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Seeking recommendations for well-recorded+mastered classical and/or ambient music that induces a...

post #1 of 15
2/10/12 at 12:57am
Thread Starter 

I live in Saigon, a noisy, chaotic, and bustling city. I'm not really a city person,  but this is where I make my home (and where I will live for the foreseeable future). I am seeking recommendations for the type of music in the title of this thread. I'm not looking for magic, just whatever chills you out and helps you to let go of stress. All recommendations will be very appreciated. Cheers!

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post #2 of 15
2/10/12 at 2:19am

Try the soundtrack for Angels of the Universe:  http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Universe-Hilmar-%C3%96rn-Hilmarsson/dp/B00005MJCN/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1328869113&sr=1-1

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post #3 of 15
2/10/12 at 3:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gugguson View Post

Try the soundtrack for Angels of the Universe:  http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Universe-Hilmar-%C3%96rn-Hilmarsson/dp/B00005MJCN/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1328869113&sr=1-1



Thanks - I'll be on the lookout for it.

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post #4 of 15
2/12/12 at 4:58pm

Just about anything in the so-called "New Age Genre" and the "Indian Classical Genre" (i.e. sitar-based, "ragas") should do that.

 

There is generally a divergence between "well recorded and mastered" and "well performed" music, in fact the founder of Stereophile magazine, J. Gordon Holt, coined "JGH's Law" that well-recorded and well-performed were inversely proportional. :)

 

So, is the well recorded and mastered aspect important ?  I am just checking before giving specific albums...

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post #5 of 15
2/12/12 at 6:34pm
Thread Starter 

Yeah, the well-recorded/mastered part is important...hadn't thought of Indian music though I've seen Ravi Shankar in concert a few times...let me know what your picks are when you get a chance and thanks

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post #6 of 15
2/13/12 at 11:13am

John Rutter's February 2000 recording of the Faure Requiem comes to mind as a worthy contender:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000031HB/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music  Faure's melodies are really second to none, and I find it really easy to lose myself in this album.

 

Certain genres of jazz might also be worth considering given your stated aim.  For example, I imagine a cheap/used copy of the 1991 pressing of Portrait of Pee Wee (http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-Pee-Wee-Russell/dp/B0000001BJ ) would definitely get the job done.

Irrespective of genre, I also find that a good glass of Zin helps clear the mind beerchug.gif

 

 

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post #7 of 15
2/13/12 at 12:35pm

One more question to zero in on it...

 

Are you also looking for music that is also engaging, compelling, intriguing, etc. or just relaxing, thought-dissolving and well-recorded ?

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post #8 of 15
2/13/12 at 12:41pm

Any of these Wellness Music CDs will fill the bill and as you can see, used they're really cheap.

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=wellness+music

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post #9 of 15
2/13/12 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kstuart View Post

One more question to zero in on it...

 

Are you also looking for music that is also engaging, compelling, intriguing, etc. or just relaxing, thought-dissolving and well-recorded ?


The latter, though I don't necessarily want to listen to whales singing hehe

 

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post #10 of 15
2/13/12 at 7:13pm

Still interested in the response to my last Q so that I can get you precisely what you are looking for, as there are hundreds of albums that fit without that clarification...

 

... but meanwhile, my top choice of well-recorded music that induces a state of relaxation/complete absence of thought for the listener is:

 

www.amazon.com/White-Winds-Andreas-Vollenweider/dp/B00000263Q/

 

I used to carry this CD with me, when auditioning audio equipment at high-end stores back in the mid-1980s.

 

Another classic - that was seminal in starting what is now called the "shoegazer" genre is:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Victorialand-Cocteau-Twins/dp/B00007IFR5/

 

Superb indian-influenced ambient precursor:

 

www.amazon.com/Tantric-Songs-Hosianna-Mantra-Popol/dp/B0000007VS/

 

And lastly for now, the original ambient album, and IMHO, still the best:

 

www.amazon.com/No-Pussyfooting-Fripp-Eno/dp/B001DU48XG

 

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post #11 of 15
2/13/12 at 7:50pm

My wind-down music that fits the criteria:

 

Four Tet, Shpongle, M83, Burial, Phaelea

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post #12 of 15
2/13/12 at 8:16pm

Try some Mystic Moods Orchestra recordings.

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post #13 of 15
2/13/12 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the recommendations - I'll let you know what I think when I get my mitts on these recordings. 

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post #14 of 15
2/23/12 at 9:54am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kstuart View Post

Still interested in the response to my last Q so that I can get you precisely what you are looking for, as there are hundreds of albums that fit without that clarification...

 

... but meanwhile, my top choice of well-recorded music that induces a state of relaxation/complete absence of thought for the listener is:

 

www.amazon.com/White-Winds-Andreas-Vollenweider/dp/B00000263Q/

 

I used to carry this CD with me, when auditioning audio equipment at high-end stores back in the mid-1980s.

 

Another classic - that was seminal in starting what is now called the "shoegazer" genre is:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Victorialand-Cocteau-Twins/dp/B00007IFR5/

 

Superb indian-influenced ambient precursor:

 

www.amazon.com/Tantric-Songs-Hosianna-Mantra-Popol/dp/B0000007VS/

 

And lastly for now, the original ambient album, and IMHO, still the best:

 

www.amazon.com/No-Pussyfooting-Fripp-Eno/dp/B001DU48XG

 




I've listened to the Vollenweider and it's not really my cup of tea, but thanks for the recommendation nonetheless. I did find a Philip Glass/Ravi Shankar collaboration that is quite nice.

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post #15 of 15
3/12/12 at 9:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by doublea71 View Post

I live in Saigon, a noisy, chaotic, and bustling city. I'm not really a city person,  but this is where I make my home (and where I will live for the foreseeable future). I am seeking recommendations for the type of music in the title of this thread. I'm not looking for magic, just whatever chills you out and helps you to let go of stress. All recommendations will be very appreciated. Cheers!

Give Manual a try,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76pJNO-ht2E


If you enjoy this I can link you to some stuff similar to this.
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