By ParaMhor
“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.” – Terry Pratchett
“This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine …” – Willam Shakespeare, The Tempest
We begin with the dark wood falling before the protagonist of Loreena McKennitt’s Dante’s Prayer, a variation on the opening of Inferno. An honest to goodness Canadian treasure, says tincanman.
Continuing the poetic theme, Peter Gabriel’s Mercy Street was inspired by the works of the late Anne Sexton. A highlight of the huge selling album So, thanks to happyclapper for putting this one up.
Always found Stewart Copeland’s songs for The Police well worth the visit. Something out of the ordinary. My personal favourite, Darkness closes Ghosts in the Machine beautifully and has been nominated by Banazir Galbasi.
Next up, Nilpferd offers the Herbaliser, featuring the magnificent Tsidi Ibrahim, aka Jean Grae. If You Close Your Eyes points out that you can’t run from your fears and is wrapped up in a hypnotic groove.
Dare was everywhere in 1981. Also played to death by my first serious girlfriend, so despite the title (and lyrics) the Human League’s Darkness offers very fond memories to me and, hopefully, her. Thanks to Maki for this one.
Sharon van Etten’s Darkness Fades is the most beautiful song ever according to YT below the line. Many more affecting comments there and I can only agree that it’s a rather lovely little number (c. Tarquin Spodd).
In nominating Shadows and Light by Joni Mitchell, severin points out what a startling song it was, coming at the end of the Hissing of the Summer Lawns, venturing into multiple overdubs and synthesised strings, unlike her previous music. It signposted the way ahead for her and remains one of my favourite of her songs.
New to me, Lael Neale sounds like an old soul singing Acquainted With Night. Especially like the closing lines, “I’ll be mourning (morning?) tonight”. Still know next to nothing about her records, but will be remedying that very soon. Thanks to barbryn for putting this one up.
Emitt Rhodes is another new to me. According to wiki, described as the "One-Man Beatles due to the style and skill of his songwriting and instrumentation.” Well, what is clear is that he was a member of American psych band the Merry-Go-Round and that he had a gift for melody. A rare note of optimism for this playlist, You Take The Dark Out Of The Night is one of my finds of the week. Thanks to Fred Erickson for the introduction and for a number of really interesting noms this week. I learn something every time I do this.
On to more familiar territory, Naguchi nominates In My Hour Of Darkness, the final song on the mighty Grievous Angel. Released a few months after his death, the album was originally credited to Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, but the latter’s name was removed prior to release. Let’s remedy that, as Emmylou, aside from her outstanding singing, also kept Gram in proximity to the tune.
Must admit, was absolutely blindsided by this next one. I knew of KT Tunstall as a member of the Fence Collective and may have even seen her playing at one of their fests round the turn of the century. However, did not know how affectingly good she could be. Through The Dark is a beautiful song and thanks to SweetHomeAlabama for putting me right.
Think it’s a contractual obligation that I have to put up a Bruce Springsteen song. As I’ve explained before, I like his stuff but by no means all. This, though, is exceptional. I think his best (from his best record) and thanks to Noodsy for putting up Darkness On The Edge of Town. Ok, apart from racing in the street.
And the closer. With others on the thread this week, I love this song (and singer). For those who don’t know, Jason Molina’s work is well worth seeking out, in Songs: Ohia, the Magnolia Electric Co and other projects. He was prolific and made some transcendental music. Farewell Transmission, nominated by long-time champion Uncleben, shows why he was so good. That’s your roll of the dice, ‘ben.
The whole place is dark
Every light on this side of the town
Suddenly it all went down
A list of two (if not three) halves. Thanks all for your songs and to Marco (and Uncleben) for making sense of all of this.
The Atramentous A-List Playlist:
Dante’s Prayer – Loreena McKennitt (tincanman)
Mercy Street – Peter Gabriel (happyclapper)
Darkness – The Police (BanazirGalbasi)
If You Close Your Eyes – The Herbaliser (featuring Jean Grae) (Nilpferd)
Darkness – The Human League (Maki)
Darkness Fades - Sharon van Etten (Tarquin Spodd)
Shadows and Light – Joni Mitchell (Severin)
Acquainted With Night – Lael Neale (barbryn)
You Take The Dark Out of The Night – Emitt Rhodes (Fred Erickson)
In My Hour of Darkness – Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris (Naguchi)
Through The Dark – K T Tunstall (SweetHomeAlabama)
Darkness On The Edge of Town – Bruce Springsteen (Noodsy)
Farewell Transmission – Songs: Ohia (Uncleben)
Blackout B-List Playlist:
Dark Night Blues – Blind Willie McTell (Nicko)
Romance In The Dark – Dinah Washington (Naguchi)
Thru The Night – The Alan Bown Set (ShivSidecar)
Moonlight Shadow – Mike Oldfield (happyclapper)
Makkuro – Tricot (ajostu)
Darkness – Black Uhuru (Nicko)
After Dark – Tito and Tarantula (AltraEgo)
In The Dark Times – McCarthy (MussoliniHeadkick)
After Dark – The Shop Assistants (Tarquin Spodd)
Prince of Darkness – Mr Flood’s Party (Fred Erickson)
Alone – The Cure (tincanman)
Pain – Boy Harsher (Vanwolf)
Heart of Darkness – Pere Ubu (PAF!)
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
David Sylvian – Darkest Dreaming
Mo-Dettes – Paint it Black
My favourite cover of this one. We had some very odd Saturday morning programmes in the early 80’s. I can remember the Ruts going through Babylon’s Burning on a boat on some kids show…..
Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch – Lua
A different kind of darkness. From the great Dark Was The Night compilation.
Sharon Van Etten
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Close your eyes, open your ears: songs about darkness. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
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