Such a fun thread, music for the mood, for the moment.
These days the old man (old, tired and in the way) has resigned himself and his frayed nerves too...no, not "easy listening", not exactly - no "Lawrence Welk" on the HDD, either (not putting it down, just not for me...)
Ambient has been a big thing with me, and is growing as I move through the more rhythmic stuff and get further into "real Ambient".
Eno is the name most connected to Ambient (at least in my mind) Collaberating with Harold Budd, Cluster, and others.
To paraphrase: "Ambient is music to create a space for thought, meditiation or rest".
Spinoffs influenced by Ambient head into Worldbeat and Dubtronic: artists called Amrita, Moksha, Sanjiva etc...
Harold Budd and Hector Zasu collaberated on a beautiful Ambient classic, Glyph.
Its poetry, rythems, mutant horn - weaving through a "life" and sets sail on a sonic ocean of the imagination. Maybe not for newbies, but is such a beautiful and and well done concept, just had to mention it...
joyful music and happiness to all :-)