Earlier this month, we took to you to the Berlin Atonal festival, exploring a few of the many reasons why it might convert you into an experimental music fan. While a large part of its programming was dedicated to harsh electronic noise, another critical contributor was the seductive shimmers of ambient music. For those looking to explore some of the genre’s history, the critical voices over at Pitchfork have compiled a few of their favorites.
“For our exploration of the greatest ambient albums, we polled critics for their favorites, with the suggestion that ‘ambient’ meant, in part, music that creates an environment, something like a cloud of sound, be it soothing, sad, haunting, or ominous,” Pitchfork explains of its collection, which examines the genre’s 50 best albums since Brian Eno coined the term in the ‘70s.
While Eno himself naturally features heavily in the list, he joins a long list of recognizable luminaries and obscure names alike, representing a tastemaker’s guide to the genre.
Check out “The 50 Best Ambient Albums of All Time” over at Pitchfork for the full list.
