Dark ambient: features of the genre

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Today we will talk about the features of the dark ambient genre. Artists who create works in this direction will be listed below. We are talking about the genre of electronic music - a subspecies of ambient. This phenomenon arose in the late eighties as a rethinking of the experiments of the pioneers of the direction.

Most common features

In the dark ambient genre, natural or industrial noises are most often used. Some projects use the signals of military installations, space probes and radars converted into sounds. Dark ambient compositions are rarely built according to the classical laws of music. Their structure often corresponds only to the intentions of the author. Next, consider what psychoacoustic techniques are typical for the dark ambient genre.

Groups that develop this direction often seek to evoke certain emotions in listeners. Attempts are being made to get to the subconscious of a person. This effect is achieved by introducing resonances and low-frequency sounds into the compositions. Similar tricks are typical for Raznolik and Kunst Grand.

History

The dark ambient genre is partly related tosome creations by Brian Eno. These works were created by the musician together with other authors. These include the composition An Index of Metals, which was included in the Evening Star album. This work was created with Robert Fripp in 1975. It included guitar feedback. We should also remember the ambient compositions on David Bowie's records: Heroes and Low. An important forerunner of this genre is the double album by Tangerine Dream, which was named Zeit and was released in 1972. In this work, there is a rejection of melody and rhythm to create a gloomy atmosphere.

Main varieties

Occultism, religiosity, ritualism and propaganda of their own views through music were inherent in numerous musicians. For example, Lustmord became famous for his "conditionally satanic" ideas. Thus, the dark ambient style has a separate occult offshoot. Another variety was the Vedic genre. He combined ambient with the philosophy of the Vedas, Buddhism, as well as elements of the East. Here the focus is on the sound of acoustic instruments over synthesized backgrounds. Characteristic representatives of this phenomenon are the Zero Kama, Rapoon and Herbst9 projects. Among modern representatives, Desiderii Marginis, Hexentanz and Ah Cama-Sotz should be noted.

Some representatives of the noise genre create ambient landscapes in sound. Among them are Merzbow, Kiyoshi Mizutani, Iszoloscope, Daniel Menche, Solar S alt, MOZ, Junkielover,Aube. The direction of drone ambient emerged at the end of the twentieth century. The works of this style are characterized by low-frequency monotonous hums, resonances, vibrations of different rhythms, and harmonic abstractions. In addition, recordings of instruments that are launched backwards are often used. The result is a complete soundscape. Ambient isolutionist is distinguished by the use of unresolved harmonies, microchromatic dissonance and repetition, thus creating a feeling of desolation and unrest.