Soft/Mellow albums

Guldbamsen wrote: kenethlevine wrote: Guldbamsen wrote: I almost never see Carol Of Harvest mentioned on here - even in threads about obscure gems - and that is truly a pity! This album should please just about any prog connoisseur that digs a little grass with their prague. This album sounds like it was recorded inside a studio that somehow managed to be an open field as well..ie music from tall grasses: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko8hQsai6_Q agree...though there are parts of "Trial a Little Bit" that are hardly mellow...even if incredibly awesome! Heh..well you got me there Ken, but as you rightly state those parts are indeed awesome I thought you would’ve recommended some Vollenweider though perhaps not exactly what he’s looking for. (I thoroughly enjoyed reading your recent review stint btw. Quite awesome as well ) As for other mellow/soft albums I find the prog folk section to offer up quite a few humdingers. I’ve recently dug back into my old German albums and especially Witthüser & Westrupp’s Trips & Träume as well as the perplexing tale of Jesus on shrooms via Der Jesuspilz hit the spot for me. I think they fit this thread perfectly. Italy has it’s soft and gentle gems as well now that I think of it. One of my faves is Il Paese dei Balocchi. Has this elegant floating feeling - like looking at a plastic bag caught in dancing upwinds.

Over the last few years I’ve spent a lot of time listening to mellow music. Best way of relaxing a tensionridden broken body I find...but then again that’s also including Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze and AIR. The latter made an album called 10000 Hz Legend which should tickle the modern-day progger with an affinity for dreamy mellow soundscapes.

As for prog folk I forgot to mention Perry Leopold’s Christian Lucifer. That thing is just gorgeous.
Oh my..almost forgot!
Here you go folks, thank me later.
Lucio Battisti’s Anima Latina
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p9waqCjunvQ

I popped it on late last night and was yet again reminded of the delicate and mellow nature..you really have to listen to the vocals alongside those beautiful but rather menacing touches to the reeds to notice the darker side of things. The oboe in particular just takes my breath away.
I was about to mention another gem of an album but it flew out my nose whilst typing this..err what was it again?
Sure, Popol Vuh! Talking about mellow albums and you’re bound to end up in Florian’s lap. Hosianna Mantra is a good starting point imo.
I would also strongly recommend Setna’s Guérison from a few years back. Yes I know it’s categorised as Zeuhl here on PA...but Zeuhl is more than the obvious soundtrack music for Hannibal’s elephant hordes storming down the mountainside Guérison is about as velvety and soothing as it gets, mellow floating somewhat psych inspired wafting fusion.

Hah! I remember the actual album I thought of to begin with Just so happens to be located in prog folk.
Troisième Rive’s Banlieues: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tYtAX38V3DQ
Sprinkling, sparkly guitars together with a gooey gelatinous backdraft and you get this beautiful ‘daybreak kind of feel’ to the music. It’s been a while but I’m glad I thought of it. Banlieues is hereby today’s next spin!

Edited by Guldbamsen - January 18 2020 at 04:20

How about "The Geese and the Ghost" (1977) by Anthony Phillips.

Check out Katatonia’s “Dethroned & Uncrowned”. You won’t be sorry!

Did you say... Soft?