Is Distill a good place to start with Bill Laswell?

Yes, Distill is recommended as a starting point for new Bill Laswell listeners. A hypnotic blend of immersive soundscapes and rhythmic intricacies that meld dub and jazz into an ethereal experience. By the time 'Distill' was released in 1996, Bill Laswell had already established himself as a pivotal figure in experimental music. This album followed his acclaimed work on 'Axiom,' showcasing his continuous exploration of sound through innovative production techniques and collaborations with diverse artists.

Distill works well if you're into immersive sonic exploration experience, patient unfolding of soundscapes and late-night introspective journey.

How many songs are on Distill?

Distill has 8 tracks, running approximately 102 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

Distill

Bill Laswell · 1996

102 min · 8 tracks · jazz

A hypnotic blend of immersive soundscapes and rhythmic intricacies that meld dub and jazz into an ethereal experience.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Green Evil Start here — Opening the album, this track sets a dark, immersive tone with its lengthy exploration of bass-heavy rhythms layered with haunting sound effects.
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Subharmonic Invocation of the Dark Spirits — This piece showcases Laswell's ability to create tension through its unsettling sound design, drawing listeners into a deeper introspective journey.
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Black Dangers — The longest track on the album, it combines complex rhythms and textured layers that exemplify Laswell's skill in crafting evolving sonic landscapes.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

72 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

The album's immersive soundscapes and rhythmic intricacies create a unique listening experience.

What we noticed

The album features long, flowing tracks that often extend beyond five minutes, allowing for gradual development of themes.
Each piece employs layered textures and effects, creating a dense soundscape that evolves slowly over time.
Rhythmic elements are interspersed with ambient sounds, resulting in a hypnotic quality that invites deep listening.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. 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

immersive sonic exploration experience
patient unfolding of soundscapes
late-night introspective journey
deep grooves for focused listening

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification tracks
prefer short, standalone songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Pushes genre boundaries with a unique fusion of dub and ambient elements.
Themes: immersive soundscapes· bass-heavy rhythms· dark sonic explorations
Career context: By the time 'Distill' was released in 1996, Bill Laswell had already established himself as a pivotal figure in experimental music. This album followed his acclaimed work on 'Axiom,' showcasing his continuous exploration of sound through innovative production techniques and collaborations with diverse artists.
Stylistic neighbors: Tackhead· Herbie Hancock· Thievery Corporation