Not sad or morose, needs to be qualitatively like being under a heating lamp, almost as if one were cocooned or swaddled in warmth.
- Probably “dark” is preferable but not necessarily,
- must be “warm”, can be “chill” but not at the expense of warmth,
- probably “soft” or “easy”/mellow, intensity should be fairly homogenous throughout
- “sonorous”, “fat”, possibly resonant is good
- definitely not cold/cool or desolate
- buzzy/buzzing/buzz/swarming/swarmy, oscillating, vibrato, very mild distortion or driftiness, like bees swarming
- dreamy but still warm (opposite of inception)
- ethereal is ok but not in conflict with warmth
- liminal is ok as long as it doesnt conflict with warmth
Harold Budd - Niki D (album: Luxa)
Sirena Beach from Mario Sunshine (very similar to Niki D)
Brian Eno - Neroli
Burst Error - Warm Reset
Earthbound - Buzz buzz prophecy
This is all very subjective so take all this as more general but try to recognize the spirit of what is being sought. A lot of this sound makes me think of if microwave rays were embodied in sound
Apparat - Equals Sessions, Stay Still, Dämonen, Capri-Revolution
*Is it correct to summarize your description as “It’s really awful and horrible, but there’s nothing you an do about it and that’s okay.”?
I find Mac Demarco to be quite warm and chill. He writes very mellow singer-songwriter type indie music. A good example might be the song Moonlight on the River. If you like that, you’ll probably like most of his stuff.
Bahamas, too. Same vibe.
Try the Jar of Flies EP from Alice in Chains
Having reread the requirements, I think Kiki Rockwell is a much better match.
Witchy music that feels warm, dreamlike, and occasionally threatening. But never cold nor desolate.
Pj Harvey, Nick Cave and Portishead come to mind
I’m not in a place where I can compare it to the artists you’ve mentioned, but maybe check out Ben Prunty? He’s got a bunch of stuff in his catalogue (including an album that’s meant to be on the darker side), but I think he’s most known for the FTL soundtrack, which I’d probably describe as space, but pensive and curious.
Moby - long ambients.
Nine inch nails - ghosts.
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient works 85-92.
There’s a whole genre called dark ambient.
Not sure if many will agree, but for me warmly dark/darkly warm is most closely linked to doom metal. Avatarium would be an accessible choice to start exploring the genre.
I would consider portishead to fit the request. Nope still can’t think of anything better.
Some Biosphere might suit you…
Sly and the Family Stone’s “There’s a Riot Goin On” was the first thing that came to my mind
Stereolab’s “Mars Audiac Quintet” was a close second
Alohaha is great for this, it feels like sitting on a beach at night. Also in that theme are Green Arrow by Yo La Tengo and Island Music by Tennis.
Emphasis on the dark bit, but The Downward Spiral has a track called A Warm Place.
Bonobo - Black Sands
Play the first two song without a pause
