Free Radicals
The 37 Best Ambient Albums of 2019 So Far
The world is stressful. Throw on these albums for a little bit of peace.
The World Is Ending, But At Least There's Ambient Music
Why ambient music has become my spiritual life raft.
This Is What Dreams Sound Like
Reissues of the Pennsylvania-based composer Michele Mercure's early electronic works provide an occasion to revisit the visionary electronic music that came to her in her sleep.
You Need Some Rest. Sarah Davachi’s New Ambient Music Can Help
‘Gave In Rest,’ the Los Angeles-based composer’s second record of 2018, is a meditation on the rituals we adopt to find stillness.
When Times Are Challenging, Listen to Music That Challenges You
Autechre’s new album is intimidatingly abstract and eight hours long, which is an ungodly amount of music to listen to in one sitting. You should try it.
Ashley Paul’s New Record Chronicles the Strangeness of New Motherhood
'Lost in Shadows' is a foggy experimental collection that exists at the borders of joy and existential terror, just like all the best work from her decade-long-career.
Somehow Lounge Music Doesn’t Suck Anymore
Bands like Quiet Friend, NADINE, Mega Bog, and more are picking up the many threads of easy-listening pop and making music that's both comforting and chaotic.
These Two Experimental Pieces Feel Like They Can Slow Down Time
Alvin Lucier's 'Criss Cross / Hanover' and Steve Reich's 'Pulse / Quartet,' continue several decades of their time-twisting compositional experiments.
Spotify's "Fake" Ambient Artists Make Good Music, Actually
The faceless composers filling playlists for the streaming giant are actually a lot better than the tradition of corporate mood music that preceded them.
I Spent Three Years Living with Runaway Rainbow Children
As travelers move along from this year’s Rainbow Gathering, author Chris Urquhart documents their year-round lifestyle.
Félicia Atkinson’s Music Is Full of Whispers, Both Intimate and Terrifying
The French composer’s ‘Hand in Hand’ is an ASMR-like meditation on the physical qualities of sound.
The Uncanny Comfort of The Weather Channel’s Smooth Jazz Interstitials
'Local on the 8s' can be a shelter from the storm—or just upsetting dad rock.