In January of 2024, we released my first foray into the world of boutique ambient labels, where I highlighted the delightful selections of laaps/IIKKI, whitelabrecs, and Home Normal. In case you’ve ever caught yourself wondering whether or not my enthusiasm has waned ever since that article came out, let me put your minds at ease: I’m still very much obsessed with this niche microculture within a subculture within a subculture… let’s keep it like that. I fact, I have prepared another triumvirate of labels to shout out for a second round of boutique label appreciation, so sit tight and check out these three amazing selections.
Room40
Run, curated, and creatively helmed by esteemed sound artist Lawrence English, this Australian label covers an amazing range within the vast waters of ambient music. From modern classical over drone and jazz to enigmatic musique concrète, Room40 probably has all your bases covered and then some. From the sound design to the artwork and rollout of the albums, everything is handled beautifully, and the curation is such that relative newcomers or late bloomers can exist alongside veteran artists and surprise picks without feeling out of place.
Recent digs include records by the William Basinski-recommended 400 Lonely Things, Tenniscoats guitarist Ueno Takashi, and English himself, while the illustrious back catalogue has releases from The Necks keyboarder Chris Abrahams, legendary guitarist Mike Cooper, Alvin Curran, Steve Roden, and so many more that the mere act of trying to put them all in writing becomes moot. Just scroll their archives yourself, you’ll find heaps of records to indulge in!
My current most anticipated record of theirs is Journey to the Cave of Guanyin by cellist Theresa Wong, whose religious underpinnings and austere aesthetic had me hooked from the moment I went to sample the singles. I owe some of the most adventurous discoveries in recent memory to this label, and I’m grateful for the keen listening and effort English puts into choosing what to release.
On a physical level, their records aren’t much to write home about when compared to other labels I’ve previously discussed. Standard digisleeves and the occasional vinyl record – hardly a revelation when you’re used to lavish editions. But that’s not what makes a record (or a label, for that matter) special; it’s the thought and care that went into each and every single release that makes Room40 stand out from other, similar labels. There’s a clear throughline despite the astonishing sonic variety on display, and I personally wouldn’t have it any other way.
Dronarivm
Dutch label Dronarivm has entered my circle of labels to watch with their beautiful limited edition of Wil Bolton’s Quiet Sunlight EP last year. A mini CD, housed within a sturdy little box filled with ‘gifts from the forest’, this edition made me feel the dedication and adoration this label holds towards the physical side of its releases. The digital side holds up quite well, too, given that they’ve released a veritable who’s who in contemporary ambient music over the years, from the aforementioned Wil Bolton over David Cordero and Chihei Hatakeyama to Andrew Heath, offthesky, and bvdub.
As you could probably guess from my description of the Quiet Sunlight packaging, the physical releases on Dronarivm are carefully curated and delightfully executed. Hell, they have even patented their own form of ‘discbox slider packaging’. All this goes to impart a sense of vision and exclusivity onto the recipient, and I highly appreciate how incredibly fascinating these albums become even outside of their aural properties.
Case in point, David Cordero’s current Postales record comes with a set of stunning postcard to keep with the album’s theme of highlighting some of the most breathtaking vistas of Cordero’s home country, Spain. If that’s not an ingenious piece of deluxe packaging I don’t know what is! So if you’re looking for well-curated and outstandingly presented ambient records, this is the label for you.
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quiet details
Last but certainly not least, as far as this article is concerned, is quiet details from the UK, a veritable hub for remarkable ambient artists and supreme product design. With curation and artwork by Alex aka fields we found (also a well-published sound artist in his own right), quiet details presents records by established greats and smaller artists with the same verve and knack for stunning aesthetics.
Looking at the list of artists among the as of yet still nascent discography of this label, one still gets an impression of grand potential: Observatories, The Humble Bee, Tomoyoshi Date, ‘t Geruis, zakè, øjeRum… I could go on until I’m through the entire catalogue and your jaw would probably just keep dropping. These records are mixed and mastered to perfection, composed by some of the most capable musicians currently active in this field. It’s no wonder that this label has been making huge waves recently.
Similarly to laaps, the handmade feel of their highly limited CD editions is one of quiet details’ biggest claims to fame. Thick, sturdy cardboard and glossy artwork give the albums a bespoke and elegant aura, without sacrificing the rustic charm of a one-man operation. The best thing is, these records always come with a small art print of the album’s main artwork, which I think is a wonderful idea. In fact, I have framed the one that came with Wil Bolton’s 2025 album South of the Lake! It feels like these records are made by admirers of the format for serious collectors, and that’s absolutely delightful if you ask me.
So there you have it: three more ambient labels you should keep your eyes on. When they release new music, be quick – their highly coveted and strictly limited print runs are often sold out in a matter of days at most. I would like to reserve a special shout-out to the recently founded Driftworks label, a sister operation to the aforementioned whitelabrecs. They are run by Andrew Heath, and their first run of records included the man himself, glåsbird, and Peter Maynard; all of those records were sold out on the same day they launched if I’m informed correctly! It’s nice to see this new label being welcomed by the community with open arms. Here’s to many more successful release days!
For now, this is the final piece I plan to dedicate to this little pet interest of mine; however, if I find more ambient record labels to put into the spotlight, I wouldn’t rule out a third instalment at some point in the future. Until then, thanks for reading, and be sure to check out the labels I pointed out today!
