Ok, let's be clear. This is about contemporary, atmospheric music. I'm aware of Nox Arcana, and other music of that ilk, but I'm thinking about (to get the ball rolling)
- Angel, Massive Attack
- Godzilla theme (Puff Daddy's reworking of Led Zep's Kashmir)
- Cecilia Ann from Pixies
- theme from Suspira from Argento and The Pixies

Any more for any more?

Portishead do some whacked up stuff.

How about that Kitaro guy?

If this song is in the arena of what you are looking for I can suggest other bands

The Good The Bad And The Queen Herculean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYtn7yx8y6I

The first two albums from Julee Cruise for sure.

Tangerine Dream is good....especially their work on the Legend Soundtrack.

Some new suggestions there - thanks guys.
I'm looking for something up-beat to open a stage show - something that communicates a certain awe or power - not at all subtle. The kind of thing a meglomaniac mage might have.
What would Crowley have as his opening theme if he were around today?

X-treem -liked that track a lot; sounded a bit like Albarn/Gorillaz.

Cheers.
Steve

Danny Elfman has two albums chock full of his creepy soundtrack stuff he has done over the years - Music for a Darkened Theater. Lot's of good stuff on there.

Also if you are clever you can find a copy of the music from the Sin City Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0PDOQglpDQ&feature=related It is "Cells" by the Servant but it is a VERY hard to find instrumental version. The Servant had it for download on their site but their site is dead. If you like what you hear on the video and want it, let me know. I know peoples.

Something by Queen, no doubt.

U2 has quite theatrical and powerful music as well....maybe not extreme, but there is a certain theatricality to it.

Steve I've seen video's of your show and I think you definatly need something home grown, it would fit well with your style.

I've always wanted to use Teardrop by Massive Attack to end a show - A powerful piece of music -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8eQBSp9Ao

Darned Youtube - blocking UK users from accessing material others in the world can access! Only today they've done it too!

Still, thanks be to weprox.com for allowing us UK surfers to experience Youtube as we did prior to today. Dumb greedy musos.

It is Gorillaz frontman... good ear TGTBATQ is a "supergroup."

Anyway in the realm of Haunting arena rock (like Kashmir) Neon Horse is great.

Here are a couple of songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0QAUql3ax8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTd_M_0mbVQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wsMUyKcsxU

They are on a label known for Christian bands so it is assumed they are as well.

For music closer to TGTBATQ try the album Chamber and Volumes by Jacobstone

For a more Timothy Learyesque version there is always the band Psychic TV.

Crowley would open with Bye Bye Colour by LSU, I'll PM you on that one.

Soundtrack music is often very powerful as well....

A couple of great examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L-Bk28Ra6Q

I'd second that, amazing soundtrack! Stear clear of the early TD stuff - very very wierd (instruments include coffee makers!).

Steve McDonald does some great atmospheric stuff if you've got an effect using anything with a Scottish theme.

There is an excellent track called "Hypnosis" on a CD I've got called "Dance Moods" http://www.musicline.de/de/product/5703185352050/462505
(WMA 30s sample - gets boppier as it progresses but the voice over remains throughout). I once saw someone perform a non-verbal routine to this and it was very effective.

A word of caution - make sure the PA system is fit for purpose, otherwise you could end up with the following couple of situations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxELSzay2lc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAsmf1LGc......aynext=1

Ah memories

Sorry but you guys are missing some great ones, try...
ISIS (atmospheric, instrumental hardcore. don't let the term hardcore scare you. )

PILOT THIS PLANE DOWN (similar to isis in the panopticon era)

NEUROSIS (the band that pretty much started it all when it came to atmospheric metal)

AHAB (funeral drone, super doomy. themed after moby dick and sounds like your underwater)

SUNN 0))) (this is more droney stuff)

BRAVEYOUNG (this band was formerly called giant so you may have to look them up under that name. and its not the 80's band "giant")

GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR (ever seen 28 days later? remember the great song that plays when cillian murphy is running through town at the beginning?)

A SILVER MT. ZION (very similar to godspeed, in fact members from both have started a new project.)

DEADBOLT (the scariest band in the world. scary and sometimes funny stories told over spooky surf rock. everything from killer clowns and voodoo truckers to zulu deathmasks and rampaging alligators. its all here.)

MONSTERS FROM MARS (surf rock with a creepy edge)

FAMOUS MONSTERS (surf rock with a campy horror theme)

WHITE ZOMBIE (yes they do have instrumental stuff!!)
old black metal stuff always has had instrumentals that were intense and eery. and since true black metal comes from scandinavia it often has viking overtones. maybe some horses neighing and swords clashing in an ice covered treeless forest or sometimes more traditional fare.look up....

BATHORY

AGALLOCH

DRUDKH

MAYHEM

BURZUM

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM

ALTAR OF PLAGUES

some more jazzy stuff would include,

ANGELO BADALAMENTI (he did the whole twin peaks soundtrack along with julee cruise which is also a great pick)

TOM WAITS (this is an incredibly obvious pick for me and I suggest you look him up immediately if you don't know. I've been using his song "Black Box Theme" from "The Black Rider" for my needle through arm with tremendous success.)

QUINTRON (he makes his own instruments plays strange strange music. toured with the cramps so that should give you an idea of his sound. look up "the frog tapes".)

FATS WALLER (classic jazz with a definite feel)

and of course...
MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE
NOX ARCANA

that list should give you enough to look through for awhile. if you don't like one of the bands try another they are all pretty different. lots of the songs have lyrics, lots of them don't. its easy to look these bands up on myspace or download them. if youre looking for atmosphere you'll find everything you need on this list.

***! That's a whole lot of music duder!

Have a listen to MUSE's, "Kings of Caledonia". You know when a song starts out with galloping horses, it's going to be epic.

Suspiria was the Goblins, not the Pixies...and that music has haunted me for years.

Goblins synth scores are awesome