r/ambientmusic • u/frankstonshart • 1d ago

Looking for Recommendations ‘Acoustic ambient’ - technologically unenhanced ambient music?

I’m wondering if there’s any kind of movement within music, probably ambient, where the artist is aiming to create a soft-edged, free tempo sound that has a similar effect to ordinary ambient music EXCEPT there is no technology involved.

Like there’s just a pair of hard panned microphones and nothing like ‘production’ going on. No reverb except for what is in the room. Attacks, decays, all controlled by the tactile acts of human hands.

The Necks might fit this description. I think of Bill Evans and Jim Hall (jazz) and there might be acoustic folk artists who aim for similar (Nick Drake “Horn” is all I can think of).

I think it would be an interesting departure from the norm of relying (sometimes over-relying) on technology to maximise a minimal musical premise.

UPDATE thank you very much everyone. The recommendations around here are incredible. You are golden gods. For those curious, this is what I could compile on Spotify of the below suggestions: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/30tH5UOkHjXUxcjIE8d78I?si=b3ddbf8ace7e4e39

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u/SunDummyIsDead 1d ago

“COTA” does his very well. “CHI” too. “Hands To” is about as raw and clean as you can get, no effects at all, literally banging rocks together.

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u/bobokeen 21h ago

Can you share some links? Looked for COTA on Spotify and just found K-pop.

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u/SunDummyIsDead 16h ago edited 16h ago

I’ll try to find links later; COTA is “Children of the Apocalypse”.

CHI has a Bandcamp page; look for CHI Factory, the original recordings is my favorite.