Listmania!
Excellent Relaxation Albums
Raising Your Voice..Trying To Stop An EchoRaising Your Voice..Trying To Stop An Echo by Hammock
Buy new: £12.69 / Used from: £8.98
It really is just a joy to listen to, no words will ever do it justice. Beyond brilliant, beyond classification, and I'll never get tired of it.
CopiaCopia by Eluvium
Buy new: £9.48 / Used from: £5.70
Another 'relatively simple, yet stunning' album. I picked Copia for the overall balance that it has, but any of his albums will do the job. Verging on perfection.
Dream Signals in Full CirclesDream Signals in Full Circles by Tristeza
Buy new: £10.79 / Used from: £5.45
Unfairly listenable, generally a similar tone throughout, but each song is distinctly different from the others. A masterclass in band-ambience.
Echoes: The Einaudi CollectionEchoes: The Einaudi Collection by Ludovico Einaudi
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £6.56
Einaudi's compositions, whilst usually fairly simple, border on being classified as an addictive substance. Proceed with caution!
Together We're StrangerTogether We're Stranger by No-Man
Buy used from: £9.95
Just about nicking into the top 5, a progressive affair that tackles a wide variety of soundscapes - the vocals are incredible. Highly underrated duo.
Ambient 1: Music for AirportsAmbient 1: Music for Airports by Brian Eno
Buy new: £7.08 / Used from: £5.95
Impeccable album that started off 'ambient music' as a whole. Four tracks, all so different, all so magnificent.
Things BuriedThings Buried by Richard Barbieri
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £7.01
Porcupine Tree's keyboardist gives a stunning outing on this album, lovely variety of tracks and melodies, top notch.
SubmersSubmers by Loscil
Buy new: £10.79 / Used from: £36.37
Definitely an acquired taste, supremely minimalistic and chilled-out. Advised try before you buy, here.
Sigur Ros - Agaetis ByrjunSigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.50
They were always going to be on this list. Scandinavian synths and haunting vocals dominate the sound of this band. Arguably the most popular on this list.
LightdarkLightdark by Nosound
Buy new: £10.98 / Used from: £7.99
Bet you've never heard of them, have you? Italian post-rock band with a softer side, both their albums are winners.
The Blue NotebooksThe Blue Notebooks by Max Richter
Buy new: £7.98 / Used from: £21.09
Top class. Solo piano for the most part, very sombre tone, amazing despite being liberally 'artsy'!
Nah und FernNah und Fern by Gas
Buy new: £15.98 / Used from: £16.42
Organic soundtrack set to tempered beats and swirling drifts, great price for all four CDs, too.
ShenzhouShenzhou
Buy used from: £31.85
Either this or Substrata is sublime, at the very peak of minimalistic ambience.
Molotov and HazeMolotov and Haze by Steven Wilson
Buy used from: £28.83
A Porcupine Tree side-project, slightly tilted towards drone, but still a well-polished album.
The Dark ThirdThe Dark Third by Pure Reason Revolution
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £2.99
The best vocal harmonies I've ever heard, wonderful song construction and highly listenable. Watch out for them in 2009!
SakuraSakura by Susumu Yokota
Buy new: £9.79 / Used from: £6.69
Very varied album of different sounds, synths, drumbeats, loops and outright ambience, it's all here.
Beyond EvenBeyond Even by Robert Fripp & Brian Eno
Buy new: £7.48 / Used from: £6.50
Leaps and bounds from track to track like a superhero of the mind, great record from a fantastic pair of composers.
Music Has the Right to ChildrenMusic Has the Right to Children by Boards of Canada
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £5.73
This is probably the best of theirs, very electronica-inspired ambience, instantly recognisable.
Faithful AnchorFaithful Anchor by Unwed Sailor
Buy used from: £6.23
More guitar-orientated music, very gentle and serene.
And Their Refinement of the DeclineAnd Their Refinement of the Decline by Stars of the Lid
Buy new: £15.98 / Used from: £7.50
The worst of the list, but that doesn't mean it's bad. A little samey, but highly chilled loops and melodies. Unique sound.