Press play and immediately start tapping your foot and clapping of your hands. Ladies and gentlemen, Dark Was the Night is finally here. This two disc compilation is great way to experience music from some of the best names in indie today. You’ll get a taste of everything from the subtle harmonies of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon in "Bracket, WI,” to the staccato, keyboard-driven sounds of The Arcade Fire’s "Lenin.” Get ready for approximately two hours of previously unreleased tracks in the double-disc charity album, Dark Was the Night.
The first disc starts off with the oh-so-shrill vocals of the Dirty Projectors and David Byrne in "Knotty Pine". The track includes very distinctive high pitched female voices followed by the contrasting, super-low voice of David Bryne, which creates a soundscape of perfect unity. Not only will the vocals get you dancing, but the steady keyboard beats will help you lose yourself in the music itself.
As "Knotty Pine" fades away, a more mellow and experimental sounding "Cello Song" abruptly starts. Played by The Books along with Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez, this cut combines the string-based, contemporary sound of The Books with vocals that add a simple beauty. Track three, "Train Song", demonstrates a melancholy, bluesy sound via a collaboration by none other than Leslie Feist and Ben Gibbard. I know what you Death Cab haters are thinking right now, and this is by no means a derivative track. In fact, it would be more at home with the likes of Cat Power, than either of the two performer’s main projects. The chorus alone manages to impress by the beautifully delicate way Feist and Gibbard harmonize their vocals. Another gem on this compilation is actually a cover of Nina Simone’s "Feeling Good.” My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden gives the original song justice with her strong passionate vocals. The Kronos Quartet handles the title track relatively well, although those less enthused by experimental music may see the song as little more than filler.
The sixteen-track disc two also starts out similarly to its predecessor with Spoon’s upbeat “Well-Alright.” One track later, Beirut's "Mimizan" begins with the trademark accordion and slowly builds into a prime example of the European folk that is Zachary Condon namesake. An instrumental song, named "Happiness," by Riceboy Sleeps is also included on Dark Was the Night. After throwing this track on, just close your eyes, imagine floating around in space, and let the sound wash over you.
Following up on his new record, Noble Beast, Andrew Bird has lent his expertise to this comp with "The Giant of Illinois." If you have never heard this man's beautiful voice before, I can assure you that this track is a great introduction. "When the Road Runs Out," sung by Blonde Redhead and Devastations, is another gem on disk two. As you listen to Blonde Redhead's Kazu Makino and her water-deluded voice, try to see if you can catch any other languages besides English. Known for their diverse backgrounds, Blonde Redhead includes Japanese, Italian, and French in their songs pretty often. The disc concludes with "Love vs. Porn" sung by Kevin Drew. Smooth vocals, slow beats, and a healthy dose of social commentary dominate this track. What more could you ask for from the last song of such a stacked compilation?
The variety of indie music on Dark was the Night is simply astounding. The tracks discussed in this review are only a tiny portion of the thirty-two songs included in the compilation. If you’re new to indie music, Dark was the Night will provide you with a solid base of artists to explore. On the other hand, if you’ve been listening to the likes of The National, Grizzly Bear, and My Morning Jacket for a while now, you’ll find plenty of good stuff to keep you humming along. What’s more – sales of this record go to AIDS research and prevention via the Red Hot Organization. Do yourself a favor, pick up Dark was the Night, give it a spin and contribute to a good cause.
Track List
This Disk
1. "Knotty Pine" - Dirty Projectors + David Byrne ((mp3))
2. "Cello Song" (Nick Drake) - The Books featuring José González
3. "Train Song" (Vashti Bunyan) - Feist and Ben Gibbard
4. "Brackett, WI" - Bon Iver
5. "Deep Blue Sea" - Grizzly Bear
6. "So Far Around The Bend" - The National and Nico Muhly
7. "Tightrope" - Yeasayer
8. "Feeling Good" (Nina Simone) - My Brightest Diamond
9. "Dark Was The Night" (Blind Willie Johnson) - Kronos Quartet
10. "I Was Young When I Left Home" (Bob Dylan) - Antony with Bryce Dessner
11. "Big Red Machine" - Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
12. "Sleepless" - The Decemberists
13. "Stolen Houses (Die)" - Iron & Wine
14. "Service Bell" - Grizzly Bear + Feist
15. "You Are The Blood" (Castanets) - Sufjan Stevens
That Disk
1. "Well-Alright" - Spoon
2. "Lenin" - Arcade Fire
3. "Mimizan" - Beirut
4. "El Caporal" - My Morning Jacket
5. "Inspiration Information" (Shuggie Otis) - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
6. "With A Girl Like You" (The Troggs) - Dave Sitek
7. "Blood Pt. 2" (Castanets) - Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
8. "Hey, Snow White" (Destroyer) - The New Pornographers
9. "Gentle Hour" (Snapper) - Yo La Tengo
10. "Another Saturday" - Stuart Murdoch
11. "Happiness" - Riceboy Sleeps
12. "Amazing Grace" - Cat Power with Dirty Delta Blues
13. "The Giant Of Illinois" (The Handsome Family) - Andrew Bird
14. "Lua" - Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch
15. "When The Road Runs Out" - Blonde Redhead & The Devastations
16. "Love Vs. Porn" - Kevin Drew
