What makes Lovely Thunder by Harold Budd notable?

The album has been noted for its unique blend of ambient and avant-garde styles, influencing a generation of artists within those genres. It received positive critical reception and is often highlighted in discussions about the evolution of ambient music in the mid-1980s. Lovely Thunder, released in 1986, marked Harold Budd's transition towards more structured compositions after his early explorations in pure ambient sound. This was his first album following collaborations with Brian Eno, showcasing his growth as a solo artist while continuing to explore the boundaries of minimalism and jazz influences.