I am about to sit down and spend the afternoon writing and started thinking about what music I would like to accompany me. I was tempted to tweet for recommendations and then I thought no.

When I write I need music that I can enjoy, music I can lose myself in but music that doesn’t require much of my thoughts to enjoy. This is clearly not the time to break in a new band or album. Like running a marathon in brand new trainers, new music won’t help. So I will be turning to the old reliables to keep me fuelled this afternoon. These would include:

Tubular Bells & Incantations by Mike Oldfield – pretty much vocal-less and well worn in.

1999 by Prince. Once the first two tracks have settled down there are long periods of quite introspective music. I’ve been listening to this album for over 20 years now so there are no surprises to knock me.

Brian Eno – like Mike Oldfield, some of his work can be very melodic and calming. ‘Background music’ some people may call it but I find it works in harmony with my moods, allowing me a comfortable base to think. Music for Airports would be the obvious choice but all his ambient recordings are worthy on this list.

On the ambient theme, Kate Bush’s last album Aerial had an amazing second disk ‘a Sky of Honey’ is a beautiful tapestry of a Spring Day that is both inspirational and uplifting. At 42 minutes long it is regularly on repeat.

Genesis, being one of my all time favourite bands would obviously feature with The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway an easy way to lose yourself for two hours, although I would not recommend this for newcomers – it may need some breaking in before acting as your accompaniment. Trespass is also a wonderful album from very early on (their third album I think, pre Phil Collins.)

Talk Talk – now I only really got into their albums last year whilst I was writing a lot for the agency. I had always loved Natural History but had never really got into their albums. It’s My Life and The Colour of Spring are the ones to lose yourself in.

The KLF Chillout is also awesome, a bit like the Future Sound of London Radio 1 Sessions, very deep layered soundscapes – sadly not available on Spotify.

Rounding off the list is Clutching at Straws, the last studio album Marillion made with Fish before parting company. Just the first few bars make me feel like there is a warm blanket wrapped around me and we’re off for a great 45 minutes.

I guess a lot of these albums could be seen as quite introspective, dare I say ‘down’? But there is a balance, get really down and miserable and bang goes the inspiration – Lou Reed’s Berlin of course springs to mind but doesn’t appear here (I save that for long journeys) nor does Roger Water’s Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking which is also worth of discovery.

Do you have favourite albums to write to, work to? Fancy sharing them? I love new music and always keen to add to the roster of writing music. Leave a comment if you would be kind enough.

Title Song: Classic, Adrian Gurvitz (Spotify | YouTube)