Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

This is another act that have a plethora of tunes to pick from, depending on the occasion. They play a kind of country funk jazz, for want of a better phrase, but don’t be put off! More than a few of their tracks are beautifully atmospheric and can be really inspiring to write to.

I use some of their more peaceful pieces when I’m creating a new place, to set the tone I want. ‘Big Country’, whilst clearly being inspired itself by the US, is a gorgeous, warm song, whilst ‘New Math’ conjures feelings of isolation and discovery.

For characters, try ‘Flight of the Cosmic Hippo’ (I have an ambiguous stranger in a western in my head) or, well, there are stacks to choose from. Pick out any album of theirs and you’re guaranteed to be taken away somewhere new.