The Origin of Ambient Music

Ambient One: Music for Airports by Brian Eno is considered an important album that coined the ambient genre. The roots of ambient music can be traced back to influential minimalist composers like La Monte Young and John Cage, who explored meditative spaces and slow time. Steve Reich's technique of phasing, where sounds pass in and out of each other, also influenced Eno. Eno's interest in experimental music and his collaborations with artists like David Bowie and Holger Czukay laid the foundation for his exploration of ambient music. Ambient One is a result of Eno's experimentation with tape manipulation, repetition, and slower tempos to create a meditative and atmospheric experience.