For straight tone-drone:
Aural Holograms Vol. 1 (Aural Hypnox): Analog sounds from the dungeon.
Duane Pitre/Pilotram Ensemble Organized Pitches Occuring In Time (Important): From the start of his works. Based around stringed instruments and organ pump.
Eliane Radigue Adnos I-III (Table Of The Elements): Three discs, all sitting perfectly, by the empress as stated above. Soon to be re-released by Important.
Eleh Floating Frequencies / Intuitive Synthesis II (Important): High-salary analog drone. Best of this three-part series, and best of the debuts, in my ears.
Eleh The Beauty Of The Steel Skeleton (Important): From the
Pauline Oliveros split. My favorite track by him.
Eleh Fading Spectrum Of Darkness (Important): From the
Sun Circle split. A darker sound for the project.
For La-la-la-feel-good-and-sunny-drone:
Duane Pitre Feel Free (Important): Zen koan drone.
The North Sea &
Rameses III Night Of The Ankou (267 lattajjaa/Type): Two awful projects did this one awesome collaboration. Physical instrumentation intermixed with heavy synthing.
For deep-dank-and-obscure-drone
Arktau Eos Ai Ma Ra (Aural Hypnox): Hard to stay focused for two discs, but there's a shit ton of highlights. Esoteric, eastern-ish muzak.
Halo Manash Taiwaskivi (Aural Hypnox): Best release from the A. Hypnox label? Doors keep opening, unleashing unknown beasts, pulling you in.
Burial Hex Four Tone Poems Of Orlog (Cathartic Process): Still cthonic, but not electronics. Rituals hidden deep in the belly of the mine.
For art-fart-lefty-drone
Born Of Six Svapiti (Important): Amelia Cuni, Catherine Christer Hennix and Werner Durand performing in the drone tradition.
Ellen Fullman The Long String Instrument (Apollo):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJHmsTk303QFor folk-drone
Pelt Ayahuasca (VHF): One of their albums where Jack Rose's heavenly talent keeps lapsing through, as well as some traditional folk music, but the drone sections are some of the best you'll hear.
Ulaan Passerine Ulaan Passerine (Brave Mysteries): Smith's most accomplished work to date - and I've felt that way many times before. Acoustic guitar, piano and silence.
For serene-and-occasionally-ominous-drone:
Troum Grote Mandrenke (Beta-lactam Ring): This and the next disc touch a lot on post-rock sounds, although made through synthesis I believe, but Troum is a household name and well-deserved of that.
Troum Mare Idiophonika (Tourette/Silken Tofu)
Troum AIWS (Transgredient) : Like segments of
Grote... and
Mare... all hidden under a thicker fog.
Troum Eald-Ge-Stréon (Beta-lactam Ring): Always felt like
Methadrone was leaning on this album, aside from
Lycia obviously. Speaking of, his
Sterility has to be one of my favorite albums ever. Not straight drone, but it has it's moments. Dig it.
Troum Aerugo (Tourette): Nothing new, but 7" is kinda an exciting format for
Troum. Check out the
Bach 7" as well. (
Burial Hex contribution to the series was tits as well.)
Ulaan Khol La Catacomb (Soft Abuse): Electric guitar compositions by Mr. Smith. Cavernous.
