No. 349: Brian Eno - "Ambient 1: Music For Airports" (1978)

Brian Eno, ex-member of art rock band Roxy Music, and later electro/pop/glam solo artist, introduced the world to the concept of ambient music in the mid-70's: a word for his new minimalist approach to music. The idea was to produce an unobtrusive background soundtrack that would soothe the mind & soul of the listener in a variety of everyday situations, and this was the first of Eno's installments under the "ambient" banner: Music For Airports.
He supposedly got the idea while waiting at an airport terminal in Cologne, Germany, in the mid-1970's after being caught there for hours and getting annoyed at the "uninspired sound atmosphere" in the terminal. In a situation filled with often tense, weary and stressed out commuters, Eno believed there should be a sound installation that could play in the background with the specific aim to bring some peaceful respite to the listener - hence the creation of this album.
The album is divided into four movements - featuring differing atmospheric textures, synthesizer phasings and vocal loops - which intertwine to bring the listener into a relaxed, peaceful and meditative mood.
I once gave this a few spins through the headset on a solo flight to Hong Kong about 6 years ago and it remains one of my "in-flight essential" listening experiences. Just stock up on your free airline drinks first and then peacefully zone out. Whatever we need to do to take our minds off the horrors of flying economy class, right?