"Similes" envelops listeners in a lush ambient soundscape, characterized by its ethereal textures and intricate layers. The production is meticulously crafted, blending organic instrumentation with electronic elements, creating a seamless flow between the natural and the synthetic. Tracks like "Leaves Eclipse the Light" and "Weird Creatures" feature shimmering synths and delicate piano lines, while "Nightmare 5" introduces a more dissonant, unsettling atmosphere. The album maintains a slow to mid-tempo pace, allowing for introspection and immersion. Each piece, such as "Bending Dream" and "Cease to Know," showcases a distinctive balance of warmth and abstraction, making "Similes" a captivating exploration of sound that invites deep listening and emotional resonance.

Album: Similes by Eluvium (2010)
Genre: Ambient | Style: Rock/Pop
Format: Album

Artist Background: Eluvium is the moniker of ambient recording artist Matthew Cooper, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Cooper, who was born in Tennessee and raised in Louisville, Kentucky before relocating to the Northwest, is known for blending various genres of experimental music including shoegaze, electronic, minimalist and piano. His albums often feature artwork and photographs by Jeannie Paske. Eluvium is currently signed to record label Temporary Residence Limited. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Ambient, Rock/Pop, 2010s, Album

Additional Context: Based on 2 votes


"Copia" envelops listeners in a lush ambient soundscape characterized by its delicate layering and ethereal textures. The album features a blend of piano, guitar, and subtle electronic elements, creating a serene yet dynamic atmosphere. Tracks like "Indoor Swimming at the Space Station" and "Requiem on Frankfort Ave." showcase a slow, contemplative tempo, allowing the listener to immerse in the rich harmonic progressions. The production is pristine, emphasizing the gentle nuances of each instrument while maintaining a sense of spaciousness. Distinctive for its ability to evoke emotion through minimalism, "Copia" stands out with its seamless transitions and thoughtful arrangements, inviting introspection and a deep connection to the sonic experience.

Album: Copia by Eluvium (2007)
Genre: Ambient | Style: Rock/Pop
Format: Album

Artist Background: Eluvium is the moniker of ambient recording artist Matthew Cooper, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Cooper, who was born in Tennessee and raised in Louisville, Kentucky before relocating to the Northwest, is known for blending various genres of experimental music including shoegaze, electronic, minimalist and piano. His albums often feature artwork and photographs by Jeannie Paske. Eluvium is currently signed to record label Temporary Residence Limited. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Ambient, Rock/Pop, 2000s, Album

Additional Context: Rating score: 8. Based on 2 votes


Album: Nightmare Ending by Eluvium (2013)
Genre: Ambient | Style: Rock/Pop
Format: Album

Description: Nightmare Ending is the first proper Eluvium album released since 2010's Similes, the unexpectedly vocal-heavy ambient-pop record that simultaneously delighted and confounded longtime fans. But the Nightmare Ending story actually began years earlier, as it was intended to be the follow-up to the watershed album, Copia. Conceived as a way of helping loosen his self-imposed ideals of perfection, Cooper labeled each Nightmare Ending track as either a "dream," or an "imperfection" – a way of differentiating the philosophical concept of "dream vs. reality," couched in the more tangible technical distinctions of "flawless vs. flawed." With each progressive listen those differences naturally challenged themselves, and without relying on the standardized perfection protocol, Cooper became increasingly reluctant to release any of it. He shelved it, and pursued Similes instead. But Nightmare Ending wouldn't go away; it lingered in the back of his mind, the abandoned fruits of a truly worthwhile and noble journey towards a less creatively constraining mindset. Cooper returned to it with renewed vigor, writing and recording in a blur of time that spanned several years. The result is a body of work that encompasses everything remarkable about past Eluvium albums, executed more powerfully and poignant than ever before.

Artist Background: Eluvium is the moniker of ambient recording artist Matthew Cooper, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Cooper, who was born in Tennessee and raised in Louisville, Kentucky before relocating to the Northwest, is known for blending various genres of experimental music including shoegaze, electronic, minimalist and piano. His albums often feature artwork and photographs by Jeannie Paske. Eluvium is currently signed to record label Temporary Residence Limited. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Ambient, Rock/Pop, 2010s, Album


Nightmare Ending is the first proper Eluvium album released since 2010's Similes, the unexpectedly vocal-heavy ambient-pop record that simultaneously delighted and confounded longtime fans. But the Nightmare Ending story actually began years earlier, as it was intended to be the follow-up to the watershed album, Copia. Conceived as a way of helping loosen his self-imposed ideals of perfection, Cooper labeled each Nightmare Ending track as either a "dream," or an "imperfection" – a way of differentiating the philosophical concept of "dream vs. reality," couched in the more tangible technical distinctions of "flawless vs. flawed." With each progressive listen those differences naturally challenged themselves, and without relying on the standardized perfection protocol, Cooper became increasingly reluctant to release any of it. He shelved it, and pursued Similes instead. But Nightmare Ending wouldn't go away; it lingered in the back of his mind, the abandoned fruits of a truly worthwhile and noble journey towards a less creatively constraining mindset. Cooper returned to it with renewed vigor, writing and recording in a blur of time that spanned several years. The result is a body of work that encompasses everything remarkable about past Eluvium albums, executed more powerfully and poignant than ever before.

"Static Nocturne" envelops listeners in a rich tapestry of ambient soundscapes, characterized by its ethereal textures and intricate layering. The production is meticulously crafted, blending organic instrumentation with electronic elements to create a serene yet immersive atmosphere. Soft piano melodies intertwine with subtle synth pads, while field recordings add a sense of place and depth. The tempo remains languid, allowing the listener to drift through the sonic landscape without urgency. The album's distinctiveness lies in its ability to evoke a sense of introspection and tranquility, making it a compelling exploration of sound that balances both warmth and abstraction. Each track unfolds gradually, inviting deep contemplation and emotional resonance.

Album: Static Nocturne by Eluvium (2010)
Genre: Ambient | Style: Rock/Pop
Format: Album

Artist Background: Eluvium is the moniker of ambient recording artist Matthew Cooper, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Cooper, who was born in Tennessee and raised in Louisville, Kentucky before relocating to the Northwest, is known for blending various genres of experimental music including shoegaze, electronic, minimalist and piano. His albums often feature artwork and photographs by Jeannie Paske. Eluvium is currently signed to record label Temporary Residence Limited. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Ambient, Rock/Pop, 2010s, Album


Album: Talk Amongst the Trees by Eluvium (2005)
Genre: Ambient | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Dreamy
Format: Album

Description: Talk Amongst the Trees is the third album from Portland, Oregon ambient musician Matthew Cooper, under the name Eluvium. The album is characterised by evocative ambient guitar work and features liberal use of loop/hold pedals to create lush/abstract guitar textures. The front cover is the painting "November" by Quint Buchholz.

Artist Background: Eluvium is the moniker of ambient recording artist Matthew Cooper, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Cooper, who was born in Tennessee and raised in Louisville, Kentucky before relocating to the Northwest, is known for blending various genres of experimental music including shoegaze, electronic, minimalist and piano. His albums often feature artwork and photographs by Jeannie Paske. Eluvium is currently signed to record label Temporary Residence Limited. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Ambient, Rock/Pop, Dreamy, 2000s, Album

Additional Context: Rating score: 10. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Talk Amongst the Trees is the third album from Portland, Oregon ambient musician Matthew Cooper, under the name Eluvium. The album is characterised by evocative ambient guitar work and features liberal use of loop/hold pedals to create lush/abstract guitar textures. The front cover is the painting "November" by Quint Buchholz.

"Lambent Material" envelops listeners in a serene ambient soundscape, characterized by lush, layered textures and a contemplative atmosphere. The production is meticulously crafted, featuring a blend of ethereal synths, delicate piano motifs, and subtle field recordings that create a sense of depth and space. Tracks like "Under the Water It Glowed" and "There Wasn't Anything" showcase a slow, meditative tempo, allowing the listener to immerse themselves in the rich sonic details. The energy remains understated yet profoundly emotive, with each piece unfolding gradually, inviting introspection. The album's distinctive quality lies in its ability to evoke a dreamlike state, making it a hallmark of early 2000s ambient music.

Album: Lambent Material by Eluvium (2003)
Genre: Ambient | Style: Rock/Pop
Format: Album

Artist Background: Eluvium is the moniker of ambient recording artist Matthew Cooper, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Cooper, who was born in Tennessee and raised in Louisville, Kentucky before relocating to the Northwest, is known for blending various genres of experimental music including shoegaze, electronic, minimalist and piano. His albums often feature artwork and photographs by Jeannie Paske. Eluvium is currently signed to record label Temporary Residence Limited. Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Music Scene: Emerged in the 2000s era. Associated with Ambient movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Ambient, Rock/Pop, 2000s, Album


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