Buy/stream: https://kompakt.fm/downloads/pop-ambient

It’s 2020, the year Pop Ambient turns twenty-one years old, a spritely young adult waltzing out of its teenage joys and tears. Pop Ambient has always stood for a certain classicism and elegance, a kind of beatless music that’s diaphanous and hazy, gossamer and glittering. It’s a music that’s no less inviting for its slow pace and becalmed nature, with a different kind of tension bubbling under the surface. For twenty-one years, KOMPAKT co-founder Wolfgang Voigt has curated a series of peerless compilations that repeatedly find refreshing answers to a simple question – What happens when the dancefloor is empty, and everyone’s home to drift away?

As with many other Pop Ambient compilations, Pop Ambient 2021 offers a welcome platform to contributions from both old friends and new faces. It opens with the gorgeous, slo-mo drift of “Of A Vessel”, from new Kompakt signings Blank Gloss. Sending their music out into the world from their home in Sacramento, this duo makes music that’s featherlight and luscious, the muted chime of a guitar over here, the steady hum of a halatial drone over there; everything in its right place, and nothing overdone. The poise is all. Neozaïre (Tobias Sawitzki) and Seventh World (Juho Hietala aka Blamstrain) are our other two new voices, the latter closing (the CD version of) Pop Ambient 2021 with a long, lambent dreamsong, Neozaïre offering us two gaseous, morphing driftworks, “Vor den Toren Europas” and “In Verschwenderischer Fülle” (CD only), etched across with bell-like arpeggios.

Pop Ambient has always felt like a field for play for the KOMPAKT cognoscenti, and 2021 is no different, with Joachim Spieth collaborating with Pepo Galán on the sidereal visions of “Libration”, while Leandro Fresco teams up with Thore Pfeiffer on the lovely “Abejorro”. Pfeiffer also contributes two lovely solo miniatures of abstract longing. Yui Onodera calls in again, long distance, for their fourth Pop Ambient running, with the refracted, glinting lightscapes of “Cromo 5” and “Monochrome”, while there are also star turns from Max Würden, both solo and in Reich & Würden (with Luis Reichard), and Morgen Wurde, who drops by with the ‘ethereal drama’ of “Mittsommer”.

Pop Ambient gets the balance right: visions and soundscapes, long-distance communications and intimate asides, sweetness and light, drama and dreaming, all wrapped up in floral abstractions – a most beautiful distraction.

Thore Pfeiffer - Grape

Label, booking agency & online record shop

Demo submission: 
We receive a lot of demos every day. Please understand that we are unable to listen to everything. Send your private soundcloud link to: label@kompakt.fm.

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Demo: demo@modelika.digital

Founded in 2023, Modelika is a cutting-edge record label hailing from the vibrant electronic music scene in Canada. With a passion for pushing boundaries and redefining sounds, we specialize in the genres of Techno, House, Electronica, and Ambient. As a trailblazing force in the underground music industry, our mission is to curate and release exceptional music that transcends traditional genre boundaries.

At Modelika, we believe that true artistry knows no limits. Through our carefully curated releases, we aim to create a sonic landscape that captivates and inspires listeners, showcasing the richness and depth of electronic music.

With a deep-rooted commitment to the underground scene, we provide a platform for emerging and established artists alike. We seek out those who possess a unique perspective and a penchant for innovation, offering them the freedom to express their creativity fully. By fostering an environment that encourages artistic exploration and risk-taking, Modelika cultivates a community of forward-thinking musicians, each contributing to the evolution of electronic music.

Based in Canada, our label draws inspiration from the multicultural tapestry that defines this nation. From the pulsating beats of Techno to the hypnotic grooves of House, from the ethereal landscapes of Electronica to the immersive textures of Ambient, Modelika celebrates the richness and versatility of electronic music.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, Modelika remains committed to the spirit of authenticity and artistic integrity. Our releases can be found on various digital platforms, as well as on limited edition vinyl, capturing the essence of our label's dedication to quality and craftsmanship.

Join us on a sonic journey that defies expectations and expands horizons.