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
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 19:19 (fourteen years ago) link
Whoa I wasn't even aware they had been releasing pop ambient compilations since 2001. I thought 2007 was the first one :P
― Moka, Wednesday, 3 February 2010 19:40 (fourteen years ago) link
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.
― Moka, Wednesday, 3 February 2010 19:43 (fourteen years ago) link
how do u know their catalogue's "aesthetic", u thought pop ambient started in '07
― ♖♕♖ (am0n), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 19:46 (fourteen years ago) link
i think the art is good and i even like the shitty font that makes it look like it was laid out in word
― brews before HOOS (s1ocki), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 19:59 (fourteen years ago) link
Is the new one any good?
― We should have called Suzie and Bobby (NickB), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 20:01 (fourteen years ago) link
yes
― ♖♕♖ (am0n), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 20:02 (fourteen years ago) link
can't pick btw 2001 & 2005 (the only ones I held on to fwiw)
― ┌∩┐(◕_◕)┌∩┐ (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 20:12 (fourteen years ago) link
― ♖♕♖ (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.
― Moka, Wednesday, 3 February 2010 20:33 (fourteen years ago) link
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?
― with hidden noise, Wednesday, 3 February 2010 20:57 (fourteen years ago) link
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
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 21:07 (fourteen years ago) link
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.
― Enoki Doki (Paul in Santa Cruz), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 21:08 (fourteen years ago) link
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
― ♖♕♖ (am0n), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 21:22 (fourteen years ago) link
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.
― Moka, Wednesday, 3 February 2010 21:25 (fourteen years ago) link
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.
― Moka, Wednesday, 3 February 2010 21:28 (fourteen years ago) link
2001-2003 are all pretty much perfect. The rest have their moments. Goin w/2002
― guammls (QE II), Wednesday, 3 February 2010 23:15 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 00:01 (fourteen years ago) link
new markus guentner album art looks like a freakin MTG card. samples sound lovely, though.
― guammls (QE II), Tuesday, 9 February 2010 00:15 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.israbox.com/uploads/posts/2009-12/1261521351_cover.jpg
this label, sending orbs, looks intriguing
― guammls (QE II), Tuesday, 9 February 2010 00:16 (fourteen years ago) link
LOL that cover is off the wall.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 9 February 2010 00:18 (fourteen years ago) link
love to vote but only have 2006.
― mmmm, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 00:23 (fourteen years ago) link
I always though 2002-2003 was the consensus picks for the best of the series, but perhaps I will be proved wrong.
― Michael F Gill, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 01:01 (fourteen years ago) link
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".
― Tim F, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 01:03 (fourteen years ago) link
'01 for Alltag, though they do bleed together for me (not a bad thing).
― Mark, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 01:28 (fourteen years ago) link
I've slept so many night to 2003. That first song is like a beacon calling me to sleep.
― Jacob Sanders, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 02:14 (fourteen years ago) link
Klimek - Milk and Honey from 2003 and Standing On The Beach (Gun In My Hand Mix) from 2004, hard choice.
― Jacob Sanders, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 02:27 (fourteen years ago) link
How is 2010? I've loved all of these, but 2003 gets my vote for the one I listen to the most.
― Jacob Sanders, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 02:38 (fourteen years ago) link
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.
― Dwight Yorke, Tuesday, 9 February 2010 10:31 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Wednesday, 10 February 2010 00:01 (fourteen years ago) link
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.
― Michael F Gill, Wednesday, 10 February 2010 00:08 (fourteen years ago) link
that entire donnacha costello album that "dry retch" appears on is really great
― guammls (QE II), Wednesday, 10 February 2010 00:39 (fourteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p576r9oMK44
― ⓢⓗⓘⓣ (am0n), Wednesday, 30 July 2014 20:35 (nine years ago) link
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 !
― mark e, Tuesday, 10 January 2017 14:55 (seven years ago) link
2007 was the first one i heard and it's still the best imo
― marcos, Tuesday, 10 January 2017 14:56 (seven years ago) link
I may have mentioned this elsewhere but the Robyn remix; Who Do You Love (Wolfgang Voigt GAS Mix)is great.
― mmmm, Tuesday, 10 January 2017 15:28 (seven years ago) link
^^^ One of my favourite discoveries from the Tracks Poll playlist.
― Gavin, Leeds, Tuesday, 10 January 2017 15:35 (seven years ago) link
Wonder what the consensus would be seven years later
Haven't heard any since 2008
― Wimmels, Wednesday, 22 February 2017 20:07 (seven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy4pZ23nkGE
― am0n, Friday, 2 February 2018 17:06 (six years ago) link
Total compilations >> Pop Ambient compilations
Though I will admit I didn't always feel this way
― Paul Ponzi, Thursday, 1 March 2018 14:05 (six years ago) link
Yeah I find the pop ambients a bit boring.
― chap, Thursday, 1 March 2018 14:14 (six years ago) link
i find comparing tech house compilations to ambient compilations a bit boring
― brimstead, Thursday, 1 March 2018 15:27 (six years ago) link
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.
― MikoMcha, Thursday, 1 March 2018 16:36 (six years ago) link
^^ 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.
― mark e, Thursday, 1 March 2018 18:01 (six years ago) link