Bear with me: Beiguan music.

It's traditional Chinese music with tinny horns, drums and symbols. Close your eyes and imagine a temple procession slowly and loudly passing by, puppets, costumes, dancers, musicians, firecrackers, the smell of street food and general din of human enjoyment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iohWrjSVnb4

If you want something less chaotic, a gamelan orchestra is like rain decided to hold a soiree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEWCCSuHsuQ

And then when you're ready to feel the waves break over your soul, it's time for Taiko drumming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZagsLrNzg3I

Swans - The Seer

Waltari - Yeah! Yeah! Die! Die! Death Metal Symphony in Deep C

One of the first collaborations of a metal band with a classical orchestra. That kind of stuff became more commonplace later, but this mix of death metal, classical music and all kinds of other influences remains unique to this day.

Televisions Marquee moon

Not sure if it fits the assignment, but the first two Human League albums from the 70s (Reproduction and Travelogue) are analogue synth brilliance. If you can find the expanded version of Reproduction with the Dignity of Labour EP & flexidisc conversation added, even better.

The dwarf fortress soundtrack slaps so much harder than it has any right to

https://youtu.be/W2Df3_k9PGM?si=H7nKAV94ixSLNJZU

Veil of Imagination by Wilderun

Laurie Anderson Mister Heartbreak https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Heartbreak

Alek and the Drummer - May a Lightning Bolt Caress You

Deep Forest

Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape

KOAN Sound - Polychrome. Everything these guys do is amazing but I feel like this album in particular has an unmatched vibe.

The consequences album by Godley and creme. I don't think I've ever found another fan haha

DJ Krush: Code 4109

DJ Shadow: Endtroducing

Works of art

Music by Cavelight by Blockhead. My fav stoned album of all time, probably.

I discovered Hirasawa Susumu through his work on the Paprika soundtrack and later his other albums thanks to the magic of Youtube. I'm not even sure how to describe it, it's a whole world. There's this album (Kyusai no giho). I'm not a big fan of japanese music otherwise, but this ? I've never heard anything remotely like this. And it seems so coherent, so... mature, in a way.

Great idea for a thread btw, will have to peruse the replies

KNOWER FOREVER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2F0oTqfL3E

Miles Davis On the Corner

The Velvet Underground & Nico

Boards of Canada Music has the Right to Children

Some more modern/mainstream ones:

I love Janelle Monae and the Archandroid albums are fantastic.

Alt-J, we saw them live and my kids said "I just want to lay on the ground and listen", and that's a pretty good description of it.

AWOLNATION, the music is heavy but nice to sleep to, it is dreamy in some way.

Dark Side of the Moon

Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime

The most recent one that comes to my mind is HEADACHE - The head hurts but the heart knows the truth

Porcupine Tree - Staircase Infinities 1994 album remastered in 2008. Also Piped Link

Some of my favorites are

“Trust” by LOW

“October Rust” by Type O Negative

“Welcome Oblivion” by How to Destroy Angels

“Dusk” by The The

and more recently “DECIDE” by Djo

Global Goon: Plastic Orchestra one of my my favorite albums of the year, and very unique. Global Goon is really underappreciated and i think they are amazing.