Trance2MoveU Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I'm listening to Numina- Transparent Planet and while it is beautiful with spacious, floating pads I'm wondering why. Is it's sole purpose to b a soundtrack when going to sleep? It's hard to listen to as I find myself losing focus, trying to follow the melody. With droning pads it just seems so ponderously slow. With no beats to ground me, I feel like a balloon that is being carried away by the wind. Does anyone enjoy this other than at night? Mdk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qa2pir Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I'm picky when it comes to beatless but the good stuff can really slow down time at will to make this droning sound perfectly intelligible music, if you give it the chance. I can't think of a better way to describe it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trance2MoveU Posted February 1, 2010 Author Share Posted February 1, 2010 That's a good way to put it. As I delve farther into the album, there is more than just spacey pads that go on for 32 measures, and that helps. But, slowing down time is very applicable. I have never heard music that typifies what it must be like to be adrift in space. Mdk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuisBSF Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 A great example of a mostly beatless (around 4 minutes out of over 50) yet groovy and driving album is Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, although it certainly doesn't fit the "ambient" tag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ormion Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Beatless is my favorite kind of ambient. But the only way to appreciate it is to fully focus on it. Unlike dance, downtempo or ambient with a beat beatless music can only be understand when you do nothing else than listening to it. I used to dislike beatless ambient cause I couldn't find any purpose in it. Then while trying to find a good cure against insomnia I put some beatless ambient in my discman. Then I undersood. Lying on my bed, doing nothing but listening to music beatless ambient took me away and like qa2pir said it slowed the time. Try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abasio Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Well ambient is supposed to be as engaging as it is ignorable right? That means you can put it on lose focus & not notice any of the music. It really needs to the right circumstances but once you get into the genre these circumstances become easy to come by and more circumstances than before are right for the music. When I first stareted listening to ambient I had to sit fully focused to enjoy it (still the best way) but now I can enjoy it while reading, walking about, on the train etc. It's not an easy genre to like but I think if you can get into the rewards are top notch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drosophila Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Well ambient is supposed to be as engaging as it is ignorable right? That means you can put it on lose focus & not notice any of the music. It really needs to the right circumstances but once you get into the genre these circumstances become easy to come by and more circumstances than before are right for the music. When I first stareted listening to ambient I had to sit fully focused to enjoy it (still the best way) but now I can enjoy it while reading, walking about, on the train etc. It's not an easy genre to like but I think if you can get into the rewards are top notch +1 I love beatless ambient when I'm on the move (especially trains ). I have been listening to beatless ambient (well not continuously of course) since I was a little kid, so I might be bias, but I really can't find better music for accomplishing inner focus (or light meditative state if you want), so for me it definitely has a purpose... and this I feel is something else compared to when I listen to "beat/rhythm-music". So it is perfect for work as well, in case I need to focus. If I'm falling a sleep (while working) upbeat music might be better though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abasio Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 If I have to work or study I generally listen to more upbeat music as I cannot help but focus on the ambient if I play that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amphiton Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 I like it in the mornings too, also at the time of the day (especially winter), if I'm home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Matta Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 I like the idea of ambient music. Like when sitting in a planetarium and looking at a ceiling of stars before the presentation begins. Most of the time it bores me, but sometimes there's nothing better. Some stuff I can listen to all the time, like Biosphere, The Dead Texan/Stars of the Lid, and some of Roach's stuff, like this. But it has to transport me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p(sy)ayam Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 listening to beatless ambient to me is like laying down on grass and staring at clouds looking for different shapes. you have to engage yourself to fully appreciate it, and i think that's why it's my favorite kind of music. even when i don't focus on it too much it can transform the atmosphere for me so it's really enjoyable if i want to read a book or do something lazily!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawfly Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 I'm listening to Numina- Transparent Planet and while it is beautiful with spacious, floating pads I'm wondering why. Is it's sole purpose to b a soundtrack when going to sleep? It's hard to listen to as I find myself losing focus, trying to follow the melody. With droning pads it just seems so ponderously slow. With no beats to ground me, I feel like a balloon that is being carried away by the wind. Does anyone enjoy this other than at night? Mdk It depends, but you have to be in the right mood to enjoy beatless stuff imo. Acid and other psychedelics are great and weed sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trance2MoveU Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 It depends, but you have to be in the right mood to enjoy beatless stuff imo. Acid and other psychedelics are great and weed sometimes. The drug days for me are long over, but I agree to fully appreciate it, you have to be in the mood for it. I think as of now I prefer downtempo or something with a beat as I can feel the changes in the music. Mdk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redington Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Beatless ambient makes me want to travel through the cosmos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawfly Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Beatless ambient makes me travel through the cosmos. Fixed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melancholyman Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Listen to this and you will hopefully understand the greatness of beatless ambient!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melancholyman Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Btw, I haven't really listened to much stuff from neither Lustmord or Robert Rich, could someone please recommend me their "top work". Thx! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abasio Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Lustmord - The Place Where The Black Stars Hang Robert Rich - Somnium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melancholyman Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Lustmord - The Place Where The Black Stars Hang Robert Rich - Somnium THX!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWeevil Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 There is good ambient and A LOT of bad stuff, and lots of diversity in the genre. In my experience you have to put up with a lot of music that goes in 1 ear and out the other without you hearing anything before you find something you really love. My favorite purely beatless release is probably Adam Saikh - Journey To The Sun. But if you allow some beats and rhythms, then my favorite is Solar Quest's Orgship & Orgism. There are a few gems on the FAX label like Sad World, Silence, Air, Dreamfish. Instinct Ambient has some others as well, like probably Mysteries Of Science, and Rising High Records, James Bernard, Syzygy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWeevil Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 This track sends shivers up my spine, along with the 30 min track that follows it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws0U0pO0uHU Ambient tribal trance, often close to goa sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gdlofkrp4I (Not beatless, just wanted to give a flavor of some good FAX releases, I can add more later if you wish.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bahamut Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 If it's beautiful what more reason do you need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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