The number of high quality releases every year makes keeping current very difficult, which is why I love year-end lists. They are such a great way of discovering things I may have missed and finding good music from someone with slightly different tastes.
These year end lists are always fun but difficult. But at least the top 3 spots this year were easy selections -
Alva Noto - Xerrox, Vol. 3
Max Richter - Sleep
Chris Walla - Tape Loops
It doesn't really matter which one grabbed the top spot, I listened to these three over and over in 2015. Noto is known for his electronic minimalism but Vol. 3 is beautiful and lush. Max Richter's Sleep is a recording of epic proportion - 8 hours long, it amazes me each time I listen. Tape Loops by Chris Walla(drummer for Death Cab for Cutie) has an old school ambient feel. It reminds me of Eno's Music for Airports and Music for Films. As large as the first two albums on the list can sound, Tape Loops is just the opposite - simple and intimate.
A few albums worth mentioning - Brian Eno: Discreet Music by Contact is an orchestral arrangement of Eno's 1970s Discreet Music. Like Bang On A Can's cover of Music for Airports this one is familiar yet fresh and different. Worth checking out. I've used Sine Dust tracks in several mixes and I will probably use them for years because I love the classic, spacey edge to this EP from 36.
Here are my favs from 2015:
1.
Alva Noto - Xerrox, Vol. 3
2.
Max Richter - Sleep
3.
Chris Walla - Tape Loops
4.
Benoit Pioulard - Sonnet
5.
36 - Sine Dust
6.
Olan Mill - Cavade Morlem
7.
Mikael Delta & Hior Chronik - The First Ray
8.
Bersarin Quartett - III
9.
Contact - Brian Eno: Discreet Music
10.
Marconi Union - Departures
11.
Spheruleus - Chronota
12.
Goldmund - Sometimes
13.
Nils Frahm - Solo
14.
Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie - Travels in Constants Vol. 24
15.
Horizon Fire - Earthlight
The above list in mix form here...
https://www.mixcloud.com/lowlight/best-ambient-of-2015/A few other instrumental album that I liked this year but are more jazz or alt instrumental than ambient:
Maria Schneider - The Thompson Fields
Jaga Jazzist - Starfire
Kamasi Washington - The Epic
Kendrick Scott Oracle - We Are The Drum
David Cross & Robert Fripp - Starless Starlight
food - this is not a miracle
Cheers!