Pop Ambient 2010 (Kompakt)

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 | Sounds

The 10th anniversary entry for Kompakt ‘s annual “Pop Ambient” compilation is yet another example of the consistently solid at-home listening series, proving that not all electronic music needs a dancefloor to resonate.
“Pop Ambient 2010” features a slew of top-tier artists from the German label exploring their more blissed-out, ambient sensibilities, including co-founder Wolfgang Voigt, San Francisco’s bvdub (Brock Van Wey), The Orb, Orb collaborator Thomas Fehlmann, Popnoname, Jorg Burger and DJ Koze and the long-awaited return of Dettinger.

The often otherworldly vibe begins with an ever-so-slight jarring opening via German producer Marsen Jules’ “The Sound of One Lip Kissing,” then segueing into the elegant, spacey sounds of bvdub’s “Lest You Forget,” a mishmash of echoey soundscapes, fragments of acoustic guitar loops and effervescent female vocals. Voigt’s “Zither Und Horn” is a slow, meditative tune that delicately melds acoustic instrumentation with atmospheric, high frequency tones. The Orb’s “Glen Coe” is a graceful, eloquent contribution; the lightly clanging gives way to rich layers of gooey aural goodness as if holding still in outer space. DJ Koze’s “Bodenweich” is a bit of an oddity, combining spooky vocal loops with flinty strings and sparse piano lines, making for a fairly unnerving listen. Dettinger’s return to Kompakt after nearly a decade-long hiatus with “Therefore” is a graceful, lightly clattering tune that is hopefully the first of many new tracks from the Cologne-based producer. Fehlmann’s ever-so-sparse “In The Wind” takes it time before settling in to a slow, sensuous mood, while Popnoname’s “Deutz Air” is yet another gorgeous, breathlessly layered melodic delight, setting the stage for Van Wey’s epically long album closer “Will You Know Where To Find Me.” Van Wey’s carefully sculpted layered ambient music often takes it time before the seemingly disparate audio elements begin to make sense to the listener, and this 17-minute track is no different. Yet, it’s the perfect way to end “Pop Ambient 2010,” an audio excursion best experienced in a prone position underneath a breezy, puffy cloud-filled sky.

By Tim Pratt

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