Product Description

Very occasionally in music, something will come at you fromso far out on the left field, that not only do you not noteits immediate import, you scarcely recognise it as music atall. This is the record that cemented the media's fascination with Richard James, a Cornwall bedroom DJ. Selected Ambient Works is not an entirely representative recording, as these are essentially mood pieces, unlike the more instantaneous, dancefloor-targeted material that originally brought him to the nation's attention. Nevertheless if you are prepared to make the journey, and can see past the album's intimidating length and its lack of linear framework, there are some exquisite moments - ranging in texture from melodic delirium to sweeping melancholy.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1589 in Music
• Released on: 1996-07-04
• Number of discs: 2

Customer Reviews

You must be joking
I bought Ambient Works with no preconceptions about the artist, completely objectively, and unburdened by fan loyalty. I read the reviews on here and took a punt. I have a vast music collection across most genres, ranging from what I think is exquisite music to stuff which I now have small doubts about. Having listened to this cd I have to say it sits firmly near the bottom of the pile. If I'd wanted aimless electronic doodling I'd have asked my niece to twiddle some keyboard knobs and paid her a fiver. Even after making allowance for that fact that 95% of the music here is unlayered and unstructured, the remainder is quite frankly insipid and musically lifeless & directionless. I appreciate soundscaping and atmospheric imagery, and some may say this is beautifully atmospheric. I'd say it's simply pretentious crap. Do yourself a favour and spend elsewhere.

ooooooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Aside from a few select tracks, Selected Ambient Works Vol. II presents itself as a sort of anti-music; the sequencing goes into the red far too often and nothing on it sounds quite... right. It is an emotional experience too, although the feelings the listener experiences cancel each other out, leaving the music in an uncomfortable, misty and altogether sinister limbo. Play it at night when feeling inhuman.

unidentified emotions
I'm not going to write a full review but I just wanted to add my voice to the masses in praise of this...

Quite simply one of the best albums of any genre, this is the reason I had to start making music myself.

This is seriously unsettling music and evokes feelings and emotions that are completely alien and impossible to describe. None of the pieces really progress and they appear on the surface to be incredibly simple - but give this time and some deep listening and you will be rewarded.