New Music, Old Souls: The Anthropocene Soundscapes of Jonathan Ammons (S6 | E275)
Welcome back to the late-night frequency, listeners. This is Lester the Nightfly, and if you caught our latest episode, you know we took a deep dive into some truly haunting, cinematic territory. Our guest, the brilliant composer Jonathan Ammons, joined us to pull back the curtain on his creative process and share a playlist that feels like a bridge between the digital age and the ancient earth.
Jonathan Ammons
The album “Hymns of the Anthropocene” by Jonathan Ammons is a concept record reflecting themes of societal and environmental collapse, human impact on the Earth, and a narrative arc that transitions from doom to hope. The lyrics are drawn from classic modern literature and collaborations with poets and songwriters, weaving together perspectives on climate change, civilization’s end, and resilience.
The sentiment of the album balances the darkness of apocalyptic subjects with moments of hope, illustrated by imagery of nature, change, and renewal. Songs explore stories like personal struggle, environmental devastation (“Lost Cause”), the ephemeral nature of life (“Endless Summer”), and philosophical reflections on change and existence (“God is Change”). Ammons’ vocal style is described as brittle, whispered, often accompanied by ambient textures and Americana influences, creating a soundscape that feels like a memento from the end of the world.
Why This Matters to Us
Ammons’ work often grapples with the concept of the Anthropocene—the current geological age where human activity is the dominant influence on climate and the environment. You can hear that tension in this selection: a mix of glitchy textures, soaring orchestral movements, and that distinct, beautiful ache of “Hiraeth” (the Welsh word for a home you can’t return to).
The Playlist: A Journey Through the Fog
- I Am Coming for My Things (2010) – Missy Mazzoli We started the set with Mazzoli, a powerhouse of modern classical music. This track sets a defiant, slightly restless tone that perfectly introduces the atmospheric shift Ammons brings to his own work.
- A City in the Garden – Jonathan Ammons (Hiraeth, 2023) A standout from Jonathan’s 2023 release. It’s lush, green, and structured, but with those trademark Ammons shadows creeping in around the edges.
- Lost Cause – Jonathan Ammons (Hymns, 2025) A first look at the new material from the Hymns project. Despite the title, there is a resilient beauty here—a feeling of finding something precious in the ruins.
- The Ghosts You Draw on My Back – múm (Summer Make Good, 2004) A nod to the Icelandic pioneers of “glitch-pop.” This track’s delicate, skeletal structure clearly resonates with Ammons’ own approach to layering sound.
- Endless Summer – Jonathan Ammons (Hymns of the Anthropocene) A sweeping, perhaps ironically titled piece. It captures that shimmering heat-haze of a world in flux. It’s cinematic in the truest sense of the word.
- Untitled #8 (Popplagið) – Sigur Rós (( ), 2002) The ultimate crescendo. This 12-minute epic is a masterclass in building tension until it shatters. It’s easy to see why this is a touchstone for Jonathan’s expansive soundscapes.
- Vultures – Jonathan Ammons (Hymns of the Anthropocene, 2025) We closed the set with “Vultures,” a track that feels grounded and primal. It’s a powerful end to a journey that explores what remains when everything else is stripped away.
The Anthropocene Soundscapes of Jonathan Ammons (S6 | E275)
