I'm thinking of work that is still definable as Noise but with a subtlety, less emphasis on harshness and "spasticity" and other kinds of outward aggression and more on softer distortion and course, abrasive sound.
I suppose what I think of most is the more recent work of MB. Some material does go more straight into ambient than Noise but there is, such as on "Neurotransmitters", a nice Industrial crunch along with the smoothness.
One album I go back to is a collaboration between Zan Hoffman and Minnoy called "Mmmazamm", a lovely, extended piece of gritty fog. Just the right mix of coarseness and ambience.
The Mark Solotroff series recently put out strikes me as almost an acme for Ambient Noise. The majority of the pieces are lengthy, relying on texture almost solely without making too much of an effort to change drastically, and in many cases mix a softly distorted filth with extended ambience.
Perhaps the Grey Wolves "Blood And Sand" on Cold Spring? They've never been afraid to show their softer side yet it's the lo-fi grit and course, natural sounding distortion on most of these two pieces that could let it qualify.
Leave us not forget PBK's own label, Noise Ambient (http://noiseambient.com/). A bit odd for me as the examples I've heard of his work I wouldn't necessarily place under such a label, but I admit I've heard only a few albums so far.
Anything else?
The new Guilty Connector may fall into this category, self-described as "Skull Ambience".
http://gravity-swarm.sakura.ne.jp/samples/smplgc1.mp3
http://gsr56.shop-pro.jp/?pid=32416030
That was supposed to be on CP as an LP, but when I decided not to release any LPs on the label, he didn't want to switch to CS. I worked with him on fine tuning the release and the final master I received was excellent. I haven't heard the final release yet to know if it's all identical, but if it is then I highly recommend it.
Sachiko - Zunya (http://www.discogs.com/Sachiko-Zunya/release/1983542)
Definitely noise, but quite meditative and "ambient". Great stuff.
Quote from: Jaakko V. on July 17, 2011, 08:24:08 PM
Sachiko - Zunya (http://www.discogs.com/Sachiko-Zunya/release/1983542)
Definitely noise, but quite meditative and "ambient". Great stuff.
That's a really good album.
I think a lot of GROSS label material falls into this category?
Would (1990's) S-core fit into this category? Subtly noisy and messy but certainly not harsh or aggressive-transgressive. Earlier stuff (that haven't heard much) seems a bit different with rhythm machines etc. My favorites are probably "Missing Volume" LP and "Sediment" CD, both should be fairly easy to find.
MSBR "Ultimate Ambience"
Well, more seriously, just about any MSBR but the previously listed would qualify.
But I do quite like the point he was making with that title.
Eskil from Covenant had a side project that could best be described as ambiente noise. Think it was called Concrete? I forget. Haven't seen any releases out either, sadly.
Quote from: Human Larvae on September 23, 2011, 12:44:36 AM
Eskil from Covenant had a side project that could best be described as ambiente noise. Think it was called Concrete? I forget. Haven't seen any releases out either, sadly.
Wow, I'd love to hear this. Couldn't find any info on discogs or anywhere else after a cursory search. The only other project I knew he was involved in was the old elektro-Elvis covers one.
Also for ambient noise: Omei, some older Cloama, Gruntsplatter... I guess there's a fine line between ambient noise & some p.e. (Anenzephalia, Operation Cleansweep) & death industrial.
Quote from: Human Larvae on September 23, 2011, 12:44:36 AM
Eskil from Covenant had a side project that could best be described as ambiente noise. Think it was called Concrete? I forget. Haven't seen any releases out either, sadly.
It was called Cement. Here's a short live snippet from
the Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8DRqWn4-D8).
Seems like this project didn't go down too well among the more orthodox Covenant fans, at least judging by the assessments in
this discussion (http://www.covenant-forum.de/covenant-area/covenant-in-general/1309-eskil-s-side-project-cement/)...
Quote from: post-morten on September 23, 2011, 10:52:55 AM
It was called Cement. Here's a short live snippet from the Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8DRqWn4-D8).
Seems like this project didn't go down too well among the more orthodox Covenant fans, at least judging by the assessments in this discussion (http://www.covenant-forum.de/covenant-area/covenant-in-general/1309-eskil-s-side-project-cement/)...
Thanks for the links; definitely interesting to hear. Not surprised about the reaction from regular Covenant fans, but who cares. [I predict future Prurient albums will soon incorporate "futurepop" influences, as it is the next logical step in his progession.]
Back to ambient noise, what about Jarl? Or is that just straight dark ambient? Some of his solo works are rougher, while others are more droney.
Quote from: post-morten on September 23, 2011, 10:52:55 AM
Quote from: Human Larvae on September 23, 2011, 12:44:36 AM
Eskil from Covenant had a side project that could best be described as ambiente noise. Think it was called Concrete? I forget. Haven't seen any releases out either, sadly.
It was called Cement. Here's a short live snippet from the Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8DRqWn4-D8).
Seems like this project didn't go down too well among the more orthodox Covenant fans, at least judging by the assessments in this discussion (http://www.covenant-forum.de/covenant-area/covenant-in-general/1309-eskil-s-side-project-cement/)...
yeah that's the gig I attended. It's not really audiable in the clip but I remember it being pretty melodious. Too bad he hasn't released anything
maybe not everybody's cup of tea but there's a wave into HNW which has been labeled Ambient Noise Wall... just fyi...
Lussuria
Stroma
new artist to me. I'm liking what I'm hearing.
https://llynycwn.bandcamp.com/album/stratigraphy
Gruntsplatter
Gordon Ashworth's Tree of Heaven
https://gordonashworth.bandcamp.com/album/tree-of-heaven (https://gordonashworth.bandcamp.com/album/tree-of-heaven)
Civilistjävel! - Järnnätter was easily my favorite album of 2022 and really really belongs in this thread.
Quote from: Moran on April 23, 2024, 12:56:40 AMGordon Ashworth's Tree of Heaven
https://gordonashworth.bandcamp.com/album/tree-of-heaven (https://gordonashworth.bandcamp.com/album/tree-of-heaven)
Are there other artists who use soft, pitched sounds in irregular or cut-up arrangements like this?
"Finger Pointing To The Moon" by Mogao definitely fits to this thread. It is too dynamic to be described simply as "ambient" and at the same time too mellow to be just "noise". It is a great one, by the way.
I think I'm stretching the original intention of the thread, but I've been listening to and immensely enjoying more dynamic noise recently. Artists that are utilizing ambiance, electro-acoustic elements, and field recordings to compliment their noise. Here are a few really good recent releases.
Tourette - the new album Matiere Arrachee might be his most ambient-focused work yet even though it gets quite harsh at times. Synth is more widely used and lays the foundation to build other more nuanced and harsh sounds while elevating the tension creating a sense of progression through each track. Immense and beautiful release.
Moth Drakula - Brand new album on Misanthropic Agenda I Greet You At The Beginning Though I Can't Control Your Exit stands apart from many other releases in their catalog to date. One long 46-minute track that heavily focuses on musique concrète elements, drifting tones, tape loops, and an overall minimal sound palette to create their most cinematic and brooding album. Very well done.
Sawn Half - Debut release titled, Sink. It feels like this artist came out of absolutely nowhere and the fact that this was recorded in 2021, but only released in 2024 makes it even more curious. Highly mature style of expertly edited harsh noise that transitions in and out of much more subtle and nuanced sounds. A project to keep an eye on. Doesn't fit this thread specifically because it's more harsh than ambient, but I'm going to shoe-horn it in.
Taming Power - Long Song 11-12-22 is the latest album on Input Error and this one is actually just a full-on ambient album. Heavily focused on the use of sampled and treated bells. The artist only uses analog equipment and sounds from what I've read and generates beautifully full tones. I've come back to this quite a few times and it's really enjoyable.
I could go on and on with any recent Skin Crime release, Jim Haynes, Lettera 22, Kiran Arora, Organ of Corti/Altar of Flies/Sewer Election, H.O.H, etc. I just really love when artists meld these various styles together.
Quote from: Fistfuck Masonanie on October 05, 2024, 11:05:28 PMTourette - the new album Matiere Arrachee might be his most ambient-focused work yet even though it gets quite harsh at times. Synth is more widely used and lays the foundation to build other more nuanced and harsh sounds while elevating the tension creating a sense of progression through each track. Immense and beautiful release.
This cd arrived here today and listened a few times while working. Great balance of ambient synths and scraping noise. Needs some more spins but looks like it will be in my top 5 for 2024.
I didn't instantly warm to the first track on the new Tourette album. The second track is typically fantastic Tourette; just plain smokes.
Quote from: GenitalStigmata on May 08, 2024, 02:26:07 AMCivilistjävel! - Järnnätter was easily my favorite album of 2022 and really really belongs in this thread.
This is beautiful
Recently discovered Golden Purifier, instant buy for me. I got the "II" tape. Raw "noisy" and monotonous ambient / death industrial which reminds me of the old Nekrophile stuff and the Swedish low-fi sound.
I was pleasantly reminded of how dense Terra Sancta became in his latter half of work. There's a track in the middle of Exile (too lazy to look) that is a cacophony of ambience, and then with Sunken/Buried/Forgotten, he turns that up a notch. It's not swelling or heavier electronics, but layering and density. I don't normally want to turn up the volume with ambient albums, but this is one of those cases. Really can saturate and suffocate the room.