Listen to music that opens your heart-mind. Support local artists. Connect with street performers. Participate in crowdfunding campaigns. Buy directly from musicians, independent labels, or independent record stores. If you are inspired by music, share it. Tell your friends. Gift them with your favourites. Remember this: The gift must always flow!
Recommendations
First and foremost, if I had to recommend only one album to you, it would be “Hvel” by Árstíðir – among the most beautiful human-made sounds I’ve ever listened to. I also happily crowdfunded its production, which makes me the proud keeper of a sample of original ash from Eyjafjallajökull (plus CD and Vinyl and stuff). Close runner-up is Ayreon‘s “01011001” due to the epic storyline.
I deepened my love for crowdfunding, pay-what-you-like business models, and direct connection to artists via Amanda Palmer, thanks to my dear brother who turned my attention towards her music on Bandcamp a couple of years ago.
Some of my recent album favorites:
- Árstíðir – “Pendull” (2021), “Nivalis” (2018)
- Aephanemer – “A Dream of Wilderness” (2021)
- Tori Amos – “Ocean to Ocean” (2021)
- Munknörr – “Shaman” (2021)
- Drumspyder – “Kenning” (2021), “Nine Branches” (2019)
- Hindarfjäll – “Från Tidernas Begynnelse” (2020)
- Myrkur – “Folkesange” (2020)
- Wardruna – “Kvitravn” (2021)
- Laura Inserra – “Altitude” (2019)
- Estampie – “Signum” (2005)
- Marko Hietala – “Pyre of the Black Heart” (2020) / “Mustan sydämen rovio” (2019)
- Anneke van Giersbergen – “The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest” (2021)
Some other fine music which I’ve recently discovered and supported:
- The Anatomy of Frank
- Glorious Leader
- Daniel Waples / Hang in Balance
- Erwin R.
- Peia Luzzi
- more beautiful music on KEXP, such as Hælos
More singer/songwriter/artist recommendations, on the inspirational / folk / medieval side:
- Agua de Annique
- Alanis Morissette
- Amanda Palmer
- Anneke van Giersbergen (most beautiful voice on the planet!)
- Arianna Savall
- Árstíðir
- Corvus Corax
- Damian Wilson (check him out here and here)
- Daniel Waples / Hang in Balance
- The Dresden Dolls
- Erwin R.
- Estampie
- Faun
- Heilung
- Hindarfjäll
- Laura Inserra
- Loreena McKennitt
- Maiden uniteD (I’ve seen them here)
- Malukah
- The Moon and the Nightspirit
- The Moors
- Munknörr
- Myrkur
- Peia Luzzi
- Schandmaul
- Secret Sky
- Tori Amos
- Wardruna
If you like darkwave, psybient/trance-like music and stuff:
If there can be some gothic / rock / metal / avantgarde / … in it:
- Aephanemer
- Ayreon
- Blind Guardian
- Epica
- Gandalf’s Fist
- The Gathering
- Grai
- Haggard
- Marko Hietala
- Master Boot Record
- The Mission (UK)
- Moonsorrow
- Nightwish
- Opeth
- Pain of Salvation
- Russkaja
- Savatage
- Shadow Gallery
- Star One
- Subway To Sally
- Summoning
- Tarja
- Therion
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- Ulver
- Vintersorg
- Within Temptation
Best album picks:
- Amanda Palmer – “There Will Be No Intermission” (2019)
- Anneke van Giersbergen – “The Darkest Skies are the Brightest” (2021)
- Árstíðir – “Hvel” (2015)
- Ayreon – “01011001” (2008)
- Blind Guardian – “Nightfall in Middle-Earth” (1998)
- Estampie – “Fin Amor” (2002)
- Loreena McKennitt – “An Ancient Muse” (2006)
- The Mission (UK) – “Carved in Sand” (1990)
- Nightwish – “Human :||: Nature” (2020)
- Shadow Gallery – “Tyranny” (1998)
- Savatage – “Dead Winter Dead” (1995)
- Schandmaul – “Artus” (2019), “Anderswelt” (2007) and “Narrenkönig” (2002)
- Secret Sky – “Secret Sky” (2016)
- Therion – “Lemuria / Sirius B” (2004) and “Secret of the Runes” (2001)
- Tori Amos – “Native Invaders” (2018)
- Wardruna – “Kvitravn” (2021)
Inspiring / haunting songs that give me chills / move me to tears:
- Alanis Morissette – “You Owe Me Nothing In Return”
- Amanda Palmer – “Drowning in the Sound”
- Anneke van Giersbergen – “Beautiful One”, “The Blower’s Daughter”, “Agape“, “My Promise“
- Arianna Savall – “Dóna’m la mà”
- Árstíðir – “Silfurskin”
- Ayreon – “Dreamtime”, “Valley of the Queens”, “And the Druids Turned to Stone”, “The Age of Shadows”, “Beneath the Waves”, “The Sixth Extinction”, “Sea of Machines”, “The Dream Dissolves”, “The Source Will Flow”, “The Human Compulsion”
- Carbon Based Lifeforms – “Photosynthesis”
- Dire Straits – “Brothers in Arms“
- The Gathering – “On Most Surfaces“
- Guns N’ Roses – “Civil War”
- In Extremo – “Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein”
- Nightwish – “Ghost Love Score“, “Shoemaker“
- Shadow Gallery – “Hope for us?”
- Tori Amos – “Reindeer King”, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
- Within Temptation – “Our Solemn Hour”, “Our Farewell” (in duet with Anneke van Giersbergen)