A collection of nocturne ambient lullabies

Music for avoiding insomnia

Life is stressful; and while the solace of sleep provides some respite, it can also feel like chasing the sunset. So, get comfortable and listen to any of the following albums to calm the mind and sink back into slumber.

Nocturnes by Frédéric Chopin 

These tranquil songs have serenaded listeners for nearly two centuries. Written between 1827 and 1846, the 21 nocturnes exemplify some of the best compositions for piano ever written. Be warned, though: despite the normal association between calmness and nighttime, some moments reach a surprising crescendo before lightly descending back down. With intricate melodies and counterpoint, the Nocturnes of Chopin can be appreciated just as much asleep as awake.  

Ambient 1: Music for Airports by Brian Eno 

Brian Eno is a living legend, and this classic album represents some of his finest work. As a defining early experiment in ambient music, Eno put together this record with the intention of capturing the experience of travelling through an airport. Surely that experience has changed quite a bit since the 1970s, but the album remains just as relevant. With a combination of soothing electronic sound and ethereal chants, Ambient 1 is perfect for laying in bed. 

The Disintegration Loops by William Basinski 

Basinski released each of the four albums that make up The Disintegration Loops during the early years of the 21st century, influenced by Eno but dramatically different. Completed on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, this masterpiece of avant-garde was even performed at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City in 2011 to mark the 10-year anniversary of the attacks. 

Dive by Tycho 

When it comes to electronic music, Tycho is a driving influence. Dive from 2011 made a huge splash with its ambient-inspired, synth-drenched dreamscape. With its now-iconic sunrise/sunset album cover, this album set the tempo down for at least a decade of chill beats and provided the foundation for countless other artists to expand on. Naturally, his next album called Awake from 2014 radiated even more waves of chill music. 

 hill, flower, fog by Emily A. Sprague 

Ambient has only grown in tenor with society recently, as current events produce a cacophonous symphony of their own. Emily A. Sprague (also known as Florist) released her last album in Nov. 2020, lush with euphonious noise and pleasant, but complex repetition. hill, flower, fog also accompanies an art book and short film series produced by Sprague. 

This is a selection from the April 14 issue. To view the full issue, visit: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/46245145/