Ambient (album) explained

Ambient
Type:studio
Artist:Moby
Cover:Moby-ambient.jpg
Genre:Ambient techno
Label:Instinct
Producer:Moby
Prev Title:Early Underground
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:Move
Next Year:1993

Ambient is the second studio album by American electronica musician Moby, released in August 1993 by record label Instinct.

Composition

The album is composed of electronic ambient pieces, similar to Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works releases. Like the Aphex Twin releases, the work is mainly instrumental (although there are samples of the sound of a choir vocalizing on "Tongues", and a woman saying "bad days" in the background of "Bad Days"). Many of the tracks are beat-driven, except "J Breas" and "Piano and String", which both use pianos and synthesizers. "Bad Days" uses a 'sweeping' synth effect, and "Sound" is a high-pitched loop playing and fading out and in. "80" uses synths mimicking an acoustic guitar.

The album has an experimental, moody style. Many of the tracks (including "Bad Days" and "Lean on Me") are dark and unearthly. There are also some more uplifting numbers, like "Heaven", "Tongues" and "Dog", which are more beat driven, danceable numbers. The track "Myopia" uses a bubbling synth-bass style. "House of Blue Leaves" and "My Beautiful Blue Sky" are more experimental beat songs ("House of Blue Leaves" is a simple beat and some keyboards, and "My Beautiful Blue Sky" is a tribal rhythm, synths, and a piano).

Personnel

Credits for Ambient adapted from album liner notes.[1]

Artwork and design

Notes and References

  1. . 1993 . Ambient . liner notes . . EX 253.