My second mix tape for you all. I’ve gone for the dark haunting lullaby-noise theme that celebrates both the fear and wonder of the night. I let loose some of the scarier tracks in this, so be warned.

We have all succumbed to the exquisite resonance of divine melody and rhythm and we have each revelled in its poignant effects. There is an undeniable calmness when smooth sinuous vocals meld with graceful ensemble, a benign comfort if you will. An equally powerful and supposed opposite coexists. Discordant beats that follow no recognisable outline force a mental agitation. Hesitant underlying noise provides an aural battering that the brain endeavours yet ultimately fails to interpret. Now envisage a faultless amalgamation of these two dissimilar themes, an oxymoronic proposition?

I was introduced to a mix tape entitled “Listen with Xela” in August 2004. Xela, also known as John Twells, may be likened to the electronic masterminds Four Tet and Fennesz. Boomkat, an English independent music specialist issued this album as part of their ongoing mix collection, garnished as follows:

“An out of focus world of modified symphonies, alien soundtracks and smokey jazz basements […] — for late night loveliness, the selection just doesn’t get any better……or more inspired.”

This was my first experience of “dissonant euphony”. I had discovered music that could utterly horrify me before effortlessly bringing me to serenity. “Listen with Xela” merges the fear of the night with the wonder of the stars and remains an unsurpassed midnight soundtrack.

Time to say so long, it won’t be too long. Good Night

• 1.edward artemiev — solaris part i (bach) (toei music)
• 2.carbon framework — krane (unreleased)
• 3.night of the living dead OST — driveway to the cemetary (varese saraband)
• 4.goblin — jane mirror theme (dagored)
• 5.goodiepal — flap nipper main (skipp)
• 6.midaircondo — serenade (type)
• 7.kenji kawai — the ring (pony canyon)
• 8.julee cruise — up in flames (warner bros.)
• 9.max richter — iconography (fatcat)
• 10.angelo badelamenti — generique : marcello (philips)
• 11.susanna and the magical orchestra — sweet devil (rune grammofon)
• 12.doris day — time to say goodnight
• 13.philip jeck — wholesome (touch)
• 14.akira rabelais — buciumeana (ritornell)
• 15.angelo badalamenti — mulholland drive (milan)
• 16.signer — night is blurred (involve/carpark)
• 17.julien neto — one (type)
• 18.svarte greiner — radar sound (unreleased)
• 19.fennesz — transit (with david sylvian) (touch)
• 20.carter burwell — fargo, north dakota (tvt)
• 21.susumu yokota — lapus lazuli (leaf)
• 22.john carpenter — dark star (varese)
• 23.porn sword tobacco — pinkys (city centre offices)
• 24.cocteau twins — otterley (4ad)
• 25.david lynch and peter ivers — in heaven (lady in the radiator song) (IRS)
• 26.goldmund — solaris part i. (bach) (unreleased)

I dearly wish for this to come back into print.

Taken from my latest article:

A few weeks ago, in the cold recesses of December, I attempted to mimic that midnight Xela premise. Sporadic and fragrant vocals needed to intermingle with astute jazz, disquieting percussion loops and loose piano themes. I needed to purvey frustration, heart ache and confusion amongst nostalgia and flirting hope.

“It’s night time and I’m in the moment, but it’s ending”

01. Arve Henriksen — Procession Passing
Album: Sakuteiki, Label: Rune Grammofon
The album is a working tribute to Japanese culture and the sound of the shakuhachi. Stark other-worldly romanticism gives the perfect introduction.

02. Supersilent — 4.1
Album: 4, Label: Rune Grammofon
A perfect compliment to Henriksen’s unique modus operandi. Dying jazz opposes flitting cinematic mystery and abrasive percussion to form a jarring yet intimate storm.

03. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy — I See a Darkness
Album: I see a darkness, Label: Palace
The storm is passing, but its devastation has only just been realized. A dark hymn with thinly layered guitar provides a cogitative commentary. A brief resurgence and an echoing cry for help.

04. Alejandra and Aeron — Juanita, King Chime and Florida Flash Flood
Album: Bousha Blue Blazes, Label: Orthlorng Musork
This hauntingly expectant fusion of atmospheric piano and delicate electronics observes a destitute realism with the naivety of a child.

05. The Gentle Waves — Partner in Crime
Album: Swangsong for you, Label: Jeepster
“Partner in Crime” is the consoling bedtime story that acts to reinsure yet spirals dangerously away into a cold despondency.

06. Múm — We have a Map of the Piano
Album: Finally we are no one, Label: Fat Cat
True hope comes with the warming morning sun and there is momentary rest bite. Warm synthesizer chords and glitch-beats offer tranquility.

07. Alejandra and Aeron — Humming Radio Caro Cariño
Album: Bousha Blue Blazes, Label: Orthlorng Musork
At the boundaries of folk there is a clandestine privacy that is effortlessly caught by this song. This family recording bids optimism and nostalgia with a fragile air of uncertainty. Soft Spanish words with recurring acoustics and guitar bequeath frail remnants of life.

08. Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto – Duoon
Album: Vrioon, Label: Raster Noton
Crescendos of high frequency throbs pierce the ears whilst rhythm evolves from lifeless static, a lone piano acts as a guide through this harsh soundscape.

09. Nick Larson — Aviva Pastoral
Album: Palindromes soundtrack,
The piano continues on in this rare track that contorts young vocal innocence into a tool of luring passion and trespassing guilt, virtues of youth are achingly spoiled by melancholy.

10. Nils Økland — Blond Blå
Album: Bris, Label: Rune Grammofon
Standing and powerful strings reverberate a lasting regret that leads naturally onto a self-reflection that forbids forgiveness.

11. Ms. John Soda – Technicolor
Album: No P. or D., Label: Morr Music
Through a union of surfacing electronic techniques and classical themes this is harmonic pop with a difference. An unbridled freshness brings cheerfulness amongst the surrounding repression, a fitting pause in the proceedings.

12. Fennesz – Transit
Album: Venice, Label: Touch
The eyes of ancestry watch as an apocalyptic technological future looms; flickering noise and pulses beautifully drown a wistful voice that betrays its past. “Say your goodbyes to Europe […] follow me”

13. Philip Jeck – Pax
Album: Stoke, Label: Touch
Eerie loops compliment warped vocals to croon the rising moon. An air of uneasiness builds with each passing repetition climbing towards a night time awkwardness.

14. Paavoharju — Valo Tihkuu Kaiken Läpi
Album: Yhä hämärää, Label: Fonal
A serenading electronic lullaby regurgitates faith and ends the mix with comforting reassurance that everything will be alright in the end.