Where is "New Age" music going today?

[Frederik Magle]

My impression is that new age was very big in the 80's and beginning of the 90's, with artists like Jean Michelle Jarre drawing crowds in the millions to gigantic concert events, but that the interest somewhat dwindled during the late 90's. So my question is: where is new age music today? who are the potentially great new artists that will lead the new age genre in the years to come and where is the genre itself going? Will the great days ever come back? can they? and should they...?

A lot of questions... but I'd like to hear some opinions (and information) on this subject.

[hitsware]

I think Yanni is exemplary of todays new age stuff. Certainly the most visible with his lavish tours.
..........mike

[theMusicMan]

Sure, but what about Global Communication and their superb Pentamerous Metamorhposis, or Stalker by Robert Rich and Brian Lustmord... fantastic examples of two differing ambient types.

Dark Ambient - wonderful, industrial, echo, reverb..
General Ambient - lush pads, band pass filter effects, sweeping soundscapes

All great music.

[hitsware]

>Sure, but what about Global Communication and their superb Pentamerous Metamorhposis, or Stalker by Robert Rich and Brian Lustmord...

Never heard of the above..............<|:^))

[theMusicMan]

I'd certainly suggest trying to get hold of some of their stuff - in my opinion, it really sets the standard for the Ambient génre.

Here's a review of one of their brilliant albums. I think the more we spread the word about this rare breed of group and their unique style, the better... try to have a listen somehow yeah...

J

[hitsware]

>I'd certainly suggest trying to get hold of some of their stuff

At present my only 'sources' are computer and FM tuner ...
Are they available on either ?

[theMusicMan]

Hi hitsware

You can regularly listen to Global Communications on the Internet radio stations: RadioIOAmbient or SomaFM's DroneZone.

There are also many more Ambient/New Age groups and musicians featured 24/7 on these stations.

How fast is your internet connection? You may struggle with dial up...!

EDIT UPDATE: I read that SomaFM is currently experiencing capacity issues. There 24K and 56K streams are regularly interrupted and you may not be able to listen to these for a few days while they sort the issues. I suppose that this news is received with somewhat mixed feelings by SomaFM. On the one hand, they must be pleased that capacity is being reached, but on the other - they need funding to secure more powerful and faster stream servers.

[KYL4ever]

I like Yanni's music so much . My friends introduced his music to me . At the beginning , it's so difficult 4 me to understand . However , day and day passed , I understanded more and more . His music maked me like listening to classical music !!!

[Cain]

Jean Micheal Jarre is certainly a name from the past for me. Nothing at all to do with new age although to be honest I don't really move in these circles at the moment. Jarre I think did have the opportunity to become a well known great artist but his music became more of the same in my opinion. Once you have introduced a new music style people keep expecting new upon new and he was destined to fail on that account.
I see he is still producing albums but his popularity is nowhere near waht it was in the late 80's early 90's

[Progger58]

where is new age music today? who are the potentially great new artists that will lead the new age genre in the years to come and where is the genre itself going? Will the great days ever come back? can they? and should they...?

I think contemporary New Age / Electronica / Ambient are very well represented by some great names such as these:

- DAVID ARKENSTONE
- CUSCO
- AMETHYSTIUM
- ROBERT RICH
- STEVE ROACH
- JONN SERRIE
- ULRICH SCHNAUSS

Among several others that don't come to mind at the moment.

At the same time, some big names from the 80's/90's keep giving us awesome new stuff over the years. For example: CONSTANCE DEMBY, KITARO and VANGELIS.

Cheers,
Demetrio.

[daivanati]

I think it has it's place - there's a lot of great new age/ambient music. I love the new stuff coming out of [promo deleted] in Sante Fe.

And Deuter just put out a new album. Gotta love Deuter.

[methodistgirl]

You probably don't know Skaven or future crew from Finland. The
master behind their music including Bejeweled 1&2 is Peter Hajba.
He does new age music with Alexis' theme. You can only find this
guy on the net with his own websight. Some of his music can be
haunting! So, look him up!
judy tooley

[Violinschlüssel]

I got to know New Age music thanks to Patrick O'Hearn's score for Roger Donaldson's movie White Sands. I found it so fascinating and evocative of images I didn't even know I could see through my mind's eye. Afterwards, I learnt that O'Hearn wasn't a regular score composer (meaning that his real field was New Age music composing and that he had stepped into the score field not so many times as I had expected). The funny thing is that I find him a better score composer (albeit with New Age hints) than a New Age music composer only. I'm not sure if I have been able to make my opinion and meaning clear enough. Well, to cut a long post short (), I'd say that, incidentally, Patrick O'Hearn is a great New Age music composer, especially when he composes for films.
I know that Vangelis is considered a great composer as far as this music field goes, but, again, I cannot appreciate his style and his sounds. I love some of his scores (Antarctica, 1492 Conquest of Paradise), but I don't actually consider him such a great New Age composer. With all the due respect for his fans!

[jnbammer]

I have recently heard some beatmakers making the transition from Hip Hop/Rap to New Age. The combination of influences is amazing, and the sound produced fresh and inspiring. I think the future of New Age relies in attracting more young artists from a variety of influences.

[daivanati]

I just got a copy of Love & Peace by Lisa Lynne and George Tortorelli. It’s such a beautiful mixture of the celtic harp and the bamboo flute…very ancient sounding, but also peaceful and tranquil. I guess this would be the traditional new age sound today. I like it.