Soul music and Jazz music are the main ingredient. But when i'm feeling adventurous I like to try New Age or ambient (Enya type piano music, celtic music, neo-classical etc). or some like French accordion music, or some cheezy Kenny Loggins/Michael Mcdonald era 'yacht rock' and 'easy listening' records have good cuts in the slower songs. Sad folk music, particularly with female vocals can have some real gems. I also think about all those 60s psychedelic bands in the style of the Beatles, the Who, the Beach Boys, the Zombies who experimented with sounds and recording techniques.. Oh and Soundtrack scores. particuarly from the 1960s-1980s.John Barry, Ennio Morricone etc.