Albums to Write to - The Swan's Musical Recommendations

Good evening. I registered this account yesterday, and I haven't posted anything, but I've been working on a couple stories. It'll take some time to finish them since I like to edit my stories until I think they're okay enough to share, but I thought I'd make this little blogpost.

When I write, I make sure to have the appropriate music on. And sure, 'vibe playlists' might help with that, but I always found more out of puttng on full albums. A lot of my enjoyment of being a huge music fan is to actively search for it, and that virtual cratedigging has lead me to discovering these gems that I want to share with you tonight. A mix of emotions, from the dark and bleak, to the beautiful and chill.

I'll be describing them in terms of being used as background music while writing, as well as what it is musically, as well as giving a recommended track at the end of my blurb so you can have a taster before jumping in.

Artist and Album: Do Make Say Think - "Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead", 2000
Genres: Post Rock, Jazz Rock
Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eWAGmn50m04

I was going to recommend "& Yet & Yet", my personal favourite of theirs, but I find this the better album for writing, personally. That album is much more chill and cozy than this one, so definitely search the song "Reitschule" if you want a taste of that.

If you do search up post rock, you'll find that it's become pretty oversaturated with what's been called "crescendo-core" records. I'm not so down on it myself, because there are gems like these to be had! I often put this one on when I don't know what to put on, and this always fits the bill. Great builds, great playing, and a lot of emotion to be had. For a taste, check out the opener "When Day Chokes the Night". If you enjoy that, I highly recommend listening to this and other post rock albums. It might be a bit crowded with stuff, but when you do find gems, they shine damn bright.

Artist and Album: piana - "ephemeral", 2005
Genres: Dream Pop, Glitch Pop, Ambient
Link: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMOWqPiYPhSGl1CiczIoAvpexCTkYEe1V

Oh... oh... this one melts the heart. Despite my expressed aim to use this account to post grimdark and other stories of a mature nature, I do enjoy writing the occasional wholesome, cutesy, slice of life story (I just don't feel as confident in sharing it). And in my years of virtual cratedigging, I haven't found many records that match this one in terms of being this wholesome and beautiful. Beautiful pop tunes under a blanket of light glitch and ambient, all brought higher by a breathy, child-like Japanese vocal. I've written many stories to this one, I really do love it. It's hard to pick one track for a taster, bit if I had to, "early in summer" would be it. But really do listen to this one, it's a true delight.

Artist and Album: Yellow Swans - "Going Places", 2010
Genres: Drone, Noise, Ambient
Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=euHoHdpGOa0

Yellow Swans' swansong album. On this record, the duo created some gorgeous electronic noise and drone pieces that, for me at least, conjour up this feeling of loneliness and desolation that only the best of drones could. It's a fantastic album on its own, and I often find myself listening to it at night with all lights out, but it works exceedingly well for writing darker, sadder stories. Listen to the longest track "Opt Out" for a taste.

Artist and Album: Bluetile Lounge - "Lowercase", 1995
Genres: Slowcore, Indie Rock
Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qVt5wjDw9f8

Two words: "beautiful chill". Slowcore is a genre that is excudes the word 'chill'. This record is slow, reflective, and shy. And that's why I love it. Like a lot of slowcore, it carries a lot of melancholy, but this one never rang as sad to me like other albums in this style do. You know those moments of wallowing in sadness, but not in self-pity? Finding comfort in the sadness and being in that state between sadness and contentness? That's this record's energy, at least to me. I put it on a lot while writing in my journal, it's become a companion in that sense. For a taster, listen to "The Weight (and the Sea)", if you like it then a whole genre of beautiful, melancholy chill awaits you.

Artist and Album: Explosions in the Sky - "The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place", 2003
Genres: Post Rock
Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ziw4yd5R0QI

Admittedly, this isn't a favourite of mine. It's one of the biggest examples of what's come to be known as "crescendo-core". It's a dumb name, but that's what happens when many bands imitate a style to a T, I guess. Despite that, I don't want to knock this record, because it is good. This is a lighter form of post rock. Imagine a scene that makes you cry tears of joy, that's the vibe this music gives. And it's great at that, it works damn well for writing that type of scene. For a taster listen to the opener "First Breath After Coma".

Artist and Album: múm - "Finally We Are No One", 2002
Genres: Indietronica, Folktronica, Dream Pop, Glitch Pop, Ambient Pop, Folktronica, Post Rock
Link: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLplZ_yA5BHkJ3Wrr2_BDhlhy44FTkEycF

Here's one that is an absolute treat. múm have a style that I can say is unique to them, always wholesome and beautiful. There is a tinge of sadness to this record, but it feels like more like a reflective sadness. Imagine a protagonist reflecting on the adventure they came back from, and all the fun memories they had with their friends on the quest. For a taster, go with one of my favourites by them "Green Grass of Tunnel". Heartmeltingly beautiful tune.

Artist and Album: Belong - "October Language", 2006
Genres:
Link: Drone, Noise, Ambient https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HP4WdiU7xe0

While working in the same fields as Yellow Swans, I admittedly enjoy this more than Going Places. Where that album is pitch grey, this record is melodious and even sweet at times. It stands well on its own though, as this is one of my favourite albums of all time. Amazingly textured drones that makes noise oddly pleasant. It carries this sense of tragedy to it, but also this sense of hope and reflection which makes it perfect for writing those bittersweet scenes. To put it like this: this is one of my comfort albums. I love it to death! For a taster, go for the opener "I Never Lose. Never Really". If you like it, then please listen to this album.

Artist and Album: Charles Mingus - "Let My Children Hear Music", 1972
Genres: Third Stream, Experimental Big Band, Avant-Garde Jazz
Link: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lJoQMoK7yRvgtmlJRCm0WZsXlLuQ2Tt4U

The man who got me interested in jazz, the great maestro Charles Mingus. Oh boy, where to begin? There really isn't any other music quite like Mingus. His mix of jazz and classical (called Third Stream, apparently) along with other styles make for something in a league of its own. This record is one of my favourites from him, a beauty from start to finish. I don't really have much to say about it, listen to "The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife are Some Jove Ass Slippers" and you'll get what I'm talking about.

A few records I felt like sharing. It was quite nice writing this, I might make these 'musical recommendation' posts every once in a while. If any of you want more recs, feel free to message me on here or on Discord (tag provided in my bio), I'm always happy to share music. Hope it was interesting to you, and I hope you enjoy these records if you do chose to listen to them. Good night.