Seeking Deep, Emotional, Haunting Music [Craig Armstrong/Lisa Gerrard] Best answer on the web

Posted in: darrelrussell.com edit
07 Jan 2009
  • Greetings! I'm hoping someone may be able to turn me onto some additional composers/musicians, who create music similar in style to the work found on Craig Armstrong's "Piano Works". Piano is my favorite instrument, but I"m also open to other instrumentation, so long as the mood is deep, emotional, and somewhat melancholy or haunting. Another title I very much enjoy is the latest collaborative effort by Lisa Gerrard, entitled, "Immortal Memory". I'm already familar with the work of Dead Can Dance, and Vas, as well as Harold Budd and Eric Satie, so please skip these recommendations. Also, I'm not interested in New Age music. I"m seeking deeply moving works. Any ideas?


  • You should check out Yoko Kanno's work. She composes for japanese animation. I don't know exactly what you are looking for but alot of her songs ("space lions" from cowboy bebop and "myung's theme" from macross plus spring to mind) literally bring me to tears when noone is looking.
    http://jameswong.com/ykproject/

    that site has samples of most of her music and links to purchase the CD's


  • thanks for the tips everyone. much appreciated!


  • thanks jetlagg, i'll check her out!


  • I am a big fan of Craig Armstrong too. Here are some suggestions you might like:

    Deine Lakainen's tune "The Game" (fantastic haunting piano and vocal piece - great lyrics) Portishead "Theme for to kill a dead man" (beatiful instrumental noir / haunting piano piece) Li Li "Heavenly Girl" (used to be available free from mp3.com)
    Rob D "clubbed to death" (very craig armstrongish song - beautiful piano ending)

    You can try looking up the earlier Delerium/Synaesthesia works (samples available at http://www.delerium.com. The later ones are vastly different, but the Karma or Poem albums might do it for you as well.
    For really haunting/scary music nothing beats John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness soundtrack (a bit off from what you are looking for though).
    For a more celtic style try Lorena McKennit (A bit like Enya, but deeper and tons better).
    Anything by Eric Serra (soundtracks for Big Blue and Leon/The Professional in particular).
    Sarah McLachlan if you enjoy that kind of vocals. Or Sissel (especially "Weightless")
    Some free artists to check:
    Gil Amran, Bassic, Adeimus


    ---
    Dive Malaysia with REC N TEC http://www.recntec.com


  • You might want to check out a band called Surrealistic Penguin (http://www.surrealisticpenguin.com). Their music is pretty eclectic but the words "deep", "emotional" and "haunting" certainly apply. As one reviewer said:
    "I swear I have heard these songs in some other life. Very emotionally powerful; endearing lyrics, haunting vocals, rhythms, and piano tones. Beautiful stuff!" Teirrah Andurzen

    Cheers

    Keefy


  • I enjoy this one very much.

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002C0Y/qid=1110396687/sr=8-2/ref=pd_ka_1/103-9507103-5409465?v=glance&s=music&n=507846