# Atmospheric music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565 "2017-07-18T12:46:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/1 "2017-07-18T12:46:24Z")
I was tied as to whether to post this in the Game Room or here, as my example is from a game. However, I don’t necessarily want to limit the conversation to games. I picked up a game, DEFCON, during the Steam Sale recently, and found that I enjoyed the music, which came with the game in the form of MP3’s. I pulled them up in my mp3 player, put them on random play, and later realized I'd listened to them all day long. I've taken to putting it on at night to sleep by. . .except for song #7, not my favorite for sleeping. I’m interested in similar, relaxing, atmospheric music. Nothing minor key and menacing (I’m sleeping, I don’t want nightmares!), nothing jaunty and too upbeat. Soft, relaxing, pleasant. Anyone else have favorite soundtracks and/or atmospheric music they relax by? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/2 "2017-07-18T12:58:04Z")
[This album](https://www.amazon.com/Bossa-Do-Beb%C3%AA-Various-artists/dp/B001BVKYW6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500382369&sr=8-2&keywords=bossa+bebe#customerReviews) got two terrible reviews, but I love it. I don’t know how I came across it- probably from just being an affectionado of Brazilian music. Good for sleeping. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/3 "2017-07-18T12:59:08Z")
Air on a G String. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/4 "2017-07-18T13:08:47Z")
HEARTS of SPACE > **[Hearts of Space](https://v4.hos.com/)** > > Music from the Hearts of Space, Slow Music for Fast Times, spacemusic, space music, slowmusic, slow music, ambient, ambient music, electronic music, electronica, chill, chill music, contemplative, contemplative music > [@](#): > > HEARTS of SPACE began as a San Francisco late night radio show in 1973, went national on public radio in 1983 and to our eternal amazement, grew to almost 300 stations. Despite our success, it was hard to make a living in public radio, so we started an independent record label in 1984, ultimately releasing almost 150 albums. > > It was a lot of fun, but by 2001 the clouds were gathering over the record business, so we launched an online music streaming service with 700 (now over 900) programs —The Hearts of Space Archive. That same year we sold the record label to Valley Entertainment. While we still help produce new recordings for the label, we no longer run it day to day. > > These pages tell you more about us and what we’ve been doing for over 30 years. Our goal is to bring you great music wherever you are, deepen your understanding of ambient, space, and contemplative music, and save you time. The good stuff is out there. We help you find it. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/5 "2017-07-18T16:41:30Z")
Stellaris…awesome trancy music. ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/6 "2017-07-18T18:39:07Z")
I recently discovered James Hood-Pure Ceremony. Very calming. He plays an instrument called a “hang” , pronounced “hong”. I heard it on the Hearts of Space site mentioned earlier. If you have Amazon Prime you can stream it here: [https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Ceremony-JAMES-HOOD/dp/B00YFL3JOO](https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Ceremony-JAMES-HOOD/dp/B00YFL3JOO) ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/7 "2017-07-18T19:16:56Z")
In recent months I’ve discovered Cristian Onofreucic, a modern classical composer whose music probably fits this thread. Here’s a favorite, both for the music and for the accompanying visual. (I’m generally indifferent to most fantasy/sci-fi art, but I find this picture absolutely mesmerizing, particularly combined with the musical piece): [Beyond the Stars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pME9JwyY_Q). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/8 "2017-07-18T20:04:36Z")
Try some of Brian Eno’s ambient stuff like Music For Airports, Discreet Music or Thursday Afternoon. They’re all on youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/9 "2017-07-18T23:26:49Z")
Thanks to everyone who responded. I’ll be giving it all a listen. I knew about Eno’s work, but can’t remember what it was like now. I remember some very mellow stuff from “Hearts of Space” many. many years back. I’m listening to [Flávio Mendes - Bossa do Bebê](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhYTiiMwyuc) right now. Sounds very much like what I’m looking for. Calming, not rousing. Thanks again to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/10 "2017-07-19T07:30:59Z")
Just put some [Eno](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKw5mbcE7VY) on loop. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/11 "2017-07-19T17:37:12Z")
DEFCON is still my go-to “sleep” music, and I don’t even play the game anymore! Try David Lange’s _[Return of the Comet](https://www.amazon.com/Return-Comet-David-Lange/dp/B000008HJI)_ put out in…'86? '87? (something like that) for Halley’s Comet’s swing through the inner system. Good stuff. The song _Behind The Sun_ is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/12 "2017-07-19T17:57:51Z")
Check out Liquid Mind on YT. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/13 "2017-07-20T05:57:16Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Try some of Brian Eno’s ambient stuff like Music For Airports, Discreet Music or Thursday Afternoon. They’re all on youtube. > [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Just put some [Eno](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKw5mbcE7VY) on loop. Yeah, if there’s a master of the style, it’s probably Eno. My favorite is [Deep Blue Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu3mNKpJLgc), but that’s mostly because of the pedal steel. All of Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks is just delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/14 "2017-07-20T06:47:45Z")
I love Hearts of Space!!! The soundtrack for Planescape:Torment is pretty good for background listening, as well. And there’s some overlap with the earlier Fallout background music (same composer)(plus the 30s-60s blues/pop is nice as well if you are in the mood.) If you want to take some time and filter it out, the Beastie Boys have some awesome instrumental tracks, particularly from Ill Communication. Other game soundtracks you might enjoy are selections from Katamari Damacy, Journey, Shadow of the Colossus, and perhaps even the ambient stuff from the early Silent Hills. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/15 "2017-07-20T12:19:53Z")
_Victorialand_ by Cocteau Twins. Or _The Moon and the Melodies_ by Cocteau Twins and Harold Budd. Or, since Eno’s been mentioned, there are two Budd/Eno albums, _Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror_ and _The Pearl_. Or any of Budd’s own considerable opus. I see he’s done some albums with just Robin Guthrie of the Cocteaus, I haven’t heard those yet, but now I will. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/16 "2017-07-21T02:05:28Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > DEFCON is still my go-to “sleep” music, and I don’t even play the game anymore! > Try David Lange’s _[Return of the Comet](https://www.amazon.com/Return-Comet-David-Lange/dp/B000008HJI)_ put out in…'86? '87? (something like that) for Halley’s Comet’s swing through the inner system. Good stuff. The song _Behind The Sun_ is my favorite. I’m working my way through this thread. Since you liked DEFCON to sleep by as well, you jumped a little closer to the start of the line 😃 Found this on Youtube: I haven’t even hit “behind the sun” yet. Beautiful, and will be calming enough to sleep by. Kind of reminiscent of the “Blade Runner” soundtrack. Can’t find it on MP3 yet, might have to go old-school CD. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/17 "2017-07-21T02:12:35Z")
Yeah, Eno. Cool how he can put you to sleep, then make you get up and dance with \*\*Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy), Here Come the Warm Jets, Before and After Science, \*\* etc. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/18 "2017-07-21T03:00:46Z")
Steven Halpern is pretty good for going to sleep to. https://www.youtube.com/embed/j-eWNtzh90c?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLv_3f3qEgDHTNrH-6nHxL_MSsrsJkLjnh ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/19 "2017-07-21T04:34:21Z")
I’m jumping around a bit. Suggestions that have a youtube link are easier to investigate. > [@by-tor](#): > > Steven Halpern is pretty good for going to sleep to. > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-eWNtzh90c&index=1&list=PLv\_3f3qEgDHTNrH-6nHxL\_MSsrsJkLjnh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-eWNtzh90c&index=1&list=PLv_3f3qEgDHTNrH-6nHxL_MSsrsJkLjnh) You’re getting what I’m going for. Very nice. > [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Yeah, Eno. > > Cool how he can put you to sleep, **then make you get up and dance** with \*\*Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy), Here Come the Warm Jets, Before and After Science, \*\* etc. You, maybe not so much. 😃 I’ll be getting back to Eno. I remember listening to his “airport” work about 15 years back, but I don’t remember it offhand. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565/20 "2017-07-21T04:51:09Z")
In the interest of giving back to the thread I created, in addition to the DEFCON example I used in the OP, I thought I’d throw this link up here for your enjoyment: > **[Listen and create ambient sounds easily](https://www.ambient-mixer.com/)** > > Listen online to relaxing sound atmospheres, ambient music or chilling sound effects. You can even create and mix your own moods, all for free. Many pre-mixed atmospheres, from jungles to starships. I like the rain ones myself. This one is nice: [http://weather.ambient-mixer.com/tent-rain](http://weather.ambient-mixer.com/tent-rain) I like to reduce the four thunder sliders on the right about 50%. Just a touch too much thunder for my taste. I got it down to taking me about 5 seconds though, so no biggie. I’ve been toying with the idea of making 2 different ‘atmospheres’, and running them both in different tabs, to make a rich forest atmosphere with a greater variety of sounds. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-music/791565.md?page=2)