Ambient music is a genre of music that emphasizes tone and atmosphere over traditional musical structure or rhythm. It is intended to create a calming, immersive, or meditative experience through the use of sound textures and minimalistic arrangements.
Origins and Characteristics
The genre emerged in the 1970s with artists like Brian Eno, who described it as music "as ignorable as it is interesting." Ambient music often incorporates synthesizers, field recordings, and slowly evolving harmonies.
Notable Artists
- Brian Eno
- Aphex Twin
- Steve Roach
- William Basinski
- Hammock
- Shinnobu
- Carbon Based Lifeforms
- Moby (selected works)
- Enigma (cross-genre influence)