In a collaboration with sound therapists from British Academy of Sound Therapy, Manchester trio Marconi Union created an instrumental eight minute track called "Weightless" (2011). The track is so relaxing that Dr David Lewis-Hodgson from Mindlab International, who conducted the research, said that it created the greatest relaxation response of all the music tested in this research study, making it "the world's most relaxing song" according to Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy.
Boffins say the eight minute track, called Weightless, is so effective at inducing sleep it should not be listened to while driving.
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Scientists played the song to 40 women and found it to be more effective at helping them relax than songs by Enya, Mozart and Coldplay.
The study - commissioned by bubble bath and shower gel firm Radox Spa - found the song was even more relaxing than a massage, walk or cup of tea.
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Studies found Weightless was 11 per cent more relaxing than any other song and even made many of the women "drowsy" in the lab.
It induced a 65 per cent reduction in overall anxiety and brought them to a level 35 per cent lower than their usual resting rates.
The song features guitar, piano and electronic samples of natural soundscapes.
It is pierced throughout by buddhist-like chants that induce a trance-like state.
And according to the study, these are the top ten most relaxing tracks:
- Marconi Union – "Weightless"
- Airstream – "Electra"
- DJ Shah – "Mellomaniac" (Chill Out Mix)
- Enya – "Watermark"
- Coldplay – "Strawberry Swing"
- Barcelona – "Please Don't Go"
- All Saints – "Pure Shores"
- Adele – "Someone Like You"
- Mozart – "Canzonetta Sull'aria"
- Rue Du Soleil – "We Can Fly" (Café del Mar)
For your convenience, I have compiled these tracks in a Spotify playlist named "The Top Ten Most Relaxing Tracks According to Science".
H/t Hey Sigmund.