Another year, another ton of releases to sift through. I could keep adding and subtracting albums for weeks and still not be entirely satisfied with the final list. But here it is - my Favorite Ambient Albums of 2024.
As I was creating this part 1 mix, I kept questioning my choices. And then, when the mix was done and I listened to it, I was like "Wow, this turned out really well." I really like how the mix evolves with the first half being a bit more electronic and noisy and the second half leaning more orchestral.
Here's the list of my favorite ambient albums of 2024, in alphabetical order:
2fel - stranger flow
Adam Wiltzie - Eleven Fugues For Sodium Pentothal [Kranky]
Akmuo - Dreamwalker [Space of Variants]
Altus - Ultraviolet
Alva Noto - Xerrox, Vol.5 [Noton 2024]
Benoit Pioulard & Offthesky - Sunder [laaps 2024]
Circa Alto - Faint Structures (Whitelabrecs 2024]
Civilistjävel! - Brödföda [Felt 2024]
Dirk Serries - Streams Of Consciousness Compiled [Projekt]
Eli Keszler - LIVE 2 [LuckyMe]
Extraworld - Perihelion [Exosphere]
Hainbach - The One Who Runs Away Is the Ghost Soundtrack [Seil]
Heavenchord - Atmospheres & Soundscapes [Cold Tear]
Humble Bee & Offthesky - Here In, Absence [IIKKI]
Innesti - Contemplate
Jogging House - Live at home
Jonas Munk - Mirror Phase [Azure Vista]
Maps and Diagrams - if all will be lost [Quiet Details]
Maps and Diagrams - Islands [Handstitched]
Martin Stürtzer - Lander Modules [Echo Elberfeld]
mastroKristo - Passage [Lost Tribe Sound]
Max Richter - In A Landscape [Decca]
Michael A. Muller - Mirror Music [Deutsche Grammophon]
OdNu + Ümlaut - Abandoned Spaces [Audiobulb]
Pan American & Kramer - Reverberations of Non-Stop Traffic on Redding Road
Polaroid Notes - Quiet Rooms [Whitelabrecs]
Sumner James, Robert Chamberlain, Volcano Lazerbeam, Saroon - Dive 1- Refraction [Bathysphere Records]
Tewksbury - Floes Volumes I-IV (Tridek]
The Green Kingdom - Horizons [The Slow Music Movement]
Ulla & Ultrafog - It Means A Lot [Motion Ward]
v e n n - XIII
William Ryan Fritch - Adhesion [Lost Tribe Sound]
And here are links to each album:
Eleven Fugues For Sodium Pentothal | Adam Wiltzie
Dreamwalker | Akmuo | Space Of Variants
Alva Noto - Xerrox Vol. 5 | Noton
Sunder | Benoît Pioulard & Offthesky | laaps
Faint Structures | Circa Alto | Whitelabrecs
Streams Of Consciousness Compiled | Dirk Serries | Projekt Records
Perihelion | Extraworld | Exosphere
The One Who Runs Away Is the Ghost Soundtrack | Hainbach
Atmospheres & Soundscapes | Heavenchord | Cold Tear Records
Here In, Absence | The Humble Bee & Offthesky | IIKKI
Mirror Phase | Jonas Munk | Azure Vista
if all will be lost | Maps and Diagrams | quiet details
Islands | Maps & Diagrams | Handstitched
Lander Modules | Martin Stürtzer
Passage | mastroKristo | Lost Tribe Sound
In A Landscape | Max Richter | Decca
Mirror Music | Michael A. Muller | Deutsche Grammophon
Abandoned Spaces | OdNu + Ümlaut | Audiobulb
Reverberations of Non-Stop Traffic on Redding Road | Pan American & Kramer
Quiet Rooms | Polaroid Notes | Whitelabrecs
Floes: Volumes I-IV | Tewksbury
Horizons | The Green Kingdom | The Slow Music Movement Label
It Means A Lot | Ulla & Ultrafog | Motion Ward
Adhesion | William Ryan Fritch | Lost Tribe Sound
I hope you enjoy part 1. Part two is coming soon. Followed by a mix of jazz favorites from 2024.
What are some of your favorite ambient albums from the past year?
Cheers!
T R A C K L I S T :