1/1Brian Eno1rank/position

Brian Eno – 1/1

Since we’re talking about BGM for studying, it’s best to avoid anything too stimulating, right? I’ve had the experience of getting distracted by the music and before I knew it, I was humming along.

At times like that, how about tracks by Brian Eno, a pioneer of the genre known as ambient music—“kankyō ongaku” in Japanese? With ambient music that feels less like something you listen to and more like something that simply exists there, as if you were in nature, it seems like you can boost your concentration.

Cutting Room I (Top Boy Official Score)Brian Eno2rank/position

Cutting Room I | Top Boy | Official Score | Netflix

It’s a piece that unfolds a soundscape filled with stillness and tension—perfect for boosting concentration.

Composed by Brian Eno, this track was written for the Netflix series Top Boy, but it ultimately wasn’t used in the episodes.

It’s included in the digital album Top Boy (Score from the Original Series), released in September 2023.

The music is marked by a simple, intuitive melody, reflecting Eno’s desire to explore the inner worlds of children.

When you want to focus on work or study, listening to this track may offer a quietly moving musical experience.

ApolloBrian Eno3rank/position

This is somewhat deep music using synthesizers by Brian Eno, a master of ambient music.

There aren’t pretty melodies; instead, space-evoking sonics and profound phrases carry you on a journey into deep, deep sleep.

This music belongs to the ambient genre.

Ambient 1Brian Eno4rank/position

Brian Eno – Ambient 1: Music for Airports [Full Album]

Musician Brian Eno, known as a former member of the rock band Roxy Music that was active from the 1970s to the 1980s.

After turning to a solo career, while remaining involved in rock by producing artists such as Talking Heads and David Bowie, he has also devoted himself to creating ambient music.

In the album we’re introducing today, Ambient 1, the quiet piano melodies—completely different from rock—leave a strong impression!

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Brian Eno – An Ending (Ascent) (Remastered 2019)

You can’t talk about ambient music without mentioning this track.

“An Ending” is a masterpiece by Brian Eno, known as a pioneer of ambient music, and it’s beloved by many ambient music fans.

The melody is quintessentially ambient, with a dreamy quality that evokes images of outer space or the deep sea.

If you’re looking to relax, be sure to give it a listen.

And Then So ClearBrian Eno6rank/position

Brian Eno – And Then So Clear

Brian Eno’s “And Then So Clear” wraps the heart in waves of crystalline synthesizers.

Featured on his 2005 album Another Day on Earth, this piece perfectly embodies the essence of ambient music.

Weaving images of the vast cosmos and the beauty of nature into its lyrics, it delicately balances themes of awakening and loss.

It’s ideal as background music for work, study, or relaxation, quietly bringing the listener’s mind into harmony.

Eno’s ambient music is a quiet revolution that seamlessly blends into everyday life—an art piece that exists as naturally as breathing, yet radiates a distinct presence.

BackwaterBrian Eno7rank/position

Brian Eno – Backwater

Known as one of Brian Eno’s signature works, this piece is included on the album Before and After Science, released in November 1977.

It features atmospheric sounds that invite the listener on a mysterious journey, along with suggestive, thought-provoking lyrics.

The phrase “sailing on the edge of time” is repeated, creating a sense of drifting in an undefined space.

Eno described this work as “music of the sea,” contrasting it with the “music of the sky” of his previous album, Another Green World.

Blending gentle beauty with experimentation, it also makes an ideal background soundtrack for work or daily life.

Eno’s flexible musical style, rooted in his British background, may be why he is celebrated as the ultimate artist.