I imagine many people have a sleepy time playlist. For those of us prone to bouts of insomnia, a chilled, calm and quiet playlist can be an indispensable tool when tired and stressed. It’s also really nice to have to hand if you are on a long plane or car journey, where peace and sleep are often elusive. These songs are a section from my personal sleepy time playlist. All the tracks are quiet, chilled and soft, with a slow BPM to help me wind down. They are all vaguely positive too, because it is not nice to fall asleep feeling blue.
1. “Islands” – The XX
A nicely minimal song, like most tracks from The XX. Very subdue, muted guitar, bass drums and vox, this is a sedate, but captivating track.
2. “Tahiti” – Bat For Lashes
A beautifully smooth, seductive piano part, combined with plucked and bowed strings proliferate through this track. There is no percussion, just a sparse Autoharp occasionally keeping beat. Natasha Khan’s gorgeous vocals whisper quietly in you ear, with a subtle, cracked grain and haunting timbre.
3. “Rambling Man” – Laura Marling
Laura Marling’s voice is utterly beautiful and absolutely captivating. Her low pitch and gentle, dulcet tones are like a tender caress on tired ears, and the graceful melody throughout “Rambling Man” is the perfect soother for exhausted minds.
4. “Straight to Hell” – The Clash
By the time of Combat Rock, The Clash were diversifying their repertoire greatly. This is one of their most stripped down, sparse tracks, with placid vocals, calmly repetitive percussion and beautiful violin and guitar intersections.
5. “1979” – Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Cobden’s vocal style is often subtle, composed and dynamic, which makes for calm soft music. “1979” also has a really tender, warm melody, lead by a lovely guitar part.
6. “Purple Rain” – Prince and the Revolution
This song, at over eight minutes long, has the potential to ease you to sleep in one sitting. Again a very sparse track with a slow BPM and numerous guitar sections, each more beautiful than the last. The song finally cuts out to two minutes of faint, subdued strings.
7. “I’m Ready” – Brian Adams
A guilty pleasure of mine, and yes Brian Adams does write A LOT of cheesy lyrics, but instrumentally this track is divine. It has soaring strings with a dynamic melody, flutes, and very subtle acoustic guitar. And I do quite like the soppy lyrics. Just don’t tell anyone.
8. “Kids Don’t stand a Chance” - Vampire Weekend
For many, many nights whilst I was doing my dissertation this was my chill out track before bed. It has an inexplicable ability to make me feel calm and sedate, and is also generally a pretty song with some classic synth-string work from the very clever Vampire Weekend.
9. “Hello November AM” – River City High
A short, cute little ditty, with acoustic guitars and a guest banjo, this is a lovely little track from River City High. “AM” is the chill-out track to counter balance the PM version of this song, which is upbeat pop punk type thing.
10. “All or Nothing” - Au Revoir Simone
Au Revoir Simone constantly create intriguing yet serene music. This is perhaps the most composed and tranquil track from their most phlegmatic album, Still Night, Still Light.
See this at HCE at http://t.co/FEMQnga
