Avalon Sutra / As Long as I Can Hold My Breath
Harold Budd · 2005
115 min · 15 tracks · jazz
Ethereal soundscapes weave through delicate piano motifs, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that invites introspection and serenity.
Top tracks — play these first
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Little Heart — This track encapsulates the album's emotive core, blending lush piano lines with subtle electronic textures that evoke a sense of longing.
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How Vacantly You Stare at Me — The piece features haunting melodies interspersed with silences, effectively capturing the essence of isolation and introspection that permeates the album.
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As Long as I Can Hold My Breath — Serving as the album's title track, it brings together various motifs from earlier pieces, culminating in a reflective exploration of existence and memory.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album's seamless flow and intricate layering create an immersive experience, though its niche appeal limits broader impact.
What we noticed
- Each track typically centers around delicate piano motifs, often accompanied by subtle electronic textures that enhance the ethereal quality.
- Several tracks utilize extended silence and minimalistic arrangements, inviting listeners to engage with the space between notes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- tranquil introspection during solitude
- wave-like pacing with patience
- extended piece for deep reflection
- delicate melodies for quiet moments
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy engagement
- prefer standalone tracks only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By 2005, Harold Budd was an established figure in ambient music, known for his minimalist compositions. 'Avalon Sutra / As Long as I Can Hold My Breath' represented a continuation of his exploration of texture and tone, following his collaborative works with artists like Brian Eno and David Sylvian. This album marked a significant point in Budd's career as he delved deeper into personal expression and memory through sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Brian Eno· Ryuichi Sakamoto· Tangerine Dream
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Arabesque 3 2:40
- 2 It’s Steeper Near the Roses (For David Sylvian) 1:02
- 3 L’enfant perdu 2:14
- 4 Chrysalis Nu (To Barney’s Memory) 1:59
- 5 Three Faces West (Billy Al Bengston’s) 2:49
- 6 Arabesque 2 3:02
- 7 Little Heart 7:40
- 8 How Vacantly You Stare at Me 4:01
- 9 A Walk in the Park With Nancy (In Memory) 5:55
- 10 Rue Casimir Delavigne (For Daniel Lentz) 5:28
- 11 Arabesque 1 1:56
- 12 Porcelain Ginger 2:01
- 13 Faraon 1:23
- 14 As Long as I Can Hold My Breath 3:47
Disc 2
- 1 As Long as I Can Hold My Breath (By Night) 1:09:28
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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