I always enjoy discovering new music, including through people’s lists of favorites. So I thought I would return the favor and list some of my own favorite albums here.
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL
Arvo Pärt: Passio, Miserere, Arbos, Te Deum, Da Pacem, Creator Spiritus, Alina (ECM recordings, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Paul Hillier)
Philip Glass: Akhnaten, Satyagraha, Glassworks
Meredith Monk: Book of Days
Steve Reich: Different Trains, Music for 18 Musicians, Reich/Richter
John Adams: Shaker Loops
EUROPEAN CLASSICAL
Jordi Savall (performer): Tous les matins du monde
JS Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge (Keller Quartet)
Rachmaninov: Vespers (Paul Hillier)
Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli, Missa Aeterna Christi Munea, Stabat Mater
Allegri: Miserere (Tallis Scholars)
Marin Marais: Pieces de Viole du Second Livre (Jordi Savall)
Canteloube: Songs of the Auvergne (Dawn Upshaw)
NORDIC
Mari Boine: Eight Seasons, Goaskinviellja / Ørnebror, Leahkastin
Agnes Buen Garnås & Jan Garbarek: Rosensfole
Jaga Jazzist: Starfire, Magazine, Stix, What We Must
Kings of Convenience: Riot on an Empty Street, Quiet is the New Loud, Declaration of Dependence, Peace or Love
EUROPE
Bulgarian Women’s Choir: Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares, Bulgarian Custom Songs, Ritual
Maria Salgado: Siete Modos De Guisar Las Berenjenas
Kila: Tog e go bog e, Gambler’s Ballet, Luna Park
CONTEMPORARY POPULAR
Kate Bush: Hounds of Love, Aerial part II, The Sensual World
Sting: Nothing Like the Sun, Ten Summoner’s Tales, Mercury Falling, Brand New Day
Mathieu Chedid – M
LOUNGE, ELECTRO-SWING, NUJAZZ, JAZZ
Kojato: All About Jazz
Bahama Soul Club: The Cuban Tapes
Caravan Palace: <|°_°|> (Robot Face), Chronologic
Stereolab: Dots & Loops, Cobra & Phases, Sound Dust
Bitter:Sweet: Drama, The Mating Game
Django Reinhart
NORTH AMERICA
Bela Fleck: The Bluegrass Sessions, Tales from the Acoustic Planet
Carlos Nakai: Carry the Gift, Canyon Trilogy
William Eaton: Where Rivers Meet
SOUTH AMERICA
João Gilberto, Elis Regina, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Sabrina Melheiros
Compilation: Bossa Nova and the Rise of Brazilian Music in the 1960s
AFRICA
Ayub Ogada: En Mana Kuoyo
Youssou N’dour: Eyes Open, The Guide, Set, Egypt
Sona Jobarteh: Badinyaa Kumoo, Fasiya
MIDDLE-EAST
Axiom of Choice: Niya Yesh, Unfolding
Peter Gabriel: Passion: Music for the Last Temptation of Christ
The Musicians of the Nile: Egypte – Les Musiciens du Nil
Seiur Marie Keyrouz: Chant Byzantin, Canticles de L’Orient
ASIA
Huun Huur Tu: If I’d Been Born an Eagle, Where Young Grass Grows
Sainkho Namtchylak: Naked Spirit
Shakuhachi – The Japanese Flute
SOUNDTRACKS
Bruno Coulas: Himalaya
Hans Zimmer: Interstellar
Sweet & Lowdown
Vangelis: Bladerunner
ELECTRONIC / AMBIENT
Boris Blank: Electrified
Brian Eno: Apollo – Atmospheres & Soundtracks
Jean-Michel Jarre: Oxygene, Zoolook, Amazônia
Vangelis: Albedo 0.39
And, in general, anything from Putumayo.
See also this playlist on Spotify, and a slightly more comprehensive list.