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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Train of Naught on September 14, 2016, 08:48:05 AM

Title: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 14, 2016, 08:48:05 AM
Hey guys

Ever since I discovered God Is An Astronaut through 425's final EP in my first roulette I found out that I love to have this type of music playing while studying/reading, it's perfect. I'm being bombarded by assignments for papers, business reports and group projects right now so I'd like to not just have Helios / Erebus on repeat all the time. :biggrin: (I listen to all their albums but this one has been the one I return to the most lately)

So yeah just share some of your favorite ambient/post-rock/whatever bands albums. Instrumental is a bonus but not an absolute must. Like the stuff I've heard from Ulver's "Shadows of the Sun" sounds really promising aswell. Not really a fan of classical but if you think I should really really check out a certain piece go ahead. Oh and I've already checked out the This Will Destroy You album (s/t) and I liked it. Deathconsciousness is on the list to check out too.
Title: Hksbdks
Post by: Sacul on September 14, 2016, 09:05:36 AM
Imo Deathconsciousness is an album one has to listen to closely because it's damn depressing and engaging. Same for Shadows of the Sun. I can recommend you some stuff tho:

Nils Frahm - Solo
Nils Frahm - Wintermusik
Kashiwa Daisuke - 88
Ludovico Einaudi - Divenire
William Basinki - Disintegration Loops II (or any of them tbh)
Brian Eno - Ambient I: Music for Airports (literally the first ambient album ever)
Stars of the Lid - …and their Refinement of the Decline
Ed Harrison - Neotokyo

And ofc

Sun O))) - Monoliths and Dimension :neverusethis:
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Art on September 14, 2016, 09:14:12 AM
Ulver - atgclvlsscap
Laniakea - a pot of powdered nettles
Title: Re: Hksbdks
Post by: Train of Naught on September 14, 2016, 09:27:40 AM
Imo Deathconsciousness is an album one has to listen to closely because it's damn depressing and engaging. Same for Shadows of the Sun.
Fair point. I guess I don't put my focus as much on the music as some people do with ambient then. I just kind of go with the flow and let the moods and moodswings in the music speak for themselves, not really focusing on each and every detail. The music quickly unravels itself after consecutive listens and at that point it starts to become worse "background" music but at the same time better music in general to me. But I don't mind studying with an album like Deathconsciousness playing in the background for my first (few) listens. Maybe that'll change later though

Anyway good stuff so far, heard of a couple of them but haven't heard any material of those albums apart from the one Ulver song from that album Sacul sent me.

Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Bolsters on September 14, 2016, 09:29:07 AM
BT - This Binary Universe
BT - If The Stars Are Eternal So Are You And I
BT - Morceau Subrosa

Not at all like the album I chose to send you a song from, these are almost entirely instrumental ambient electronica albums. I'd recommend them in the order listed. For what it's worth Stars is my favourite and I'm not a big fan of Morceau Subrosa (too much ambient for me and it's more noise than music at times) but it is worth mentioning, as it fits what you're looking for.

I can't think of anything else to recommend off the top of my head, ambient is rarely my thang.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 14, 2016, 09:55:07 AM
That's fine. I'll add Stars for now and see where it brings me :tup
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Kotowboy on September 14, 2016, 10:03:33 AM
Patashnik by Biosphere.


Amazingly perfect for late night driving.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Sacul on September 14, 2016, 10:23:28 AM
Also Bohren & der Club of Gore, both Sunset Mission and Black Earth. Quite dark records, love them. Also Dolores if you want something happier.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: home on September 14, 2016, 01:51:58 PM
I really love Einoudi's music for relaxing, it's pretty simple/minimalistic and very beautiful. Some songs are a bit overused in commercials though.

Have you listened to an album by Maybeshewill yet? I really think you might appreciate it despite Red Paper Lanterns not scoring too high in your roulette  :P
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Crow on September 14, 2016, 01:55:28 PM
hammock and eluvium tbh
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Zantera on September 14, 2016, 01:58:49 PM
Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works)
Boards of Canada (all their albums)
Cloudkicker (Let Yourself Be Huge)
Stars of the Lid (And Their Refinement of the Decline & Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid)
Tangerine Dream (Zeit & Phaedra)
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 14, 2016, 03:18:08 PM
Love Let Yourself Be Huge. I have saved the Maybeshewill album on spotify but somehow never got around to it. I'm kind of impartial to Ludovici Einaudi, never really got into it.

Patashnik by Biosphere.


Amazingly perfect for late night driving.
I'm not much of a late night driver (hell, I don't even have a drivers license) but late night driving music sounds p-cool

Will probably get around to everything eventually but it's a lot so I might just sample everything and go from there, though that's not as easy to pull off with relaxing music for me.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Kotowboy on September 14, 2016, 03:20:24 PM
I was a passenger when my friend was driving us back from London at 2am one day after a gig and he put that album on and because the motorways were so empty - it was just PERFECT.

Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Anguyen92 on September 14, 2016, 03:27:10 PM
Lindsey Stirling albums are pretty relaxing if you like violins mixed with electronics and trance stuff.  My first thought on those albums was, "If I was still playing World of Warcraft, this is the kind of music I want to hear when grinding it out in the game."
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Lowdz on September 14, 2016, 04:39:15 PM
Marty Friedman - Scenes and Introduction

Some of Buckethead's Pikes. There is an Internet guide to them by style. His Colma, Captain Eos Voyage and Electric Tears albums are great too.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: seasonsinthesky on September 14, 2016, 05:16:57 PM
Ash Ra Tempel – Friendship
Klaus Schulze – Shadowlands (particularly "The Rhodes Violin")
Bass Communion – the "Drugged" song trilogy, but especially II
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Prog Snob on September 15, 2016, 05:25:40 AM
Oresund Space Collective. They're this brilliant space prog band. It's like Pink Floyd but without lyrics. Even my six year old daughter got hooked on it. She could be running around in circles. If she hears that first song come on, she literally stops everything lays on the floor and just stares into space.  :lol 
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 15, 2016, 12:21:13 PM
Have added everything that's been mentioned and is available fairly easily so far, but it'll need some time.

I'm loving BT's "Stars" album though.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Sacul on September 15, 2016, 12:28:53 PM
I'd also recommend NIN's Ghosts I-IV album, though it has some very intense moments like 31 Ghosts IV, it's quite calm for the most part. And instrumental.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Elite on September 15, 2016, 12:42:35 PM
Deathconsciousness was already mentioned, so here's some more:

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F#A#Infinity
maudlin of the Well - Part the Second
Ulver - Perdition City
Nordic Giants - A Séance of Dark Delusions
Massive Attack - Mezzanine (okay, not instrumental)

Bonus: De Huilende Rappers - Verkleed Als Sukkel
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 15, 2016, 12:51:22 PM
Hahaha I know De Huilende Rappers dude, they're the guys from Noisia. But let's just say it's not my thing :lol

I'd also recommend NIN's Ghosts I-IV album, though it has some very intense moments like 31 Ghosts IV, it's quite calm for the most part. And instrumental.
Feel like this would be way cooler than just the one outro song you sent me in the EP, look forward to it
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Sacul on September 15, 2016, 01:32:39 PM
Listen to the song I mentioned, the album goes back and forth between that style and the minimalist one from my EP.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: PixelDream on September 15, 2016, 05:26:52 PM
Sub Conscious by Phutureprimitive. (Album highlight: 'Spanish Fly (Flamenco Dub Pt. 1.))
Every album by Boards of Canada. (I'd recommend The Campfire Headphase to start with.)
Substrata and Dropsonde by Biosphere.
Every album by Shpongle. (Tales of the Inexpressible would be a fine introduction.)
B.P. Empire by Infected Mushroom. (Check out the track Dancing With Kadafi.)
Every album between '89 and '01 by Ozric Tentacles. (Check out the track Eternal Wheel.)
Sunset Mission and Black Earth by Bohren & Der Club of Gore. (If it rains, late at night. Somber atmosphere.)
The Last Resort by Trentemoller.
Immunity by Jon Hopkins.
Herbstlaub by Marsen Jules.


Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Zantera on September 15, 2016, 05:32:34 PM
Mogwai would make for good relaxing music I think, definitely the best Post-Rock band after GYBE and Sigur Rós I'd say. They have some heavier songs and some heavier sections, but overall it's really great music to chill out to. Songs like "Mogwai Fear Satan" (that flute!) and "Music for a Forgotten Future (The Singing Mountain)" are not only some of the best Post-Rock songs recorded, but they have that ability to take you on a wonderful ride.  :heart
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: King Postwhore on September 15, 2016, 05:41:21 PM
(https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/kingshmegland/images%201_zpsoorbid8g.jpg) (https://s583.photobucket.com/user/kingshmegland/media/images%201_zpsoorbid8g.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: sneakyblueberry on September 15, 2016, 05:59:11 PM
Fripp & Eno - Evening Star.  Especially that title track, it is gorgeous.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: goo-goo on September 15, 2016, 06:15:11 PM
Gordian Knot S/T and Emergent

Both GK albums are desert island albums for me.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Sacul on September 15, 2016, 06:37:10 PM
Every album by Shpongle. (Tales of the Inexpressible would be a fine introduction.)
B.P. Empire by Infected Mushroom. (Check out the track Dancing With Kadafi.)
Sunset Mission and Black Earth by Bohren & Der Club of Gore. (If it rains, late at night. Somber atmosphere.)
Seconding these, and Converting Vegetatarians II by IM.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Bolsters on September 16, 2016, 12:48:23 AM
I'm loving BT's "Stars" album though.
:metal
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Elite on September 16, 2016, 01:31:13 AM
Hahaha I know De Huilende Rappers dude, they're the guys from Noisia. But let's just say it's not my thing :lol

And that's all you have to say about my recommendations? :(
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Scorpion on September 16, 2016, 02:12:22 AM
Gordian Knot S/T and Emergent

Both GK albums are desert island albums for me.

They're great albums (though I prefer the s/t by quite a bit), but I think they're a fair bit busier than what ToN is looking for.

If you're into soundtracks, I'd recommend the The Fountain soundtrack - it also involves Mogwai, whom Zantera recommend, a recommendation that I can whole-heartedly second.

Also, I'm sure that Zantera won't recommend this for obvious reasons, but he's actually made a post-rock-ish album that I really enjoy listening to as background music. It's called The Stars in the Sky Are Distant Cities on Fire (https://parisinthespring.bandcamp.com/album/the-stars-in-the-sky-are-distant-cities-on-fire).

Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Zantera on September 16, 2016, 02:16:19 AM
Also, I'm sure that Zantera won't recommend this for obvious reasons, but he's actually made a post-rock-ish album that I really enjoy listening to as background music. It's called The Stars in the Sky Are Distant Cities on Fire (https://parisinthespring.bandcamp.com/album/the-stars-in-the-sky-are-distant-cities-on-fire).

Aww thanks man!  :angel:
I've heard from several friends that some of my albums make great studying music, I guess with the exception of something like Fade Into Oblivion which might be too much for some people with the guitar feedback.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 16, 2016, 02:20:43 AM
Hahaha I know De Huilende Rappers dude, they're the guys from Noisia. But let's just say it's not my thing :lol

And that's all you have to say about my recommendations? :(
I stopped commenting on every single one because the suggestions started to overflow me :lol but I'll get around to them eventually and comment on them one way or another, either this thread or in "What album are you listening to?".

I like Gordian Knot's Emergent but yeah not exactly the stuff I'm looking for with this indeed. Still, good album, will get around to S/T aswell sometime.

And the Zantera music sounds interesting. Where's the Sacul music at tho


P.S. @Anguyen The Lindsey Stirling album is cool, listened to the self-titled.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on September 16, 2016, 02:45:36 AM
Train, do you like jazz?
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Phoenix87x on September 16, 2016, 04:19:53 AM
1. An evening with petrucci and ruddess is pretty relaxing, for me at least.

2. Jim matheos: First impressions and Away with words

For those who like electronic:

1. Tycho is incredibly relaxing, beautiful and uplifting

2. Home (Artist) and his album odyssey
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 16, 2016, 04:56:06 AM
Train, do you like jazz?
Hit or miss. I've been to some jazz clubs in the past and it's cool when I'm in the mood but I'm not crazy about it.

Tycho sounds pretty cool, I'll get into that soon for sure. Not sure if I'd like something with the names "petrucci" and "rudess" on it when I'm trying to focus on something other than the music but idk, maybe it's really relaxing.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Prog Snob on September 16, 2016, 05:15:39 AM
Here's my favorite of Oresund Space Collective
(https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2071291808_10.jpg)
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 16, 2016, 06:04:34 AM
That's an album consisting of one three-part song right? Listening to it right now and it's pretty awesome, exactly the kind of mood I was looking for.

The Paris in the Spring album was great background music for studying indeed. Not something I'd personally listen to for entertainment but it is a very pleasant listen for this particular setting.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Tomislav95 on September 16, 2016, 06:16:27 AM
I believe you got Mono in your roulette. Their Hymn to the Immortal Wind is great for studying, it works as background music but it is pretty interesting if you concentrate on listening.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Prog Snob on September 16, 2016, 06:17:59 AM
That's an album consisting of one three-part song right? Listening to it right now and it's pretty awesome, exactly the kind of mood I was looking for.

The Paris in the Spring album was great background music for studying indeed. Not something I'd personally listen to for entertainment but it is a very pleasant listen for this particular setting.

Yes, it's a three part song. Phenomenal stuff. Through them I discovered other bands such as My Brother The Wind and The Spacious Mind. Two bands you would definitely like if you're into that sound. Space prog has become one of my favorite genres.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Prog Snob on September 16, 2016, 06:23:22 AM
I was just reading a little about them. They got their name from the Oresund Bridge which connects Denmark and Sweden. It turns into a tunnel. Pretty cool looking.

(https://pfnphoto.com/new/wp-content/gallery/archives/20130720-cruise-4926.jpg)
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 16, 2016, 06:30:41 AM
I bet. You've opened up an entire new genre for me :metal just like Oresund Space Collective opened up road access to Sweden for the Danish

I believe you got Mono in your roulette. Their Hymn to the Immortal Wind is great for studying, it works as background music but it is pretty interesting if you concentrate on listening.
I totally forgot that I got Everlasting Light in my roulette. That was a great song and seems like good studying material as well, I'll check out the album.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Stadler on September 16, 2016, 07:34:10 AM
Probably controversial, but I find Yngwie's Concerto to be relaxing (it's not ambient or anything like that though).   Also Endless River by Floyd, and I have a compilation of all Blackmore's instrumentals with Rainbow (I include Son of Alerik as well, though).  I also have a compilation of his instrumentals in Blackmore's Night that is rather calming. 
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: KevShmev on September 17, 2016, 08:16:10 AM
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow
Jeff Beck - Wired
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: LudwigVan on September 17, 2016, 03:24:21 PM
Blade Runner soundtrack - Vangelis
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: PixelDream on September 18, 2016, 02:15:40 PM
Blade Runner soundtrack - Vangelis

WIN
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Kotowboy on September 18, 2016, 02:19:38 PM
https://play.spotify.com/album/1M9iXcjigrEWJYncVNzECZ

If I May Toot My Own Horn :zydar:
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 18, 2016, 02:50:50 PM
I didn't expect so much stuff :lol
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Kotowboy on September 18, 2016, 03:04:40 PM
I didn't expect so much stuff :lol

You mean my music or this thread in general ?
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 18, 2016, 03:06:35 PM
This thread in general, but I guess it's a pretty broad topic.

But just looking through your spotify page yeah, that as well. You have a lot of material dude. Going to take a shot at the album you linked but apart from that, what would be your personal favorite?
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Kotowboy on September 18, 2016, 03:43:53 PM
This thread in general, but I guess it's a pretty broad topic.

But just looking through your spotify page yeah, that as well. You have a lot of material dude. Going to take a shot at the album you linked but apart from that, what would be your personal favorite?

I have a few different styles. For heavy my fave is More Primitive Weapons. For chilled it's the one I linked to. For electronic rock it's Alpha Rhythm Generator 2.2

:)
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 19, 2016, 01:14:30 AM
Cool. Will check out The Dawn and the Dusk on my way back home as it takes me about 40 minutes so it's almost the perfect length. :metal Should've included a 5 minute bonus track Kotowboy

And those other two combined are perfect for tomorrow
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Kotowboy on September 19, 2016, 09:26:36 AM
:hug:  :-* :-*
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 19, 2016, 12:31:34 PM
Okay I lied. Ran into some people on my way home and didn't get around to The Dawn and the Dusk.

However, listening to the electronic rock one (Alpha Rhythm Generator) and it's pretty legit. I can actually focus with this music playing in the background really well.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Kotowboy on September 19, 2016, 12:41:09 PM
Okay I lied. Ran into some people on my way home and didn't get around to The Dawn and the Dusk.

However, listening to the electronic rock one (Alpha Rhythm Generator) and it's pretty legit. I can actually focus with this music playing in the background really well.

Eric Rogers who wrote for Futurama tweeted me to say he listens to it when he writes.

So it must be true. it's good " something to put on whilst I work " music :p
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Outcrier on September 19, 2016, 12:46:43 PM
Definitely Boards of Canada.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: YtseBitsySpider on September 21, 2016, 06:36:54 AM
Ozric Tentacles entire discog
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Art on September 21, 2016, 06:44:04 AM
Grumbling Fur - Furrier

edit: Anything by Flowers for Bodysnatchers (but especially their last, Love Like Blood ) and anything by The Haxan Cloak.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: cfmoran13 on September 21, 2016, 09:06:32 AM
The Rite of Strings - Al DiMeola, Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty

I absolutely love this album.  It's been my go-to for this for the past 20 years.
Title: Re: Looking for your favorite relaxing (instrumental) albums
Post by: Train of Naught on September 21, 2016, 09:20:56 AM
Wrote down everything up until now :tup my go-to album from the ones mentioned has been the Oresund Space Collective one, love it