moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 28, 2020 13:26:18 GMT -5
OK, so as I've mentioned on some other threads, this pandemic situation got me stressed out - even more than usual, and my usual level of stress has already been noted as excessive by several professionals. Most recently, I've developed chronic tinnitus and headaches, for which the ENT and audiologist have recommended sound therapy. In addition to downloading a neato app to play noise spectra and soothing sounds like rain and crackling fires, I'm going to switch my teleworking music from Boiler Room DJ sets to soft, sooooothing ambient soundzzz... So what do people listen to for the expressed purposes of relaxing, doing yoga, falling asleep, etc? Give me your recommendations so I (or others) can try them out and post results using the following metrics: 1. how long did I listen (in minutes/hours) 2. what was the best part 3. on a scale of 1-10 hammocks (or teacups or snuggies or whatever you like), how relaxing is it? bonus points for links/sound files :-)
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patbat
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Post by patbat on May 28, 2020 14:08:08 GMT -5
OK, so as I've mentioned on some other threads, this pandemic situation got me stressed out - even more than usual, and my usual level stress has already been noted as excessive by several professionals. Most recently, I've developed chronic tinnitus and headaches, for which the ENT and audiologist have recommended sound therapy. In addition to downloading a neato app to play noise spectra and soothing sounds like rain and crackling fires, I'm going to switch my teleworking music from Boiler Room DJ sets to soft, sooooothing ambient soundzzz... So what do people listen to for the expressed purposes of relaxing, doing yoga, falling asleep, etc? Give me your recommendations so I (or others) can try them out and post results using the following metrics: 1. how long did I listen (in minutes/hours) 2. what was the best part 3. on a scale of 1-10 hammocks (or teacups or snuggies or whatever you like), how relaxing is it? bonus points for links/sound files :-) Are you specifically looking for non-music only?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2020 14:30:53 GMT -5
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 28, 2020 14:38:33 GMT -5
OK, so as I've mentioned on some other threads, this pandemic situation got me stressed out - even more than usual, and my usual level stress has already been noted as excessive by several professionals. Most recently, I've developed chronic tinnitus and headaches, for which the ENT and audiologist have recommended sound therapy. In addition to downloading a neato app to play noise spectra and soothing sounds like rain and crackling fires, I'm going to switch my teleworking music from Boiler Room DJ sets to soft, sooooothing ambient soundzzz... So what do people listen to for the expressed purposes of relaxing, doing yoga, falling asleep, etc? Give me your recommendations so I (or others) can try them out and post results using the following metrics: 1. how long did I listen (in minutes/hours) 2. what was the best part 3. on a scale of 1-10 hammocks (or teacups or snuggies or whatever you like), how relaxing is it? bonus points for links/sound files :-) Are you specifically looking for non-music only? I'm looking for music or ambient sounds on a loop. So far, in my attempts to find stuff to clear my head, I've found that not everything works the same for everybody, so it's not just a matter of googling "soothing music" or listening to Eno & Tangerine Dream (at some point, I will run out of Eno & Tangerine Dream records to listen to). For example, on my app, I find rain, train chugging, chirping birds, crickets, and some synth sounds therapeutic. I do not find bubbles, crackling fires, fans, thunder, or other synth sounds therapeutic. I'm interested to hear what works for people and see if it works for me (and I find it really interesting that different sound at different frequencies work for different people - I'm kinda geeking out on it...)
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 28, 2020 15:13:02 GMT -5
Test 1. Music for Airports by Brian Eno
1. how long did I listen (in minutes/hours): the whole thing, which is just under 50 minutes 2. what was the best part: the first two pieces, with the piano & chimes 3. on a scale of 1-10, how relaxing is it? turns out there is no hammock emoji, so I'll give it 7 reclined seats💺💺💺💺💺💺💺
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Rainbow Rosa
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Post by Rainbow Rosa on May 28, 2020 15:21:31 GMT -5
Moimoi, what is your opinion on ASMR?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2020 15:23:00 GMT -5
Test 1. Music for Airports by Brian Eno 1. how long did I listen (in minutes/hours): the whole thing, which is just under 50 minutes 2. what was the best part: the first two pieces, with the piano & chimes 3. on a scale of 1-10, how relaxing is it? turns out there is no hammock emoji, so I'll give it 7 reclined seats💺💺💺💺💺💺💺 I also recommend the Bang on a Can All Stars remake of Music for Airports, played on all acoustic instruments for its 25th (edit: 30th) anniversary.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on May 28, 2020 15:29:51 GMT -5
Moimoi, what is your opinion on ASMR? As the TIF's resident "guy who likes ASMR and is willing to write long posts about it that no one will read," I had this same question.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 28, 2020 16:16:27 GMT -5
Test 2. Dawn in the Okefenokee Swamp as recommended by pantsgoblin1. how long did I listen (in minutes/hours): all 40 minutes while sending emails 2. what was the best part: toward the end, when the birds and bullfrogs settle down a bit - I could have done with a little less bullfrog 3. on a scale of 1-10, how relaxing is it? I'll give it 8 bullfrogs, since I heard at least that many 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 28, 2020 16:23:06 GMT -5
Moimoi, what is your opinion on ASMR? As the TIF's resident "guy who likes ASMR and is willing to write long posts about it that no one will read," I had this same question. Unfortunately, I am not lucky enough to experience ASMR - I could really use it since I hold so much tension in my neck and I've been unable to get a massage for months. I do find certain ASMR sounds generally soothing, like tapping my nails against things or rubbing my head/tummy, though. In fact, I find that placing one hand on my head and one on my belly helps me get to sleep. Maybe I need to experiment more? How does one get ASMR to work? Can anybody get it with the right stimulus?
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Post by Lord Lucan on May 28, 2020 23:05:43 GMT -5
Are you still listening to “Hudson River Wind Meditations”? I was listening to Pure Sounds of Michigan today. It was commissioned by the state tourism board. It’s very calm and enjoyable. ( This person made some good suggestions of what might also have been added.) Might also be of interest, though some might be too melodic. Bayaka Pygmies, “Sound of the Forest” Shankar and Khan, “In Concert 1972” “Music For The Gods: The Fahnestock South Sea Expedition” Bill Laswell, “Hear No Evil” Jon Hassell, “Listening to Pictures”, “Fascinoma” Oruc Guvenc, “Ocean of Remembrance” Latvian Radio Choir, “All-Night Vigil”
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on May 29, 2020 7:55:38 GMT -5
As the TIF's resident "guy who likes ASMR and is willing to write long posts about it that no one will read," I had this same question. Unfortunately, I am not lucky enough to experience ASMR - I could really use it since I hold so much tension in my neck and I've been unable to get a massage for months. I do find certain ASMR sounds generally soothing, like tapping my nails against things or rubbing my head/tummy, though. In fact, I find that placing one hand on my head and one on my belly helps me get to sleep. Maybe I need to experiment more? How does one get ASMR to work? Can anybody get it with the right stimulus? It's possible that experimenting more could lead to you finding "your trigger", but unfortunately no, it seems that many people simply don't get the tingles at all. And in my experience watching lots of ASMR videos and reading their comments, the people who do are triggered by multiple things. They have their favorites, but it'd be rare that only one or two things could trigger you. Context may help, though. When I first got into ASMR, I got by far the most tingles when I already tired. I couldn't put it on any time and get tingles on demand, by if I was in the physiological mood for it, tingles for days. So maybe try different types of videos (different triggers) at different times to see what happens. And if after 4-5 videos with different triggers you still feel nothing, then I wouldn't hold out hope that you are susceptible to ASMR. And that's okay! Lots of people who enjoy ASMR don't get tingles. I very rarely do anymore, because I overindulged and developed "tingle immunity", which is pretty common. Most ASMR creators I follow admit they no longer get tingles either. ASMR can still be effective for relieving stress, calming oneself and helping with sleep. I like to watch/listen to ASMR specifically because it clears my head and can make me feel tired. I'll put it on while I work to stay focused on a project, the way others do with music. Or I'll watch some before I go to bed to help me get to sleep faster. Many people like to listen to it as they sleep, but I don't do that myself. I also will sometimes put it on as simple background noise while browsing the web or doing whatever. So I still think ASMR could provide the benefits you're looking for, even if you don't "get ASMR." The tingles are fun, but it's ASMR's reliable role as a "calm in the storm" that I really appreciate about it. I think ASMR preferences are so personal that it wouldn't much help, but I can share some stuff I like later when, uh, I'm not on a work computer. Don't want to gunk up my work machine's YouTube history.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 29, 2020 11:40:26 GMT -5
Test 3. Holly Herndon - Platform - to see if it triggers ASMR 1. How long did I listen? the whole album is a little over 50 minutes, but I kind of fast forwarded through the last couple tracks 2. What was the best part? "Chorus" and "DAO" were pretty cool 3. How relaxing is it? Yeah...not very. Some of these tracks are kind of bangin' like "Chorus" and some are just too clattering and glitchy, like the deceptively titled "Morning Sun". "Lonely At the Top" - the ASMR track - is massively cringey, with a woman speaking in a baby voice to a (one assumes) male massage client. I think it's an intentional statement on gender relations, but I still HATE when women speak in baby voice so it just revolted me. I'm thinking 4 head massages 💆♀️💆♀️💆♀️💆♀️ tops.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 11:50:51 GMT -5
Test 3. Holly Herndon - Platform - to see if it triggers ASMR 1. How long did I listen? the whole album is a little over 50 minutes, but I kind of fast forwarded through the last couple tracks 2. What was the best part? "Chorus" and "DAO" were pretty cool 3. How relaxing is it? Yeah...not very. Some of these tracks are kind of bangin' like "Chorus" and some are just too clattering and glitchy, like the deceptively titled "Morning Sun". "Lonely At the Top" - the ASMR track - is massively cringey, with a woman speaking in a baby voice to a (one assumes) male massage client. I think it's an intentional statement on gender relations, but I still HATE when women speak in baby voice so it just revolted me. I'm thinking 4 head massages 💆♀️💆♀️💆♀️💆♀️ tops. I love Herndon but, yes, I don't follow how her music could be considered relaxing. Catharsis is her angle. Regarding the Okefenokee Swamp release I recommended, listening to it earlier I really should have linked the superior second half of the album. Side 1 is quality nature sounds but Side 2 feels like a particularly abstract and dubby post-punk act with the drums removed. It's weird.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on May 29, 2020 15:56:26 GMT -5
Test 4. Pure Sounds of Michigan as recommended by Lord Lucan1. How long did I listen? I think it's one hour exactly and I listened to the whole thing 2. What was the best part? "Lighthouse at Sunrise" by Dave Graw, "Forest Trails" by Wendy & Carl (I played this on my radio show when it came out), "City of Sand" by Nuntheless, "The Rock" by Waajeed 3. How relaxing is it? This is what I'm talking about - a soothing combo of sound and melody that helps clear my brain. I worked on refinancing my house while listening to this. I couldn't find a proper mitten emoji, so pretend this is a cute yellow mitten ✋. This gets all the mittens 10/10 ✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 1, 2020 17:32:24 GMT -5
Test 5. Music Interiors - Japan as recommended by Jean-Luc de Lemur1. How long did I listen? I kind of drifted away at the 51 minute mark to talk to somebody, but I came back and finished the whole thing. 2. What was the best part? Yoichiro Yoshikawa – “Crater on the Moon” from Miracle Planet was my jam. I also liked Toshifumi Hinata – “Colored Air” from Reality in Love, Yutaka Hirose – “Nova” from Sound Scape 2: Nova, and Hiroshi Yoshimura – “Water Copy” from Music For Nine Post Cards. Normally, I would favor Midori Takada and Interior for the suggestion of groove, but not for this exercise. 3. How relaxing is it? It was a challenge to relax with everything going on today (did I mention one of the sites I manage is in Minneapolis?) Major, pulsating headaches all day that were hard to push back. Still, I give this a solid 七個 おにぎり (7 onigiri) 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙 Test 6. Music Interiors Vol. 2 - Italy 1. How long did I listen? whole thing - really wish somebody had added time markers in the soundcloud comments 2. What was the best part? O.A.S.I. – “Il Gioco Dei Sogni” Il Cavaliere Azzurro, followed by Roberto Musci / Giovanni Venosta – “Nexus On The Beach” Water Messages On Desert Sand 3. How relaxing is it? This collection had even more groove, for which I might upgrade it from chillout to sexytimes. sei gelati (six gelatos)🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 3, 2020 20:06:16 GMT -5
Yesterday I started bingeing soothing, PBS-style content: gardening shows, CAN-TV productions, and obscure documentaries. This series about birdwatching is a current fave:
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 9, 2020 14:51:06 GMT -5
Lord Lucan Laswell’s Hear No Evil is definitely good concentrationg-and-writing music, but also has one of the worst album cover/album content matches I’ve ever seen/heard. I'm glad you guys brought this up, as I was meaning to get back to relaxing (before I had to jump into a few online and IRL battles) and, in my research for a queer POC radio show next week, Nona Hendryx's work with Material came up. I streamed the version with the yakshi cover, which seems more appropriate. Test 7. Bill Laswell - Hear No Evil1. How long did I listen? sab sunayi (I listened to all of it) 2. What was the best part? The first track, "Lost Roads" kind of sounds like a groovier Cocteau Twins with some head-massaging tabla from Zakir Hussain - which is always welcome. "Kingdom Come" was my favorite track overall. 3. How relaxing is it? It gets less relaxing toward the middle, around "Assassin", which caused me to wander off, but I came back and enjoyed the rest. Five temples 🛕🛕🛕🛕🛕
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 11, 2020 10:30:28 GMT -5
Test 8. Mort Garson - Mother Earth's Plantasia1. How long did I listen? more than an hour (the album is only 30 minutes - I kept looping it) 2. What was the best part? All of it? I think this may be the best record ever made, which is why I very well may shell out $150 for the vinyl. It flows perfectly, from the uplifting opening "Plantasia" to the 8-bit perfection of "Baby's Tears Blues" to the Bacharach-esque sophistication of "Swingin' Spathiphyllums" 3. How relaxing is it? Very! Also charming and uplifting. I envy my planty plants. 10 seedlings 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
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Rainbow Rosa
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Post by Rainbow Rosa on Jun 11, 2020 15:22:23 GMT -5
Test 8. Mort Garson - Mother Earth's Plantasia1. How long did I listen? more than an hour (the album is only 30 minutes - I kept looping it) 2. What was the best part? All of it? I think this may be the best record ever made, which is why I very well may shell out $150 for the vinyl. It flows perfectly, from the uplifting opening "Plantasia" to the 8-bit perfection of "Baby's Tears Blues" to the Bacharach-esque sophistication of "Swingin' Spathiphyllums" 3. How relaxing is it? Very! Also charming and uplifting. I envy my planty plants. 10 seedlings 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Have you heard this great song called "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 11, 2020 16:39:52 GMT -5
Test 8. Mort Garson - Mother Earth's Plantasia1. How long did I listen? more than an hour (the album is only 30 minutes - I kept looping it) 2. What was the best part? All of it? I think this may be the best record ever made, which is why I very well may shell out $150 for the vinyl. It flows perfectly, from the uplifting opening "Plantasia" to the 8-bit perfection of "Baby's Tears Blues" to the Bacharach-esque sophistication of "Swingin' Spathiphyllums" 3. How relaxing is it? Very! Also charming and uplifting. I envy my planty plants. 10 seedlings 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Have you heard this great song called "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi I have! A DJ called Van Paugam actually has (had?) a club night here called City Pop - which is all 70s-80s Japanese sophisti-pop. EDIT: it looks like that track is on his homepage. He DJ'ed at our Chicago Independent Radio Project Record Fair last year.
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Rainbow Rosa
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Post by Rainbow Rosa on Jun 11, 2020 16:52:10 GMT -5
Have you heard this great song called "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi I have! A DJ called Van Paugam actually has (had?) a club night here called City Pop - which is all 70s-80s Japanese sophisti-pop. EDIT: it looks like that track is on his homepage. He DJ'ed at our Chicago Independent Radio Project Record Fair last year. Sorry, this was me being a dick and not an actual question: I was referencing "Plastic Love" because it and Plantasia are infamous for being recommended by the YouTube algorithm 24/7. If you dig that kind of music though I can pull out some favorites from my days as a vaporwave obsessive.
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 11, 2020 17:00:51 GMT -5
Ah, yes, I think I've seen that. But also they keep pulling down Plantasia for copyright reasons...
If you have any particularly soothing vaporwave recommendations, I welcome them!
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Rainbow Rosa
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Post by Rainbow Rosa on Jun 11, 2020 18:01:24 GMT -5
Ah, yes, I think I've seen that. But also they keep pulling down Plantasia for copyright reasons... If you have any particularly soothing vaporwave recommendations, I welcome them! Kind of a ""normie"" pick but my favorite "relaxing" vaporwave album is 2814's Birth of a New Day. My understanding is that 2814 is two people collaborating, one of whom puts out good stuff under the name "Hong Kong Express." (Vaporwave aliases are infamously inscrutable.) There are a bunch of good lists and infographics that list hundreds and hundreds of good albums sorted by genre if you want to do a really deep dive. (Personally I find myself gravitating away from vaporwave and towards the 90's video game soundtracks that inspired it. Right now I am in love with the inexplicably gorgeous score for Waterworld on Super Nintendo.)
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 11, 2020 19:26:40 GMT -5
Ah, yes, I think I've seen that. But also they keep pulling down Plantasia for copyright reasons... If you have any particularly soothing vaporwave recommendations, I welcome them! Kind of a ""normie"" pick but my favorite "relaxing" vaporwave album is 2814's Birth of a New Day. My understanding is that 2814 is two people collaborating, one of whom puts out good stuff under the name "Hong Kong Express." (Vaporwave aliases are infamously inscrutable.) There are a bunch of good lists and infographics that list hundreds and hundreds of good albums sorted by genre if you want to do a really deep dive. (Personally I find myself gravitating away from vaporwave and towards the 90's video game soundtracks that inspired it. Right now I am in love with the inexplicably gorgeous score for Waterworld on Super Nintendo.) Nice! Thanks - I've only heard a handful of these, like Saint Pepsi. The Ambient, Hypnagogic, and Late Night Lo-Fi selections are especially intriguing...
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Post by songstarliner on Jun 11, 2020 21:41:54 GMT -5
Hmm. Are you familiar with Podington Bear? He does (did?) a kind of soothing electro musak that helped me a lot in the wee hours. Good because you don't have to pay attention. If you have spotify there's a LOT of content.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 22:33:00 GMT -5
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Crash Test Dumbass
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Post by Crash Test Dumbass on Jun 13, 2020 18:58:56 GMT -5
A friend of mine gave me a copy of Oval's Systemich because I, like her, am synesthetic, and she described it as a good album to look at. It is, indeed, interesting to watch -- it is ambient and staticy and warm. It may be a good album to relax to even if you can't see it?
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 18, 2020 14:31:31 GMT -5
Test 9: Virginia Astley - From Gardens Where We Feel Secure
1. How long did I listen (in minutes/hours): The whole thing, but I barely remembered any of it so I had to listen again. 2. What was the best part? The title track, "Out On The Lawn I Lie In Bed","When The Fields Were On Fire" is cool and experimental 3. How relaxing is it? There's a fine line between relaxing and dull, and unfortunately I found the bland tunefulness of this album mostly dull. I think for something to relax me, it has to take me out of my head a little bit. The farm noises, children's choirs, and jaunty piccolo tunes didn't much do that for me. I might give her Ryuichi Sakamoto-produced album a try, but this gets five pedestrian daisies 🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼
Test 10: Brian Eno - Thursday Afternoon
1. How long did I listen (in minutes/hours): 1:00, its total length 2. What was the best part? It doesn't really have parts, it just sort of loops. 3. How relaxing is it? This was composed to accompany artworks and it does conjure an image of strolling through a quiet gallery - something I long to do again. Seven landscapes 🖼🖼🖼🖼🖼🖼🖼
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Jun 19, 2020 16:10:52 GMT -5
Test 11: Oval - Systemisch
1. How long did I listen (in minutes/hours): another full hour exactly 2. What was the best part? The vibrations in the opening "textuel" did nice things to my brain. I also liked "schoner wissen" and "catchy DAAD". 3. How relaxing is it? Something about the fuzzy, clicky arrangements over soft melodies is strangely soothing. This record had a lot of texture, like granite sliding over ice rubbed with a broom, so I'm giving it seven curling stones 🥌🥌🥌🥌🥌🥌🥌
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