This month (and the months after) are filled with everyone studying for different things: the SAT, ACT, PSAT, and even AP homework. While studying, I often find that listening to music is a great way to keep myself focused on work. Here are some recommendations for albums to study to.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 – Aphex Twin

Even though this list isn’t ranked, this would probably be the number one pick for me. It’s incredibly relaxing (just a collection of 13 cool beats), with just enough movement to keep you from growing bored. The sounds that Aphex Twin uses to construct the beats are engaging, but they’re mellow enough to not pull you out of your work. No matter how much attention you put to the album, it will always be a good album to listen to, making it perfect for studying.

Time Machines – Coil

And now for something completely different: This album consists of four lengthy drone pieces (songs that are extremely slow and repetitive to the point where there aren’t any beats). This album was made to create “temporal slips,” which basically means that it’s very easy to lose track of time and fully focus on something when listening to them. If you find that lyrics distract you, I’d recommend this album. The instrumentals do not change very often, keeping you locked in one state of being for their runtimes, so studying to them works very well.

Shri Camel – Terry Riley

On the other hand, if you find drone music incredibly boring, this album is the one for you. Consisting of four (again, quite long) pieces of improvisation inspired by Indian classical music, this album is hypnotising. The pieces are made with a variety of almost psychedelic organ sounds and a repetitive bass loop.. All of them work to keep you in an almost meditative headspace, clearing the head and allowing for a more focused work session.

Pink Moon – Nick Drake

This one consists of two things: an acoustic guitar and Nick Drake’s voice (okay, and some piano on the first track). And yet, this album is amazing. It’s super calming and warm, perfect for studying and creating a non-distracting environment. It has such a lovely atmosphere, like the personification of a winter’s day into a whole album. Unfortunately, it’s only 28 minutes long, so you might have to change music after this one.

Earth 2: Special Low Frequency Edition – Earth

Finally, if you want something more akin to white noise, this is perfect. Despite what the title and cover may imply, this album is basically one long guitar and bass tone, with some percussion every now and then (the last song is one note for thirty minutes). It’s the progenitor of drone metal, and it certainly sounds like a metal track slowed down by at least ten times. If you truly want the closest thing to white noise that still kind of constitutes as music, this is the one.

These are some albums that really help me with focusing on work. Hopefully, this list helps you the same way it does for me as you study for that test or essay coming up.