You Are Feeling Very Sleepy Mix

Summer’s great for riding around in convertibles, playing soccer in the park, and all of the music that goes with that. But if you live below 50 degrees latitude then your summer also probably involves long periods of lying on the floor of your bedroom in a heat-trance waiting for the AC to kick in. So what do you listen to when you want to slow your breathing, lower your body temperature, and sink into the soft, inviting arms of semi-consciousness? You’re beginning to feel very sleeeeeeepyyyy:

Air – Playground Love

From Claude Debussy to Serge Gainsbourg, the French have always been experts at woozy, melancholy music. But this song from the “Virgin Suicides” soundtrack might be the best one to peacefully lull you while tugging the old heartstrings.

Boards of Canada – Happy Cycling

In contrast to “Playground Love’s” heart-warming, touchy-feely vibe, “Happy Cycling” is more than a little blood chilling, but in the drowsy, hypnotic sort of way, not the fingernails-on-chalkboard kind.

Animal Collective – Winter’s Love

So we know it’s called “Winter’s Love” and right now its mid June but bear with us. No one’s hit on a prettier melody than this in years and years, and the almost total absence of lyrics means that it won’t make you think too hard.

Sigur Ros – Ágætis Byrjun

Also the perfect band for your next deep-sea expedition, making you blissfully groggy is Sigur Ros’ bread and butter. Anyone speak Icelandic?

The Field – A Paw In My Face

If we’re lucky, this is what we’ll all get to listen to in malls and airports in the future. Ambient techno music doesn’t get much prettier than this—it’s easy to see why the artist, Alex Willner, was asked to write music for a Swedish hotel company.

This Heat – Sleep

Much of this band’s “Deceit” album would give children nightmares, but this track has such a comforting half-awake sound that it could be piped in during kindergarten nap times. Someone’s summer assignment is to make a homemade video for this so we can link to YouTube next time.

You are now in a deep sleep. But what would you add to this list?