KVR Audio

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Wed May 31, 2017 9:22 pm

Really suffering from insomnia since stopping mirtazipine. Some nights I'm just getting a couple of hours then waking up with my mind active and finding it impossible to get back to sleep even though I'm physically knackered.

been trying various relaxation/mindfulness apps but I can't stand them, I just can't listen to some dick droning on about letting go of my tension bla bla bla, but the typical sort of new agey relaxation music I just find unlistenable as well. What would you recommend? I want something that will relax me but without making me just want to turn it off.

SODDI · Post by **SODDI** » Wed May 31, 2017 9:34 pm

Jeez, I don't know. I like Bach for that kind of situation - it's complex, it's organically logical, it's not surprising or rousing. Its rationality soothes my brain while engaging it, it may not soothe yours.

I like the cantatas, with the chorals and recetitives.

sbj · Post by **sbj** » Wed May 31, 2017 9:42 pm

I find this album relaxing and not at all boring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaKIvTGx8z8

Googly Smythe · Post by **Googly Smythe** » Wed May 31, 2017 10:01 pm

This is such a subjective, er, subject, but I often put this on when I want to take a nap: Marie Keyrouz "Chant Byzantin". Bought it about 30 years ago, still on my playlist.

This is all I could find on YouTube...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdJSy9vXGNQ

Googly Smythe · Post by **Googly Smythe** » Wed May 31, 2017 10:03 pm

Pink Floyd's "Pulse" may do the trick, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xfjz-P3uS8

woggle · Post by **woggle** » Wed May 31, 2017 10:05 pm

https://www.headspace.com/ Is excellent for meditation . You can start with very short exercises and build up. Or just stick with short ones.
Music for relaxation / calming? I would use Gregorian chant and other western music up to the renaissance. Also some minimalists eg Steve reich music for 18 musicians is great for focusing as well as drifting off. I like some of nils frahm for that as well- the Felt album in particular

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Wed May 31, 2017 10:08 pm

I looked at Headspace then deleted it as it charges £10 a month and the setup process was annoying - from what I did see it seemed to be all talking meditations and mindfulness stuff that I hate

Reich is an idea - also maybe Kremski

liv · Post by **liv** » Wed May 31, 2017 10:32 pm

Maybe not what you're after but for me, captivating my attention (apart from music) goes to interesting stories, especially science related, be it medics, physics, philosophy etc. and people.
With that said theres a podcast called "The life scientific", featuring Jim Al-Khalili, BBC radio 4 that I enjoy listening to.
Might be worth a shot.

As for music. Spiegel im spiegel by Arvo Pärt is just plain beautiful.

woggle · Post by **woggle** » Wed May 31, 2017 10:43 pm

liv wrote:Maybe not what you're after but for me, captivating my attention (apart from music) goes to interesting stories, especially science related, be it medics, physics, philosophy etc. and people.
With that said theres a podcast called "The life scientific", featuring Jim Al-Khalili, BBC radio 4 that I enjoy listening to.
Might be worth a shot.

As for music. Spiegel im spiegel by Arvo Pärt is just plain beautiful.

Arvo Part is a great recommendation. I wrote a variation on spiegel I'm spiegel a while back using some generative software I wrote https://soundcloud.com/greghooper/impart. There is a great version for banjo around that is my favourite. Complete surprise that totally works

Musical Gym · Post by **Musical Gym** » Wed May 31, 2017 11:20 pm

Intermorphic has some relaxing music apps and Schiff makes a good over-the-counter sleep aid.

https://intermorphic.com/noatikl/

https://intermorphic.com/mixtikl/

https://jet.com/product/detail/4f289145 ... fgod5t8B9g

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 3:00 pm

Musical Gym wrote:Intermorphic has some relaxing music apps and Schiff makes a good over-the-counter sleep aid.

https://intermorphic.com/noatikl/

https://intermorphic.com/mixtikl/

https://jet.com/product/detail/4f289145 ... fgod5t8B9g

Thanks - wish I could buy Melatonin in the UK, bloody government have banned it even though it's one of the safest drugs there is

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 3:06 pm

sbj wrote:I find this album relaxing and not at all boring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaKIvTGx8z8

Wow, awesome guitar, thanks for the rec. Ever listen to Fahey or Kottke? Good stuff

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 3:08 pm

aMUSEd wrote:Really suffering from insomnia since stopping mirtazipine. Some nights I'm just getting a couple of hours then waking up with my mind active and finding it impossible to get back to sleep even though I'm physically knackered.

been trying various relaxation/mindfulness apps but I can't stand them, I just can't listen to some dick droning on about letting go of my tension bla bla bla, but the typical sort of new agey relaxation music I just find unlistenable as well. What would you recommend? I want something that will relax me but without making me just want to turn it off.

IMO the album "Substrata" by Biosphere is some of the most beautiful, relaxing (without being boring) ambient music I've heard. It really calms me down when I need to focus on something, maybe it'll help with your insomnia.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 3:09 pm

I like ambient stuff that is on the edge of music, so to speak. I can't stand listening to just environment, e.g. rain, fireplace crackles, but I don't mind when rain is blended with/becomes drones. I started using Aphex Twin's SAWII as a sleep aid about a decade ago, wore the CD out, literally, had to buy another copy.

Drones are still useful for me. For a few years I was falling asleep to Soma FM's "The Drone Zone", which was ok. Sometimes there's a notch too much paulstretch and I get annoyed with it.

Different things seem to work for different people. I prefer there to be no real hook so to speak, but I can deal with a certain amount of melodic variation. Beats only work when they're exceedingly slow and muted, but, I don't mind randomish hits that are a little stronger.

One thing that I might suggest, since you are here, have you tried writing your own ambient sleep aids? It works for me, YMMV.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 3:11 pm

aMUSEd wrote:
Musical Gym wrote:Intermorphic has some relaxing music apps and Schiff makes a good over-the-counter sleep aid.

https://intermorphic.com/noatikl/

https://intermorphic.com/mixtikl/

https://jet.com/product/detail/4f289145 ... fgod5t8B9g
Thanks - wish I could buy Melatonin in the UK, bloody government have banned it even though it's one of the safest drugs there is

What!?! Melatonin, a "drug", LOL! What's with UK and their obsession with nannying? I get to say that because I'm an expat living in the U.S., which has its own form of nannying, but we can get melatonin still.

Music for insomnia that isn't boring