2010 marks the tenth instalment of the Pop Ambient series, and before getting too deep into this review, it’s worth stating clearly that this is, without question, one of the strongest entries Kompakt has released to date.
Since the series began a decade ago, Pop Ambient has consistently introduced me to sound compositions unlike anything else. You can describe it however you like, but personally I’ve never cared much for the genre labels it falls under – “ambient techno” has always sounded faintly ridiculous to me. Yet, year after year, Pop Ambient delivers some of the finest ambient music available, and there’s no doubt that it has become a cornerstone annual release for Kompakt.
The concept was conceived by Kompakt co-owner and prolific producer Wolfgang Voigt, also known through projects such as Love Inc, M:I:5, Mint and, most famously, GAS. Each year Voigt personally curates the compilation, subtly paying homage to his own sonic heritage, particularly the mist-soaked ambience of GAS from the early 90s.
Musically, the series is defined by densely layered soundscapes unconcerned with beats, percussion or basslines. Across the years, Pop Ambient has evolved gently and organically, almost mirroring the slow blossoming of the floral artwork that has adorned its covers throughout the series.
Previous editions have featured Kompakt’s keystone artists – Dettinger, DJ Koze, Wolfgang Voigt, Jürgen Paape, The Orb, Markus Guentner, Triola and many more. This year’s tracklist, however, is notable above all for the return of Dettinger. Olaf Dettinger hasn’t released new material on Kompakt since his stunning Oasis LP in 2000, so his reappearance after a decade feels genuinely special. His contribution, ‘Therefore’, shimmers with quiet confidence, and according to Kompakt, more is to follow.
There’s an incredible sense of space and warmth across the compilation as a whole — something vast yet deeply personal in each piece. Jürgen Paape’s ‘864 M’ and Brock Van Wey’s ‘I You Know Where to Find Me’ are utterly breathtaking. Both have become essential to my daily commute on London’s deafening Underground. Trust me, ‘I You Know Where to Find Me’ is the perfect antidote to metal screeches and tunnel roar.
2010 also formally welcomes Brock Van Wey to the Pop Ambient series. Over recent years he’s become one of the most important figures in modern ambient music, and his ability to weave celestial vocals into slow-burning harmonies is remarkable. ‘I You Know Where to Find Me’ carries profound emotional weight, and any concern over its seventeen-minute runtime quickly becomes irrelevant — time simply dissolves.
DJ Koze once again flexes his unmistakable, warped style on ‘Bodenweich’. Opening with a two-part bass stab and a manipulated voice that sounds like a passing car, the track gradually unravels into hushed piano and violin. It’s strange, delicate and deeply absorbing — easily one of my favourites on the entire compilation and yet another reminder of Koze’s extraordinary production touch.
This tenth instalment of Pop Ambient is essential listening – not just a strong addition to any music collection, but a deeply private listening experience. This is music for solitary winter evenings, for introspection during the coldest days of the year. Others may not understand it, but that hardly matters. This one is yours.
Buy a vinyl copy from Inverted Audio Record Store.
TRACKLIST
1. Marsen Jules – The Sound of One Lip Kissing
2. Brock Van Wey/BVDUB – Lest You Forget
3. Triola – Shildergasse
4. Wolfgang Voigt – Zither Und Horn
5. Andrew Thomas – Clouds Across Face
6. The Orb – Glen Coe
7. Mikkel Metal – Blue Items
8. DJ Koze – Bodenweich
9. Jürgen Paape – 864M
10. Dettinger – Therefore
11. Thomas Fehlmann – In the Wind
12. Popnoname – Deutz Air
13. Brock Van Wey/BV – Will You Know Where to Find Me