Flavorwire

This time of the year can be a strain, to say the least — between finding last-minute presents, the ensuing financial headaches, most likely traveling out of wherever you are to wherever it is you’re from, and dealing with your family when you get there, the festive season can feel less festive than stressful as fuck. But wait, we’re here to help! This has been a fine year for music that’s designed to relax you and soothe a troubled soul, so we thought we’d put together a playlist of the finest such records of 2012 for your tranquility-inducing enjoyment. Click through to listen, and by all means thank us later. If you like. No pressure. No stress. We promise.

Brian Eno — Lux

The father of ambient music continued his exploration of the genre with Lux, a single composition in four movements that recalls the sound of some of his earliest ambient experiments on Music for Airports. Like all the best ambient records, Lux is gentle enough that it doesn’t demand your attention, but also interesting and engaging enough to reward your concentration should you choose to direct it toward the music that’s washing over you.