Pete Namlook

The prolific Pete Namlook could make even the most productive artist look lazy. His catalog numbers dozens of solo albums, and his many collaborations feature acclaimed artists from across the spectrum, including Bill Laswell, Klaus Schulze, Pascal FEOS, Atom Heart, Dandy Jack and Richie Hawtin. His tireless endeavors -- and those of his label, Fax +49-69/450464 -- have pushed the very definition of ambient music since he turned away from techno in the early '90s. Born Peter Kuhlmann -- Namlook is a rough phonetic reversal of his surname -- he launched Fax in 1993 with his eponymous solo CD. Inspired by Brian Eno and Vangelis, his music is heavy on analog synthesizers that mass into great, quivering drones. Over the years, he and his label have explored various technologies and styles, from electronic beats to gently brushed drumming to the queasy, digital sonics of microsound. But you can always expect his work to offer the sensual and psychological immersion of an isolation tank.