Music for the Hangover: Ambient music for the Soul

Next to New Years Eve, Christmas Eve, and the Fourth of July, Saint Patrick's Day is America's 4th biggest excuse to drink to their heart's desire. However for many drinkers this day of revelry turns into a day of regret and sadness in the morning when the after-effects take their full effect in the shape of a nasty hangover. It can be natural to think that listening to music would make headaches worse during a hangover. In my personal experience it all depends on the kind of music you listen to though. Some music can even help alleviate the effects of a headache and create a calming sensation that is beneficial in the process of feeling better. Ambient music has this ability the most out of any other genre of music, so naturally I have created a list of albums to listen to the morning after partaking in the paddy's cure. Enjoy.

Band: KLF Album: Chill Out Genre: Ambient, Field Recordings Year: 1990 Despite the name of the album, KLF was known as one of the more radical electronic bands at start of the 90's. The band was well known for their off-stage and on-stage antics which involved firing machine gun blanks into an awards show audience, leaving dead sheep at parties, defacing billboards, and promoting anarchist ideology. Despite all of this, and perhaps because of this, the band managed to create one of the most interesting Ambient concept albums of all time, Chill Out. Chill Out as an album revolves around the concept of traveling through various towns in the American South. The album 'starts' in Texas and 'ends' in Louisiana and along the way is filled with recordings of passing trains, busy interstates, local flora and fauna, Elvis Presley recordings, and throat singers. Chill Out really lives up to its name as an album. With a good pair of headphones it is easy to drift into its encompassing atmosphere and find rest and serenity within.

Artist: Brian Eno Album: Ambient 1: Music For Airports Genre: Ambient (Classic Ambient) Year: 1978 Brian Eno is perhaps the king of music production, creation, and flawless genre hopping. Since the early 1970's Eno has racked up over 327 credits on other releases and has released 57 soundtracks, full length albums, and musical art installments. Eno has also worked with well known bands and artists such as Coldplay, Roxy Music, David Bowie, Talking Heads, U2, and The Killers. Needless to say, Eno knows a thing or two about how to do anything involving music. Music For Airports is the first installment of a series of ambient albums designed to capture the essence of a particular place. Music For Airports in particular was designed with the concept in mind that if played over an airport loudspeaker passengers would feel less tense and more at rest. The album is one that fades into the background in a wonderful way, yet leaves a lasting presence on the listener. It is a perfect 'morning after' album.

Artist: Porter Ricks Album: Biokinetics Genre: Dub Techno, Ambient Techno Year: 1996 People not invested in Electronic music often think of raves and parties when they think of what the word 'Techno' entials. While some Techno ventures into what one would describe 'rave music' stylistically, Dub Techno as a genre and Porter Rick's album Biokinetics feels more like a cold shower after one. Dub Techno is an interesting genre combining elements of 'Dub music', an offshoot of reggae, via delay effects and percussion, and Ambient music tinged with an underlying element of a Techno base. If it sounds like I am describing a recipe for a food I apologize. The result is a sound which is remarkably nocturnal and drawn out. The sound on Biokinetics takes a while to move in any direction, yet it is that style which makes the album so great. It is allowed to flourish over time and despite fading in the background provides a soothing sense of relief that is perfect for a hangover.