Low Volume Music

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Which musical artists sound better played quietly?

This question is prompted by playing Windy and Carl at very low volume today. They are probably my favourite low volume band.

― jel --, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Feldman.

― Sterling Clover, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Shalabi Effect are popping into mind but thats probably just cause you mentioned Windy and Carl. Low as well are masters of hush. I used to fall asleep to SP3s Perfect Perscription at very low volumes, usually Id conk out right at Transparent Radiation.
Speaking of which their must be a loud volume twin to this thread somewhere in the apst right? Even if just for another chance to mention Loveless.

― Mr Noodles, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I've only listened to "Music has the Right to Children" at whisper- quiet levels. Same goes for Eno's "On Land", though it's been ten years since I've pulled that one out.

― Sean, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Low sound good played quietly but they sound better really loud!

― Josh, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Neil Young's "Dead Man Soundtrack" is pretty perfect at low volume. It's a good album to take naps to, as well, but unless you're a heavy sleeper you'll probably wake up during the movie dialogue tracks-- especially the one with gunfire.

― Diego, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Eno comes to mind, but that's probably because he wrote liner notes suggesting low-volume listening. I think all music sounds better loud, pretty much. I definitely think Windy & Carl should be played loud -- there's too much detail hidden in the spaces.

― Mark, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Belle and Sebastian

― Marc, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

B&S, great answer -- I agree completely.

― Mark, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Robert Wyatt - "Rock Bottom" is a great low volume record...

― baxter wingnut, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Y'see, I don't agree with the Belle and Sebastian quiet volume thesis (the thesis that there actually is...). Murdoch cares too much about everything coming in at the right moment for it to be obscured by quiet listening. I'm not advocating speaker blowout when listening to it, obviously, just a reasonable enough volume to take anything in. B&S are best listened to through headphones anyway. Try it yourself. Listen to "Sleep The Clock Around" through speakers loud and quiet, and then headphones.

― Dom Passantino, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Most Debussy. Datacide's Flowerhead. Landing's Centrefuge. Labradford's A Stable Reference. The Ballasted Orchestra by Stars of the Lid. Lots of others.

(I still like tend to like Low better quiet, though live, I like it when they get loud after being quiet for a long time.)

― Phil, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Piercing Music by Robert Henke

― mt, Tuesday, 28 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Slo-core stuff and muted electronica. Low, Red House Painters, Cowboy Junkies, Susuma Yokota, Boards, Mazzy Star, Galaxie 500. What albums particularly benefit from being played very, very LOUD? I suggest "Vanishing Point" by Primal Scream.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Nothing finer then Loveless played at near earbleed levels. its a whole new album and a whole new question that needs a new thread, but Im convinced their is an older thread about it though, sigh.

― Mr Noodles, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I hear C18 harp music sounds good played through one speaker at low volume during a rainstorm when you're laid up in hospital because you got hit by a car.

― cps, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ht tp://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,52397,00.html
One recent album was so quiet, listeners wondered whether it actually contained any sound at all.

this reminds me of all white paintings.

― lyra in seattle, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Nijiumi's "Era of Sad Wings" is great at any volume but is completely different when played in a half-awake/half-asleep at low volume. Also Kevin Drumm's "Second" is fantastic at low volume.

― hamish, Thursday, 30 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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