Ambient/Noise
Unravelling sonic textures, crackling flield recordings and uhhh harrowing harsh noise walls. Ambient music and noise have slowly been gaining ground here in DCD and 2020 saw us finally giving it it's own genre channel in recognising the community y'all have built here.
Reviews
Amy
I chose this because I honestly think it is some of Merzbow's best work in a long long time, the combination of the organ drone and dynamic constantly twisting noise on the opener is one of the best noise songs I've ever heard and the whole album is consistently great and dynamic, definitely a highlight in his discog.
simon
In a year of increased alone-time this album was the soundtrack to reflection for me. Beautifully layered meeting of electronic and acoustic.
Amy
I've always been a sucker for electroacoustic ambient, and the structure of this album being a bunch of amazing vignettes rather than longform pieces which I'm usually more of a fan of actually works super well in it's favour.
simon
KMRU had a great year with three very different but gorgeous albums. This one made the cut because of its daring commitment to minimalism.
simon
Ulla gave us this album very early this year but became of great help. The album that calmed me the most this year.
toes of the damned
This warm drone masterwork came out of nowhere, and quickly became one of my favorite overall releases in the style. Its relaxing and enveloping compositions are up there with some of the greats of drone ambient like stars of the lid, celer, etc. Few other ambient albums in 2020 wormed their way into constant rotation like this did. Potentially a classic of this subgenre of ambient.
toes of the damned
A collaboration, and Budd's final work, Another Flower is ethereal and brilliant. It keeps up the mysterious, otherworldly atmosphere so trademark to his playing. Easily a highlight for Budd's extensive catalog, standing as one of his best and proving that even after all these years, he still had it.
Honourable Mentions
Amy
cv313 - satosphere sessions [transmission iii] (amazing longform ambient dub techno)
Desert Sand Feels Warm at Night - 夜道 (excellent ambient vaporwave)
Jim O'Rourke - Shutting Down Here (ambient/electroacoustic)
toes of the damned
Mild Sorrow Integrated - Meadow Platinum, Vol. 2 A cornerstone release for the brone style/subgenre birthed in deep cuts, elevating what started as a gag to greatness. A defining album in deep cuts lore.