Isn't Enya New Age or something like this?

http://stellar1.bandcamp.com/album/...light-e-p-vol-1

This is ambient

I think the two are sometimes hard to differentiate (sp?) between the other. Mike Oldfield did a decent job of crossing between the two, or at least blending them together; though I think he was more "New Age" (re: Tubular Bells)

I've actually been listening to quite a lot of borderline New Age material on Spotify recently. I tend to play space music when I get in from work and I'm half asleep, because it's a waste to try and process any complicated music in that mental state but I still want to chill out to something.

One thing I've noticed is that New Age musicians tend to openly advertise their work as being perfect background music for spas, cafés and healing crystal apothecaries, where as ambient artists tend to treat their own music as something deserving of close attention. New Age ambient tends to exclusively concerned with creating a pleasant atmosphere that is totally functional, where as more serious ambient is devoted to building a powerful mood, which is not always pleasant or relaxing.

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quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J One thing I've noticed is that New Age musicians tend to openly advertise their work as being perfect background music for spas, cafés and healing crystal apothecaries, where as ambient artists tend to treat their own music as something deserving of close attention. New Age ambient tends to exclusively concerned with creating a pleasant atmosphere that is totally functional, where as more serious ambient is devoted to building a powerful mood, which is not always pleasant or relaxing.

I certainly agree with this.

I don't blame them for capitalising on the 'relaxation' industry, though. It works well when having a massage or whatever.... and there's certainly a market for it, albeit a rather small one.

Not to say I don't enjoy the 'droney' kind of ambient, but I certainly prefer a piece that evokes some emotion. That's generally my like/dislike filter for any track really, regardless of genre...

... anyway, Solar Fields or Jonsi & Alex, anyone?

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Originally posted by Vector A Yeah, he makes ambient, or used to at least.

Still making ambient, or at least when I find the spark to I guess.

Two of my tracks are in a documentary coming out next year.

The eclectic sound of "ambient music" of 70's and 80's in my view should be divided into 5 groups - Experimental, Minimal, Ambient, New Age and Berlin School. They were all a variation of the same source.

New Age is great, but it is often very hard for me to find the track that I like. There's just something about New Age that often makes my ear bleed - though there are plenty of it that I like, but some I cant stomach. I like Vangelis, William Aura, IASOS, Christopher Franke, Mars Lasar (MODERN NEW AGE), Patrick O'Hearn, some Constance Demby, etc. And some stuff like this - which has a perfect combination of New Age AND Berlin School (second half) - 1978:



The most, I LOVE space-disco-new-age kind of stuff. Here's a track I will be using in my next mix that I am working on right now - one of my all-time favourites. If you speed it up on the turntables it sounds like trance (from 1978). Those damn French had so much amazing EM music in the 70's:



New-er New Age that really drives my boat - perfect music for outdoors:




Then there's the Jean Michel Jarre-like variation of New Age that I like. Once again, French. 1976.



William Aura. The kind of New Age that I melt to.




And how about some Berlin School, guys??? German Berlin School, 1979.

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All Berlin School reminds me of Tangerine Dream, and because of that, the movie Miracle Mile, which is a pretty bad ass everyone dies movie.

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J One thing I've noticed is that New Age musicians tend to openly advertise their work as being perfect background music for spas, cafés and healing crystal apothecaries, where as ambient artists tend to treat their own music as something deserving of close attention. New Age ambient tends to exclusively concerned with creating a pleasant atmosphere that is totally functional, where as more serious ambient is devoted to building a powerful mood, which is not always pleasant or relaxing.

yeah totally agree with this.

this is probably one of my favorite new age albums. Not entirely new age, as I think it has some ambient sounds in it too, however.