Special Interest

"Probably the most hated topic on Special Interests forum"

Yeah, I know the many of you aren't interested in this and i'm not particularly fond of most either. However, there ARE good dark ambient out there, done with skill (not to confuse with multilayering and ten thousand sounds happening in one track). One problem many have with it is the "generic" sounds, but I tend to think there is at least the same amount of "basic sounds" around in filthy noise.

I was asking at the Segerhuva forum for groups (working today) which works primarily analog, without being one of those guitar drone bands. Does it exist at all nowadays? And yes, i've heard of INADE (besides I think they are 100% digital today?), JARL etc. etc.  Don't take the genre-description too seriously - to me ARCHON SATANI's "Virgin Birth", ETANT DONNES & MICHAEL GIRA's "Offenbarung Und Untergang" and a lot of BIG CITY ORCHESTRA's and BJ NILSEN's records could be considered dark ambient.

I have one suggestion in the more orchestral vein (though i'm sure they are almost 100% digital too) - France's NATURE MORTE.

I think what I mentioned in Playlist, recent ones:

Tho-So-Aa
Post Scriptvm
Vortex

I think what bogskaggmannen describes, is the association with the most generic keyboard tones or dullest guitar drone. Or some new agey muzak. But if dark ambient is something what just creates DARK (whatever it means..) AMBIENCE without strict need to follow all the typical patterns, one could name all the northern finland projects a'la AEOGA, ZOAT AON (not sure what he is doing nowadays?), ARKTAUS EOS, etc..  Their music is probably often wanted to be removed from blatant "dark ambient" tag, in favor to underline ritualistic tendencies. Meditative slow drift of mystical scents and bells over dark swirling tones and wind instruments etc.  Some may feel it's so much more than just "ambient", but I think this is pretty much exactly what I'd prefer to call "dark ambient".

Was recently listening some Isomer material (also Tesco) and it's a crossover of many things. It has some PE elements in it, sampled music fragments. But in the end, somehow I'd rate that also closer to wide category of "dark ambient" than anything else?

About Inade, I was at some point little dubious about their digital approach and would just assure myself that anyday I prefer to listen some old 10" of theirs, but when you actually take a listen to something like Inade new CD... well, it is really good. Digital or not, very well done and capturing sounds.

In some ways I would feel that a lot of "ambient" was always.. hmm.. perhaps could be called "futuristic" music. And it seems pretty obvious that projects of genre would move from tape and vinyl to CD and from analogue to digital as soon as it was possible. Not that it would be mandatory, but it just seems like it.

Isn't Dark Ambient a genre that keeps reappearing under a new name? The latest version being Black Noise or was it Black Ambient? I can't remember properly. In the past there have been a tendency of calling the bands you don't like Dark Ambient and the ones you like something else. I mean have you ever seen a t-shirt with a I heart Dark Ambient anywhere.

As for tips Wraiths from the UK is pretty dark ambientish but could also be called death industrial or I'm sure a thousand things starting with black. Pretty good in creating a nice "dark" atmosphere.

Mr. Ström - in parts I think you're right. The term "black ambient" was coined in the late 90's I think? Originally, I think it was more a way to explain the mixture of (parts of) black metal, perhaps mainly that kind of vocals, and ambient. If memory serves me right Roger at CMI called MZ.412 black ambient when they were in their most "black metal looking" period, i e "Burning the temple of God" and "Nordik battle signs". As ambient and power electronics were invaded then by (former-)BM-heads (thanks to Mortiis), it was not really a surprising description and evolution.

Listened to a variety of dark ambient when I finished my master's degree. Can not say that there is something going on each and every day here at home but it has its charm. I like bands like: Kammarheit, Deutsch Nepal but realy like to point out the tribal ambient project Phantasma Deluxe. The record Carnival is sold out but Drone Records still have it in stock. Dark ambient also have the problem that if it sounds too sterile and clean it sounds like film music, or at worst atmosphere music from new age stores "sound of the sea" etc. I remember reading alot of the term dark industrial during the 90´s (old Propergol etc.) something I would say that I like more then dark ambient. 

But let's not go into genrename details...

About analog / digital - i'm not that negative about digitally created "ambient" but I think there was something lost in the transfer of recording processes. Where earlier all you could do while creating was listening, now I tend to think its more about creating "interesting" structure on computer screen? Whole body of work is often lost in changing/altering sounds, maximizing the overall feel with mass of blurred atmospheres. To me, simple is most often best while listening, but on computer screen it looks boring.

maybe deathprod falls into this category?  I still enjoy the moral and dogmas album

I think this term has been tainted by the majority of the artists using the label producing very poor quality sound.  I think the Aural Hypnox bands have released consistently great material.  Much of Anakrid's stuff could be called dark ambient, and his material is stellar.  As for digitally produced dark ambient, I think Inade and Human Greed do it best, and most others fall far short of even being tolerable.  I think too many followed the direction of (the excellent album) "Heresy" by Lustmord, and not enough payed attention to the direction offered by TAGC's, Organum's and Zoviet France's ambient work.  I also see a lot of direction to be offered to the genre by John Duncan, MB, and more ritual artists like Ain Soph and Archon Satani.  I record some material that could be called "dark ambient," but first, I reject the term, and second, I use exclusively acoustic and analog sources, and am far more influenced by artists like TAGC, Zoviet France, Giancarlo Toniutti, Organum and MB, and even artists like Daniel Menche and Kevin Drumm, than I am by any of the material that generally gets labeled as dark ambient. 

-Ben

Oh.. forgot to mention: also, like much of the other industrial music that is favored by European labels that release dark ambient in large amounts, it is clear that they are closet rivetheads.  Thus, the aesthetics reveal this very mainstream and very braindead approach in their graphics, design, recording methods, instrumentation, and so on.  Generally, you don't have to look any further than the cover art to know this.  They're one step away from welding goggles and moon boots.

-Ben

Halo Manash, Arktau Eos, Land:Fire, and Voice of Eye rule the roost for me right now.  I'm still more interested in this corner of experimentalism than I am any other, but I don't buy much from new projects because its difficult to trust anything written about anyone anymore.

I'm a little confused by what you're looking for with this thread?  Can you clarify a bit?

Quote from: catharticprocess on March 29, 2010, 09:56:28 PM
Oh.. forgot to mention: also, like much of the other industrial music that is favored by European labels that release dark ambient in large amounts, it is clear that they are closet rivetheads.  Thus, the aesthetics reveal this very mainstream and very braindead approach in their graphics, design, recording methods, instrumentation, and so on.  Generally, you don't have to look any further than the cover art to know this.  They're one step away from welding goggles and moon boots.

Would it be accurate to say that the opposite end of dark ambient is one step away from full beard hipster drone?
I guess pretty irrelevant where the step would be, if it's not taken, hah.

But it would be curious to see the examples of such labels... are talking about... Cold Spring? Cold Meat? Dark Vinyl? Tesco? Old Europa Cafe? Eibon? LOKI? Or who?
The remark is obviously tongue-in-cheek, but it also allows one to compare the achievement of each label, and despite those achievements, what would be how they're viewed. I mean, the labels mentioned has brought  Schloss Tegal, Inade, Thee Angels Ov Light Meet Thee Angry Love Orchestra, Archon Satani,..  / Archon Satani, D.Nepal, Aghast, Raison D'Etre,../ Lustmord, Nocturnal Emissions, Archon Satani, ... / Post Scriptvm, Illusion of Safety, Cruelty Campaign, Galerie Schallschutz,...  / D.Nepal, Brume, Bad Sector, Endura, Ain Soph...  / Caul, Gruntsplatter, Moljebka Pvlse, ... / Inade, Predominance, Herbst9, .........    It's kind of who-is-who list of dark ambient of various kind, or perhaps I'm mistaken? Still I fail to see a lot of the "rivethead" connection, since many of the labels are also responsible for a lot of PE and even noise. Of course, I don't deny the connection that there is. Especially in germany due type of live activity they have.
But what makes it more "mainstream", is something what I do question. What is less mainstream in design of various US labels, even many who do plain noise? Helicopter, Blossoming Noise, Malignant, Hospital, just the name couple?

Missed catharticprocess' post.  He's thinking along the same artist line as I do.  Jogged my memory of the past couple of Tonuitti releases that I'd recommend in such a thread.

Giancarlo Toniutti - Ura Itam Taala' Momojmuj Lowajamuj Cooconaja 2007
Giancarlo Toniutti - Sound-Field for Rattle Harp 2008

Just started listening to MB's Das Platinzeitalter album.  Something about it screams "shoddiness" to me.  By its end, maybe I'll come around to it.

Skin Area, while not exclusively "dark ambient" combine the physical and digital approach really well. Journal Noir / Lithium Path is extremely well executed in my opinion.
Jarl is one of the few mostly digital artists I can stomach in this field. His work often has a slight psychadelic flavor that actually makes the music more surreal and dark instead of palatable.

Quote from: ConcreteMascara on March 30, 2010, 12:03:19 AM
Jarl is one of the few mostly digital artists I can stomach in this field. His work often has a slight psychadelic flavor that actually makes the music more surreal and dark instead of palatable.

I've never considered Jarl as a digital artist. All sources are analog or concret. Extensive use of analog reverb etc. But that's perhaps the reason that you find his music interesting? If I'm not mistaken (by memory) the only digital equipment he use is one tiny digital delay, which - by the way - I suppose 99% of those considered "analog" use as well.
I guess his music can be considered as dark ambient tracing its history. But it's more of an extension and development of works by early MB and Tangerine Dream's Zeit. Those works can perhaps serve as a more direct inspiration, while I'd add Terry Riley as an indirect formula (form and structure perhaps).

I did not know this about Jarl. Thanks for clearing it up. I just kind of assumed his source was primarily digital for some reason.

I can't remember any labels or artists off the top of my head, but it seems like if you take ALL of them together, 9 in 10 of them have cover art that could be substituted in either direction with Suicide Commando or Wumpscut.  As soon as I see obvious newbie Photoshop design, using all the layer effects and filters, clean fonts, lots of color, über-cheesed out imagery, etc., I immediately think it's rivethead shit, and I'm out on it.  I'd say the same about more than half of the PE stuff I've seen.  It's all cheese dick shit to me.  Name the label, or artist, and if they're well known and from Europe, I'd say this description fits in more than half the cases.  Think of how many of the aesthetics are even more Metropolis Records than even Ant-Zen.  Welding goggles and moon boots, I tell ya!

Never been into gothic scene. Never owned Metropolis stuff or wumpscut or suicide commando. I have vague idea what it means, but I don't see it. As examples, I did give names of most of "dark ambient" related labels I know of. You could add Autarkeia. Perhaps even Slaughter. Perhaps few more. I guess that makes it 10 labels. So 9 of them should be them wumpscut aesthetic? It seems as accurate as call Cathartic Process releases such. You know. Clean fonts, digipaks. Neat black-on-black 5xCD boxes. Isn't that as goth-industrial as any of above mentioned, hah?

But yeah, the effects & filters etc. I guess it has been true with some of the labels of ANY genre, when all the amateurs got access to photoshop.

I can see where Ben is getting at but I think the percentage maybe is a little overrated. Of course there exist horrible covers, but this is in no way only applying to central European labels. However, this should not be the evolution of this topic. I have not really deepened myself into the topic of Aural Hypnox but I think now is the time.

Aural Hypnox is perhaps good example on more "innovative" approach. Also for design. They have no jewelbox editions. And even when some of editions seem to be relative big (1000x), still they put time and effort to make unconventional solutions. I would assume self designed types of packaging, with inserts, special card-stock and so on. Not to mention very neat graphic design.

They play live quite often. It's unfortunate that I have missed most of their live shows in Finland. Probably seen any of related groups merely twice during the years!

Quote from: catharticprocess on March 29, 2010, 09:53:11 PM
I think the Aural Hypnox bands have released consistently great material.

Aye! I picked up Halo Manash "Taiwaskivi" CD/DVD combo and the Arktau Eos "Ai Ma Ra" double disc set recently. Both are completely amazing.

Sure I'm exaggerating.  I guess I could say I'm exaggerating to prove a point, but maybe I'm just being an asshole.  I'm just talking about my own experience and what goes through my head when I see most dark ambient releases - even those in my own collection.  Just go to the Tesco or Tesco USA site, go to "genre" on the menu and pick "dark ambient."  Scrolling through the pages, almost all the cover art is total dog shit (and not just stylistically, it's just plain bad design).

Anyway... Let's talk about who's doing it well.  And, yes, let's talk about the old stuff, too.  I wouldn't call Jarl "dark ambient," but the recent "Vertigo Emission" is one of my favorites from him.  Glad to see he still has it.  The Z'ev/Herbst9 collaboration is amazing as well, but has TERRIBLE design.  Any fans of old Schloss Tegal?  I really like their old stuff, very much.  I would highly recommend the Dieter Müh / MNEM collab, "Atomyriades" CD (or CDr?) on Cipher Productions - very quality material there.

-Ben

One label who did well in this area was Soulworm, nice covers and good music.

Inade of old, new Inade... to me it is all god-like. Dark Ambient is no different than any other genre, some stellar stuff and some bland stuff. As a whole, a very enjoyable style to me.

The only thing I like about this thread is that the name Ain Soph has been dropped a few times. Very nice to see. To whom do we credit this renewed recognition? Where darkambient meets ritualwhorecore meets excremeditation meets C93 worship meets plinkity plonk meets cheeseball crowleyian spoken word meets stoner gaybearddrone meets redzoned noisefilthification meets your Savaged Mother in an atrocious skankhole of raped doggysnuff? Shit's mad ill.

Troum / AsiaNova / Voice of Eye - Actualization CD live collaboration

This isn't necessarily dark, but it certainly is not light.  As I've come to expect, this is rich in texture and has a full-on psychotropic effect.  If floating isn't something you seek, I still believe one would enjoy this album because of its great success at creating such a sensation.  At the same time, it doesn't relieve the audience of tension and gravity.  When something is done this well, though maybe not normally in your wheelhouse, it's difficult to not find a great appreciation for it nonetheless.  The first track is 26 minutes and truly is impressive.

A little Organum talk...

Amen struck me in a similar way to Harmoniumwerk by Nitsch:  not quite there, a bit shallow in texture, and superficially angelic.  The repetitive vocals change the entire soundscape, causing it to be on the tedious side.  It isn't the subject matter, or even word, only that it does nothing to add to the character of the album.  Maybe that was the point, that religious matters don't add character to life.  I don't know.  One of the least impressive Jackman works in my memory.

Sorow, though ambient and not noisy, takes Jackman back to the incredibly rich, deep-imaging, gorgeous timbres and textures of Desola.  A labyrinth in which to get lost.  This is the kind of work that benefits extraordinarily from a good stereo system.  The type of sonics that will fill every molecule of air and every recess of a room.  It's not suffocating.  It's not airy.  It's plush, full, majestic, and a true resonator.  One of those albums that leaves me with the great confusion of what to play next..."nothing" is the answer...because there isn't much out there that can follow such skilled work and leave me as satisfied.  My only complaint is that in the peaks of the swells, it sounds like a bad burn; a digital glitch/clicking type sound.  It's throughout the disc.  At times, its easy to ignore, but it's always there to irritate.  Unfortunate, to say the least.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vb0KOgW8EVo/S6yrwbnRjnI/AAAAAAAAAYg/_Mr9Hb5TLb0/s1600/wm.jpeg)
a 2xcd hammer of deep occult ritual....

Quote from: Zeno Marx on July 07, 2010, 11:03:02 PM
A little Organum talk...

....

Sorow, though ambient and not noisy, takes Jackman back to the incredibly rich, deep-imaging, gorgeous timbres and textures of Desola.  A labyrinth in which to get lost.  This is the kind of work that benefits extraordinarily from a good stereo system.  The type of sonics that will fill every molecule of air and every recess of a room.  It's not suffocating.  It's not airy.  It's plush, full, majestic, and a true resonator.  One of those albums that leaves me with the great confusion of what to play next..."nothing" is the answer...because there isn't much out there that can follow such skilled work and leave me as satisfied.  My only complaint is that in the peaks of the swells, it sounds like a bad burn; a digital glitch/clicking type sound.  It's throughout the disc.  At times, its easy to ignore, but it's always there to irritate.  Unfortunate, to say the least.

Glad to hear this from a discerning listener. I am a HUGE Organum/Jackman fan, but was skeptical about Sorrow. I'll have to pick up a copy.

Being a great lover and supporter of Voice of Eye, I find their decision to "re-release" Transmigration as MP3s to be a really poor one.  An all-time classic deserves the full treatment.  So much lost.  Too much lost.

Speaking of rivitshit, the anti-ambient sentiment goes back to atleast the early/mid 90's...

(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh231/icepick_method/ambient.png)

Nobody's mention Cyclic Law? I think Frederic releasing the best quality Dark Ambient albums actually, keeping high standard since his first release.

I read the tenhornedbeast interview in the most recent mag. good interview so I borrowed material from the web. I guess it was ok considering how softly it was made. I dont want to bash it too badly but it doesnt stand a chance next to Reverorum ib Malacht which tackled a similar sound but a few years ago. drums,drones,male choral vox.

http://metal-archives.com/release.php?id=89861 ive seen it online and should be available still from the label. ive street teamed for this band almost too much but there doesnt seem to be a lot of intrest for it. listen to these bands back to back or atleast suck "What Do You Think of the Old God, We Call Him Judas?" from the web. two thumbs up!!

Quote from: Zeno Marx on July 08, 2010, 09:52:41 AM
Being a great lover and supporter of Voice of Eye, I find their decision to "re-release" Transmigration as MP3s to be a really poor one.  An all-time classic deserves the full treatment.  So much lost.  Too much lost.

well they sure have released quite a bit since coming out of retirement.
including some with nux vomika;
http://www.auricular.com/releases.shtml

Svarte Greiner - Twin 2011 - impressive ambient album with a strong, low-rumbling, organic texture and overall organic feel - deep, constant sound with a quasi-strings feel over the top of the mix, but they don't sound like strings; more like the tonality of something string-oriented; many of the sounds might be something of this order - strong feel - one track - 46 minutes.

Aural Hypnox - all
Anapthergal
Funerary Call
Bloodbox
Stratvm Terror
Cowards
Sky Burial
Chaos As Shelter
Niellerade Fallibilisthorstar

in the 90's i used to listen to a lot of this stuff, maybe because of my friendship with Mauro of Eibon Records... he introduced me to a lot of great music in those years: non only the usual LUSTMORD but also INADE, EN NIHIL, ORPHX, COMA VIRUS, some CAUL and AMON/NEVER KNOWN... and generally speaking i think his catalog still rules.

One album I still enjoy playing since purchasing it 2005 is "Letum - Entrance to Salvation". While not very original, I still love it for it's warm sound. Don't see this name being mentioned at all. Any comments on it?

for those curious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kLSobb8ZQ&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kLSobb8ZQ&feature=related)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Paa8pKcko&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Paa8pKcko&feature=related)

Quote from: Voûte on July 10, 2010, 08:00:39 AM
Nobody's mention Cyclic Law? I think Frederic releasing the best quality Dark Ambient albums actually, keeping high standard since his first release.

yeah, Northaunt, Svartsinn, great projects

Bardoseneticcube: Necklace and The Other Heaven are two good cds worth checking out

Heid : Pilgrim of the sublunary world. Cold Meat Industry. Pre-Survival Unit? this one is good too. Who can tell me about their previous cd on Malignant?

for anyone interested:
-ÚDEN - selftitled

(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k266/kultrun/uden_cover1.jpg)

PRO CDr - jewel case, 4 pages booklet.
Ninth Meridian Records (http://www.myspace.com/9thmeridianrecords/)
From the label: 9MR - 011 ÚDEN's self titled masterpiece! Fantastically dreamlike Dark Ambient from Chile. Classic sounding, enthralling and addictive. Per the norm this pressing is limited to 100 units.


Tracklist:

1.The Joseph Curwen Portrait   
2.Urban Paranoia   
3.The R'lyeh Sleep   
4.Faith Crisis   
5.Among The Grey

Samples: http://uden.bandcamp.com/

$14 USD ppd worldwide.

Contact: uden.project[at]gmail[dot]com

anyone heard this album:
ELIANE RADIGUE | PAULINE OLIVEROS | YOSHI WADA | SUN CIRCLE 2LP

How is it?  As good as it looks?  And then, how does it look?  Good quality cover?  Not pressed at GZ?

Quote from: P-K on July 07, 2010, 11:18:32 PM
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vb0KOgW8EVo/S6yrwbnRjnI/AAAAAAAAAYg/_Mr9Hb5TLb0/s1600/wm.jpeg)
a 2xcd hammer of deep occult ritual....

what artist/album is this?

Quote from: m. on March 14, 2011, 07:25:01 PM
Heid : Pilgrim of the sublunary world. Cold Meat Industry. Pre-Survival Unit? this one is good too. Who can tell me about their previous cd on Malignant?

Pre-Survival Unit yes.

If I'm not mistaken the CMI CD collects the tracks from the Malignant CD (Arktogäa) and the first CD-R on Bastet. I have all of them but can't be bothered to play them back to back to compare right now. What I do remember is that CMI putting out Pilgrim led to a minor beef with Malignant, since it basically killed the market for Arktogäa. Jason was pretty much giving away copies for free since he couldn't sell them anymore.

Quote from: post-morten on March 23, 2011, 12:09:38 AM

Quote from: m. on March 14, 2011, 07:25:01 PM
Heid : Pilgrim of the sublunary world. Cold Meat Industry. Pre-Survival Unit? this one is good too. Who can tell me about their previous cd on Malignant?

Pre-Survival Unit yes.

If I'm not mistaken the CMI CD collects the tracks from the Malignant CD (Arktogäa) and the first CD-R on Bastet. I have all of them but can't be bothered to play them back to back to compare right now. What I do remember is that CMI putting out Pilgrim led to a minor beef with Malignant, since it basically killed the market for Arktogäa. Jason was pretty much giving away copies for free since he couldn't sell them anymore.

thanks, i knew nothing about this story.
another recommended malignant cd i was playing in the past days is Eidvlon - Idolatrie

Hostia All is One LP (Dark Vinyl, 1997) -- In this age where proliferation seems to be a virtue, Hostia was truly an anachronism. From what I've heard the guy behind the project dabbled with techno/psytrance in a number of different guises, but apart from a few compilation appearances this album is the one and only release by Hostia. Which is too bad, since it is a truly remarkable exercise in dark, cavernous ambient with occult/ritualistic leanings. Imagine a 3-dimensional coordinate system, with Bad Sector, Predominance and (early) Sigillum S representing the axes, then Hostia constitutes the origo. One of the unsung greats of the genre, and total recommendation! Strangely enough, given its ltd-ness (449) it still seems to be readily available from Tesco and various other outlets after all this years. (And of course available in the blogosphere too...)

I didn't find that Hostia special in any way.  I went into it with big expectations and raced to order it when it was released.  Competent, but really nothing beyond that.

i understood the Hostia-dude went on making goatrance.....

Quote from: Zeno Marx on March 27, 2011, 04:50:19 AM
I didn't find that Hostia special in any way.  I went into it with big expectations and raced to order it when it was released.  Competent, but really nothing beyond that.

Fair enough. It doesn't break any new ground, but I find it really well executed (particulary the B side) and especially for being a one-off venture. It had been interesting to see where this project could have evolved over a couple of more albums.

Talking about Dark Ambient...any recommendations on webzines with a main focus (or at least an important part) on this style?

The new Blood Box CD, "Funeral In An Empty Room", on Loki Foundation:

http://www.loki-found.de/index.html

I'll be purchasing it the next time I make an online order from a distro that stocks the disc.

"Seven years after the highly acclaimed Iron Dream CD (Eibon) and 14 years after the CD debut, A World of Hurt (Malignant/Katyn), Blood Box finally returns with a new album, Funeral In An Empty Room. As one part of revered dark ambient project Yen Pox, Michael JV Hensley is certainly no stranger to creating epic and immersive soundscapes, and with Funeral In An Empty Room, he has yet again meticulously crafted another highly detailed, intensely atmospheric work. Awash in slow, dreamlike waves of morphing textures, and blissfully unfurling cosmic drift, this is nothing less than an aural vision down the hypnotic path to the unknown; serene yet gloomy, with multiple layers of swelling tones, subdued melodies, and ominous, spacey effects.

Comes with 12-page booklet."

Simulacra, Phragments, Korinth, etc...

All incredible bands.

Quote from: bogskaggmannen on March 29, 2010, 10:53:15 AMYeah, I know the many of you aren't interested in this and i'm not particularly fond of most either. However, there ARE good dark ambient out there, done with skill (not to confuse with multilayering and ten thousand sounds happening in one track). One problem many have with it is the "generic" sounds, but I tend to think there is at least the same amount of "basic sounds" around in filthy noise.

Actually, the multi-layering of many shifting, evolving sounds and sonic structures (for lack of a better description of dark ambient's frequent substitution for elements like harmony and melody) is a trait that really appeals to me; good dark ambient's dense soundscapes act as a satisfying counterpoint to the often sparser, blunter compositions of power electronics.

Although, one aspect of much of the dark ambient I've heard in the past decade or so is that while a lot of it is generally competent, and engaging while actually listening, a great many DA acts often don't truly stand out in the field, and fail to make deep, lasting impressions of their details and individual characters between plays.  I've recently purchase numerous DA releases from labels such as Malignant, Cyclic Law, and others; while the listener can usually count on not being disappointed by most of their random DA titles, I've also found that by this point I don't really expect genuine excellence from most of those labels' dark ambient offerings.

Quote from: A.R.GH on April 07, 2011, 02:42:19 AM
Talking about Dark Ambient...any recommendations on webzines with a main focus (or at least an important part) on this style?

Not necessarily all dark ambient but a website that reviews strictly ambient: http://hypnagogue.net/

Quote from: SKY BURIAL on April 29, 2011, 05:11:28 AM

Quote from: A.R.GH on April 07, 2011, 02:42:19 AM
Talking about Dark Ambient...any recommendations on webzines with a main focus (or at least an important part) on this style?

Not necessarily all dark ambient but a website that reviews strictly ambient: http://hypnagogue.net/

yes, thanks, I discovered that one recently, checking Fallse Mirror reviews

Quote from: Litharge on April 28, 2011, 11:56:09 AM
The new Blood Box CD, "Funeral In An Empty Room", on Loki Foundation:

http://www.loki-found.de/index.html

I'll be purchasing it the next time I make an online order from a distro that stocks the disc.

"Seven years after the highly acclaimed Iron Dream CD (Eibon) and 14 years after the CD debut, A World of Hurt (Malignant/Katyn), Blood Box finally returns with a new album, Funeral In An Empty Room. As one part of revered dark ambient project Yen Pox, Michael JV Hensley is certainly no stranger to creating epic and immersive soundscapes, and with Funeral In An Empty Room, he has yet again meticulously crafted another highly detailed, intensely atmospheric work. Awash in slow, dreamlike waves of morphing textures, and blissfully unfurling cosmic drift, this is nothing less than an aural vision down the hypnotic path to the unknown; serene yet gloomy, with multiple layers of swelling tones, subdued melodies, and ominous, spacey effects.

Comes with 12-page booklet."

I'm playing with Bloodbox in about 2 weeks! Needless to say I'm psyched.

Not sure where to put this, but Tehom is said to be recording again.  Good news.

Quote from: KMusselman on June 08, 2011, 03:40:39 AM

Quote from: Zeno Marx on June 08, 2011, 02:32:34 AM
Not sure where to put this, but Tehom is said to be recording again.  Good news.

I thought he died from a war related illness?

check the Bio page:
http://www.tehom.org/

LUSTMORD

Nice 24/48 recording from 2011-06-13 Leipzig on Dime right now.  Good sound.  Great listen.  Worth hearing and archiving.

http://www.dimeadozen.org/

I have to agree with some of the sentiments earlier in this thread. A lot of recent "dark ambient" stuff, almost anything from the 2000s, just doesn't sound very good to me at all. Matter of fact, a lot of the bigger names from the mid to late 90s don't do too much for me either.

To me, one of the best and somewhat under-appreciated projects from the 90s was Mandible Chatter. They made four very good albums back then that hardly anyone talks about these days. "Hair Hair Lock and Lore" is probably my favorite from them.

Another favorite of mine is Jeff Greinke's first album, "Cities in Fog". Very dark without being corny and miles away from the new-agey stuff he does these days.

well, ran into an album, and maybe an artist, that will likely end up on my all-time ambient list:
Keith Berry - The Ear that Was Sold to a Fish/Turn Right a Thousand Feet from Here 2CD

Field recordings and piercing digital sounds manipulated into some of the finest ambient/minimalism I've heard in a while. Up there with JGrzinich's Intimations. Neither Berry nor Grzinich would be considered ambient, but they certainly are. They'd also be highly coveted by the more demanding Malignant devotee if they were named something similar to a teenage death metal band. Berry's album on Elevator Bath is of similar great quality, but it is different in style to this 2CD (at least different than CD1).

Quote from: Zeno Marx on June 10, 2012, 06:24:56 AM
well, ran into an album, and maybe an artist, that will likely end up on my all-time ambient list:
Keith Berry - The Ear that Was Sold to a Fish/Turn Right a Thousand Feet from Here 2CD

Field recordings and piercing digital sounds manipulated into some of the finest ambient/minimalism I've heard in a while. Up there with JGrzinich's Intimations. Neither Berry nor Grzinich would be considered ambient, but they certainly are. They'd also be highly coveted by the more demanding Malignant devotee if they were named something similar to a teenage death metal band. Berry's album on Elevator Bath is of similar great quality, but it is different in style to this 2CD (at least different than CD1).

Man, I have never heard of either of these artists, I will have to check them out. Is this material hard to find? If not can you give some links to where this can be purchased... Thanks in advance.

Quote from: enmity on June 10, 2012, 06:32:52 AM

Quote from: Zeno Marx on June 10, 2012, 06:24:56 AM
well, ran into an album, and maybe an artist, that will likely end up on my all-time ambient list:
Keith Berry - The Ear that Was Sold to a Fish/Turn Right a Thousand Feet from Here 2CD

Field recordings and piercing digital sounds manipulated into some of the finest ambient/minimalism I've heard in a while. Up there with JGrzinich's Intimations. Neither Berry nor Grzinich would be considered ambient, but they certainly are. They'd also be highly coveted by the more demanding Malignant devotee if they were named something similar to a teenage death metal band. Berry's album on Elevator Bath is of similar great quality, but it is different in style to this 2CD (at least different than CD1).

Man, I have never heard of either of these artists, I will have to check them out. Is this material hard to find? If not can you give some links to where this can be purchased... Thanks in advance.

Fusetron shows the JGrzinich in stock at at a decent price.  I'm not sure how well Berry is distributed.  I checked a couple places I thought would stock it, but they didn't have it.   Discogs might be your best shot.
a good excerpt here.  really kicks in at 1:22:
http://soundcloud.com/experimedia/keith-berry-the-ear-that-was

my personal favorite is 90's 4track era MLEHST, though I'm not sure if it is exactly dark ambient, it seems to be in a more nurse with wound surreal musique concrete territory.  I only have Living Without Feeling, Notes of Obscure Origin and The History Of Mlehst - Chapter 3 cdrs but I attend to get more though i don't know what next. any suggestions?

this is a genre i never really explored, i guess i'll take some of the suggestions given here

Quote from: Zeno Marx on June 10, 2012, 10:07:12 AM

Quote from: enmity on June 10, 2012, 06:32:52 AM

Quote from: Zeno Marx on June 10, 2012, 06:24:56 AM
well, ran into an album, and maybe an artist, that will likely end up on my all-time ambient list:
Keith Berry - The Ear that Was Sold to a Fish/Turn Right a Thousand Feet from Here 2CD

Field recordings and piercing digital sounds manipulated into some of the finest ambient/minimalism I've heard in a while. Up there with JGrzinich's Intimations. Neither Berry nor Grzinich would be considered ambient, but they certainly are. They'd also be highly coveted by the more demanding Malignant devotee if they were named something similar to a teenage death metal band. Berry's album on Elevator Bath is of similar great quality, but it is different in style to this 2CD (at least different than CD1).

Man, I have never heard of either of these artists, I will have to check them out. Is this material hard to find? If not can you give some links to where this can be purchased... Thanks in advance.

Fusetron shows the JGrzinich in stock at at a decent price.  I'm not sure how well Berry is distributed.  I checked a couple places I thought would stock it, but they didn't have it.   Discogs might be your best shot.
a good excerpt here.  really kicks in at 1:22:
http://soundcloud.com/experimedia/keith-berry-the-ear-that-was

I listened to some of the Grzinich online and watched some of his video work on youtube. This guy is a genius! He really goes all out and I have to give it up to him for being so original. This video http://youtu.be/PPSPtOP3XrM (http://youtu.be/PPSPtOP3XrM) gave me cold chills. I will be purchasing many of his releases soon from his personal website.

If you like what you're hearing from JGrzinich, add Seth Nehil, Yannick Dauby, Hitoshi Kojo (also Spiracle), and MNortham to your radar.  I think JGrzinich is at the top of this particular food chain, not only because of his peaks, but also because of his consistency.  MNortham can be a little hit and miss.  Nehil has picked up his game in the past couple of years.  Dauby has wandered off into the world of field recordings.  They're good, but I prefer his work from several years ago over the field recordings.

JGrzinich has a DVD coming out on three labels sometime soon.  If they don't announce it, I'll mention it.

Olhon have consistently delivered darkly immersive atmospheres, often evoking dread undercurrents flowing through their watery depths. The Lucifugus 10" is I believe their most recent outing and departs a distance from the depths, very raw scrap materials scratching fluttering shuffling in the confines of a  tepid water tank, light atmospheric strokes adding an agreeable touch of class-cum-cheese. But much as I love, Luci has nothing on Sinkhole, perhaps their most critically acclaimed, with acoustic sources sunk deep, deep, down in a murky mire of unrelenting gloom. Those who have experienced, repeatedly,  nightmares involving one's own gradual, inexorable, internment in a watery grave – and who hasn't – may be engaged by a disturbing sense of deja vu. Calls to mind Algernon Blackwood's classic piece of short fiction "The Willows", suggestive horror at its best, conveying a sense of some menacing, nameless horror lurking just below our conscious surface.

As I typed the above I was reminded of another rarely acknowledged wonder, the James Plotkin / Mick Harris collaborative Collapse. This one is rather less atmospheric, more active, muscular even, the repressed horrors surging if never quite boiling over, always verging on of the eponymous breakdown. Straight-ahead, inelaborate execution, at least compared to a lot of things Harris has offered, but better than much of what I've heard from either of these gents individually.

The "sound of engines & industrial mechanisms" thread prodded me into again propping up Vivenza's Aerobruitisme Dynamique – not as a piece of industrial-strength pounding godbeast machination, but rather dark ambiance verite! Vivenza's relentless hammering has always struck this skull as rather ambient in impact, if never particularly dark. Certainly not as dark as you might get from carefully filtered turbine-blackened drone-action. At the right distance, jet engines may sound more soothing than oppressive, but this disc I think strikes the right balance: full-flavored in its implied sound-pressures yet of a fluffy, billowing, cumulonimbus persuasion.

Another seldom acknowledged work, at least in the field of darkambient exploration, Pierre Henry's Le Livre des morts egyptien (The Egyptian Book of The Dead), 1988. I accept that few would put this in the darkambient canon, but thematically, it fits. Two decades after Henry gives us his magnum opus, Apocalypse de jean, and more than three decades after he gives us Le Voyage based on The Tibetan Book of The Dead, along comes what I regard as a vastly superior work. Conjuring ominous, spectral scenes of dust-swept corridors traversed by the dead as they hopefully navigate their way through Dislocation...Negation... Judgement... clanking percussives buried in deep cavernous howls. The sound is dense and occasionally very loud, percussive clutter cancelling out the more classically ambient permutations, nevertheless a stellar piece of work – darkambient or otherwise - worthy of repeat listen.

BH-40 Anakrid / Warmth collaborative C13

I've been thoroughly impressed with everything Anakrid has done. This tape is no exception. Makes me pine for more dark ambient from him. He's proven he can do it very well, and here he does again. Both sides are high quality. Warmth holds their own. Great looking tape, too. Would like to see them get together and milk an 80-minute CD of similar style.

A lot of "dark ambient" is plagued by it being completely generic. Which is why I'm not in to it that much. It's like with wall noise or a lot of harsh for me. There are a few acts who manage to deliver interesting stuff with generic material, but it works better as an element within other musical formats, and I've always disliked the term "dark ambient" being applied to anything that just happens to be dark, slow, relatively abstract soundscapes. Though there are some things here that seem definitely worth checking out. 

I've been dubbed dark ambient a few times and that always feels unsatisfying, as I sort of make the connection to "bad black metal intro". On the other hand I love cheesy synths and Daudi Baldrs too, so I suppose some justice can be applied to the opinion...   

there would be an endless list to post.

i put some of the best names for me:
BSE
Mariae nascenti
Inade

i want to remember an interesting raw , concrete and creepy Italian ambient : TOMBSTONE

Quote from: KMusselman on June 08, 2011, 03:40:39 AM

Quote from: Zeno Marx on June 08, 2011, 02:32:34 AM
Not sure where to put this, but Tehom is said to be recording again.  Good news.

I thought he died from a war related illness?

Only for exchanging right and true TeHôM infos:

Siniša died from cancer (metastases), probably war related illness, but this was never confirmed... And his long year's good friend and project partner Miljenko Rajakovic who has with him other project named Principia Audiomatica (and also who work and helped Siniša on 2nd TeHôM album "Theriomorphic Spirits") re-born project 2010.
So, TeHôM project disbanded in 1997. when Siniša died and 2000 was released this "post-mortem" legendary 2nd album. A decade later Miljenko resurrected the project 2010 and now led by the only surviving member to continue the legacy and preserve the memory of his mutual dear friend Sinisa Ocurščak (RIP '97) whose premature death has left a large gap in the hearts of Dark Ambient fans worldwide.. So project goes on.. like also re-borned Principia Audiomatica (http://www.principia-audiomatica.com).  

A long time has passed since any TeHôM output. Marking the first appearance of the returning act is the track "The Magnitude Of Shaking" which he made for the acclaimed Dark Ritual Drone Ambient UK based Kalpamantra Records as well as an appearance on the compilation "Krtrima Sprha" (http://kalpamantra.bandcamp.com/album/krtrima-sprha), May 2012!!
Appearing on this compilation are some renowned names from this scene such as : Northaunt aka Therradaemon, Gydja, Kammarheit, Herbst9, Sinke Dûs, Collapsar, Blood Box, Peter Bjärgö, Beyond Sensory Experience, Maeror Tri, Vortex, New Risen Throne, Parhelion, Lamia Vox, Deutsch Nepal, Dahlia's Tear, Triangular Ascension, etc...

This will be followed by the brandnew TeHôM long awaited 3rd CD album, now in preparation..as soon will be released also for very renowned label in the scene.. In plans are also 1st Europe and Worldwide live appearances and shows.
Here are also TeHôM 2 videos made this year: "The Shadow Integration" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6z44pixM_Ss#t=0s), "The Eight Sky" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gJp5BsXpAg)
Check more infos and updates @ www.tehom.org (http://www.tehom.org)

thanks for the link and the update

A MURDER OF ANGELS
uses lots of analog + old digital hardware like samplers and outboard effects, plenty of warm conversion stages inbetween, especially live. around since 1999, back after a hiatus.

http://www.amurderofangels.com

Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on March 29, 2010, 10:21:32 PM
Still I fail to see a lot of the "rivethead" connection, since many of the labels are also responsible for a lot of PE and even noise. Of course, I don't deny the connection that there is. Especially in germany due type of live activity they have.
But what makes it more "mainstream", is something what I do question. What is less mainstream in design of various US labels, even many who do plain noise? Helicopter, Blossoming Noise, Malignant, Hospital, just the name couple?

This is something I've been observing in recent years, the increased popularity of "dark ambient". Ant-Zen is re-issuing the old Lustmord albums. IDM/EBM labels like Tympanik are signing "dark ambient"/IDM crossover bands. I personally have no issues with Ant-Zen, and totally aware that they released early Con-Dom and Deutsch Nepal albums, but it's without question that they are one of the more "mainstream" labels. I don't particularly care, it could even help some labels that release good dark ambient artists, but just something I've noticed.

is Bad Sector worth checking out?

Quote from: jesusfaggotchrist on December 21, 2012, 06:27:06 PM
is Bad Sector worth checking out?

i'd say it's mandatory. also interesting is his side-project Olhon, based purely on field recordings.

Quote from: Tenebracid on December 25, 2012, 01:26:57 AM

Quote from: jesusfaggotchrist on December 21, 2012, 06:27:06 PM
is Bad Sector worth checking out?

i'd say it's mandatory. also interesting is his side-project Olhon, based purely on field recordings.

Any of his works in particular?

Bad Sector essentials : Ampos & Polonoid for me .......

He was on a roll there at the beginning.  I haven't heard anything after The Harrow, and as far as I'm concerned, you really couldn't go wrong with any of his releases up to that point.  My favorites are Ampos, Plasma (using Stephen P. McGreevy's ELF/VLF magnetosphere recordings), and The Harrow.  Dolmen Factory and Polonoid are also pretty great.  I don't think his collaborations are as good as his solo work, though.  That's nothing unusual, and it is again the case with Bad Sector.

Genitor Lvminis ‎– Deam Adessa (State Art) 10"
Skalp ‎– Registratur / Ambivalenz (Tesco) 10"

both very good, both very cheap on discogs

i would say that Lussuria falls under this category. definitely worth a listen for you guys that have not heard any or that frown on everything hospital related. it's really good stuff.

i recommend Ghost Entanglement, American Babylon, and the split with STROMA

Quote from: m. on January 19, 2013, 04:30:41 PM
Genitor Lvminis ‎– Deam Adessa (State Art) 10"

Very good project, which disappeared into nowhere after only 3 short releases ... This 10" is their best, however, Virgae MCD is still awesome as well as their first Demo. Genitor Lvminis is highly recommended for anyone into Turbund Sturmwerk, Arditi.

Quote from: Zeno Marx on December 25, 2012, 10:35:47 PM
He was on a roll there at the beginning.  I haven't heard anything after The Harrow, and as far as I'm concerned, you really couldn't go wrong with any of his releases up to that point.  My favorites are Ampos, Plasma (using Stephen P. McGreevy's ELF/VLF magnetosphere recordings), and The Harrow.  Dolmen Factory and Polonoid are also pretty great.  I don't think his collaborations are as good as his solo work, though.  That's nothing unusual, and it is again the case with Bad Sector.

The best album of BS, as for me, is Kosmodrom

since it wasnt answered in the other thread, ill try here. of coph nia, all i have is the dark illuminati and that which remains. what else should i look for? the creepier the better.

Recent article on Harlow MacFarlane (SISTRENATUS, FUNERARY CALL) in the local Entertainment newspaper:

http://www.straight.com/music/379646/harlow-macfarlane-drawn-toward-dark-side

Quote from: Gorgoroth on February 05, 2013, 08:51:09 PM

Quote from: Zeno Marx on December 25, 2012, 10:35:47 PM
He was on a roll there at the beginning.  I haven't heard anything after The Harrow, and as far as I'm concerned, you really couldn't go wrong with any of his releases up to that point.  My favorites are Ampos, Plasma (using Stephen P. McGreevy's ELF/VLF magnetosphere recordings), and The Harrow.  Dolmen Factory and Polonoid are also pretty great.  I don't think his collaborations are as good as his solo work, though.  That's nothing unusual, and it is again the case with Bad Sector.

The best album of BS, as for me, is Kosmodrom

True! Kosmodrom is really amazing record but I like most of his recordings. One of the best dark ambient artists today.
Some of my fave dark ambient projects: Yen Pox, R|A|A|N, Raison D'être, Bad Sector, Blood Box, Northaunt, Svartsinn, False Mirror, Caul...

MZ.412, Nekrasov and etc.
Something of noise ambient more i like

I've been enjoying the Haxan Cloak's latest release, "Excavation". It's a very polished smooth sounding sort of album but has incredibly hard hitting bass in it.

Quote from: jesusfaggotchrist on May 17, 2013, 07:45:54 PM
since it wasnt answered in the other thread, ill try here. of coph nia, all i have is the dark illuminati and that which remains. what else should i look for? the creepier the better.

I think you have the best ones, but Shape Shifter has a couple of great covers of the Leather Nun and Bauhaus songs.

what's everyone's opinion on Atrium Carceri?

Quote from: jesusfaggotchrist on May 21, 2013, 04:42:55 AM
what's everyone's opinion on Atrium Carceri?

Atrium Carceri got me into dark ambient and I initially thought it was brilliant but now that I listen to his stuff after a few years I'm not so much impressed.

On the other hand, No Lights In Our Eyes by Beyond Sensory Experience has proven to be excellent again and again, this album would definitely be in a top 50 list (if I had one!). I think it's criminally underrated as well, very much worth a try.

more on the Industrial/Experimental side but Runes Order really strikes me as something special. as if Throbbing Gristle got ahold of Tangerine Dream's equipment and made a dark ambient record sans vocals. got the first two, Electronic Winter Landscape and Winter. both are excellent works.

I came across this by accident, really disturbing stuff, almost as if Gnaw Their Tongues went total dark ambient

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptGR4NscGsY

anyone know if Hexentanz has more than one release out or are they putting out anything new?

Hexentanz only has the Nekrocrafte and the The Sabbat Comes Softly 7" and then some compilation appearances. Don't think they'll still release anything new...
Should relisten their stuff, absolutely great!

Aural Hypnox has been reborn in september. And new Halo Manasho album is out now. I've listened to the digital version of it and was not disappointed. Material is a little different from what I remember them to be, but check this out if you are into it.

http://www.auralhypnox.com/ (http://www.auralhypnox.com/)

Quote from: Levas on November 20, 2013, 10:27:02 AM
Aural Hypnox has been reborn in september. And new Halo Manasho album is out now. I've listened to the digital version of it and was not disappointed. Material is a little different from what I remember them to be, but check this out if you are into it.

Looking forward to it.  Was a little confused with "CD + C-40" and then realized it wasn't a set but available in two different formats.  The I.corax releases are a welcomed sight.

I have tried getting into some Dark Ambient projects but I'm disappointed most of the time. I feel the darkness is forced as in contemporary commercial goth or indus bands, the sound lazy, minor drone with samples going in and out... I don't mind playing it in the background while I'm doing reading for instance, but I don't take it very seriouslt to be honest.

Sorry if this has been mentioned, but to me the ultimate Dark AND Ambient release would have to be

(http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/52855469/Aux+petits+Enfants+de+France+cover.jpg)
Les Joyaux De La Princesse - Aux Petits Enfants De France - LJDLP - 1989

Dark drones with very interesting gritty textures far in the background, bleak spoken words from the Vichy state during France's occupation by the German army. It provides me with a rich palette of emotions, all darkened.

(http://s5.postimg.org/hyh8ugfdz/Te_HOM_Album_Cyclic_Law_BIG6b.jpg)

"TeHÔM, the croatian legendary dark ambient ritual force, comes back after 13 years with it's 3rd record. The Project has recorded two previous albums for Death in June's respectable NER sublabel Twilight Command in the second part of 90's comes now with it's fresh deep & slowly marching ritual dark ambient soundscapes.

The new TeHÔM album "Lacrimae Mundi" with 9 new tracks is finaly completed and will be released on a 6-panel digipack CD in early 2014 on the Canadian label Cyclic Law. Dehn Sora (Treha Sektori) from Paris is doing the graphic artwork and design of album. More info with links to audio excerpts will be available soon as well as a promo video. Hopefully 2014 will also see TeHÔM doing live shows and presenting the project around Europe.
Special thanks to Frédéric Arbour. TeHÔM is a proud and honoured to become a member of Cyclic Law family. You can find their official website at www.cycliclaw.com (http://www.cycliclaw.com).
www.tehom.org (http://www.tehom.org) | www.facebook.com/tehom.croatia (http://www.facebook.com/tehom.croatia) ] Siniša (R.I.P.'97)

trippin on clew of theseus tape+cd today..... without goin too deep into hair-splitting bout insignificancies such as what color toilet paper is used for the wrappings or such: its a dark &long & spiritual sound! unfortunately cant say the same bout arktau eos lp which i couldnt finish... maybe some other time.

i wonder if harry bertoia's music counts as dark ambient..... its not really "happy" either, and it has loong vibrations and pulses.  it hasnt got any hobbitt connection either. still i find it spiritual, too! recommended!

what's everyone's take on A Murder Of Angels.

Quote from: jesusfaggotchrist on May 21, 2013, 04:42:55 AM
what's everyone's opinion on Atrium Carceri?

The worst example for Dark Ambient imo.

Quote from: pentd on January 06, 2014, 03:31:45 AM
i wonder if harry bertoia's music counts as dark ambient..... its not really "happy" either, and it has loong vibrations and pulses.  it hasnt got any hobbitt connection either. still i find it spiritual, too! recommended!

Important Records are going to re-release his material next year in a box set (not sure what format). Good old Ubuweb has had Bertoia's material available online as mp3 for a couple of years but I've got to confess I'm getting this thing when it comes out even if it is only on vinyl. The promo video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFsSyJkDWU) is exciting enough.

Quote from: Andrew McIntosh on November 26, 2014, 05:11:58 PM

Quote from: pentd on January 06, 2014, 03:31:45 AM
i wonder if harry bertoia's music counts as dark ambient..... its not really "happy" either, and it has loong vibrations and pulses.  it hasnt got any hobbitt connection either. still i find it spiritual, too! recommended!

Important Records are going to re-release his material next year in a box set (not sure what format). Good old Ubuweb has had Bertoia's material available online as mp3 for a couple of years but I've got to confess I'm getting this thing when it comes out even if it is only on vinyl. The promo video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFsSyJkDWU) is exciting enough.

Very excited for this box too...whatever the format, agreed!

I live about ten minutes from Harry's barn. Always wanted to visit, but $100 a person....

I hope that Bertoia is a CD box.  It seems Important has been successful with the other CD boxes, so I hope that pushes them in that direction.  An 11-15xLP box is just silly at this point.

I think the text with the Youtube trailer says the Bertoia box will be an 11 CD box with what sounded like a massive book.

Price wise, it would probably be the only option for that many releases. I think it's fantastic music/sound and would want to get such a release in whatever format but yea, I also hope they'll stick to cd at least and imagine that due to cost, they will.

Quote from: eyestrain on November 26, 2014, 08:10:00 PM
I live about ten minutes from Harry's barn. Always wanted to visit, but $100 a person....

Yea, and I understand the vinyl albums they sell are something like fourty dollars each? Something ridiculous. I know a small operation has to make enough money to keep going, but still.

Apparently his widow, Val, is also doing sound sculptures?

The new Yen Pox is very good.  It's better than New Dark Age by a long shot, but isn't quite as pure, though.  It's busier; dare say even bordering on death industrial.  I'm liking the additional elements a lot.

https://malignantrecs.bandcamp.com/album/between-the-horizon-and-the-abyss

Quote from: Zeno Marx on May 28, 2015, 11:30:49 PM
The new Yen Pox is very good.  It's better than New Dark Age by a long shot, but isn't quite as pure, though.  It's busier; dare say even bordering on death industrial.  I'm liking the additional elements a lot.

https://malignantrecs.bandcamp.com/album/between-the-horizon-and-the-abyss

i'm in love with the cover art

Quote from: ConcreteMascara on May 29, 2015, 07:11:06 AM

Quote from: Zeno Marx on May 28, 2015, 11:30:49 PM
The new Yen Pox is very good.  It's better than New Dark Age by a long shot, but isn't quite as pure, though.  It's busier; dare say even bordering on death industrial.  I'm liking the additional elements a lot.

https://malignantrecs.bandcamp.com/album/between-the-horizon-and-the-abyss

i'm in love with the cover art

+1

Yen Pox. Yes.

I'm surprised by the darkness of the latest Sphäre Sechs album.
Really dig that one too.

https://malignantrecs.bandcamp.com/album/enceladus

Artwork done by the same artist as latest Yen Pox.

Quote from: anomalie on May 30, 2015, 02:10:44 AM
I'm surprised by the darkness of the latest Sphäre Sechs album.
Really dig that one too.

https://malignantrecs.bandcamp.com/album/enceladus

I got this in my last Malignant order. Well done for the most part, but lacking in any sort of personality or distinguishing elements to make it really stand out. I picked up False Mirror's "Derelict World" in the same order and it's a much more satisfying release IMHO. Word is there is a new FM album in the pipeline.

I never see Sigilum S mentioned in dark ambient circles, which is a shame, because I cannot think of a better example of the genre.

One current obsession in Dark Ambient/Power Electronics is the new Skander Ruin tape. Im surprised there has been little to no discussion.

Quote from: AMRadioWaveMessage on March 21, 2016, 02:19:51 AM
I never see Sigilum S mentioned in dark ambient circles, which is a shame, because I cannot think of a better example of the genre.

What are their best releases in your opinion? I have several on deck to listen to, but haven't gotten around to them.

was never into dark ambient but liked some work from Inade and other similar german

my DRIFT collection ...

(http://i.imgur.com/rgBb9hs.png)

Can anyone give insight into Phelios and that crew?  I like that he uses big tribal drums, but I don't think he uses them nearly enough.  Also think he has a good sense of timing and movement, but his tones aren't as dark, or maybe as deep or complex, as I'd like.  There's a thinness, or plasticity, to them that is more new age than dark ambient, and this stuff is clearly not new age.  For me, it's a hurdle.  I like what he's doing, but I could very easily love it with a tweak that way or this way.  He's so close.  Almost dark ambient.  Feel the same about Sphäre Sechs.

https://youtu.be/b5Sjc9VxwqQ (https://youtu.be/b5Sjc9VxwqQ)

ritual dark ambient i've been liking a lot

The Broken Urn by In Meditarivm is great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjzyhoNW0cY

Два Пустых Скафандра (Two Empty Suits?)

Anyone know about them?  They're a little crude and could use some refinement and editing, but they have solid similarities with Bad Sector.  Early-Warning System has some deep ebbs and quality sci-fi space sounds.

Martin Stürtzer/Phelios has been putting up some very good quality material in his "Stay at Home" series.  "Phelios Dark Ambient stay at home concert #2" has some smart percussion that I'm always gratetful to hear as part of ambient work.

Any other artists in our realm here doing this?

https://www.youtube.com/user/Pheliopolis/videos

This sort of reminds me of the grimy ambient tracks from Book of Wisdom - Catacombs, which I rarely hear from anyone in this field.  A real treat and great feel.

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/sepulchral-blessing

Cold Spring released recently a new work of Sonologyst , with a heavy ritual / esoteric acoustic component which I like a lot in the dark ambient.

I can´t stand that much the utra-layered ambient like Atrium Carceri or the most recent Lustmord´s things, but I admit that sometimes can be a good atmospheric background sounds to read, etc. Back in time I used to listen to a lot of ambient tunes created by black metal artists. The most common names are for sure the Burzum works (which I find extremely good), Mortiis (which is basically the only dungeon synth stuff I still listen to nowadays) and the more "depressive-oriented" Ellefen´s project Vond, Wongraven, and few others. I wonder if there are other people on this board who enjoy this kind of stuff.

To come back to pure Dark Ambient field, I also like few Cyclic Law´s releases as well, like Treha Sektori for example. The recently released Clavicvla´s album is also pretty good.

Here is one darkly ambient album I always come back to. Very deep and realistic sounding, as I like.

Terra Sancta - Aeon
https://malignantrecs.bandcamp.com/album/aeon

Really enjoyed Terra Sancta's material when he releasing it. Thanks for the reminder.

Going to hock my own wares here for an interested audience: ATROX PESTIS debut full length pro CD "Hewn by the Hands of the Damned", side project of Grant Richardson of GNAWED, leans heavily on on the dank and dreadful atmospherics of that project, with Grant's characteristic ear for production keeping it really compelling beyond just being "quiet Gnawed"

https://chryptus.bandcamp.com/album/hewn-by-the-hands-of-the-damned (https://chryptus.bandcamp.com/album/hewn-by-the-hands-of-the-damned)

Also, T.O.M.B. "Richmond Curse" pro CD, more abrasive, school of abruptum-style mind pacifying occult chaos. from the band:

"It consists of field recordings conducted at the abandoned Richmond Power Plant in Philadelphia Pa. During these recordings sessions, T.O.M.B. collected material by using human bone with a contact mic in a specific area of the location and creating certain ritual sigils on the floor. As the session ended, it was discovered that some recordings had vanished from the recorder..."

https://chryptus.bandcamp.com/album/richmond-curse (https://chryptus.bandcamp.com/album/richmond-curse)

Amon - s/t 1996 on Murder Release https://www.discogs.com/release/404204-Amon-Amon (https://www.discogs.com/release/404204-Amon-Amon)

This was sort of re-released as Foundation 2005, but remastered and reworked, and also minus the first track, which was released on El Khela 1997 2CD version.  I don't understand.  I believe Malignant said this was their best selling mailorder item pre-internet.  It was either this or Megaptera - Disease, but I think it was this Amon CD.  Egyptology as a theme for their first releases.  Solid, really well done, notable dark ambient.  Deserves a reissue, or at least on bandcamp in original form.

First post here, so hello.

This is a good chunk of dark ambient from NUMINOUS KOMBATTANT on the Clan Destine tape/digital label.

https://clandestinerecords.bandcamp.com/album/anschwellender-bocksgesang

Quote from: Zeno Marx on April 04, 2020, 07:50:36 PMThis sort of reminds me of the grimy ambient tracks from Book of Wisdom - Catacombs, which I rarely hear from anyone in this field.  A real treat and great feel.

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/sepulchral-blessing

Indeed, Clavicvla are excellent.
Both Sermons and Degeneracy Of The Fifth Density are also great releases https://clavicvla.bandcamp.com/album/sermons and https://clavicvla.bandcamp.com/album/degeneracy-of-the-fifth-density

I realize I'm replying to an old post so you probably know about these already, but just in case.

thanks!

I've been enjoying this slab of gloom on the Polish label GATES of HYPNOS quite a lot.

Minimal dark ambient and drones with distant processed field recordings.

https://gatesofhypnos.bandcamp.com/album/higanbana (https://gatesofhypnos.bandcamp.com/album/higanbana)

Anyone know of the Russian label(?) Distant Mines? Listed on bandcamp as Дальние прииски.

I'm unsure if this is all just one person or not, but I've found the sounds to be very satisfying.

Dark ambient, gloom, field recordings.

https://dalniepriiski.bandcamp.com/music

Quote from: MkB on November 23, 2023, 05:01:46 PMAnyone know of the Russian label(?) Distant Mines? Listed on bandcamp as Дальние прииски.

I'm unsure if this is all just one person or not, but I've found the sounds to be very satisfying.

Dark ambient, gloom, field recordings.

https://dalniepriiski.bandcamp.com/music

Great find!

The Suspended Apparition - It's Sealed Inside the Church CD

Spooky horror ambient, even with bits of annoying jump scare sounds heh. I love the title and like that there's no occult themes here, just the atmosphere of dread. Sounds are not boring whooshes but manage to keep the attention. Booklet contains old, grainy ghost images you probably have seen before. Like the one from Amityville. A charming release!

Quote from: Manhog_84 on November 28, 2023, 10:19:19 AMThe Suspended Apparition - It's Sealed Inside the Church CD

Spooky horror ambient, even with bits of annoying jump scare sounds heh. I love the title and like that there's no occult themes here, just the atmosphere of dread. Sounds are not boring whooshes but manage to keep the attention. Booklet contains old, grainy ghost images you probably have seen before. Like the one from Amityville. A charming release!

I've got a horror synth/dark ambient project you might enjoy called Creep House. It's an experimental type of PE/noise meets dark ambient project. I released a tape on Samhain called 1692 based around horror cult flick Superstition 80's blood bath horror shits. Definitely influenced by the supernatural! I've got plans to do another tape influenced by Amityville II The Possession...maybe next Halloween!

a bit late to the party but i've been enjoying this tape by arzat skia immensely over the last few weeks.
discogs link (https://www.discogs.com/release/25486375-Arzat-Skia-Voice-To-The-Hollows)

Quote from: Cranial Blast on December 04, 2023, 05:34:20 AM

Quote from: Manhog_84 on November 28, 2023, 10:19:19 AMThe Suspended Apparition - It's Sealed Inside the Church CD

Spooky horror ambient, even with bits of annoying jump scare sounds heh. I love the title and like that there's no occult themes here, just the atmosphere of dread. Sounds are not boring whooshes but manage to keep the attention. Booklet contains old, grainy ghost images you probably have seen before. Like the one from Amityville. A charming release!

I've got a horror synth/dark ambient project you might enjoy called Creep House. It's an experimental type of PE/noise meets dark ambient project. I released a tape on Samhain called 1692 based around horror cult flick Superstition 80's blood bath horror shits. Definitely influenced by the supernatural! I've got plans to do another tape influenced by Amityville II The Possession...maybe next Halloween!

Haven't heard the tape, but Superstition is one of my favorite horror films. I love how ugly and brutal it is.

Regarding dark ambient, I guess it can be classified as such, but I gave a listen to Burzum's Thulêan Mysteries. I lost my interest completely after Umskiptar, but this one is nice. The tracks don't really flow together and it feels more like a compilation of different songs. The cover art is also zero-effort. That being sad it still manages to create epic atmosphere of times gone by, and it has been playing a lot as a background music lately. Very similar type of ambient was pretty obscure Finnish Hyper Borealis - An Audial Escape to the Desolate Landscapes of Ancient Ultima Thule.

I guess Sôl austan... and Ways of Yore deserve another chance now.

Quote from: XXX on December 04, 2023, 07:40:58 PM

a bit late to the party but i've been enjoying this tape by arzat skia immensely over the last few weeks.
discogs link (https://www.discogs.com/release/25486375-Arzat-Skia-Voice-To-The-Hollows)

He was pretty good at Congresso Post Industriale in 2022, but I still haven't got around to check out the cassettes - thanks for the reminder.

Just discovered this from Naas Alcameth - https://annapurnaprod.bandcamp.com/album/temple-of-not

It's rather good.

I hadn't listened to these in a while so..

Ron Morelli - Betting on Death I and II.

I guess these could fall into the "noise ambient" genre/whatever? They're both nice and moody either way.

Both available digitally on Hospital - https://hospitalproductions.bandcamp.com/

Here is a link to a Masmorra track called Sombre Serenade, which is taken from upcoming Breaking Wheel / Masmorra split tape entitled Full Moon Lycanthropy, which should be out by the end of the month. Masmorra is a weird experimental dark ambient project that almost sounds a bit death industrial at times.

https://m.soundcloud.com/cranial-blast/sombre-serenade

Quote from: Zeno Marx on March 25, 2022, 05:41:16 PMAmon - s/t 1996 on Murder Release https://www.discogs.com/release/404204-Amon-Amon (https://www.discogs.com/release/404204-Amon-Amon)
...Solid, really well done, notable dark ambient.  Deserves a reissue, or at least on bandcamp in original form.

seems he has done a reissue but some tracks off the 2nd album have made their way on here.
https://andreamarutti.bandcamp.com/album/akh