Ireland is not exactly known for its ambient musicians, but Dublin's Mick Chillage stands toe to toe with his German and Scandinavian counterparts.  When I first his his downtempo album Tales from the Igloo album in late 2010, I was immediately captivated.  The whole album is pretty stellar, but the closing track, a re-interpretation of John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 theme really grabbed me.  I've played it out a few times and always a few people recognize it, but aren't sure what it is.

 

 

I tracked him down on Facebook, and it turns out he's a pretty cool cat.  He regularly posts links to new projects he's working on.  Most of the music he makes these days is decidedly more ambient than downtempo.   A couple of years ago, Mick released an album on the late, great Pete Namlook's label Fax +49-69/450464 called FAXology.  "Returning Home," the closing track from it is a bit of a slow burner (as ambient music is wont to be), but the payoff is damn well worth it.  Mick's a deft synth programmer, but he also has an uncanny sense of melody.  Returning Home is one of the best thing's he written.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bceTjk1JLA

Let me get this right, an Irish downtempo  / ambient artist is called Mick Chillage? Does he have a Scottish counterpart Jock Chillax?

Oh wait. it's a nom de bleep. Micheal Gainford doesn't quite have the same vibe. But I like his Style ("Chillage Idiots", "Michael Moog")

Edited October 7, 201312 yr by Grahame

I almost share a label with him.  I didn't make the final cut for the physical release of the Namlook tribute (Fax's founder), but I'll be on the digital release if we can get enough people to buy it.  You can preorder it here.  If you're going to go all out and buy the physical release, then like this Facebook post to indicate your interest in the full digital version (as opposed to a digital-only version of the physical release).  In fact, like it no matter which version you buy, I think that's the only way he'll know there's interest.

 

 

This is an amazing find, from the golden era of UK club culture. Ae live in their early breakbeat days, before the release Incunabula or Amber. The sound and video quality of this clip are really good, especially for 1991.

those whistles drive me nuts

Unholy carp, 1991?  I was an early discoverer, but I don't think even I'd discovered them yet.  Oh, just looked it up, according to google they hadn't even started releasing things yet.

 

EDIT:  Dan -- they're not there for the entire clip.

Phil Western, Dementhol

 

Make sure you also listen to "Best Songs Made in Bed", which is actually a better track.  The title track is more experimental.

yah, I know, I listened to the whole thing.  It's mostly that they drive me nuts because I remember the stupid whistles from when I went clubbing back around that time.  Something that's a cool participatory thing once, and then becomes every high idiot deciding he's the show.

So what you really don't like is high idiocy.

 

Throwback Thursday -- Orbital, a version of Doctor Who and the Sea Devils written by Malcolm Clark starring John Pertwee

 

EDIT:  L'ink fixed.

Not sure how Fuck Buttons hasn't made an appearance in this thread yet.

 

Scanner does "White Christmas"

 

 

WAT^2

Carbon based life forms always seem to find a way back into my rotation, not sure how to classify it but good music non the less.

So is this the thread we talk about the new Boards of Canada album in? Because its awesome.

It sure is great, but is it awesome? Still can't trump what Campfire Headphase did to me. It might the Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 talking tho.

 

Or I might've grown out of IDM.

 

Not really ambient or IDM, but contains copious modular porn.

Geir Jenssen (Mr. Biosphere) is famous for his ambient works, and his use of field recordings.  He's not generally known for political themes in his music.

 

 

It's a pretty good piece of music, with or without context.

Oohz

 

Shee-it, here's some "field recordings" for you.

I can't stop listening to this track.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22fyra_butch-c-vogt-the-infamous-robytek-vs-shield-re-edit_music

Apparently Future Sound of London are still at it in 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7rZmACHHdw

 

I case you missed this.

...and your day wasn't sufficiently disturbing.

Because fuck you internet.

Speaking of RDJ, he's trolling everyone as per usual.  There's a mysterious soundcloud page up with some early 90s tracks that sound a lot like his floor sweepings: https://soundcloud.com/user487363530

 

Some of them are ear-gouging but a few are sublimely beautiful.  One can never be sure with RDJ, but I strongly suspect these are authentic.  SomewhereOTTGTBAG is especially good.