I’ve been a big fan of ambient music for a while now and have found some records to be extraordinarily helpful for my sleeping patterns. So this list is to help those of you who are tired and restless, yet can’t seem to fall asleep at nights.
Arvo Part – Alina
Arvo Part’s Alina is perhaps the most gorgeous album I have ever heard. What is most remarkable about it is how Part can do so much with so little. The entire album consists of two songs, each consisting of only a piano and a violin, repeated over and over with slight variation. Part’s minimalist piano playing is so quiet and meditative that it lulls the listener to sleep. Simply put: Alina is a masterpiece.
Max Richter – The Blue Notebooks
Like Arvo Part, Max Richter is a minimalist neo-classical musician. But Richter’s approach on The Blue Notebooks is different than Part’s. The Blue Notebooks is a much less simple album which incorporates everything from poignant violins and ambient electronica to ticking clocks and typewriters. With its use of extraneous instrumentation, it sometimes feels as though you are listening to someone else listen to music.
Hammock – Kenotic
Hammock is a post-rock giant who makes ambient music rivaling the likes of Brian Eno. On Kenotic, they create beautiful soundscapes by mixing shoegaze with electronic beats and post-rock instrumentation. I don’t know what else to say about this album. It is simply stunning and makes you feel like you’re floating in mid-air.
Stars of the Lid – The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid
Stars of the Lid is perhaps the quietist band you will ever hear. On Tired Sounds, nothing really happens and the music doesn’t actually go anywhere. It just floats around for 2 hours, immersing you in every second of it of its haunting melodies.
American Football – American Football
OK, American Football is not an ambient band at all. In fact, they play some darn good post-emo. But last summer, it hit 115 degrees at my house and my neighborhood lost power. It was 7pm, I was drenched in sweat, and had nothing to do. So I played some American Football and knocked out for 14 hours. Hence, though this album is far from being ambient, I can assure you that it is very relaxing and perfect for a hot summer day.
