Not including what could also be considered experimental, like some areas of krautrock, nor label stuff that I've listened to hundreds of times and still going. Before cable TV, computers, and basically any other distractions. Not uncommon to dig into 3-5 hours of music a night. The early 90s were truly gluttonous.
Allegory Chapel Ltd. - When Angels Fall 1994 - beautifully composed and produced.
Book of Wisdom - Catacombs 1994 - this is both neo-folk and dark ambient; both of high caliber - there is a grit, or haze, to this recording that has always taken it to another level of mystery and gloom for me - I listened to this a lot, particularly in the fall months.
Chod - Kala-Nath 1996 - I often want to listen to wolves, and this was my go-to; the percussion is an added bonus; hypnotic and relaxing.
Clock DVA - Sign 1993 - a co-worker made me an unmarked tape after we'd talked about 80's punk - for years, I didn't know what either side was, but it was constantly in play on my long drives - this was one side and Zoviet France "Shouting at the Ground" was the other.
Coil - Unnatural History 1990 - one of the greatest anthologies ever put together?
Daniel Menche – Legions in the Walls 1995 - I've listened to early period Daniel Menche A LOT, but I kept returning to this because of the texture.
Endura - Black Eden 1996 - I would play this and Yen Pox "Blood Music" a lot in the fall season and sometimes on repeat out the window on Halloween - Endura was a constant listen for a few years, and this one got me the most.
Genocide Organ - Mind Control 1995 - one of those albums that flows so perfectly that it seems like it is over soon after started - and "At Judas".
Hands To - SFO 1992 - Ben Gilbert/Zabriskie Point label and distro shaped my early years.
JLIAT - 16:05:94 1994 - possibly perfect minimalism and drone; rich and great, evolving depth.
Merzbow - AntiMonument (both picture disc 1986 and CD 1991), Noisembryo 1994, Green Wheels 1995 - I'm a Merzbow baby; my usual go-to noise if I can't pinpoint specific noise I'd like to hear - not sure why AntiMonument has always been such a fancy.
Muslimgauze - Zul'm 1992 - another one of those seasonal albums; late spring to early summer - open the windows, and it is so crisply clear, as if it is all happening right outside your home.
MZ.412 - In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi 1995 - I've always thought this album was underappreciated - both the heavy electronics and industrial tribalism are top shelf, though I always wished there was more of the latter.
Nurse with Wound - Merzbild Schwet 1980 - a truly special album that I seem to save for special occasions, or rather, so often is part of special moments that it feels like such; so many great conversations, mental rabbit holes, and experiences have been soundtracked by this album - I used to go winter backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains a lot, which involved a 4-hour night drive across US Route 2 in Wisconsin and up state and country roads in UP-Michigan, and this was a regular listen in the final hour of that trip; almost without fail, I'd see something fantastical and special that melded perfectly within this album; water, food, warm clothing, and this album as necessities.
Organum - Volume One 1998 & Desola 1995 - the bridge between "the underground" and academia, at least I thought - when it wasn't so easy to find Jackman/Organum for decent prices or at all, so having those three records collected was one of the most appreciated discs to happen in years - Desola is one of my favorite 3"CDs and possibly one of my favorite 15 minutes of music of all time; just phenomenal.
P16.D4 - Kuhe in 1/2 Traure 1984 - one of those hard-pushed Ben Gilbert selektions - an album that is so very twisted, and twists my mind to this day - experimental music that changes life.
Smegma - Pigs for Lepers 1982 - I can't remember if this or the Glamour Girl anthology CD were my first full Smegma experience; blew my mind, and the cover freaked me out in a way that I wanted to constantly listen to the record; subconsciously triggering...or something.
Tuu - One Thousand Years 1993 - picked this up on a whim from the Relapse mailorder catalogues, of all places, before they started Release or went to a magazine format - unfortunately, I haven't found much else like it, or Tuu, in the ethno-ambient realm - flutes and various instrumentation creating something between what you'd expect from Jorge Reyes and Steve Roach, but far better than what that might seem.
Voice of Eye - Transmigration 1995 - there were years, and have been periods of time, when I couldn't, and can't, get enough of this album - perfection and a richness beyond explanation - an all-time favorite album.
Yen Pox - Blood Music 1995 - in the same upper realm as the Endura and Book of Wisdom listed above - ushered in a new era of dark ambient fans.
Zoviet France - Loh Land 1987 & Shouting at the Ground 1988 - feeds into my love of nature and a generational fascination and respect for Native tribes and that vibe - I don't know how to talk about these albums, or this group, without it sounding hyperbolic - I could have Zoviet France and none of this other stuff and be just fine.
KK Null/James Plotkin - Aurora 1994 - my favorite outdoor listen - when I worked outside, I would play this after the lunch smoke session - the quintessential soundtrack to bright, warm sun on cool, brisk, and windy days; where do the sounds end and the time and weather begin? - "Lost" has my all-time favorite second of music (the opening second to the track), and the following 8 seconds are nearly as sublime - in my opinion, his "water period" is as great as maybe any other musicians finest period.
EDIT: corrected a date and added Tuu
