However, this album went down well at the time and was a big influence on the burgeoning 'electronic listening music' (or 'IDM', depending on your taste). Just as James Brown's 1987 'In the Jungle Groove' compilation had renewed interest in his music, and in the 'funky drummer' loop, so this compilation opened people's eyes to a genre of music usually dismissed as an offshoot of prog. Over the decades spanned by this compilation, ambient music existed in something of a ghetto.

The compilation is restricted to releases from Virgin and its sub-labels, although this isn't really a handicap, especially as the CDs were assembled with loving care. Many of the acts represented here are not really 'ambient' - Hawkwind, most obviously - but the individual tracks are relentlessly fascinating, and fortunately not overlong. Furthermore the booklet gives sources, and I can imagine Virgin's back catalogue receiving something of a going-over at the time - Faust, for example, were completely forgotten before this compilation came out, whereas they are now recording music again.

Standouts include Brian Eno's excellent 'Ending (An Ascent)', recently dusted-off for the '28 Days Later' trailer; the two Tangerine Dream tracks, although similar, are obvious precursors to later dance music; Hawkwind is made to seem hip; whilst ex-children's TV actress Shiela Chandra shows off her pipes on a typically atmospheric drone. All told the Eno family and members of Tangerine Dream contribute between them eight tracks, from various points in their careers (in the case of the Enos, mostly the 1980s; there's nothing from 'Music for Airports' or 'Discrete Music', despite the latter having some short tracks). Amorphous Androgynous are of course the Future Sound of London under another name, and I believe this particular version of the track is unavailable elsewhere.

A few things let the side down. 'Kazoo' by Ash Ra sounds feeble, the track by The Grid, who were briefly popular at the time, is one of the aforementioned boring 'ambient remixes', Hawkwind don't really fit. But the compilation as a whole stands up today and is well worth seeking out. The overall mood is mysterious and optimistic, and its nice to listen to in the background whilst recovering in bed from illness.

The next two 'Brief History of Ambient' releases were much the same, trawling through Virgin's back catalogue; the fourth licensed tracks from other labels and was much darker and 'illbient'. All are decent, but you could do with just the first and last.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:


Look no further...  Jan 16, 2002 By uberzoned
If you've ever been looking for ambient music, this is it. After working in a music store for a few years, I think this is what I'd been looking for. The perfect album to chill to... fall asleep to... read to... study to... or do nothing to. All of the songs are good, and more importantly, have substance. Whoever picked the tracklist was the guru. Don't ever buy an ambient album without listening to it first... and don't buy another one until you hear this in full. I haven't met a person that didn't like it.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:


A great ambient primer  Jan 29, 2003
If you've heard of 'Ambient' music, but dont know much else about the genre, this double CD is a great place to start. Most of the album focuses on earlier (70s-80s) examples, but that part of this discs beauty -- it provides clear context for current trends in experimental 'chill' music. The other CDs in the series are weaker, but don't ignore this one, for it delivers what it promises.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


The First And Only Ambient Comp. Needed  Mar 02, 2011 By Thomas Henry
This CD represents a large portion of my musical growth in my pre-highschool to early highschool days. It was released at a time when electronic music was making it's way into the mainstream on both sides of the Atlantic and this CD proves to be a testament to those who came before the "techno" superstars of the early 90's. Spanning nearly 20 years of musical history these songs can evoke the listener into jubilation, tears or both. Any fan of electronic music that can be enjoyed outside the disco or club should buy and study this compilation and take note of its greatness.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


Well done!!  Nov 10, 2002 By Neighbor 8 "oppesty"
superb collection of early ambient tracks! Quite possibly the best compilation ever to be released. The cover is a little cheesy but who gives a hoot. This is great!

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