Music recs

[ksmith]

Can anyone recommend some good writing music? My tastes run along Ivy/St Etienne/Moby/Lush lines in that regard--I can handle singing if the voices are soft and not too idiosyncratic. Anything too rhythmic or head-bangy distracts.

I don't know much about ambient, but I like Sigur Ros without the vocals, or instrumental Moby, I like Delerium, too, and don't find those vocals distracting.

Comments

[moon-happy.livejournal.com]

I'm finding that movie sound tracks are often quite nice. I tend to like the energetic ones myself, but I'd like to recommend the CHOCOLATE sound track by Natalie Portman to you. It's lovely.
Cynthia

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Lots of folks mention soundtracks--I should probably start looking into them.

I don't go to many movies, so soundtracks tend to miss me completely.

[amyirene-40.livejournal.com]

Try plugging a few of your favorite songs/artists into Pandora and see what it turns up.

http://www.pandora.com

[sleary.livejournal.com]

I second that suggestion.

Zero 7, Conjure One (Delerium by another name), Morcheeba, and Massive Attack might work. Also the various Chillout compilations. Orbital, maybe, although they're hit and miss with me... but try "Halcyon and On and On," for sure.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Orbital is hit or miss with me, too.Conjue One sounds like a definite possibility--thanks!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I tried it once while looking for stuff like Peter Murphy, and wound up being directed to a lot of Peter Murphy songs and some others by a band whose name I forgot, but who I know I didn't care for. I should give it another try, though. Peter Murphy is unique and rather hard to match.

[daveamongus.livejournal.com]

I dig Dead Can Dance, though they may sing too much for you. Your Mileage Definitely Will Vary with them.

Also, I got into Clannad during my brief Celtic Phase. (They had this great song called Harry's Game which was in the movie Patriot Games. Nice and sad and mellow.) Acts as nice background music for when I need to focus on anything, writing or otherwise.

Other than that, I tend toward classical and movie soundtracks. Beethoven's Ninth, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, Patrick Doyle's Henry V score, any Eric Serra score (Leon, Fifth Element, etc.), and Michael Kamen's Band of Brothers score.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I've heard of DCD, and liked the little bit I heard of them. I wondered about bands like Clannad as well. Thanks!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I'm listening to Enya these days--just plugged her new CD Amarantine into the rotation. It's nice, but not quite as enjoyable as her earlier CD's.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[clarkesworld.livejournal.com]

Some of Air's music might work for you. I mix in their stuff with the above artists all the time.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I should have mentioned AIr. I love Talkie Walkie and Moon Safari. Premiers Symptomes was a little uneven, and there was a release in between that left me cold. But Talkie Walkie and Moon Safari are old standbys.

[clarkesworld.livejournal.com]

I agree, those are the best of the bunch. It's unusual for me to run into people who listen to the same music. :)

By the way, there were other Delerium spin-offs aside from Conjure One. Synaethesia and Intermix come to mind, but there are others.

How about Cocteau Twins? Blue Bell Knoll would be a start.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Delerium spin-offs are good. I usually like spin-off bands.

I forget where I first heard of Air--either an album review or an online store link (if you like so-and-so, you might like...). I confess surprise that I developed a taste for that music, given what I usually listen to--short, sharp songs with lots of guitar and really strong hooks. But some of it is lovely. "Alone in Kyoto" is a real favorite.

The "Sexy Boy" music video was pretty cute, as well.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Enigma, Tangerine Dream, Kitaro, Apocalyptica, Trevor Jones.

*g*

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

More groups to check out--thanks!