Review
Kompakt's Pop Ambient compilation series was first started in 2001, at a time when the 90s hype surrounding ambient music had already faded away somewhat. With a line-up of almost exclusively German artists, 'Pop Ambient 2001' managed to invigorate the genre by exploring Kompakt's classic themes of nature vs. technology and avant-garde vs. pop.
Once again Kompakt has assembled an all-star line-up, including genre-defining The Orb and Thomas Fehlmann, Kompakt masterminds Reinhard Voigt and Jürge Paape, and current dub(techno) hotshots Bvdub and Mikkel Metal.
The tracks on display mostly explore the tension between acoustic and synthetic sounds - plucked guitar strings and fragile piano notes are a recurring theme, and Wolfgang Voigt goes as far as using the traditional zither as a main instrument in his track 'Zither und Horn'. More outstanding efforts come from DJ Koze, whose 'Bodenweich' most closely resembles a melancholic pop song, and City Centre Offices artist Marsen Jules, whose great opening track 'The Sound Of One Lip Kissing' is a to the point exercise is contemplative arrangement.
All in all, Kompakt has put together a great anniversary edition for its influential series that should not be missed by any means.
Track Listing
01 Marsen Jules: "The Sound of One Lip Kissing"
02 Brock Van Wey/BVDUB: "Lest You Forget"
03 Triola: "Shildergasse"
04 Wolfgang Voigt: "Zither Und Horn"
05 Andrew Thomas: "Clouds Across Face"
06 The Orb: "Glen Coe"
07 Mikkel Metal: "Blue Items"
08 DJ Koze: "Bodenweich"
09 Jurgen Paape: "864M"
10 Dettinger: "Therefore"
11 Thomas Fehlmann: "In the Wind"
12 Popnoname: "Deutz Air"
13 Brock Van Wey/BVDUB: "Will You Know Where to Find Me"
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