A few months ago I went camping with my family and friends. One of the friends I was with was a fellow music enthusiast. We were sitting by the campfire and it was late at night and everybody else had gone to sleep. I had my ipod with me, as well as two pairs of headphones and a splitter. I thought it'd be a good opportunity to show him some of the latest music I had been listening to. For this occasion I chose the album Sung Tongs by Animal Collective, a band that I had been becoming increasingly obsessed with. Knowing he had never heard them before, I was maybe a little worried that he wouldn't share my enthusiasm for them. We got through the first track, 'Leaf House', and I could tell by the look on his face, to my relief, that he loved it as much as me. We listened to the entire album, mostly staring at the campfire or looking around at the trees surrounding us. In that exact moment, it was the most perfect music in the world. Sung Tongs has to be one of my favorite albums now, and same with my friend, who may not have appreciated it as much if I had shown him at any other time.

Would you agree that setting plays a huge role in the perception and appreciation of certain kinds of music? Has anyone else had a similar experience as mine, where they listened to the perfect album/song/work/whatever at the perfect time and place?

Just to answer briefly, I would say yes that certain genres of music require certain "moods" or "settings" in order for a full appreciation of them to be had. Some tunes I like to listen to in the day, but not so much at night. It's just the feeling. On the other hand, though, I also believe that music itself can set a certain "mood" or "setting."

The first time I was in Kathmandu I listened mostly to Harrison's All Things Must Pass (expect when hitting the local live scene playing some awesome traditional music). It just seemed to fit in with all the medieval modernity of that city.

I remember that about a year ago, I went to the roof of my house with a small stereo on my hand, on a clear night. With a few smokes, with The Cinematic Orchestra's "Everyday", and watching the stars, the setting was just the ideal, it was perfect.