Comments on: Ambient country, or whatever you call it, is where it’s at

By: Paul Statham

Paul Statham — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:56:02 +0000

was looking for a description of ambient country as am about to record an album in that genre.But will be asking singers Ive worked with in the past/present to contribute vocals.I also would like their lyrics to reflect the wide open spaces,empty towns,forgotten loves and the ability to find yourself in these places.Peter Murphy is on board and am going to ask Kate Havnevik and Dot Allison too,so watch this space !!

By: Owen T

Owen T — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:49:46 +0000

I’ve heard this sub-sub-genre referred to as “ambient Americana.” It’s a great term, I think.

You should check out Daniel Lanois’ stuff, particularly his soundtrack to “Sling Blade.” Richard Thompson’s soundtrack to “Grizzly Man” fits the bill nicely, too. Viktor Krauss is a session musician who’s put out two AA-style albums that are quite good (both feature Bill Frisell).

There’s also the instrumental band The Six Parts Seven, though they’re more post-rock than AA. But they’re highly recommended, at least by me.

By: Alex Skafidas

Alex Skafidas — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:08:15 +0000

I am amazed to find another person that likes this relaxation ‘music’ !
I’ve been trying to give it a name or at least try describe in words, but found it difficult while you succeeded magnificently! :D
The description of this ‘ambient country’ style, as you call it, couldn’t be better!

Thanks to you and anyone who contributed to putting together this list of CDs. Hope to see more!
BTW: I also agree that Ry Cooder’s album "Paris, Texas" probably is one of the best examples…

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:40:14 +0000

Just to say thanks for having this info up on your site. I've been looking for this sort of music specifically for the last couple of hours online and have found exactly what I need in Ry Cooder and Bill Frisell.

Many thanks

By: Karl

Karl — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 22:11:16 +0000

I’m a huge fan of the Paris, TX soundtrack. Something that leaps to mind as far as instrumental, wide-open, rattlesnake-evoking stuff goes, I highly recommend the latest album by Earth, "Hex; Or Printing in the Infernal Method" - it’s reminiscent of Neil Young’s soundtrack to "Dead Man".

By: edith

edith — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:35:23 +0000

Well… I know what you mean but you’re wrong. Hee! It might have certain qualities of ambience but it’s not ambient, not by my definition. There can’t be a voice saying words that you can understand. Verses and choruses, no!! It’s wrong. Not ambient.

By: mike a

mike a — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:16:36 +0000

I actually hear most of _Calling Over Time_ this way. "Follow" and "Denied" are good examples - they’re spaciously arranged in ways that suggest big skies and open expanses. (Having actually listened to this CD while driving through Utah and Wyoming, I can say this from personal experience.)

By: edith

edith — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 02:14:09 +0000

Duh on my part.

EDITH FROST
c/o Drag City, Inc.
2000 West Carroll Ave. #201
Chicago, IL 60612

Take yer time though, I might not get it for awhile... lotta traveling coming up and I don't know when I'll make it over to DC to pick up my mail. You can mail it whenever though, they just hold on to it for me until I go in, or until enough mail accumulates, they'll bundle it up in a big burlap sack and send that to my house. Okay, maybe a small padded envelope. ;-)

By: George

George — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 01:56:36 +0000

And how might one send you such a burned copy? :-)

By: edith

edith — Tue, 30 May 2006 16:42:26 +0000

Yeah I dig them a lot but I didn’t consider them for my list, ‘cuz they’re too song-ey for the most part. Like Calexico they have some *songs* that qualify but not whole albums, at least not any I’ve heard.

By: scott

scott — Tue, 30 May 2006 16:09:58 +0000

forgot about the friends of dean martinez. http://www.icemagazine.com/daily/223/oct19.asp

By: edith

edith — Mon, 29 May 2006 05:38:06 +0000

Oh I neglected to mention before, anybody who makes a suggestion is highly encouraged, but should not feel obligated at all, to burn me a copy! :-)

By: timothy

timothy — Fri, 26 May 2006 22:28:39 +0000

‘The Tailored Soldier’ by Boxharp is a wonderful example of this. It was a one-off from the guy in Court & Spark. Starts off more song-oriented, but by the end it’s something else entirely. Might be out of print but worth finding.

By: scott

scott — Fri, 26 May 2006 12:31:49 +0000

i’d forgotten about "the hired hand" - one of my favorite movies in college. i can remember being blown away by the music over the last image of a shimmering river. off to half.com to get the reissue.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 25 May 2006 23:59:30 +0000

How ’bout Bruce Langhorne’s soundtrack to "The Hired Hand"? This was Peter Fonda’s existential Western he directed not too long after "Easy Rider". Langhorne made his name as a folkie instrumentalist backing Dylan and others in the early ’60s. And supposedly, he’s the inspiration behind Mr. Tambourine Man. The soundtrack has that very simple but ethereal, existential, austere vibe that’s quite beautiful. Edith, I bet this would make a viable candidate to add to your list.

By: Jono

Jono — Thu, 25 May 2006 13:37:37 +0000

Scott, you beat me to b.j. cole. i would definitely add b.j. cole to the list of "ambient country" artists. he’s such a beautiful player! i can imagine what a edith frost and bj.. cole collaboration would sound like…

By: scott

scott — Wed, 24 May 2006 12:52:02 +0000

bj cole, an english pedal steel player, did an ambient album called "transparent music," but it was more classically influenced with takes on clair de lune and pavane for a dead princess. maybe jon rauhaus will get around to making a desert soundscape.

By: George

George — Wed, 24 May 2006 12:19:11 +0000

I love this stuff, but never had a name for it. "Ambient Countryj." Nice. I'll look for the titles you mention above.

Check out the soundtrack to 21 Grams by Gustavo Santaolalla. I think that's more of what you're decscribing.

By: edith

edith — Wed, 24 May 2006 04:49:18 +0000

Well it just bugs me because it’s an incorrect description based on my own definition of the word "ambient". I’m one of those "ambient is Eno and not Moby" people. Ambient has to be almost *nothing*, no drums, no guitars, no riffs, no nothin’ but wallpaper. Like, if something *wakes me up* from sleep or calls attention to itself in any way, then it’s not good ambient. And this so-called ambient country isn’t really suitable for sleeping. Too many cactus needles, it’d give you weird nightmares. So I dunno, I’d rather come up with a better term for it but I can’t think of what that would be.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 24 May 2006 04:40:38 +0000

As soon as you said Morricone… you know I’m into that. :)

Someone needed to coin a term for it… why not you?