The Early Mine a Gritty, Post-Rock Ambient Vibe
I Want to Be Ready sees the Early transporting and transcending, exploring the textures their unique instrumentation provides.
experimental
Remembering Éliane Radigue: Godmother of Drone
People say that there are four oceans, but one could reasonably argue that there’s a fifth: the one created by Éliane Radigue and her legion of cosmic drones.
Fågelle Finds Melancholy Release in Glorious Gloom
Glorious gloom permeates the musical catalogue of Swedish singer-songwriter Fågelle, and her album Bränn min jord overflows with it.
Armbruster Gleefully Confounds Expectations, Again
Connor Armbruster is not only a brilliant musician but a refreshingly restless one Half My House is a unique and tuneful spin on traditional Irish music
Shane Parish Recontextualizes Techno on Ingenious LP
Shane Parish thrives on conceiving projects that seem contradictory and overly challenging, yet come off as effortless and innovative.
Elori Saxl and Henry Solomon Create Stunning Ambient
Elori Saxl and Henry Solomon’s Seeing Is Forgetting exquisitely blends ambient and jazz while working in the occasional pop melody.
Annie Hogan’s ‘Tongues in My Head’ Is Richly Cinematic
Annie Hogan’s exploration of artistic expression shows world-building, all sorts of paintings, mental photographs, and invisible portraits carry great weight.
Erik Hall Brings an Eloquent Minimalist Trilogy to a Close
Erik Hall is an artist who understands minimalism and knows how to execute it brilliantly and uncompromisingly in a way that appeals to a broad range of listeners.
Isobel Waller-Bridge Revels in Radical Stillness
British composer Isobel Waller-Bridge’s Objects is an ethereal, eerie treasure.
Pullman Climb Out of Retirement with the Exquisite ‘III’
The post-rock ambient instrumental quintet Pullman’s first album in 25 years is a mysterious, rough-hewn delight.
Laura Fisher’s ‘Celestina’ Is a Spellbinding Improv Performance
Laura Fisher has added another unique entry to her compelling discography, creating a piece that is impressive on a technical level and a captivating listen.
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The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2025
This year has been particularly exciting for experimental music, ranging from free-form guitar freak-outs to lush, ambient, always pushing boundaries.