KOMPAKT Pop Ambient poll

2001 and 2007 are my favorites. Going to have to go with 2001 as it was my first Kompakt CD.

2007 prob my fave so far. need to go back and listen to the older ones

I've heard 2001, 2004-08 and voting for 2005.

Cover connection:

http://astrangelyisolatedplace.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/ambient-450x450.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V9pve2DRajk/R9Xlx_83dVI/AAAAAAAAAFA/VcrtVJSp0qo/s400/The-Cure-Pornography-334636%5B1%5D.jpg

Whoa I wasn't even aware they had been releasing pop ambient compilations since 2001. I thought 2007 was the first one :P

They should drop the artwork for the next compilations - they don't seem to fit the clean aesthetic of the rest of their catalogue. Makes them look like cheap trance compilations from the 90's.

how do u know their catalogue's "aesthetic", u thought pop ambient started in '07

i think the art is good and i even like the shitty font that makes it look like it was laid out in word

Is the new one any good?

yes

can't pick btw 2001 & 2005 (the only ones I held on to fwiw)

how do u know their catalogue's "aesthetic", u thought pop ambient started in '07

― ♖♕♖ (am0n)

Well yes, but I own several of thier singles, eps and compilations and they all seem to follow certain design guidelines. The artwork for these pop ambient series looks incredibly lazy when compared to the stuff I've bought from them. Then, I could probably be wrong and maybe they do this sort of ugly covers more often than I think.

Pop Ambient's always been consistent - it's ugly (the letterspaced italics!) but it's ugly in a very particular way, and I'm sure they know it. I think if these records were too pretty it would risk coming off as New Age.

Some of the people from earlier iterations of this seem to have disappeared entirely: what happened to Leandro Fresco? or www.jz-arkh.co.uk? or Pass Into Silence?

In what alternate universe is this an ugly cover?? I think it's gorgeous...

http://img3.nnm.ru/imagez/gallery/c/7/6/a/f/c76af534b725d26a4ff19ff806c3d606_full.jpg

Changing the cover design "template" this late in the series would be a bigger violation of the Kompact visual aesthetic. They're going to run out of polka-dot permutations before they run out of cyber-flowers.

I think if these records were too pretty it would risk coming off as New Age.

yeah. always thought that was the point of the covers anyway, kind of tongue-in-cheek nod to new age

Actually a few of them look nice alright... 2008, 2002 and 2001... and maybe 2007 - the rest not so much... I'm not a fan of the forced squares to make legible the ugly typography (if they had chosen a good type there wouldn't be a need to this) or the black/trippy backgrounds, but I suppose Paul is right, changing the template this late in the series would probably be a worse choice. Then of course, they could keep on doing the flower thing, just... you know, better.

Anyways, we're veering off topic... we're here to discuss the contents, not the form. I hope I have the time to listen to all the comps before next week and cast a vote.

2001-2003 are all pretty much perfect. The rest have their moments. Goin w/2002

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

new markus guentner album art looks like a freakin MTG card. samples sound lovely, though.

http://www.israbox.com/uploads/posts/2009-12/1261521351_cover.jpg

this label, sending orbs, looks intriguing

LOL that cover is off the wall.

love to vote but only have 2006.

I always though 2002-2003 was the consensus picks for the best of the series, but perhaps I will be proved wrong.

I love 2001 but I don't think they'd quite worked out what they wanted the series to be - the subsequent comps I've heard are much quiet.

2002 is my pick if only for "AG Penthouse" and "Dry Retch".

'01 for Alltag, though they do bleed together for me (not a bad thing).

I've slept so many night to 2003. That first song is like a beacon calling me to sleep.

Klimek - Milk and Honey from 2003 and Standing On The Beach (Gun In My Hand Mix) from 2004, hard choice.

How is 2010? I've loved all of these, but 2003 gets my vote for the one I listen to the most.

There's some really fantastic stuff on 2010, Jacob. The Wolfgang Voigt track in particular is heavenly. Been playing this album all the time recently; think my housemates are sick of it.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Listened to 2009 today, and although the Klimek tunes that bookend it are a bit of a slog, the rest of it is rather lovely.

Voted 2003, but 2002 is my 2nd favorite. "Dry Retch" might be my favorite PA track.

that entire donnacha costello album that "dry retch" appears on is really great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p576r9oMK44

from the latest edition : Soulsavers - Hal (Wolfgang Voigt Mix)

been advised that this is a 5 minute edit from a full 40 minute remix of the Soulsavers Kubrick album !

2007 was the first one i heard and it's still the best imo

I may have mentioned this elsewhere but the Robyn remix; Who Do You Love (Wolfgang Voigt GAS Mix)is great.

^^^ One of my favourite discoveries from the Tracks Poll playlist.

Wonder what the consensus would be seven years later

Haven't heard any since 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy4pZ23nkGE

Total compilations >> Pop Ambient compilations

Though I will admit I didn't always feel this way

Yeah I find the pop ambients a bit boring.

i find comparing tech house compilations to ambient compilations a bit boring

I found myself lately lining up the entire Pop Ambient catalog on random play, which is pretty crazy in the sense that it's now clocking in at 17+ hours. Good for working tho.

^^ this with fade in/out enabled = best mixtape ever.

do it with the TOTAL collection as well for when i want a beat.

so much good stuff on this label.