We’ve had to say goodbye to some beloved musicians, athletes, actors and more. Here's a look at the stars we've lost so far in 2024, through April.
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Sonic tonic: Most relaxing albums ever made
10. Steve Roach, "Quiet Music 1"
Grammy-nominated artist Steve Roach. There are three “Quiet Music” albums, each one released on cassette in 1986. All are aptly titled, and all are very relaxing. But the least “electronic” sounding of the three is the first one. “Quiet Music 1” consists of two songs, each one over 30 minutes — perfect for nap time.
9. Brian Eno, "Ambient 1: Music For Airports"
Brian Eno, shown here in 2013 during the digital festival TagDF in Mexico City, popularized the term “ambient music.” His 1978 album “Ambient 1: Music For Airports” is a dreamy set of songs featuring piano, synthesizer and wordless vocals.
8. Craig Kupka, "Clouds: New Music for Relaxation"
Cover of Craig Kupka’s “Clouds: New Music for Relaxation.” In the 1970s and 80s, Kupka made albums dedicated to dance techniques and relaxation.
7. Joanna Brouk, "Hearing Music"
The cover for Joanna Brouk’s “Hearing Music,” a 22-song compilation released in 2016. Brouk self-produced her own albums until the mid 1980s, when she retired from music and became a professional writer. She died in 2017.
6. Deuter, "Ecstasy"
Pioneering New Age artist Deuter has been active since the early 1970s. His album “Ecstasy” is a soothing blend of eastern and western styles of music.
5. Fumio, "Meditation"
The cover of Fumio Miyashita’s “Meisou,” which was released in the U.S. in 1995 under the title “Meditation.” The Zen-inspired synthesizer arrangements are sparse and repetitive, but they never overstay their welcome.
4. Hiroshi Yoshimura, "Music For Nine Post Cards"
The cover for Hiroshi Yoshimura’s “Music For Nine Post Cards,” which was released in the U.S. in 2018. It was first released in 1982. Yoshimura’s minimal compositions — mostly performed using only electric piano and organ — have a fragile beauty.
3. Scott Fitzgerald, "Bamboo Waterfall"
The cover for Scott Fitzgerald’s “Bamboo Waterfall,” which includes the use of over 40 different wind chimes and bells. The album consists of an hour of nature sounds with wind instruments and occasional electric piano, but mostly specially tuned chimes and wind bells mingle with a soundscape of birds and running water.
2. Laraaji, "Essence/Universe"
Brian Eno discovered Laraaji while the latter was performing his electronically modified zither on the streets of New York City. On his 1987 album “Essence/Universe," Laraaji takes his celestial zither strums through various effects. This year, Laraaji turns 80. He tours regularly and was recently featured in The New Yorker.
1. Steven Halpern, "Spectrum Suite"
Steven Halpern, shown here arriving at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in 2013, is another New Age pioneer who has produced a vast and important body of work. Halpern's electric piano tones are the most soothing ever recorded, as evidenced on this album, which has changed titles and tracklists more than once over the last 47 years. The basic album was first released in 1975 as "Christening For Listening." After customer complaints over the original fast song that ended the album, Halpern re-released the album as "Spectrum Suite" in 1976, deleting the song. A 45th anniversary edition of "Spectrum Suite" collects most of the different tracks that appeared in subsequent reissues, making it the essential version.
