Recommendation for a Reader: Simple Sounds
For when you're looking for something between empty air and show tunes
Hi friends,
What a Saturday! I walked the dog, ate leftovers, finished a book, made banana bread, and did the dishes. A perfectly satisfactory, though not exactly exciting, day.
A reader is looking for music that elicits a similarly neutral emotional response.
Hi Jessica,
I feel equipped to help you out of your bind. I find it impossible to listen to anything with lyrics while reading, but when unpredictable noises (like neighbours packing) and my distractible mind meet, I need some kind of music to rescue me. Here are a few old faithfuls:
Polyrhythmic’s EP Fondue Party — Oooh, I’m listening to this right now. I’m certainly familiar with the boring instrumentals you’re trying to avoid, but in no universe does this funk album fall within that category. It’s only 5 tracks long, but thanks to all of the sonic twists and turns, you could listen to it for days and not worry about the repetition.
Ben Seretan’s album My Life’s Work — The most ambient of my offerings, Seretan’s 2019 release clocks in at 24 hours of runtime. The album, made exclusively with the electric guitar and delay pedals, invites the listener to marvel at how beautiful simplicity can be. It’s meditative without putting you to sleep and nondescript enough to allow you to drop into your book without looking back.
The score of The Social Network or 20th Century Women — I mention these last because I think that listening to scores while you read has the ability to muddle things. If you’re overly familiar with a movie, you’ll probably end up picturing its characters and setting as much as you’re picturing the world of what you’re reading. Not exactly ideal. That being said, if you feel you’re able to resist a score’s attempt to drag you to its home narrative, these two are perfectly suited for background listening.