Subtle, ambient movie soundtracks
March 18, 2018 9:25 PM Subscribe
I like working while listening to movie soundtracks - specifically ones that don't have words and are more like evocative sound-washes than clear melodies. What soundtracks should I be listening to? Sci fi and moody are my jam.
The Johnny Greenwood scores for Paul Thomas Anderson films standout to me as examples in this genre, like the one for There Will Be Blood.
posted by dis_integration at 9:43 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by dis_integration at 9:43 PM on March 18, 2018
I was listening to Bear McReary’s Battlestar Galactica season one soundtrack. With exceptions, it’s a surprisingly laid-back soundtrack, very unlike the typical Wagnerian Hollywood score (which I also love). It might be worth a listen.
posted by lhauser at 9:54 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by lhauser at 9:54 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I came in to recommend the Solaris soundtrack! Which is by Cliff Martinez :)
posted by Joh at 10:05 PM on March 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Joh at 10:05 PM on March 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The entire dark ambient genre is moody evocative soundwashes of the sort that are used for soundtracks. I'm a writer, and I work to dark ambient music all the time. You might check out the Cryo Chamber catalog featuring cinematic dark ambient, especially The Old City original soundtrack. One of my favorites of their releases is Be Left To Oneself by Keosz. If you like these, you can check out my profile for more dark ambient music recommendations.
posted by velvet winter at 10:24 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by velvet winter at 10:24 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Add my vote to the suggestion of the Battlestar Galactica soundtracks, which are often more chill than one would expect.
I'd also toss out the OST to Sunshine--I've never seen the film, but the soundtrack is gorgeous, and might be the kind of thing you're looking for.
Maybe Requiem for a Dream, too.
posted by mishafletch at 10:32 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'd also toss out the OST to Sunshine--I've never seen the film, but the soundtrack is gorgeous, and might be the kind of thing you're looking for.
Maybe Requiem for a Dream, too.
posted by mishafletch at 10:32 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Not quite a movie, but would rec the torchlight 2 soundtrack and the firewatch soundtrack (which does have one Actual Song on it, but right at the end, so you can easily skip it if you want)
posted by bagheist at 10:34 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by bagheist at 10:34 PM on March 18, 2018
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis are sort of the kings of this, IMO.
The Road
Loin Des Hommes
The Assassination of Jesse James
Three Seasons in Wyoming
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 10:59 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Road
Loin Des Hommes
The Assassination of Jesse James
Three Seasons in Wyoming
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 10:59 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: “Evocative sound-washes” is precisely how I’d describe Hammock’s soundtrack to the film Columbus.
posted by minervous at 12:56 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by minervous at 12:56 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Jóhann Jóhannsson did music for films, like "Arrival", but I especially recommend his solo album Orphée which sounds like a soundtrack. Sample: "Flight From the City".
posted by Petersondub at 1:16 AM on March 19, 2018
posted by Petersondub at 1:16 AM on March 19, 2018
Mark Isham's soundtracks for Alan Rudolph films might just do ya. Trouble in Mind and The Moderns come to mind.
posted by janey47 at 1:28 AM on March 19, 2018
posted by janey47 at 1:28 AM on March 19, 2018
The Cinematic Chillout playlist on Spotify features a lot of that kind of music too.
posted by snakeling at 1:54 AM on March 19, 2018
posted by snakeling at 1:54 AM on March 19, 2018
Definitely think William Basiniski is great for this, although it would be very boring (and dark!) films which he was soundtracking. Disintegration Loops is a good place to start but any of his albums fits the bill I reckon.
There's also an internet radio station called Chroma radio and it's channel called Ambient does the trick for me when I'm working.
Looking forward to checking out all the suggestions above, too.
posted by stevedawg at 2:03 AM on March 19, 2018
There's also an internet radio station called Chroma radio and it's channel called Ambient does the trick for me when I'm working.
Looking forward to checking out all the suggestions above, too.
posted by stevedawg at 2:03 AM on March 19, 2018
You might like Edward Shearmur's soundtrack to K-PAX.
Also Eleni Kariandrou - tracks like the main Theme or "To a Dead Friend" from her soundtrack to Eternity and a Day.
Vangelis's Bladerunner soundtrack is iconic in this sort of list.
Finally - Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to Interstellar, is excellent.
posted by rongorongo at 2:45 AM on March 19, 2018
Also Eleni Kariandrou - tracks like the main Theme or "To a Dead Friend" from her soundtrack to Eternity and a Day.
Vangelis's Bladerunner soundtrack is iconic in this sort of list.
Finally - Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to Interstellar, is excellent.
posted by rongorongo at 2:45 AM on March 19, 2018
The game Alto’s Adventure has a great soundtrack, and if you search Youtube you can probably find the hour-long full original soundtrack and the hour-long Zen Mode soundtrack. I listen to both of these while I work and they are wonderful.
posted by wenestvedt at 3:15 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 3:15 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is also my preferred work music genre (anything with words distracts me) and I will note that Pandora is excellent for this purpose. My work music station regularly plays most of the suggestions given above.
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:47 AM on March 19, 2018
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:47 AM on March 19, 2018
The soundtrack that was made for the Jodorowskis Dune documentary is awesome for this. It's long- a double LP. We listen to it all the time in my house as background while reading. Sounds like early Tangerine Dream but less song-y in the way that you want.
posted by ElectricGoat at 4:46 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ElectricGoat at 4:46 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sneakers
Tron: Legacy (the soundtrack is the best part of the movie imho)
Akira (can be a little out there which might be distracting)
Ghost In The Shell (from the anime, not the live-action which I can't speak to)
Dark City
posted by kokaku at 6:28 AM on March 19, 2018
Tron: Legacy (the soundtrack is the best part of the movie imho)
Akira (can be a little out there which might be distracting)
Ghost In The Shell (from the anime, not the live-action which I can't speak to)
Dark City
posted by kokaku at 6:28 AM on March 19, 2018
Not a movie, but a game: the Minecraft soundtrack by C418 is perfect for this. The full albums are available on YouTube: Volume Alpha, Volume Beta. They're also available on Spotify.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 6:29 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 6:29 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
The soundtrack for Danny the Dog is by Massive Attack.
Philip Glass might work for you, Koyaanisqatsi, Mishima, The Illusionist etc.
Also check out Angelo Badalamenti, he did a lot of David Lynch's movies and a bunch of others
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 6:29 AM on March 19, 2018
Philip Glass might work for you, Koyaanisqatsi, Mishima, The Illusionist etc.
Also check out Angelo Badalamenti, he did a lot of David Lynch's movies and a bunch of others
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 6:29 AM on March 19, 2018
Coming here to say Moon.
Also Popul Vuh's soundtrack to Aguirre the Wrath of God is lovely. Also the soundtrack for Sunshine.
posted by jessamyn at 8:39 AM on March 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Also Popul Vuh's soundtrack to Aguirre the Wrath of God is lovely. Also the soundtrack for Sunshine.
posted by jessamyn at 8:39 AM on March 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's soundtrack for The Social Network should be right up your alley.
posted by capricorn at 9:20 AM on March 19, 2018
posted by capricorn at 9:20 AM on March 19, 2018
The Lost in Translation soundtrack is a little less SF-y but still might fit the bill.
posted by praemunire at 9:35 AM on March 19, 2018
posted by praemunire at 9:35 AM on March 19, 2018
Best answer: Shane Carruth's soundtrack for Upstream Color.
posted by Iridic at 10:00 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Iridic at 10:00 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Solar Fields, Leaving Home
Brian Eno, Thursday Afternoon
Peter Gabriel, Passion
posted by effluvia at 10:17 AM on March 19, 2018
Brian Eno, Thursday Afternoon
Peter Gabriel, Passion
posted by effluvia at 10:17 AM on March 19, 2018
Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack for Alien (1979). Enjoy, but no one can here you scream.
posted by glonous keming at 5:35 PM on March 19, 2018
posted by glonous keming at 5:35 PM on March 19, 2018
My friend, you need Tangerine Dream's soundtrack to The Keep.
posted by Kafkaesque at 5:35 PM on March 19, 2018
posted by Kafkaesque at 5:35 PM on March 19, 2018
Not a soundtrack but Klaus Schultz' Timewind from 1975 should satisfy.
posted by Rash at 8:45 PM on March 19, 2018
posted by Rash at 8:45 PM on March 19, 2018
Response by poster: I can't wait to dive into these!! Thanks guys!
posted by egeanin at 9:29 PM on March 19, 2018
posted by egeanin at 9:29 PM on March 19, 2018
Best answer: Not actually a soundtrack, but definitely fits all your criteria "Music for Real Airports" by The Black Dog
posted by Joh at 10:08 AM on March 23, 2018
posted by Joh at 10:08 AM on March 23, 2018
You might like some John Carpenter soundtracks. Lots of synthesizer, but it would definitely hit the moody and evocative mark.
posted by owls at 9:47 PM on March 23, 2018
posted by owls at 9:47 PM on March 23, 2018
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posted by smoke at 9:30 PM on March 18, 2018 [6 favorites]