AMBIENT 4 - ON LAND

On Land is possibly the greatest ambient album ever, and is overall one of my favorite recordings. I don't necessarily listen to it all of the time, but when I do it's an absorbing experience. The title is perfect, because the soundscapes really seem to have a physical texture of sorts.

This isn't the kind of album one can play for friends and family, rather one should sit, relax, and listen through headphones or a nice stereo system to get the most out of it. But that doesn't mean it doesn't work as background music. I sometimes listen to it while driving, and I've noticed that many of the environmental sounds around me seem to blend in with the record (which may not be the safest thing while operating an automobile, but it tends to heighten the driving experience).

I know that this isn't what folks think of as "prog", but it's a landmark in the world of ambient works.