the Wind (1996)
Every Moment Counts (1998)
Obsidian (2000)
Water Symphonies
(2002)
This artist became known thanks to IC label promotion. His real name is Arno Höddinghaus. Rhythmic and melodic music. Water Symphonies is relaxing Ambient.
Suite Espacial (1993)
Rare CD from this Mexican synthesist. Spacey.
4 Play (2005) (S)
In Light (2007)
With a name like that and a very Harmonia-like cover of In Light you somehow know which road it's going to take and indeed, Alexis Georgopoulos (ex-The Alps), the man behind Arp who resides in San-Francisco, doesn't hide his influences, which include Cluster, Harmonia, Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, among others. Warm sound.
In the Distance (2006)
Not Far From Here (2006)
Arrocata is the project of Robert Straub from Arizona, USA. He composes calm Ambient music with environmental sounds.
Contacto (2007)
Starchild (2008)
Arroniz is a Mexican synthesist (full name - Miguel Arroniz Castrillon). The album Contacto starts with a loop-based piece called "Los Elegidos". Quite a neurotic track, with upbeat rhythm and repeating melody, like a sonic illustration for a documentary about rush hours. The title track is next. It starts with deep growling synths and myesterious notes over a choir backdrop. Soon a dramatic theme is introduced. This is quite bombastic stuff. After a while the track gets more subtle, with various small splashes of melody and still quite manic sequencing. Reminds me on late 1980's Klaus Schulze style, but not quite. More sequences are added and it turns into a monster of a track, it's so rhythmically complex. Various sequences tend to some and go while the track maintains its aggressive, propulsive beat. Throughout the length of the composition, some short solos are used to great effect. The track ends with a growling synth pattern. "Shout Your Freedom" starts with a bass sequence to which a fast-paced rhythm is added. After a while a solo appears and dominates, without sounding upfront. Arabic scale is chosen, reminding on Schulze's playing on Body Love. "Raceway" is basically a Techno number, with fast-paced rhythms and various sampled sounds arranged into sequenced structures. "Carminata Espacial" re-introduces Berlin School sequences, together with mysterious solos and various atmospheric / opressive sounds. After 5 minutes, a nice electric piano theme appears and serves as the conclusion for this busy number. "5000" is like being in a bazaar full of exotic spices. What we get basically is ethnic percussion and Arabic melodies. I suppose that's how Electronic Music for the Middle East should sound. Later in the track, a steady beat serves as the basis for the music. "Grita tu Libertad" has an almost dance quality to it, with a hot rhythm and sampled guitar. Doesn't sound like EM to me, but still a nice track. "Tierra de Dioses" starts with deep gong sounds, a tinkling bell sequence and dramatic string chords. A slow bass drum rhythm appears making the track sound like some music for a funeral procession. Soon a vocoded voice appears, while Arroniz improvises using bell-like timbre. The rhythm becomes more complex and the track more intense. More sequences are added, as well as a sampled electric guitar solo. The track ends in an over-the-top manner, like an overblown Classical symphony would. Contacto is a diverse CD with a nice range of sounds and styles. There's also a hidden track here that I won't say anything about, except that it's great!
Imagery (1994)
Unique Ambient.
Inner Circles (1992)
Hyper Spirit (1994)
Eiskalte Leidenschaften (1995)
Wege (1996) (with Fritz Schumacher)
Syrah Meets Ubar (1997)
Stations (??)
Experimental Ambient from German musician Hans Kraus-Hübner. Sometimes a bit similar to the more mysterious / dissonant Centrozoon works, sometimes more unique and / or melodic.
New Horizon (2000)
Dimension Universe (2003)
Endless Future (2008)
Cosmic Ambient / Space Music by Thorsten Sudler-Manz and Thorsten Rentsch. Beware the occasional vocals and Gregorian chant on their second album.
See also: Deep Imagination
Clima-X (1981)
Diabolus In Mecanica (1982)
Obscure French electronics by Bernard Filipetti. Murky analog synth tracks.
Les Espaces Inquiets (1983)
Le Mariage Du Ciel Et De
L'Enfer (1984)
Berlin (1987)
Nosferatu (1989)
Marathonnerre I (1993)
Marathonnerre II
(1993)
Faust (1995)
Haxan (1997)
u.B.I.Q.U.e. (2001)
La Chute de la Maison Usher (2008)
Modern Classical Rock ensemble whose music has been gradually becoming more and more electronic with the passage of time. Earliest albums (the 70's and early 80's) are totally acoustic (viola, cello, trumpet, guitar etc.), with hints of 20th century Classical composers like Bartok, Stravinsky and so on. The later albums (listed) are mostly synthesized and also make use of sequencers and samplers. The music is characterized by a spooky, dark and claustrophobic atmosphere. Especially of interest are their soundtracks to 20's silent horror movies (Nosferatu, Faust, Haxan) that consist of very nightmarish electronic compositions. Great stuff, actually, although not easy to get into for the uniniciated.
See also: Zaboitzeff, Thierry
Electronic World (1996)
XXI Century
(1999)
Harmony of the Soul (1999)
The Magic of Egypt (2000)
Music For
McDonald's (2001)
Atmosphere (2002)
Russian synthesist with a style of music strongly influenced by Jean-Michel Jarre's works. Harmony of the Soul is ambient and meditative, akin to the title track on Waiting For Cousteau. Atmosphere is influenced by the Oxygene-era Jarre.
The Warning (1993)
Cold (1995)
Point of Intersection (1997)
Five Mystery Tales of
Asia (1998)
Mysticism of Sound (1999)
Forgotten Themes (2000)
Dreams In Moving Space
(2000) (with Phillip B. Klingler)
Space Icon (2000) (with Peter Frohmader)
Transfiguration (2002) (with Peter Frohmader)
A Moment of Infinity (2002) (with Phillip
B. Klingler)
57 Minutes To Silence (2002) (with Christopher De Laurenti)
Equilibrium
(2002) (with Karda Estra)
Time, Desert & A Sound (2004)
Russian electronic musician. Son of Edward Artemiev, who is a pioneer of Electronic Music in former USSR. The music of Artemiy Artemiev posesses a special charm which cannot be described by using words. One has to listen to his works to find out what it means. From his more rhythmic tracks on albums like 1993’s The Warning to his recent more abstract and ambient works (Dark Ambient style) there is a signature of Artemiy’s talent both in composition and sound synthesis.
Siberiade (1979) (soundtrack)
Warmth of Earth (1980)
Metamorphoses (1980)
Mood Pictures (1984)
Ode To the Bearer of Good News (1984) (recorded in 1980)
Solaris/The Mirror/Stalker (1989)
Urga (1991)
(soundtrack)
The Inner Circle (1992)
Soleil Trompeur (1994) (soundtrack)
The Odyssey
(1998) (soundtrack)
The Barber of Siberia (1999) (soundtrack)
A Book of Impressions
(2000) (recorded in 1975 - 1996)
Three Odes (2002) (recorded in 1980 - 1998)
A pioneer of Russian Electronic Music. He started getting involved in the making of this kind of music already in the 60’s. At that time he did a lot of experimental works using the legendary ANS synthesizer. He was among the first few who realised the huge potential that a synthesizer offered to a musician and that one doesn’t necessarily have to deal with notes and melody when it comes to composing, because the tonal characteristics of sound are more important in Electronic Music. Sadly, this is a fact that is largely ignored by some of the modern electronic musicians. Edward Artemiev’s experiments with sound prove that the music that virtually has very little or no melody is able to touch the soul and heart and affects the human spirit even more than Classical music does. His early works have a special atmosphere to them and reflect the spirit of changes that would come real soon when synthesizers are finally abundand in music. Also his music of the period instantly evokes science-fiction themes in one’s mind, something not from this world and really out-there. The film director Andrei Tarkovsky was one of the first to notice this and Edward wrote soundtrack music for some of his now legendary sci-fi movies, like ‘Solaris’ and ‘Stalker’. Edward Artemiev has also written soundtracks for other films, among them ‘The Barber of Siberia’ and ‘Odyssey’, a TV production of Andrei Konchalovsky. His recent soundtrack productions seem to be more leaned towards orchestral music, rather than electronic. Some of his music is released on CD, including some soundtracks. If you still haven’t heard his music, you’re simply missing a bit of history. It’s amazing to hear how far ahead of his time this man was. His ideas from the 60’s and 70’s still sound totally fresh and the music is futuristic and magical. The styles that he worked in are numerous, from very abstract electronic to rhythmical sequencer numbers. It is useless to try and describe this music. It’s absolutely majestic! Highly recommended!
Note: The album Three Odes is a reissue of Ode To the Bearer of Good News that adds two previously unreleased extra tracks.
As Lonely As Dave Bowman (USA)
POD (2007)
Drone Ambient inspired by science-fiction classic "2001, A Space Odyssey" from Sam Rosenthal (the mastermind behind Black Tape For A Blue Girl)
See also: Rosenthal, Sam, Black Tape For A Blue Girl.
Truth In Aural Existence (2004)
Perspicacious Existence (2005)
Dark ritualistic ambience from Philadelphia-based artist James Raven.
Shrine (1994)
Chakra (1995)
Trikuti (1996)
Live At Jodrell Bank (1997)
Enshrined (1998)
Rise (2000)
Electronic musician from the UK (real name - Dave Barker). Highly energetic music with sequences and some beats. Sometimes comes close to dance music but not at all commercial. Supposed to be quite good.
See also: Cerulean
Dimensional Fragments (1999)
Ascension is Carsten Ulka and this album was released on the Ardema label (the label that released Rainbow Serpent's works, among others). The style is not known at the moment.
Asciara (1985)
A duo of Saro Cosentino and Vincenzo Zitello that combined traditional Celtic music with Electronic Music.
See also: Cosentino, Saro
Ash Ra Tempel / Ashra (Germany)
Ash Ra Tempel (1971)
Schwingungen (1972)
Seven Up (1973)
Join Inn (1973)
Starring
Rosi (1974)
Inventions For Electric Guitar (1975)
New Age of Earth (1976)
Blackouts
(1977)
Correlations (1979)
Belle Alliance (1980)
Tropical Heat (1985)
Walkin’ the Desert (1989)
Le Berceau de Cristal (1993) (recorded in 1975)
The Private Tapes (1996)
Sauce
Hollandaise (1998)
@shra (1998)
Friendship (2000)
Gin Rose At the Royal Festival Hall
(2000)
The Making of (2001) (recorded in 1978 - 1979)
@shra vol.2 (2001)
Ash Ra Tempel was founded in 1971 and originally there were 3 members: Klaus Schulze (drums), Manuel Goettsching (guitar) and Hartmut Enke (bass). The self-titled first album came out the same year. It was quite psychedelic and spacey in nature. After that Schulze left the group to pursue a solo career. The second album Schwingungen appeared a year later. Also in 1972 the band travelled to Switzerland to visit the late LSD guru Timothy Leary. Their collaboration resulted in the album Seven Up released in 1973. It also featured various other musicians, among them Steve Schroyder and Dieter Dierks. Joinn Inn is a result of a late night studio session with an old friend Klaus Schulze temporarily rejoining the band for a few performances. In 1973 Hartmut Enke left the group (and gave up music completely) and Manuel Goettsching was largely on his own. The next album featured guest appearances of Goettsching’s girlfriend Rosi and Harald Grosskopf who was drumming in Agitation Free. The fascinating Inventions For Electric Guitar was essentially a solo effort of Goettsching. He had just set up his own studio ‘Roma’ and recorded this classic work using only various guitars and effect processors (such as the tape echo). After that he shortened the name from Ash Ra Tempel to Ashra (probably due to legal issues with Virgin, although in interviews he states otherwise) and recorded his classic New Age of Earth and then Blackouts. These two works were also Goettsching’s solo recordings. The present Ashra line-up took shape in 1978 when Goettsching was joined by Lutz Ulbrich of Agitation Free (who had already played with Goettsching before) and drummer Harald Grosskopf. This line-up continues to this day plus they have a young musician named Steve Baltes with them. In 1998-2000 Goettsching and Schulze recorded a special reunion album together to celebrate the band’s anniversary and also in 2000 the two performed live in Royal Festival Hall.
Essential listening for any Electronic Music fan. The group, together with Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream pioneered the style that is known today as the Berlin School of Electronic Music.
See also: Goettsching, Manuel, Schulze, Klaus, Ulbrich, Lutz, Grosskopf, Harald, Baltes, Steve.
Eos (1990)
Lexicon (1992)
Xenophobia (1993)
Independent Thoughts (1994)
The
Mirror Shattered (1996)
Dance of Shadows (1998) (soundtrack)
Maryland-based synthesist that makes fairly Tangerine Dream-ish music. Mark has been composing his own instrumental compositions since 17 years old. His range of influence includes everything from Progressive Rock to Krautrock and Industrial music.
See also: ESP, Distance, The, Double Vision.
Stary Byliny (2000)
Ambient music from Ashen Light's (Russian Symphonic Black Metal outfit) mastermind and guitar player released under the group's name. There's guitar on a couple of tracks as well as lots of up-front percussion. The rest consists of nature sounds and synths.
Omicron In Ostrobothnian Finsternis (2009)
Solo Electronic Music from Ami Hassinen - a member of Finnish EM group Nemesis. Atmospheres and sequences combined with solos and a few beats.
See also: Nemesis, Blue Sky Machine.
Peppermint Lump (1979) (S)
Aquarian Symphony (1980)
Abstracts (1980)
Impetus (1980)
Nature's World (1981) (with James Harpham)
Electrofx Vol. 1 (1982)
Flash Music (1984)
Time Cycle (??)
The Great Wheel
(1988)
Globalarium (1993)
Dance of the Light (1995)
Feet In the Soil (1996)
Rhythmic and melodic electronics. Later albums are more World Music-oriented. James Asher is a composer who used to write scores for BBC documentaries. In 1976 he built his own electronic studio. In 1979, a single was released in collaboration with Pete Townshed (The Who's guitarist). The first proper album followed a year later.
Ambient Selections (1997)
Cobalt 144 (1999)
Colour Glow (2000)
We
Gaia (2002)
Enviro (2003)
Sextant (2003) (with Brannan Lane)
Ambient music with a touch of Steve Roach, but more comparable to Eno and Budd. Sometimes with ethereal female voices, but that's all about it. It's just your normal ambient stuff. Ashera is Anthony Wright.
Museum of Dust (1994)
Figement
Profile (1995)
Dark soundscapes from Cyril Herry, probably in Death Ambient mould.
See also: Exotoendo
A Desparate Serenity (1991) (with
Tim Story)
Drop (1997) (with Tim Story)
Discrete Carbon (2004)
Four (2004)
Standing & Falling (2005) (with Tim Story)
Ataxia (2006)
Watermelon Sugar (2007) (recorded in 1990 - 1992)
Errata (2008) (with Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Tim Story)
Ambient composer from Toledo, Ohio. Dwight Ashley started practicing music already in his childhood. Starting with a cello, in 1976 Dwight was inspired by a recording of Fripp & Eno titled Evening Star. Within a month he bought himself a Freeman string machine, a Rhodes electric piano, a Minimoog and an ARP Odyssey. Supplying this setup with a couple of reel to reel tape recorders, he started his own adventure within the realms of Ambient and Electronic Music. Unfortunately, in 1981 a major fire caused by a lightning stroke destroyed a good part of his studio, and he had to start everything anew. A bit later he became known for his collaborations with Tim Story, A Desparate Serenity (1991) and Drop (1997). Discrete Carbon is his first solo album that features a set of varied soundscapes (recorded in 1999 and 2003), from the very deep and mysterious ones to the more machanical-sounding noisy cuts. "Eightfold Way" starts the set in a classic Ambient mold, with sparse mysterious piano notes and liquid electronic backgrounds. The track is rather short. "It Happened In November" puts you in a more uneasy setting with its mysterious, even dark flowing synth lines and strange noises. Soon the atmosphere changes from the mysterious to almost tragical. "Katalepsis" is once again very very deep and is one of the most effective Ambient pieces I've heard in a while that combines radio static sounds with deep, sad atmospheres. You can almost feel the coldness, it's like being absolutely alone in a vast, desolate land. "I Thought It Was There" emphasizes the hauting side of Dwight's music, featuring mostly atonal drifts of sound drenched in effects. "Three Insects" is a short abstract piece composed of various subtle noises. "Denial" takes a more aggressive direction with some jarring textures and a very cold atmosphere. The next two cuts, "A Colossus Succumbs" and "Eat Me, Drink Me" continue in the abstract direction, although the first of the two tracks posesses a rather bright atmosphere compared to what has come before. The track just flows effortlessly, working in slow waves of airy synths and whooshing effects. "Examined By Tweezers" is the longest cut, featuring monotonous industrial atmospheres and wheezing sounds. "Carbon" is the last track and the most interesting one, making use of various voices in a strange but effective way. Discrete Carbon is a nice set of soundscapes that gradually get more abstract towards the end of the album. There is a cold, detached, even alien atmosphere to Dwight Ashley's music that makes it all the more enjoyable nevertheless. The album comes with a nice surprise in the form of a short hidden track that consists of piano playing. Also read my review of "Four" in the reviews section. Finally, here is my review of Dwight's latest collaboration with Tim Story, Standing + Falling.
Falling... Into the Sky (1995)
Love Like A Veiled Threat (1995)
One (1995)
The Sun Is Burning (1995)
The Wonderful World of Silence (1995)
Among Grey Ghosts (1996)
Burning the Blue Sky Back (1999)
Deja-Vodoo (2003)
Nether-Nether Land (2004)
Suite Dreams (2004)
Terminal Ferocity (2004)
Tripped Itch (2004)
At the Last Gate (2006)
Suite Dreams (2006)
A four piece Ambient / Ethnic band that includes some ex-members of Voice of Eye under pseudonyms.
See also: Voice of Eye, Thrall, Ure.
Piano Quartet (1996)
Guitar Solo
(1999)
Traums (??)
Death Book (??)
Geist Rock (??)
Jöhn Übel (??)
Zero Tolerance For Guitar Wind (??)
Cross (??)
Suddenly Fallin' Love (??)
Black Winter (??)
Time & Space (??)
Moon Voyage (??)
Flying Teapot &
The Blue Flower (??)
Piano Solo - Live At Yama (??)
Red Across the Border
(??)
Hosanna (2001)
The Door Into Summer (2002)
Zeitwelle (2002)
Omega Point
Live (2002)
St. Maria, She Extends Her Hands (2003)
One More Red Nightmare
(2003)
A Night By the Pavane (2004)
Over the Equinox (2006)
The man hiding behind the Aska Temple moniker calls himself Jöhn Übel (real name - Muneharu Yuuba). His influences are mainly German "Krautrock" and Electronic Music of the 70's, especially, as his nom-de-plume would suggest, Ash Ra Tempel. The music is diverse to say the least. Hosanna is a bit new-agey, but not New-Age really. Sounds more like early 70's Popol Vuh explorations. You know, sort of spacey, "sacred" stuff with synths and piano. Zeiwelle is more active - side one is a Klaus Schulze / Manuel Goettsching style journey and side two is similar to Hosanna. Omega Point Live is an excellent cosmic live album. St. Maria... is again in 70's KS / Goettsching vein but with more Classically and Jazz-oriented pieces.
Subsoil (2002)
Spent Legeme (2003)
Tidlws (2004)
Dark Ambient music by Celebratums frontman Anthoni Romul.
Involution Towards Chtonian Depths
(1997)
A Faint Light Below (1998)
Derelict (1999)
Hysope (2006)
Pre-Sator Absentia Black / Dark Ambient.
See also: Sator Absentia, Kurotokage.
Voyage To Andromeda (2009)
Pretty much standard Space Music but with some beats added for flavour. Asnazzy is a Seattle-based artist working in multiple (mostly electronic-based) styles.
From Nowhere Came (1999)
A duo of Peter Challoner (aka Dieter Ettlinger) and Paul Smith that makes highly melodic music with sequences. This may be regarded Berlin School, but the emphasis is on melodies.
See also: Challoner, Peter, Ettlinger, Dieter.
Eolith City (1993)
Optimistic music with good arrangements and generally very uplifting. I suppose, you could call that Berlin School, but generally the music is very delicate, not driving stuff like, say, Radio Massacre International. In fact, it should be called 'Space Music', because this term is much more suitable here.
Finnegan’s Wake (1984)
Mindgate (1986)
Beyond (1988)
Dreamscape (1992)
David 256
(1993)
Astral Dance is Pelle Handen. He states that he is influenced by Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and Oldfield. I don’t know if it’s true bacause I’ve never really heard his music.
Kites (1977)
Kaleidoscope (1978)
Slipstream (1978)
Pulses (1979)
Groove Tube (1979)
Silver Air (1980)
Space Drive (1980)
Sound Waves Part 1 (1981)
Sound Waves
Part 2 (1981)
Hercules (1982)
Melodious Thunk (1982)
Scorpio (1982)
Teletext (1982)
Red Kite (1982)
Mixed Sells (1983)
Conundrum (1984)
Front
Runner (1984)
Audiotronics (1986)
These are all electronic library LPs. A lot of it is awfully cheesy, but there is some good mysterious / atmospheric stuff as well.
Shadow Illusion (1981)
Vista Under Arc Light
(1982)
100% Odd Lots Session (1982)
Steppin' Roll (??)
See also: Heretic, Osiris, Dr.Jekyll And Mr.Hyde.
The Darkness Between (2005)
Dreamlight (2006)
Astrogator is a duo of Jez Creek (aka Modulator ESP) and Steve Humphries (aka Create). The Darkness Between is their first album together that contains three long tracks simply named "Part 1", "Part 2" and "Part 3". So, reviving the old tradition of naming EM tracks, what do we get, musically? Abstract sounds get "Part 1" underway. The mood is appropriately dark and mysterious. Some choir sounds can be heard and then a chilly synth pad line. It's all dark, frosty and full of feeling - just the way I like it. Slight lead synth and piano touches are added. After the six-minute mark, a synthesized rhythm starts joined by a sequence a few moments later. However, things remain rather brooding and laid-back. Another bass sequence joins the flow after the ten-minute mark. The track creates a nice flow and could be used to accompany interstellar travels, having a fitting title too. A mournful lead line floats on top but departs all too briefly, only to return a couple of seconds later. My only gripe concerns the sequences that seem to be overtly static. There is an atmospheric section that comes after fifteen minutes into the track. Another sequence makes its way into the sonic landscape, accompanied by another quirky one and little by little we start propelling forward on top of the most active section of this song, lead synth lines all over the place. The track ends on this upbeat note, with bass sequences coming into prominence and then subsiding to leave us with spacey melancholic notes. A great conclusion! "Part 2" heralds its coming with sharp notes and ghostly effects. Excellent, moody stuff. A mournful melody can be heard that fits perfectly with the picture created by a mélange of electronic sounds. A sawy bass melody provides an extra oomph. This is dramatic and emotional music that I enjoyed immensely. Although I was somehow puzzled when it ended all too abruptly. Effects are once again what introduces us to "Part Three". This time it's a bit more aggressive and menacing, with some razor-sharp textures and synth drones. Dramatic string stabs add to the picture. A frenetic sequencer rhythm starts that clearly supports this "menacing" mood. At one point the sequencer is tweaked in real time - nice! What develops further I can only describe as sequencer mayhem - with several overlapping patterns making things truly intense. A reflective melody is played on top with brief lead line flashes. After a while it all calms down to return to the initial atmospherics. Jez Creek and Steve Humphries have created a fine cosmic Electronic Music album. Knowing the solo work of both I was expecting some sequencer-based stuff in the Berlin School style and two of the tracks ("Part 1" and "Part 3"), indeed, deliver sequences in high doses, with the awesome atmospheric track in between (that's a bit marred by the abrupt ending, I must admit). My favourite track is probably "Part 2", followed closely by "Part Three".
See also: Modulator ESP, Create, Quadra.
Temporal Gravitation (2003)
A project by Philippe Fagnoni who combines the style of Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre with soundtrack-like structures. Cosmic, symphonic and melodic music.
Astralis (1999)
Landscapes (2001)
Polish Dark Ambient project of Slawek Golaszewski and Wojciech Karwacki.
Morphing Synthesizers 1 (1995)
Morphing Synthesizers 2 (1997)
Morphing Synthesizers 3 (1999)
Cyclotron (2002)
Arrow of Time (2004)
Spanish EM trio of Joseph Loibant, John Lakveet and Dom. F. Scab. They had a fourth member Anthony Seagarr in the beginning. J.M. Ciria, too, was a member. Very upbeat music with lots of sequences. Sometimes it approaches the Techno territory but never sounding even remotely dance. Has hints of classic Berlin School Sequencer Music. The band is now reduced to a duo format of Jospeph Loibant and Air J. Mic.
See also: Scab, Dom F., Lakveet, John, Loibant, Joseph, Ciria, J.M.
Ataraxia (??)
Melodic Ambient.
Fossils: Volume 1 (1986)
Fossils: Volume 2 (1987)
Fossils: Volume 3
(1987)
Seventeen Sites (1989)
Fossils: Volume 4 (1990)
Dominion Day (1990)
Space Explorer (1991)
Cosmic Rendez-Vous (1992)
Brain Laundry (1993)
An Ample Sample of Bruce Atchison (1993)
Mind Polish (1994)
MIRror (1996)
Fossils: Volume 5 (??)
Lagomorph (1998)
Lagomorph 2 (1999)
Space In My Head (1999)
Shutup&Talk2me (2002)
Darkness Path (2005)
Electronic musician from Canada who has released a lot of albums with highly varied material. From abstract and Experimental early pieces to his more recent melodic and Ambient-like output, where samples and unusual textures play an important role. I have Lagomorph 2 and Shutup&Talk2me. Each represents a series of electronic vignettes with frequent use of voices and even whole stories told while music does its thing. This is real fun and should be heard by everyone. The pieces all explore different territories but the Ambient, and even minimalistic approach is on show in that once the piece is settled into a groove, it doesn't change much. Most of the pieces are rather short, though, so you usually don't have enough time to get bored. By the way, Bruce's ability to weave different themes in one single album is outstanding. He does cartooney, Experimental, arabic and classic cosmic styles with equal ease. I haven't heard any other music that even remotely sounded like Atchison. Rather unique and therefore highly recommended.
Bilincalty (1992)
Waves of Wheels (1994)
Efsaneler (1995)
Kuvayi Milliye Destany (1996)
Atatuerk (1998) (soundtrack)
Albatros (1999) (soundtrack)
Ave (1999)
Live (2003)
Omni (2003)
Concorde
(2005)
Cariyeler Geceler (2005)
Can Atilla is from Turkey. (I wonder how many electronic musicians are there in this country?) He creates music deeply rooted in the Berlin School tradition. The album Ave is created as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Tangerine Dream and therefore you can already guess the style represented here.
Atlas (1990)
Pre-Galactic Anthems electronics (Glenn Adams and Jeri Conway). Cassette-only release and the music was made with the help of MidiPaint software (!)
See also: Galactic Anthems
Love And Pain (1989)
Spacious, melodic and mysterious synth from Heiko Rüsse and Ronald Steckel.
Liedgut (2009)
Atom is a nickname of Uwe Schmidt. Some of the tracks on Liedergut are co-composed by Florian Schneider, the original Kraftwerk member. The music reminds on the earliest Kraftwerk albums.
Atom Cristal / Satellite (France)
Satellite & Atom Cristal (1983)
First Aid (1985)
Satellite (1985) (S)
Two closely related projects (there's hardly any distinction) with a connection to pioneering French Industrial band Art & Technique. The members were Jean-Pierre Chatte, Michel Goujon and Serge Lafosse, with a few guests & odd members. They used guitar, electronics, saxes and more. Musically they sit somewhere on the line that separates Prog EM from the first bunch of Synth-Pop / New Wave artists, close to Video-Aventures, perhaps.
Copula (1994)
Quantum Leaps Lost Soundtracks (1998)
Dark. Atom Infant Incubator is the brainchild of Runer Order and Die Sonne Satan.
See also: Runes Order, Die Sonne Satan, Order 1968.
Astroepos (1995)
Cosmic music plus one long Ambient new-agey piece.
Elemental Severance (1995)
Atom
Xtension (1999)
Archimetrical Universe (1999)
Nebulous (2007)
The Deep Invisible (2008)
Peter Andersson's (Raison d'Etre) solo side-project. This has a cosmic, ambient sound, much closer to classic EM than his main project. Even a bit Tangerine Dream-y perhaps..
See also: Andersson, Peter, Raison d'Etre.
Cellblock (2003)
Seishinbyouin
(2004)
Kapnobatai (2005)
Ptahil (2007)
Souyuan (2008)
Phrenitis (2009)
Dark Ambient / Isolationism from Simon Heath.
Agorafobia (2006)
Hitwa (2008)
Legendy Miejskie (2009)
Dark soundscapes from Maciej Banasik.
Hydrophobia (1991)
Spindrift (1992)
Drip (1992)
Luminous (1993)
Submerged Tension
(1993)
Flood-Gate (1993)
Flash-Point (1993)
Density-100 (1993) (with Monde Bruits,
Mortal Vision and Thirdorgan)
Luminescence (1994)
Frequency For Collapse (1994)
E-Power
(1994)
Emotional Oscillation (1994)
G-Radiation (1995) (with Smell & Quim)
Can-Zone
(1995) (with Sudden Infant)
Purification To Numbness (1995)
Huile Sur L'eau (1995)
Wired Trap (1995)
Liquid Passion (1995)
Pulse Resonator (1995)
Squash (1995)
Voltanic
Valley (1995)
Magnetostriction (1995)
Reflux (1995)
Metalustration (1995)
Entangle
Spirant (1996)
Floating Memory (1996) (with Napalmed)
The Four Shrines (1996)
Maschinenwerk (1996) (with Cock E.S.P.)
Stratodive (1996)
Somnambulism (1996)
Artifact
(1996)
Infinitely Orbit (1996)
Metal de Metal (1996)
Quadrotation (1997)
Cardiac
Strain (1997)
Feed the Fishes (1997)
Plangent Recoil (1997)
Moment In Fragrance (1997)
Dazzle Reflexion (1997)
Aqua Syndrome (1997)
Stared Gleam (1997)
Throb In Manic Red
(1997)
Ruminant (1997)
Black Depth (1997)
Split (1997) (with Knurl)
Video Field
Recordings (1997) (with Sshe Retina Stimulants)
New Forms of Free Entertainment (1997)
(with Lasse Marhaug)
Healsonar (1997)
U.U.W. #1-#12 (1997)
Mort Aux Vaches (1998)
Substructural Penetration 91-95 (1998)
Evocation (1998)
Pages from the Book (1998)
Sigh
In Depressive Blue (1998)
Vas In Euthymic Violet (1998)
Deglaze (1998)
Embers (1998)
Howling
Obsession (1998)
3 Cadavres Exquis (1998) (with MSBR & Marutani)
Cerebral Disturbance (1998)
Triad Thread (1998)
108 (1999)
Suppression Disorder (1999)
Shade Away (1999)
Ricochentrance (1999)
Timemind (2000)
Set On (2000)
Solid Pressure (2000)
Ianuarius (2000)
Februarius (2000)
Martius (2000)
Aprilis (2000)
Maius
(2001)
Iunius (2001)
Iulius (2001)
Augustus (2001)
September (2001)
October (2002)
November (2002)
December (2002)
Recontextual Abstraction (2002) (recorded in 1996)
Redintegration (2002)
RM4 (2002)
SDL97 (2002) (recorded in 1997)
SDL97' (2002) (recorded in 1997)
SDL98 (2002) (recorded in 1998)
Spatio Temporal Cluster (2002)
Timemind Live 2002 (2002)
Duplex Sphere (2004)
Materialization (2004)
Chain [Re] Action (2005)
Junkyo (2005) (with Maurizio Bianchi)
Mectpyo Saisei (2005) (with Maurizio Bianchi)
Metalive 1997+1998 (2005)
Reworks Maurizio Bianchi Vol. 1 (2005)
Reworks Stefano Gentile (2005)
Comet (2006) (recorded in 1997 - 1998)
Reworks Maurizio Bianchi Vol. 2 (2006)
Imagery Resonance (2007)
Ambera Planeta Wawar (2007)
Dark noisy Ambient with some albums on Amplexus label. Aube is Akifumi Nakajima. Timemind is a tribute to Klaus Schulze and features sequenced EM. This discography is far from complete but then the bulk of his works are in pure Noise vein and don't have anything to do with Electronic Prog.
See also: Sian
La Forge Aux Miracles (2001)
Music similar to Tangerine Dream's 90's works.
39 Mysterions (2007)
Audela (2007) (recorded in 1992 - 2007)
Access To Eternity (2008)
Vagues (2008)
Now It's All Silent / Initiation (2008)
Page 69 / We Became What We Were (2009)
Belgian formation (or an artist?) strictly in cosmic / deep space Ambient mould.
Das Fieber Der Nacht (2006)
San-Francisco-based Ambient project. Pretty dark.
Strahlen (1986)
Blutenklang (1987)
Skydancing (1987)
The Best of Augenstern (1991)
Steve Schroyder’s project with Gene Gross. It was started in 1980 as Oxo. However, in 1985 the name was changed to Augenstern.
See also: Schroyder, Steve, Star Sounds Orchestra, Tangerine Dream, Scarecrew.
Motorsleep (2009)
Moody, melancholic Ambient from Martin Dumais.
Totalnoye Proniknovenie (1992)
Incredibly rare tape-only release by the duo of Andrzej Kravtsov (synths) and Oleg Timonov (guitar).
See also: Angelo Taylor
Vol. I (2007)
Ambient from Anti Ittna (aka Antti Haapapuro) and Jussi Saivo.
See also: I'corax, Halo Manash, Aeoga, Arktau Eos.
Voyage (2006)
Aural Night is Miika Warsell from Helsinki, Finland. He creates music strongly influenced by Vangelis' symphonic style.
A Host of Planets Vol. 1 (2009)
A Host of Planets Vol. 2 (2009)
A duo of Russell Storey and Simon Ellis creating deep, spacey Electronic Music.
See also: Storey, Russell
Serenity (1998)
Sense (2003)
AuReality (2003)
AuReality is the project of Dutch synth player Paul Swennenhuis from Groningen. The first album was published in 1998. After a brief hiatus he returned with Sense. In the beginning he was influenced by Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream but his music included lots of other influences, such as ethnic music and Ambient.
Recycled Space Debris (2005)
Cryogenic Dreams (2006)
Outpost (2008)
Auroris from Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, creates highly charged mixture of Space Rock (Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles vein) and Electronic Music.
Live At the Musik Hall (1981)
Aussenminister / Model 81 (1981)
These two bands (Aussenminister and Model 81) were the brainchild of German synthesist and Conrad Schnitzler collaborator Wolfgang Hertz. Side one of this Auricle cassette (the second one in the discography) contains archive 1981 Aussenminister material, kinda like a mixture of You-era Gong and Cluster / Kluster. Very spacey sound. Side two gathers Model 81 material from 1980-81 and is more in the vein of Moebius & Plank or mid-eighties Schnitzler.
Convergence (1998)
Monodia (1999)
Curio (2000)
Distance (2000) (EP)
Fade (2000)
Coruscate (2003) (S)
Remission (2003)
Evergone (2004) (EP) (with Abstract Sound Systems)
Eco (2005)
Faded (2005) (with Stephen Phillips)
Mirror (2007)
Pulse (2007)
Solyaris (2008)
Dark, droning Ambient music from this mysterious group (or person) out of Portland, Oregon.
Hi Tech (1979)
Synthasia (1980)
Power Surge (1981)
Power Plus (1982)
Audio Graffiti (1983)
Power Supply
(1984)
Here At Last (1986) (with Ian Hughes)
Electronic library record composer.
Mettle (1994)
Pulsing, throbbing and echoing electronics constructed on analogue modular synthesizers by the trio of Kevin Hector, Tara Patterson and Mark Van Hoen from London, UK. This album is pretty rare these days but is quite revered by fans of Ambient Techno and has something of a legendary status. However, the Techno influences are obvious on just one track ("Tomato Dawn"). The rest is beatless but rhythmic, reminding on Biosphere at times, at others hinting on John Carpenter's soundtracks.
Automat (1978)
Rare classic album of Electronic Music from Romano Musumarra and Claudio Gizzi using sounds programmed on MCS 70 synth by Mario Maggi. The first side of the LP is occupied by the lengthy "Automat" suite in three parts, which is sort of rhythmic Space / Droids type of thing. The second side has three tracks: "Droid" (same style with a theme that reminds on Vangelis' "Pulstar" - this track was very popular in Brazil thanks to it being used as the background theme for Globo TV in the early 80's), "Ultraviolet" - a real jewel (all spacey analog synths, outstanding cosmic excursion) and the strange rhythmic "Mecadence".
Seven Days Autumn (1980)
I Invite
(1980)
Hard Breakfast (1981)
Meditation of the Lost (1981)
Metropolis - The Soundtrack (1984)
Silicon Valley (1984)
This band started out as a 'cosmic music' outfit, but later degraded into a more pop-oriented concept, with various offshoots like Twilight Ritual or Linear Movement focusing of vocal songs. The above works are supposedly interesting, but please note that they contain vocals to a certain extent. Autumn consists of Peter Bonne and Geert Coppens.
See also: Twilight Ritual
Saturn Chateaux (1995)
Electronic guitar soundscapes.
Balancing Spheres (1988)
Maya: The Great Katun (1988)
Muse of the Round Sky (1992)
Sky of Grace (1998)
Ambient on Hearts of Space label. Should sound like a cross between Roach and Stearns.
Silent Decay (2008)
Shadows (2005)
Music in the style of Klaus Schulze from Richard Wentk.
First Light (2002)
Chamaeleon (2003)
Contact
(2004) (with Maxxess)
Time Traveller (2005)
Voices of Dawn (2008)
Solo project of Pyramid Peak member Axel Stupplich. Berlin School electronics.
See also: Pyramid Peak, Digital Dream.
Novels For the Moons (1983)
Electronic Music by Patrick Mimran and Howard Bedman.
See also: Mimran, Patrick
Moon Light of Asia (1981)
Asian Wind (1981)
Far From Asia (1982)
Mysterious Asian Roads (1983)
Azuma (1987)
The Wanderer
(1988)
NHK (1989)
Over the years, Yoshitaka Azuma has been one of the premier electronic composers from Japan, combining Berlin School sequences and atmospheres with his own sonic visions, partly based on the music traditions of his native land. On later works, a New Age influence creeped in. A couple of his abums were released on Peter Baumann's Private Music label. The music on these can be roughly described as Kitaro on steroids. Lately, Yoshitaka's main sphere of activity has been composing music for video games.