While going back through the stacks last week, I was reminded of my obsession with Windham Hill Records. An indie label started by musician Will Ackerman, Windham Hill sat somewhere between Jazz and Classical music. Often noted as the starting point of the ‘New Age’ genre of music, the label was a breath of fresh air from the rock and electronic stuff of the time. Windham Hill had attracted an incredible range of musicians who went on to be house hold names, most notably George Winston. Another part of the labels attractiveness was the minimalistic album covers and simple typography, similar in execution to German Jazz label - ECM. What made Windham Hill so accessible was a consistent release of compilations called ’samplers’ sold at low prices ready for the glove box of your mom’s volvo. The label has since been sold and has faded into obscurity, much of the music from the early releases are re-purposed and sold as Christmas albums. If your in need for some soft moments in your life, go look for the samplers, preferably in the 80’s (’81 is a particularly amazing find). That’ll give you the road map to the rest of the artists.
The impending death of the virgin spirit, indeed, Mr. Ackerman.