Compositional Ambient

Compositional ambient is a genre characterized by its use of minimalist, atmospheric soundscapes, often featuring repetitive, evolving patterns and delicate instrumental textures. Emerging in the 1970s and 1980s, it draws from classical music, electronic experimentation, and ambient traditions. Popularized in the 2000s and 2010s, this genre emphasizes mood and texture over traditional melody and rhythm. Compositional ambient often incorporates elements of neo-classical, contemporary classical, and film scores, creating a sense of cinematic grandeur. Its cultural significance lies in its ability to evoke emotions and create introspective spaces, resonating with listeners in search of calm and contemplation. While related to ambient and new age music, compositional ambient is set apart by its emphasis on compositional complexity and nuanced, layered sound design, making it a distinctive and captivating genre.

Latest Compositional Ambient Release
undefined album image
Lake Fire
Album - 9 Tracks - Released May 2, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 87 Compositional Ambient artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 3,420 releases .

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the Compositional Ambient artists you love!

Get Started Browse Releases
36
A Winged Victory for the Sullen
Abel Korzeniowski
Akira Kosemura
Alex Kozobolis
Angus MacRae
Anne Müller
Balanescu Quartet
Balmorhea
Ben Lukas Boysen
Bersarin Quartett
Bing & Ruth
Brambles
Brian Eno
Brian McBride
Bruce Brubaker
Bruno Bavota
Ceeys
Christopher O'Riley
Clem Leek
Clint Mansell
Danny Norbury
David Wenngren
Deaf Center
Dirk Maassen
Dmitry Evgrafov
Dustin O'Halloran
Ed Carlsen
Elskavon
Eluvium
Erland Cooper
Fabrizio Paterlini
Federico Albanese
Goldmund
Greg Haines
Hammock
Harold Budd
Helios
Hidden Orchestra
Hior Chronik
Hugar
Illuminine
James Heather
Jim Perkins
John Adams
Jon Hopkins
Jonny Greenwood
Julia Kent
Lambert
Last Days
Library Tapes
Loscil
Lowercase Noises
Luke Howard
Max Richter
Maxence Cyrin
Message To Bears
Michael Nyman Band
Mike Lazarev
Niklas Paschburg
Oskar Schuster
Peter Broderick
Peter Gregson
Peter Sandberg
Poppy Ackroyd
Rafael Anton Irisarri
Rival Consoles
Sebastian Plano
Slow Meadow
Snorri Hallgrímsson
Sophie Hutchings
Stars Of The Lid
Steve Reich
Sylvain Chauveau
TLE Petty
Terry Riley
The Album Leaf
The Dead Texan
The Echelon Effect
U137
Ulises Conti
William Basinski
Yann Tiersen
Zoë Keating
amiina
múm
Ólafur Arnalds
Max Richter
Yann Tiersen
Fabrizio Paterlini
Ólafur Arnalds
Brian Eno
James Heather
Harold Budd
Peter Sandberg
Akira Kosemura
Dustin O'Halloran
Jon Hopkins
Sylvain Chauveau
Abel Korzeniowski
Clint Mansell
Peter Gregson
Federico Albanese
Illuminine
Maxence Cyrin
Balmorhea
Jim Perkins
Hammock
Niklas Paschburg
Luke Howard
Mike Lazarev
Library Tapes
Clem Leek
Message To Bears
Lambert
Dirk Maassen
Rival Consoles
Angus MacRae
Goldmund
Erland Cooper
Sophie Hutchings
Hidden Orchestra
Jonny Greenwood
Alex Kozobolis
Slow Meadow
Oskar Schuster
The Album Leaf
Steve Reich
A Winged Victory for the Sullen
Elskavon
Snorri Hallgrímsson
Helios
William Basinski
Stars Of The Lid
Peter Broderick
Brambles
Sebastian Plano
Bruce Brubaker
Julia Kent
Loscil
36
Ben Lukas Boysen
Hior Chronik
Eluvium
Hugar
Lowercase Noises
The Echelon Effect
John Adams
Zoë Keating
Bruno Bavota
Dmitry Evgrafov
Poppy Ackroyd
The Dead Texan
múm
Ed Carlsen
Ceeys
Balanescu Quartet
amiina
Terry Riley
Anne Müller
U137
Bing & Ruth
Rafael Anton Irisarri
Deaf Center
Brian McBride
Michael Nyman Band
Greg Haines
Christopher O'Riley
Bersarin Quartett
Danny Norbury
David Wenngren
Ulises Conti
Last Days
TLE Petty