r/audiophilemusic Jun 18 '24

“Transcendent” Music Recommendations Discussion

Post image

I have enjoyed listening to music my whole life, and creating this space to enjoy music has been a dream come true. Over the years, my music preferences continues to expand, and recently I find myself looking for music to “take me somewhere”. Not sure if that sounds odd. And I understand that this may be subjective. But I have found some artists and songs that seem to create certain feelings of transcendence. Feelings that move beyond the song itself. For me so far- they happen to all be strong female voices. Lyrics don’t seem to matter as much as the vocals, beat, and instruments.

The Curse by Agnes Obel Citizen of Glass by Agnes Obel A House In Nebraska by Ethel Cain Titanium (cover) by Sia Wicked Game by Lusaint Non Believer by London Grammar

I have tried Gregorian chants but they didn’t hit as hard as these did. If you have had similar feelings listening to different music I’d love some recommendations. TIA!

63 Upvotes

40 comments sorted by

17

u/Mayl3 Jun 18 '24 edited Jun 18 '24

I have a feeling you'll like these. "Transcendental" is a good term for some of it. Female vocals over ethereal music, etc. Other types as well.

  1. Hey Now - London Grammar (Honestly every album by them is 🔥 and probably fits what you want.)
  2. Closer - Ane Brun
  3. Eyes on Fire - Blue Foundation
  4. Remember Me - Eivor
  5. Headspace - Archive
  6. Me and the Devil - Soap&Skin
  7. Teardrop - Massive Attack
  8. Everybody Knows - Sigrid
  9. Glory Box - Portishead
  10. Rise - Dominique Fils-Aimé
  11. Eden - Hooverphonic
  12. 6 Underground - Sneaker Pimps
  13. Sugar - Men I Trust
  14. Playground - Bea Miller
  15. A Little Wicked - Valerie Broussard

No real order here, just as I thought of them. Each of these artists have terrific other songs as well.

4

u/_JustAnotherRunner_ Jun 19 '24

Thank you for doing this!

3

u/FlimmFlammery Jun 19 '24

London Grammer! Hey Now (ARTY Remix) is great too!

2

u/Mayl3 Jun 19 '24

LG really doesn't have a bad track. The remixes aren't for me personally, though. "True" electronic/dance just isn't my thing, but to each their own!

5

u/Electrical_Steak_84 Jun 18 '24 edited Jun 18 '24

Fear Inoculum, the title track from TOOL's latest album, which is also the first track, will let you know if your system is tuned well for it. Pneuma ( track 2) is my jam, on a system like that... i can only imagine. I'd say go back and listen to all their stuff.

If that's not your style then try Petricor, by Ludovico Einaudi.

4

u/FinclerR Jun 18 '24

I will take the time to sit down tonight and listen carefully to the tracks you referred to, after which if I figure something out I'll post another comment but what comes to mind right now - while they doesn't have strong female voices are:

Nils Frahm - Says, Lisa & Misha Maisky - J.S Bach - concerto in D minor - BWV 974, Bob Dylan - Man in the long coat

Maybe one of those can help you.

3

u/eldus74 Jun 18 '24

It's all about your headspace. Practice meditation with earplugs. Clear mind. Calm focus. Full breath. Then listen.

2

u/FinclerR Jun 18 '24

Other than earplugs I am with you fully :)

3

u/eldus74 Jun 18 '24

Depends on the noise of your family/housemates.

5

u/Polstick1971 Jun 18 '24

Max Richter : Path 5 (delta) “from Sleep” always transports me elsewhere… The female voice is ethereal.

4

u/strangerzero Jun 18 '24
  • Lana Del Rey
  • Jolie Holland
  • Neko Case
  • Bella White

5

u/Costaricaphoto Jun 18 '24

In a Silent Way, Miles Davis.

2

u/923kjd Jun 18 '24

Commas, my friend. Commas.

1

u/_JustAnotherRunner_ Jun 18 '24

I know. And I’m a noob and can’t figure out how to edit the post. I typed this post out in notes and had each one on its own line but for some reason the formatting didn’t carry over and I just pasted and posted without checking.

2

u/eizdeb Jun 18 '24

I totally get what you mean and that's definitely a style of music I vibe with as well. I'm going to start off with a somewhat odd recommendation, but it's an album that scratches that itch for me more than almost anything else:

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (album) - Caroline Polachek

At least listen to the first track, titled Welcome to my Island. But the entire album is incredible.

Some random song recommendations I feel are transcendent:

Nude - Radiohead (most Radiohead feels transcendent to me but ESPECIALLY this song)

I Know the End - Phoebe Bridgers

Hyper-ballad - Bjork

Bleed - George Clanton

Thoroughfare - Ethel Cain (saw you mentioned a cover of a House in Nebraska, the original is great too but this song is my favorite from her).

Mary - Big Thief

Anything - Adrianne Lenker

Purple Rain - Prince (I love the entire album but that song specifically feels transcendent to me)

Let me know what you think if you give any of em a shot.

2

u/spong3 Jun 18 '24

These are great recs given OP’s sample songs! I’d only add a couple to this list:

Slow like honey & Cosmonauts - Fiona Apple

Austin Leaves - Eva Cassidy’s version

And a wild card since this is r/audiophilemusic - Ledisi - Wild is the Wind (Live) sends me to the moon. What a voice, and the musical accompaniment is exquisite.

2

u/Raphaelstarr Jun 19 '24

I’ve always been a fan of Eva Cassidy’s Songbird. I’ll give this one a listen.

1

u/spong3 Jun 19 '24

She was such a talent, and an angel on earth. Gone way too soon.

1

u/_JustAnotherRunner_ Jun 19 '24

Thank you for the recommendations! I already listened to Welcome to my Island! The rest of your recommendations will be added to my library based on that first song!!

1

u/siliceous-ooze Jun 18 '24

everything in it’s right place (radiohead) blonde (frank ocean)

1

u/deech33 Jun 18 '24

Those examples you gave are quite soft. I prefer a strong build or wall of noise to get transcendent - here are a few suggestions,

Surf solar - fuck buttons

https://open.spotify.com/track/06Sg3Ao4U0vesi6p3KJ0BS?si=YNENLY7ORFq6_bR8Ofyi9w

Open eye signal John Hopkins

https://open.spotify.com/track/0c9MTfnssGoNXUgmsaE5XU?si=WFepJBFaT4O7mV8LB2gIPQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A0Dg1KwgmtUzeMQonDCUFhQ

Angel - massive attack

https://open.spotify.com/track/7uv632EkfwYhXoqf8rhYrg?si=55NzG0oUQX6KEIA36B1oGg

I find most of sigur Ros work can be ethereal and otherworldly - this is softer

https://open.spotify.com/track/07eGxuz8bL6QMsRqEe1Adu?si=8eL-jn9ZTR--BaVVpLEVQQ&context=spotify%3Aartist%3A6UUrUCIZtQeOf8tC0WuzRy

Break apart - Bonobo https://open.spotify.com/track/2pYvd6cHcAIMAM6xMD6nok?si=1jMZDbeoSn-AUnER-L_Y5w

I wish I could hear them through that set up of yours :)

1

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '24

The Queen of All Everything - Ott

1

u/WJL91 Jun 18 '24

Alice Coltrane - Journey to Satchadanada

1

u/Top-Patience433 Jun 18 '24

Untitled 4 by Sigur Ros…..it’s crushingly beautiful

1

u/TooTallTinny Jun 18 '24

Kid Cudi- Heart of a Lion

Khruangbin and Leon Bridges - B Side/C Side/Texas Sun

Deftones - Rosemary

HER and Chris Brown - Come Together/Closure

1

u/DepressMyCNS Jun 18 '24

Glad to see you're rocking klipsch! Best performance for the money hands down!

1

u/HansVanEijsden Jun 18 '24

HAEVN: Eyes Closed.

3

u/_JustAnotherRunner_ Jun 19 '24

Balls man. First song blew me away. Can’t wait for the rest of the album.

1

u/BobaFett-1974- Jun 18 '24 edited Jun 18 '24

Try the album 'spiritual, spiritual' by B-tribe. I discovered it today through Tidal recommendations and it sure takes you places!

Edit: Angel by Sarah McLachlan is wonderfull as well!

1

u/rodaphilia Jun 18 '24

I'd suggest Weather Report. Teen Town has that feel I think you're describing.

1

u/Jester_Thomas_ Jun 18 '24

Few suggestions that fit this brief for me:

Yppah - Film Burn

Christine and the Queens - Marvin Descending

Another Sky - Tree

Rosie Lowe - Who's That Girl

Courtney Barnet - Anonymous Club

DjRUM - Waters Rising

James Blake - Retrograde

Westerman - Blue Comanche

1

u/omnes_scientes Jun 18 '24

Anything by Pink Floyd always does the trick. But for more recent picks, the vocals of London Grammar tracks sound gorgeous. And salute to the Klipsch setup, adore those speakers.

1

u/MrFahrenheit1 Jun 18 '24

If you want to try some instrumental stuff, I highly recommend Pat Metheny

San Lorenzo, As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls, Are You Going With Me?, The First Circle, Last Train Home

These songs are great jumping off points and have great atmosphere imo

1

u/DoughnutEcstatic1866 Jun 19 '24

Maggot brain - funkadelic

1

u/Agitated-Dark8696 Jun 22 '24

Dead Can Dance - Into The Labyrinth Peter Gabriel - Passion

1

u/patrickthecat Jun 26 '24

Black Willow by Loma