The Top Electronic Ambient Music Artists

A list of the top electronic ambient music artists that you need to be listening to.

Introduction

In recent years, electronic ambient music has become increasingly popular, with a wide range of artists creating atmospheric and relaxing tunes. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the top electronic ambient music artists, who are sure to provide you with hours of listening pleasure.

Brian Eno

Musician, composer, and producer Brian Eno is one of the most important and influential figures in the history of ambient music. His work has exerted a profound influence on the development of popular music and culture over the past four decades. In addition to his solo recordings, Eno has been a member of the bands Roxy Music and 801. He has also collaborated with a wide range of artists, including David Bowie, David Byrne, Talking Heads, Robert Fripp, and Paul Simon.

His work

Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno, RDI (/ˈiːnoʊ/ EE-noh; born Brian Peter George Eno, 15 May 1948) is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer, written authority, and visual artist. He is best known for his pioneering work in ambient music and contributions to rock, pop and electronica. A self-described “non-musician”, Eno has advocated a methodology of “theoretical objectivity” and assigning responsibility for the sonic aspects of his music to his recording engineers. He conceptualises albums as “situations” with “tools” like multitrack recording and looping used to develop them.

Eno rose to prominence during the glam rock era as one member of the short-lived group Roxy Music. He collaborated between the band’s second album, For Your Pleasure (1973), and its break-up in 1976 with artists such as Robert Fripp and David Bowie on the latter’s “Heroes” (1977). Following his departure from Roxy Music, he released a series of well-received solo albums beginning with Here Come the Warm Jets (1974). He went on to produce or co-produce several more notable records including David Bowie’s Low (1977) and “Heroes”, Talking Heads’ Remain in Light (1980), U2’s The Joshua Tree (1987) and several works with brother Roger under the name Recycle or Die. In recent years, he has worked with Coldplay on Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), Glockenspieler on Small Craft on a Milk Sea (2010), drums on Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. (2017) as well as producing Robin Hannibal’s track “Loved One”.[2][3] Since 2012, Eno has been curator of the Artist in Residence program at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire.[4] In May 2018 he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts by Oxford Brookes University

His influence

Brian Eno is an English musician, record producer, and visual artist best known as a pioneer of ambient music and as one of the principal innovators of drone music. He has also been active in numerous other styles, including rock, pop, disco, and avant-garde. A self-described “non-musician”, Eno has helped to pioneer a variety of novel production techniques and conceptual approaches to composition. He is credited with coining the term “ambient music” and has been described as one of the most influential producers in popular music history.

Eno began his musical career working with pop groups such as Roxy Music and Conditions 3, before embarking on a solo career in 1974. He gained prominence as a producer with his 1976 album Another Green World, on which he employed unorthodox production techniques such as chance procedures, generative processes, and looping. His Coldplay collaborations have led to him being referred to as the band’s “sixth member”.

Eno has also released numerous solo albums, collaborate with artists such as Robert Fripp, David Byrne, Harold Budd, and Jon Hassell. In recent years he has returned to vocal music with works such as Drums Between the Bells (2011), Lux (2012), The Ship (2016), and Reflection (2017). In addition to his solo work, Eno is an active visual artist; he has created album covers for several musicians including himself, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Ultravox, Depeche Mode, and James Blake. He is also credited with originating the Oblique Strategies card deck; these have been used by many artists including David Bowie, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke,, and Damon Albarn.

The Orb

The Orb is a British electronic music group known for their innovative and influential work in the ambient and techno genres. The Orb was formed in 1988 by Alex Paterson and KLF member Jimmy Cauty. The Orb’s early work was heavily influenced by dub and reggae music, and featured samples from such artists as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Prince Far I, and Augustus Pablo. The group’s debut album, The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld, was released in 1991 and became a massive success, reaching the top 10 of the UK album chart.

Their work

The Orb is an English electronic music group formed in 1988 by Alex Paterson and The KLF member Jimmy Cauty. Beginning as ambient and dub performers, their early work was influenced by rock and roll, pop music, and psychedelic party foods. Later recordings heavily featured samples from science fiction, movie soundtrack, and video game sources. Paterson has acknowledged that the group was originally inspired by The KLF’s ambient recordings as well as Brian Eno’s work.

The Orb’s first release was the single “A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld”, a collaboration with techno group Transit Kings on Big Life Records in 1989. This contained a vocal sample of Margritte Kohler talking about dreamachine brain computer interfaces on Kraftwerk’s Radio-Activity album. The Orb maintained a close association with Big Life throughout their early career; they would return to collaborate with Transit Kings again for 1991’s “Transit Kings vs. The Orb”, also on Big Life. Paterson also worked with Transit Kings’ producer Martin Glover (later known as Youth) on the Ambient Dub Encounter project during this time; this led to a close working relationship between Glover and The Orb, which culminated in Glover producing much of their material for Island Records throughout the 1990s.

Their influence

Some of the most influential electronic music artists of all time are those who have focused on creating ambient or space-based music. These artists have helped to define the genre and shape its sound over the years, and their work is still hugely popular today. Here are just a few of the most important names in ambient music.

Brian Eno is often credited with inventing ambient music, thanks to his 1974 album “Discreet Music.” Since then, he has continued to explore the genre with groundbreaking releases like “Ambient 1: Music for Airports” and “The Shutov Assembly.” His work has been hugely influential, both within the ambient community and beyond.

Eluvium is an American ambient artist who has been active since 2002. He is best known for his 2010 album “Similes,” which was widely acclaimed by critics and fans alike. His music is often described as being beautifully cinematic, and he has a unique ability to create a sense of emotional intensity through his use of melody and soundscapes.

Stars of the Lid is a US-based duo whose work straddles the line between ambient and drone music. They have been active since 1991 and have released eight albums, most notably “The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid” (2001) and “And Their Refinement of the Decline” (2007). Their music is characterized by its slow pace, use of repetition, and minimalist approach.

Aphex Twin

Richard D. James, best known by his stage name Aphex Twin, is an English electronic musician and composer. He is known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in electronic music styles such as IDM and acid techno in the 1990s.

His work

Richard D. James, best known by his stage name Aphex Twin, is an English musician. He is best known for his influential and distinctive style of electronic music production. James was born in 1971 in Limerick, Ireland, and grew up in Cornwall, United Kingdom. He rose to prominence with his 1991 album, “Selected Ambient Works 85-92”. His subsequent albums include “I Care Because You Do” (1995), “Drukqs” (2001), “Analord” (2005) and “Syro” (2014).

Aphex Twin’s music is often described as atmospheric, melancholic and emotive. It employs complex time signatures and often features unusual percussion instruments such as electric drills and jackhammers. His work has been praised by critics and has influenced other electronic musicians such as Squarepusher and Boards of Canada.

His influence

Aphex Twin is considered one of the most influential electronic artists of all time. He has been credited with inspiring a generation of electronic musicians, and his impact can be heard in the work of many contemporary artists.

Conclusion

After exploring the different types of electronic ambient music, it is safe to say that this genre is vast and varied. There are so many talented artists out there creating beautiful and calming tunes. It can be difficult to narrow down the best of the best, but we have compiled a list of our top picks.

We hope you enjoy exploring this relaxing and fascinating genre of music!