Fourth World

Fourth World music is a genre characterized by its dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes, often incorporating elements of ambient, new age, and world music. Emerging in the late 1970s and 1980s, it was pioneered by artists who sought to create a distinct, culturally ambiguous sound that blended electronic and acoustic instrumentation, minimalist rhythms, and introspective atmospheres. Typically featuring a combination of synthesizers, piano, and acoustic instruments, Fourth World music often features soft, whispery vocals, improvisational textures, and a sense of sonic experimentation. This genre defies traditional notions of cultural identity, instead embracing a fusion of Western and non-Western musical influences. Its impact lies in its ability to evoke a sense of timeless, placeless contemplation, making it a precursor to later ambient and chillout genres. Notable for its use of found sounds, subtle melodies, and meditative pacing, Fourth World music remains a unique and captivating genre that continues to inspire contemporary musicians.

Latest Fourth World Release
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Proximate Forms
Album - 10 Tracks - Released March 21, 2025

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Arp
Arthur Russell
Arve Henriksen
Beverly Glenn-Copeland
Brian Eno
Craig Leon
D.K.
David Sylvian
David Toop
Domenique Dumont
Gaussian Curve
Gigi Masin
Green-House
Harold Budd
Imaginary Softwoods
Jan Bang
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma
Jeremiah Chiu
Joanna Brouk
John Carroll Kirby
Jonny Nash
Joseph Shabason
Josiah Steinbrick
K. Leimer
KMRU
Kuniyuki Takahashi
Laraaji
M. Sage
MEITEI
Mariah
Masayoshi Fujita
Midori Takada
Roedelius
Roger Eno
Sam Gendel
Satsuki Shibano
Slow Attack Ensemble
Supersilent
Susumu Yokota
Terry Riley
Visible Cloaks
William Basinski
Wilson Tanner
Yasuaki Shimizu
Yoshio Ojima
Yu Su
Brian Eno
Harold Budd
Roger Eno
Domenique Dumont
Gigi Masin
Sam Gendel
Arthur Russell
Susumu Yokota
William Basinski
Laraaji
David Sylvian
Green-House
Roedelius
MEITEI
Jonny Nash
Slow Attack Ensemble
Arve Henriksen
Josiah Steinbrick
Imaginary Softwoods
Jeremiah Chiu
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma
Yasuaki Shimizu
John Carroll Kirby
Joseph Shabason
Gaussian Curve
M. Sage
Beverly Glenn-Copeland
Yu Su
Terry Riley
K. Leimer
Jan Bang
D.K.
Kuniyuki Takahashi
Craig Leon
KMRU
Visible Cloaks
Joanna Brouk
Wilson Tanner
Mariah
Yoshio Ojima
Masayoshi Fujita
Arp
Satsuki Shibano
Midori Takada
David Toop
Supersilent