TheOxfordAmbientCollective

Music

About

The Oxford Ambient Collective (OAC) is the solo musical alter-ego of David Smith, an artist who began his compositional journey in his early thirties using software such as Buzz, FL Studio and Reason. He has a focus on a aesthetic of crafting immersive "ambient drones and ethereal soundscapes." Intentionally grounding his work in the history of the genre, Smith’s creative output reveals a clear artistic lineage, with albums like Berlin Vol. III acknowledging the "subtle German EM influences" and paying thematic homage to the pioneering Berlin School of electronic music. While deeply reverent to this historical lineage, Smith's methodology is aggressively contemporary, positioning him at the vanguard of mobile sound design by relying on a sophisticated suite of iOS applications to perform complex sonic morphing and generate his signature textures; his advanced workflow employs Soundscaper as an "experimental sound mini lab" for textural manipulation, with all audio professionally route

Episodes

  • Pirma Sviesa (naviarhaiku 637)

    This episode features Pirma Sviesa, a semi-improvised piano piece by TheOxfordAmbientCollective, inspired by a haiku from Anne Curran.

  • The Fragile Valley (naviarhaiku 636)

    The Oxford Ambient Collective presents 'The Fragile Valley,' a semi-improvised piano piece. It was inspired by the haiku 'beyond the talus withering in the valley — a hanging glacier' by Lisa Germany.

  • Music For Schools Vol 2 (5 - Data Storage)

    This episode features a short track titled "Data Storage," played on a Casio VL-Tone VL-1 Electronic Keyboard Synthesiser and recorded using a Tascam DR005XP.

  • Ghost Hackers VIII - Man In The Middle

    Ghost Hackers VIII - Man In The Middle is a new track from TheOxfordAmbientCollective, produced using AUM with Thor, Hilda, and Axon3, and incorporating Moog MF-1045, EOS 2, Revolv, and Grand Finale effects.

  • Ghost Hackers VII -Evil Twin

    Ghost Hackers VII - Evil Twin is an episode from TheOxfordAmbientCollective.

  • Ghost Hackers VI - Phreaking

    The first track of 2026. The track was created in Korg Gadget using gadgets such as Recife (retro-futurist drum gadget), Miami (Monophonic Wobble Synthesizer) and Stockhom (Reason developed Rex file player).

  • Soundpainter & The Oxford Ambient Collective - Illusions In Retrograde - 01 Illusion 1 Odyssey

    slowworldmusic - a remaster from 2013 release Andrew Janik is awesome at:- https://soundcloud.com/soundpainter Illusions In Retrograde Remastered -4 tracks out now:https://burythejar.bandcamp.com/album/illusions-in-retrograde-remastered av…

  • Themes From Forgotten Films Vol 2: The Reactor

    Themes From Forgotten Films Vol 2: The Reactor by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • Themes From Forgotten Films Vol 2:Vilniaus Arkikaredra

    Themes From Forgotten Films Vol 2:Vilniaus Arkikaredra by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • Themes From Forgotten Films Vol 2: Lost Signals

    This is from the soundtrack to the 1994 film by director Sam Norton. The film is set on a space station on the edge of the solar system orbiting Pluto and suddenly all communication is lost with the home world.

  • Themes From Forgotten Films Vol 2:Ghost In The Dunes

    A tune recorded in WaveMapper. This is from the soundtrack to the 1988 film by Japanese director Akari Ito. The film explores the how a young boy called Hinta as he dreams of a world of mystic castles, ravens and ghosts in dunes.

  • Themes From Forgotten Films Vol2:Tamsus Kodas

    A synth jam in Synth One J6 - the first in a new set of Themes From Forgotten Films. This is part of the Sountrack for the 2014 film Tamsus Kodas by Lithunanian director Kajus Kalvis. The film explores the day in the life of hacker Danieli…

  • Computer Echoes:1010<->ZX80

    The last of the Computer Echoes track and another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. The ZX80 was an early home computer released by Sinclair Research in 1980. It was one of the first affordabl…

  • Computer Echoes:1001&orCommodore Pet

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was one of the first personal computers, released in 1977 by Commodore International. It was an all…

  • Computer Echoes:1000!Altair 8800b

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. The Altair 8800 had no built-in screen or video output, so it would have to be connected to a serial terminal (such as a VT100-compatible terminal) to…

  • Computer Echoes:0111(^) DEC PDP 8

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. The DEC PDP 8 was the first commercially successful minicomputer, with over 50,000 units sold during the model's lifetime https://en.wikipedia.org/wik…

  • Computer Echoes:0110 == Transistorised Automatic Computer

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. The Transistorised Automatic Computer was designed in 1958 as compute rised early-warning system. https://www.tnmoc.org/marconi-tac#:~:text=The%20Marc…

  • Computer Echoes:0101!=IBM1130

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. The IBM1130 was one the first IBMs developed for the office. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_1130

  • Computer Echoes: 0100 & EDSAC

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. EDSAC was the one of the world's first digital computers. https://www.tnmoc.org/edsac

  • Computer Echoes:0011 # The W.I.T.C H

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. W.I.T.C.H was the one of the world's first digital computers. https://www.tnmoc.org/witch

  • Computer Echoes:0010 => Dreams of Colossus

    Another track inspired by a visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park. Colossus was the world's first digital computer. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_computer

  • Computer Echoes:0001<> The Bombe

    This track is influenced by a recent visit to the National Museum of Computng at Bletchley Park here in the UK. The track was created in AUM and used apps such as Stria and ID700 with MIDI notes from Harmony Bloom and effects from Bleass M…

  • The Far Tower In Fluorescence (with Soundpainter)

    A few weeks ago my music friend Soundpainter (aka Andrew Janik) got in touch about using one of my tracks from my Sound Installations album as he thought that it would work well with the track that he was producing. This is the result. It…

  • Ghost Hackers V - Dark Worm

    Ghost Hackers V - Dark Worm by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • Sonic Installations VI-The Cove

    This track was composed in AUM using apps such as Hida (going through a Rymdigae effect) and Hillman (going through a Nembrini Delay effect). Notes/MIDI came from Chordjam with additional sounds coming from Fluss Recorder (going via a Spea…

  • Ghost Hackers IV - Zero Day

    This is track was created on my Roland MC307, which I puchased off eBay last year. I finally worked out how to record from it properly. It was great fun!

  • ::::>>>>::Journey To The Sun::::::Naviar Haiku 521

    My contribution to Naviar Records Haiku Challenge 521. Haiku by Kobayashi Issa https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/kobayashi-issa Basking in the New Year's sun... my trashy hut Picture by Jonathan M. Hethey https://unsplash.com/photos/p…

  • Sonic Installations V- The Death of William Blake

    The melody for this track was made in Fugue Machine. There are two instances of the Hillman synth app panned left and right. Each of these are going through an effect called Speaker. Grand Finale is being used for mastering. The title was…

  • Barbican Drones (with Encym)

    A collaboration with a music friend Encym (Roland). I have done a few collaborations with Roland now and it is always a pleasure to work with him. This track contains a number of wonderful samples that Roland sent me earlier in the year. T…

  • Butterfly And Ship (with Pete Swinton) 2.Dysphasia

    This is second of the four tracks of a new collaboration with my music friend Pete Swinton. I will be re-working some of his tracks from his excellent Butterfly and Ship album. peteswinton.bandcamp.com/album/butterfly-and-ship This track i…

  • ::::>>>>::Dark Fall::::::Naviar Haiku 511

    My contribution to Naviar Records Haiku Challenge 511. Haiku by Shubham Dasgupta In dark autumn nights dew and the new bamboo shoots reaching out to moon Photo by naraa

  • ::::>>>>::Moonlight Discord::::::Naviar Haiku 508

    My contribution to Naviar Records Haiku Challenge 508. Haiku by John Hinks Deep, dark summer night A Sudden shatt of moonlight Blesses the temple stepping stones

  • Sonic Installations IV (the far tower)

    This track was recorded and played in AnimoogZ.

  • Themes From Copenhagen V- Zealand

    This track was recorded in AUM and used apps such as Sunrizer and Hilman, The melodies came from Fugue Machine. Effects used were Nembrini Analog Rack Delay and Nembrini Delay3000.

  • Themes from Copenhagen IV - Øresund

    This track was recorded in AUM ans used apps such as AOX02,auDSPr and Noises - all going through the effect Rymdigare.

  • Themes From Copenhagen III - Radio Cristiania

    This track was played in Free Christiania. It is based on a track that I never got round to completing. It was recorded in AUM and used the ID700 synth and Axon02. Effects used were Lo-Fi-Af and Rymdigare.

  • Themes From Copenhagen II - Trinitatis Kirke

    This track was played in the Trinitatis Kirke in Copenhagen. At the time there was a wonderful organ recital in progress, so I felt compelled to create this track. It was played on the Moog Model 15 app. Effects from Eventide were added la…

  • Themes From Copenhagen I - Amkomst

    This track was played whilst flying from Heathrow to Copenhagen. It was recorded in AUM via AnimoogZ

  • Sonic Installations III (drone droids)

    Sonic Installations III (drone droids) by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • Sonic Installations II (raadiolained)

    Sonic Installations II (raadiolained) by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • Butterfly And Ship (with Pete Swinton) 1. Sinyphasia

    This is first of the four tracks of a new collaboration with my music friend Pete Swinton. I will be re-working some of his tracks from his excellent Butterfly and Ship album. https://peteswinton.bandcamp.com/album/butterfly-and-ship This…

  • Sonic Installations I (sagedus)

    Sonic Installations I (sagedus) by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • ::::>>>>::::Celestial Paths::::Naviar Haiku 466

    My contribution to Naviar Records Haiku Challenge 466. Haiku by Louise Hastings Open road… the distant clouds stepping stones

  • Signal To Noise (collab With Encym)

    A collaboration with a music friend Encym (Roland). I have done a few collaborations with Roland now and it is always a pleasure to work with him. This track contains a number of wonderful samples that Roland sent me. These have been manip…

  • Ghost Hackers III - Red Attack

    Ghost Hackers III - Red Attack by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • Ghost Hackers II - Blue Defence

    Ghost Hackers II - Blue Defence by TheOxfordAmbientCollective

  • Ghost Hackers I - False Flag

    A track recorded in AUM using Patterning 2 (using samples from a Pulsar23)going through Varispeed app and Reelbus tape effect. Synth sounds from DRC app with effects from OtherDessertCities with notes from Euclidian (midi notes generator).

  • Conjunctions VI Rework (TOAC vs Ferekans)

    This is a rework of my track Conjunctions VI with my new music friend Ferekans. You can find has excellent work at: https://soundcloud.com/ferekans-music

  • Incantations 2

    The second Incantations track played on my Harley Benton SC-550 II guitar ). The track was recorded via an Audient Sono Guitar interface into AUM on my iPad. Effects used were Nembrini Delay 3000, Gauss (a looper/sequencer), Kosmonaut and…

  • Incantations I

    This is one the first times that I have done a track with guitar (in this case a Harley Benton SC-550 II ). The track was recorded in the Roxsyn app from Yonac and further embellishments were added in AUM.