Ambient Sounds To Listen To During Quarantine

Everyone is working out their routines at this point. Running out of eggs turns into a recon-mission. Masks required for entry. Six feet apart. Stay at home. In my corner of Queens there’s a middle school closed and quiet, it’s soccer field empty. There is - thankfully - a roof where I can retreat and look at the city. My hope is that you’re finding respite in your surroundings, your loved ones, and that your spirit remains vibrant and willing.

Quarantine has turned my listening preferences into something much more focused and soothing. It’s not all moody and cinematic, but to settle the unending monologue of anxiety I’ve found that removing chaos and discord in favor of subtle rhythm and repetitions is the antidote.

Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92 is exploratory and cinematic, generally favored for the daydreams that take you on adventures. In modern parlance, it’s a “vibe”: the onomatopoeic, joyful propulsion from tracks like “Pulsewidth” and the industrial sizzle of “Hedphelym” keep me moving in my small space.

Open up Maps on your phone and pin drop through Anders Rhedin: The City That Sleeps to explore the parts of New York City that inspired this eight-hour ambient work. Get to know each borough’s sonic intimacies; each track is one hour long.

For those who are single, Nils Frahm: All Melody wastes no time taking a swift kick in your lowest chakra with “The Whole Universe Wants To Be Touched.” The slow burn of “Sunson” and a New Year’s Day trip from Queens to the Lower East Side won an early addition to my 2020 playlist. This work is multi-dimensional and trance-y, a fully developed world to wander while sheltering in place.

For variety, my Don’t Say A Word playlist includes selections from Nicolas Jaar, Kelly Lee Owens, The Six Parts Seven, and Four Tet, among others. Follow along for updates.