The Chillout & Ambient Trance Thread
- Thread starter marcopm
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freewave
Member
So recently I completed a set for "Ambient Trance" https://rateyourmusic.com/list/TheScientist/rym-ultimate-box-set-ambient-trance/ A term that I wasn't really sure was an actual genre before i started.....
Ambient Trance transfers the multilayered harmonic and often arpeggiated synthesizer sounds typical for Trance to an Ambient context in relaxed, introspective mood, often by using much slower tempos than Trance, replacing the tight 4/4 drum patterns by more laid-back breakbeats, or leaving drums out completely. It emerged around the same time as similar ambient-like genres evolving from various styles of Downtempo Electronic Dance Music; like Ambient House, Ambient Techno and Ambient Dub. It is generally featured in various tracks from Hooj, Lost Language Recordings, and the Chill Euphoria and Angels – Chill Trance Essentials compilation Series. Chill Trance is a popular alternate term.
Although it's adjacent to Dream Trance, Ibiza Trance, Progressive Breaks, and Psybient there are significant differences. While dream trance puts an emphasis soothing atmosphere, it was a specific and brief movement and template. While it also holds some features of Ibiza trance, ambient trance is even more ambient leaning, synthetic, and often beatless. Progressive Breaks is a heavier, dance-floor oriented approach to non-4/4 beats. Finally, Psybient is very closely related but is the Psychedelic Trance equivalent to Ambient Trance and falls under that division instead and with much larger artist representation. While ambient trance may have begun in the mid 90's there were not many notable full releases or artists contributing until the turn of millennium as the Trance and Downtempo genres both gained larger success and fully focused compilations emerged.
Playlists
www.youtube.com
So I'm looking to see what I may have missed on. I covered 1999 onwards but if there's a few comps or artists that REALLY fit that i missed I would love to know them.
Ambient Trance transfers the multilayered harmonic and often arpeggiated synthesizer sounds typical for Trance to an Ambient context in relaxed, introspective mood, often by using much slower tempos than Trance, replacing the tight 4/4 drum patterns by more laid-back breakbeats, or leaving drums out completely. It emerged around the same time as similar ambient-like genres evolving from various styles of Downtempo Electronic Dance Music; like Ambient House, Ambient Techno and Ambient Dub. It is generally featured in various tracks from Hooj, Lost Language Recordings, and the Chill Euphoria and Angels – Chill Trance Essentials compilation Series. Chill Trance is a popular alternate term.
Although it's adjacent to Dream Trance, Ibiza Trance, Progressive Breaks, and Psybient there are significant differences. While dream trance puts an emphasis soothing atmosphere, it was a specific and brief movement and template. While it also holds some features of Ibiza trance, ambient trance is even more ambient leaning, synthetic, and often beatless. Progressive Breaks is a heavier, dance-floor oriented approach to non-4/4 beats. Finally, Psybient is very closely related but is the Psychedelic Trance equivalent to Ambient Trance and falls under that division instead and with much larger artist representation. While ambient trance may have begun in the mid 90's there were not many notable full releases or artists contributing until the turn of millennium as the Trance and Downtempo genres both gained larger success and fully focused compilations emerged.
Playlists
Ambient Trance RYM Box Set
Ambient Trance transfers the multilayered harmonic and often arpeggiated synthesizer sounds typical for Trance to an Ambient context in relaxed, introspectiv...
www.youtube.com
So I'm looking to see what I may have missed on. I covered 1999 onwards but if there's a few comps or artists that REALLY fit that i missed I would love to know them.
freewave
Member
And I'd like to go back and find some tracks and releases in the earlier 90's that would fit as well. While there's not many FULL releases that do I know there's a few early attempts that happen before the turn of the millennium....
What I have so far.
from Various - Chill Out Or Die!
The most "ambient trance" of their releases.
included on the single
What I have so far.
from Various - Chill Out Or Die!
The most "ambient trance" of their releases.
included on the single
freewave
Member
more early picks
is also on Various - The Secret Life Of Trance
most of the stuff om this comp is not chill at all but this one is.
Some stuff on here likely should fit, not sure how much is "notable" or important though
www.discogs.com
is also on Various - The Secret Life Of Trance
most of the stuff om this comp is not chill at all but this one is.
Some stuff on here likely should fit, not sure how much is "notable" or important though
Trance Ambient by teraphim | Discogs Lists
Explore the Trance Ambient list by teraphim on Discogs. Create your own list of music and share it with the world.
www.discogs.com
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freewave
Member
nice^ that does have enough of a beat to indicate a good fit.
A bit generic but fits the bill Various - Urban Ambient Trance
Not thaaaaat ambient, but its nice.
1994 EP
A bit generic but fits the bill Various - Urban Ambient Trance
Not thaaaaat ambient, but its nice.
1994 EP
freewave
Member
Various - Qabalah (An Alien Ambient Connection)
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1994 CD release of "Qabalah (An Alien Ambient Connection)" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
Various - Surrender To The Vibe Looks like a good comp
from Various - Trance Europe Express 2 fantastic comp
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- Jun 27, 2020
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Robert Leiner's Visions of the Past album is full of it. It's a bit darker but I'd say still ambient (trance). Here's my favourite:
Here's the full album:
Here's the full album:
freewave
Member
Ugghhhh how could i forget to post this yet?!
Classic!
Also another by Sven. also on 95's Various - Dark Hearts Volume 1
Did you know that Barbarella track above is him and a friend? Pretty cool!
Classic!
Also another by Sven. also on 95's Various - Dark Hearts Volume 1
Did you know that Barbarella track above is him and a friend? Pretty cool!
Magdelayna
Elite Member
freewave
Member
freewave
Member
I sure will thanks!
Found this nice comp. Appears Disc 2 is all ambient trance. Good names too
Art Of Trance - Platipus Beginners Guide
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2001 CD release of "Platipus Beginners Guide" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
included
as well.
A good 2003 comp i didn't find before the list was made. Good stuff
Altitude - The Art Of Chill
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2003 CD release of "The Art Of Chill" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
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Magdelayna
Elite Member
Cheers,my style is exactly what youre looking for - enjoy!
and yes,Chilled Euphoria was my bible. Great choice.
and yes,Chilled Euphoria was my bible. Great choice.
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Angels – Chill Trance Essentials
Explore releases from the Angels – Chill Trance Essentials label. Discover what's missing in your discography and shop for Angels – Chill Trance Essentials releases.
www.discogs.com
Ah, I see you already have those.
Nothing newer to suggest, but worth exploring where it began (arguably) with The KLF and The Orb. You could go back further to Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Steve Reich but despite having tracks that were definitely ahead of their time, they crossed genres and weren't exclusively ambient, or would be classed as 'experimental' for the time.
Ambient Trance was really an early-90s thing, there's loads of the stuff back there - The KLF are generally credited with first using the term "trance" as a style of music. FSOL, Banco de Gaia, Orbital, System 7, Global Communication would be the main names to begin with.
Last edited:
- Jun 27, 2020
- 4,071 Posts
- 2,940 Thanked
You just reminded me of a beauty I discovered recently. The entire album (Last Train To Lhasa) is phenomenal, worth a listen.
freewave
Member
Thanks! I've been going through my Downtempo Main List and done some work on that this week. A lot of that is covered on there (Progressive Electronic, Ambient House). Just added the Ambient Dub set and also a more uptempo "Psychedelic UK Techno" (Megadog, Crusty Techno, and Ethno-Hippies) set that was kinda stuck in the middle of that era (proto-GOA, some ambient dub tracks, more psyche then typical ambient techno). Anyway regardless of which box those each fit in, some great music at that time!Angels – Chill Trance Essentials
Explore releases from the Angels – Chill Trance Essentials label. Discover what's missing in your discography and shop for Angels – Chill Trance Essentials releases.
Ah, I see you already have those.
Nothing newer to suggest, but worth exploring where it began (arguably) with The KLF and The Orb. You could go back further to Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Steve Reich but despite having tracks that were definitely ahead of their time, they crossed genres and weren't exclusively ambient, or would be classed as 'experimental' for the time.
Ambient Trance was really an early-90s thing, there's loads of the stuff back there - The KLF are generally credited with first using the term "trance" as a style of music. FSOL, Banco de Gaia, Orbital, System 7, Global Communication would be the main names to begin with.
freewave
Member
