you want to escape to a tropical island, but doesn’t have the time or money, then the albums below may be your ticket! Here I present the finest tropical island themed releases available, by truly great new age music artists.

 Just put the albums on your stereo system, relax and close your eyes; palm trees, sandy beaches and a deep blue sea are all waiting in your mind.

If your day is gray and cold, these albums will warm you up.  

Medwyn Goodall
Earth Goddess

Earth Goddess is in my opinion one of the best new age music releases of all time. Earth Goddess has that nice island sound, with panpipes, cool guitars and a chilled rhythm. All the tracks have a light and friendly atmosphere. Medwyn Goodall is a master when it comes to melodies. Just listen to the opening track Amulet or track number four, Totem. Medwyn Goodall has released 80+ albums, but according to me this is his best. It is close to perfection. The Earth Goddess guarantees you a blissful stay. Sample it at MG Music.

The Nexion Project
Isle of Freedom

Is it possible to make something that already is perfect, like the dream of a tropical island, even better? Yes, the Nexion Project’s The Isle of Freedom is a proof of this. It takes the island theme to a new level, creating a dream sphere that is both relaxing and energizing at the same time. The mastermind behind The Nexion Project is Hungarian Torok Zoltan. Zoltan’s style is somewhere between chill out and new age; it has the classy lounge style of DJ Claude Challe’s Buddha Bar series and the deep, intense emotions of Michael Cretu’s Enigma.  The album takes the listener on an island round trip, you get to see the Flowers (track three), Morning Forest (track five) and enjoy the Dusk – End Sequence (track ten).

Sample the album on CDBaby 

Clifford White
An Island Called Paradise

An Island Called Paradise contains some of Clifford White’s best tracks, all relating to water. The album has a warm and pleasant sound that instantly takes you the island of your dreams. These are songs perfect for chill out, like The Tropical Zone and Equatorial, and a few upbeat songs too, like Inspirations. The sound is a bit keyboardish, but on an album like this that is no drawback; it is like a beach band playing just for you! Sample it at New World Music.

David Arkenstone
Caribbean Dreams

The Caribbean is a paradise on earth, no doubt about that – and David Arkenstone’s dreams about this place are also magnificent. The album has a nice acoustic feel to it, and you can picture this music being played live on a white sandy beach. The frequent use of the steel drum gives this album a Caribbean feel. Take a quick look at these nice song titles, and you know what to expect; Blue Waves, Jamaican Breeze, Birds of Paradise, Dolphin Dance… The album Caribbean Dreams can be a little hard to find – not all digital music outlets have it –  but it can be bought on Amazon.

Deuter
Sea and Silence

No list of new age music is complete without a Deuter album – and luckily he has a superb tropical island in store for us. Sea and Silence is a marvelous mix of ocean sounds, flute, piano and lush synth soundscapes. The title track is a 13 minute long adventure; it is like drifting into a warm and blue underwater world. It is almost hypnotic. Silence also plays an important part on this album. Some parts are almost without sound, making you concentrate to hear the sound of a distant wave for instance. My favorite track on the album is Seven Sacred Pools, which has a happy and colorful vibe. Sea and Silence is yet another beautiful Deuter album. Sample it here.

Terry Oldfield
De Profundis I and II

If you feel like leaving the beaches for a while and dive into the deepest water, then Terry Oldfield has a marvelous album for you; De Profundis – Out of the Depths vol 1 and 2. The main track, De Profundis, is 26 minutes long, and takes you so deep that you can hear the lonely cry of a whale mixed to perfection together with Terry’s great flute. The melody is both melancholic and soothing. When the angel like female vocal starts chanting the De profundis (Psalm 129, a prayer for the faithful departed – a cry for mercy), the illusion is complete; you are at ocean floor; a place both magical and scary. I am sure you will agree with me; this album is a masterpiece! It is not as warm as the other albums presented here, but it is twice as deep. Sample it here.

Tony O’Connor
Aqua Zone

And while we are underwater, why not check out Tony O’Connor’s beautiful album Aqua Zone? It has some of the best mix of ocean sounds I have ever heard, together with beautiful guitar, piano and layers of rich synths – all to set the perfect water mood. There is also a gentle rhythm here, just to illustrate the flowing of the water. The tracks are long (6-8 minutes), which is nice for meditation. Just close your eyes and it will be like swimming in a magical coral garden. The title track, Aqua Zone, has a very nice melody. There is also a music DVD available, with beautiful underwater video. Check out the album on Tony O’Connor’s homepage.

Sarsen’s album The Island has a melodic focus, nicely played with synths. When you put this album on, you just have to close your eyes and let the music create the island of your dreams. The synths used are a bit retro, but have that analogue sound that the early 1980s synths had. My favorite song is track number 12, Beyond the Pass. It has a lot of class and a relaxing atmosphere. Sarsen’s island is a paradise, no doubt about that. You can buy the album on CDBaby or

Noel Quinlan
Islands

Noel Quinlan’s Islands is a pleasant mix of pop, jazz and new age. With saxophone, accordion, synths and lots of exotic drums, the scene is set for an unforgettable beach show. The melodies are happy and joyful, and there are nice vocals on many of the tracks. Just listen to the track Island Groove, which is a catchy pop tune. The synth arrangement is fabulous on all 12 tracks. There is also a lot of ocean sounds on this album – and screaming seagulls and splashing water too – so you’ll get that island feeling at once. If your day is gray and cold, put on this album; Islands is like sunshine on a CD! Sample the albim on CDBaby or

Various Artists
Islands of Chill vol 1

There are many good island themed chill out collections, but Islands of Chill – A Smooth Breeze of Relaxing Sounds of World’s most Famous Beaches vol 1 is my personal favorite. On this album there are 12 tracks by various artists. Some tracks have a powerful beat, like Ibiza Sun and Grand Canaria Sunset Session - while other tracks represent a more chilled beach life like Relaxing Hawaii. There is lot of variation in the sound, so there is replay potential here. The thing I like best with this collection is that all the songs have a somewhat exclusive feel, like visiting a high class beach resort. And that makes sense, since Mykinos, Koh Phangan ect. are among world’s most exclusive beaches. Sample the album on iTunes Music Store.

Nature Sounds
A Jaunt to Hawaii

No list of island themed new age music would be complete without dedicated nature sounds album. There are plenty of albums like this on the market, and I have listened to many of them. My favorite is Nature Sounds -  A Jaunt to Hawaii. This album consists of 58 minutes of ocean sounds, with some distant bird sounds. You just have to close your eyes, and you”ll have a perfect beach all for yourself.

Picture – Paradise Palm copyright Kwest19 – BigStockPhoto