Pop Ambient 2012

Various Artists
Pop Ambient 2012

Those familiar with Pop Ambient's roster will recognize mainstays like Superpitcher, whose minimal “Jackson” blends androgynous vocal cooing over soundscapes that recall Brian Eno's late-'70s work with Rhett Davies and Robert Wyatt. Wolfgang Voight is another label veteran who delivers a standout with “Rückverzauberung 5,” a quietly chaotic flurry of atmospheric ambience played with a free jazz attack. Playing under the Loops of Your Heart moniker, Kompakt recording elder Axel Willner of The Field sequences affected guitar notes to create “Riding the Bikes,” a sunny sprawl of lazy-day tones that would well accompany pedaling through the park on a nice day. The compilation's newcomers also turn up some gems here. Former Slowdive drummer Simon Scott gets spooky with “Martha,” a haunting composition that sounds as if melody could somehow be harvested from howling winds. Marsen Jules’ “Swans Reflecting Elephants” is a gorgeous standout where sparse piano and deep, textured rhythms slowly intertwine.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada