album · April 13, 1979

Rainbow Dome Musick

Steve Hillage

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Virgin CatalogueSee this day

psychedelic rockprog rockelectronic

Hillage’s 1979 album "Rainbow Dome Musick" pioneered ambient electronic soundscapes with its use of synths and tape loops for a deeply immersive listening experience. The album was one of the first to be marketed as "ambient music."

• Recorded at Slough's Matrix Studios, the album was engineered by Hillage himself alongside his frequent collaborator, Nick Cook.
• "Rainbow Dome Musick" was a departure from Hillage's more guitar-centric work, focusing on synthesized textures and drones.
• The album's release coincided with a period of growing interest in ambient and electronic music, influencing later artists in the genre.

Steve Hillage is a guitarist and producer from England, best known for his work in Gong and his solo career in psychedelic and electronic rock. In 1979, he was exploring the sonic possibilities of the studio, following his ambitious 1978 album "Green".