Emerald Aether: Shape Shifting
Bill Laswell · 2000
49 min · 14 tracks · jazz
A seamless blend of dub, jazz, and world music textures intertwine, creating an ethereal soundscape that invites deep listening.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Stride Set Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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The Wayfaring Stranger — This track opens the album with haunting vocals set against a minimalist backdrop, establishing the ethereal tone that permeates the entire project.
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One, I Love — The interplay of vocals and instrumentation here beautifully captures the essence of longing and connection, exemplifying Laswell's skill in blending emotional depth with experimental sounds.
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Caoineadh na dTrí Muire (Lament of the Three Marys) — This piece showcases traditional influences through its mournful melody while incorporating modern production techniques, highlighting Laswell's ability to merge past and present.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- fluid exploration of soundscapes
- dynamic journey with peaks
- ephemeral moments of reflection
- immersive headphone listening experience
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — It represents a deliberate departure into ethereal soundscapes, influencing cross-genre exploration.
- Themes
- ethereal soundscapes· traditional lament· cross-cultural fusion
- Career context
- By 2000, Bill Laswell had already established himself as a prolific producer and collaborator across genres. 'Emerald Aether: Shape Shifting' serves as a bridge between his explorations in electronic dub and world music, following his prior work on the acclaimed 'The Great Mystery' in 1999. This album marked an ongoing period of innovation in Laswell's career as he continued to push sonic boundaries.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Tackhead· Herbie Hancock· Thievery Corporation
Tracklist
- 1 The Wayfaring Stranger 2:49
- 2 The Stride Set Start here 6:45
- 3 The Labouring Man’s Daughter 5:07
- 4 We Dreamed Our Dreams 0:48
- 5 Wendel’s Wedding 3:15
- 6 The Gray Selchie 2:12
- 7 Dark Green 3:59
- 8 Wind Chimes and Nursery Rhymes 2:49
- 9 One, I Love 4:44
- 10 La bruxa 4:34
- 11 The Hare in the Heather 2:32
- 12 Caoineadh na dTrí Muire (Lament of the Three Marys) 3:37
- 13 Slieve Russell, Jimmy Wards J.G. 2:00
- 14 The Beauty Spot 4:19
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Richest Man in Babylon
Thievery Corporation
Merges dub, jazz, and global influences creating lush, atmospheric soundscapes.
Spaces
Nils Frahm
Explores ethereal textures and improvisational elements that resonate with deep listening.
Permutation
Amon Tobin
Combines intricate sound design and world music elements with a dub-inspired approach.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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