February 10, 2012 12:26

UK band claim to have written 'the most relaxing song ever'

Tracks by All Saints, Coldplay and Adele are also named as some of the most relaxing songs out there

Photo: PA

Marconi Union, a Manchester trio, have teamed up with sound therapists and claim to have penned "the most relaxing song" of all time.

The track, which is titled 'Weightless', is apparently so relaxing that scientists say it should not be listened to while driving. You can hear the song by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Marconi Union worked with a team of sound therapists with the aim of creating a track which slows breathing and reduces brain activity.

The song was then played to 40 women as part of a study commissioned by shower gel and shampoo producers Radox and was deemed to be more relaxing than pieces by Enya, Mozart or Coldplay, with over 65% per cent of participants saying it lowered their anxiety levels.

Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, said of the track: "The song makes use of many musical principles that have been shown to individually have a calming effect. By combining these elements in the way Marconi Union have has created the perfect relaxing song. The study found this to be the world's most relaxing song."

Asked what made the song so relaxing, Cooper added: "It is important that the song is eight minutes long because it takes about five minutes for this process, known as entrainment, to occur. The gaps between notes - have been chosen to create a feeling of euphoria and comfort. And there is no repeating melody, which allows your brain to completely switch off. Instead, there are random chimes, which helps to induce a deeper sense of relaxation. The final element is the low, whooshing sounds and hums that are like buddhist chants."

'Weighless' came top in a poll that also included Coldplay's track 'Strawberry Swing', All Saints' hit single 'Pure Shores' and Adele's 'Someone Like You'.

The 10 most relaxing tracks, according to the study are:

1. Marconi Union – 'Weightless'
2. Airstream – 'Electra'
3. DJ Shah – 'Mellomaniac' (Chill Out Mix)
4. Enya – 'Watermark'
5. Coldplay – 'Strawberry Swing'
6. Barcelona – 'Please Don't Go'
7. All Saints – 'Pure Shores'
8. Adele - 'Someone Like You'
9. Mozart - 'Canzonetta Sull'aria'
10. Cafe Del Mar - 'We Can Fly'