Harold Budd and Brian Eno did a classic ambient album together that I really like a lot called The Pearl. Daniel Lanois was one of the players as well. 1984 is when it came out but I didn't get the LP until much later at a used record store as I was kind of played out on all the Eno ambient sound collages at the time. The hints of electronic tapestry that he weaves around Budd's piano is just beautiful. I guess one could almost call it new age, but the beauty and artistry and craftsmanship in this recording really makes most new age music sound pretty insubstantial in comparison. Yeah, this is definitely one of my favorites.

So fast forward to 2004 and I hear that the 68 year old Harold Budd has decided to call it quits after so many years of making beautiful music so he put together a final album with tributes to the people he's worked with over the years sprinkled throughout. It's called Avalon Sutra and comes with a second disc which has only one song, the over 60-minute remix of "As Long As I Can Hold My Breath". This one I had to have. It was only released in January I think, but is really a beautiful album. Lots of that signature treated piano, but some very nice soprano sax by Jon Gibson too, along with a string quartet to fill out many of the compositions. Very classy album and artwork. There's a very nice 4.5 star review at AMG and I also see a 9.4 rating in the review at the barcode ezine site, but if you like this type of ambient chillout music with a lot of real instrumentation in the mix, you can't do much better than this, at least for me. Oh, it's unfortunately not released in the US yet as it's on the Samadhi Sound UK label so I bought my copy through AB-CD. Not an endorsement for them, that's just the place I used since it was cheap at about $15, and I'd bought some stuff there before so knew they were a good place. But I'm sure there are other places you can find it for a decent price if you want. Just not at amazon since they're asking over $30

So what are some of your old or new favorites for the times you feel like just floating away with the music?

try this on......

http://obner.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3542

Now that I'm employed and buying CDs again, Avalon Sutras and also this are at the top of my list. The Pearl, The Plateaux of Mirror and The Room are three of my all time favorite anythings ever, and since I usually go to sleep with something ambient playing, Pearl and Plateaux (and Eno's Ambient 4: On Land) may be the three albums I've played more than anything I own.

I saw Budd and Jon Gibson (sax/flute player with the Philip Glass Ensemble) live about 10 years ago, and it was amazing to hear Budd conjure up that atmosphere on stage. Oddly enough, he played a nearly-unrecognizable, totally sublime version of Roxy Music's "More Than This."

Thanks for the AB-CD site--they've got some of Eno's internet-only CDs for about $20 each. Must...buy...now...

Dalen...nice mix, listened to it last night.

Another fun mix, from the good people of mum, can be found here...

http://www.noisedfisk.net/mumweb/mp3/BRDJset.mp3


highly recommended if you like the band

That Budd album sounds really appealing, Davey.

Hey, Lumpy, congrats on the employment, too.

Gas - Pop

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... c&n=507846

The Orb- U.F.Orb
The Orb- Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld
Starseeds- Parallel Lives
KLF- Chill Out
Brian Eno- Apollo Atmospheres & Soundtracks
Irresistable Force- It's Tomorrow Already

Love beyond the Ultraworld.

Been really digging some ISAN over the weekend, especially Lucky Cat and Beutronics.

Mum's Finally We Are No One is amazing as well.

right on, and thanks for the mix!

Stars of the Lids - The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid

If you really really want to chilll out.

Yeah, I have that one but don't think I've ever gotten through the whole thing. Guess I just don't have the patience for it. Kind of like watching a test pattern on TV

I listened to the first disc last night for the first time in a while. I liked it a lot still. Maybe listen to a disc at a time?

I liked this...after I skipped the first song. The first song simply did not gel for some reason.

Air - Premieres Symptoms
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works
Tricky - Manaxique
Zero 7 - When It Falls
Lovage - Songs to Make Love to Your Old Lady (I think thats the title)
Slayer - South of Heaven