What up. Mixmaster DJ Sad-Kor here. I
‘ve been interested for awhile in creating a podcast-style mix – that is, a mix that is a single long track, meant to be listened to all at once, and (possibly) tells a story. I’ve seen these sorts of mixes here and there, and really liked the results of some of them. And I thought, hey, I can do that. I can definitely do that! I think certainly the greatest asset of the pod-mix/mix-cast is the ability to blend songs together, to fade them in and out and from one to another, to manipulate the sound of the songs (but not much!) and the mix, and perhaps to add in some sort of background sounds, a unifying element. All that presents an interesting challenge that isn’t present in making a “mixtape” style mix.
Well, here’s my first crack at that. The mix is called It’s Been My Longest Night, I Can Tell. The story told here, as evident in the title, is of a long, sleepless night, told straight from dusk to dawn. While the story is loose and there is no plot, I think there is ultimately a narrative arc that presents itself. Rather than go into that I’ll let the mix speak/sing for itself and we’ll see what you think. The backdrop to the music is nighttime sounds, with the idea that our “protagonist” is, say, listening to the album with the bedroom window open to the night (which is basically how I got the idea). For an added layer, listen to it yourself with the windows open in your own bedroom. How meta! Anywho, here’s the tracklist coming up. I should say too that background sounds are provided by Neko Case via “Marais La Nuit,” (“Swamp at Night”) the final “track” of her Middle Cyclone album (best album of 2009!), and by The Freesound Project, which is totally awesome.
It’s Been My Longest Night, I Can Tell
“Northwest” by Richmond Fontaine
“Late for the Sky” by Jackson Browne [Update: Jackson Browne and Fruit Bats should have been switched as they are here. Sorry!]
“Magic Hour” by The Fruit Bats
“Alone in Kyoto” by Air
“Sea and the Rhythm” by Iron and Wine
“Pink Moon” by Nick Drake
“Porchlight” by Neko Case
“Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star
“Sleeping on the Roof” by the Flaming Lips
“Night Train to Valhalla” by John Fahey
“Midnight Moonlight” by The Be Good Tanyas
“The Mansion” by The Microphones
“Song for a Blue Guitar” by Red House Painters
“Very Long Dream” by Huck Notari
“Spelunking” by Laura Veirs
“Be Dark Night” by Phosphorescent
“Whip-Poor-Will” by Magnolia Electric Co.
“Big Day Coming” by Yo La Tengo
“At Dawn” by My Morning Jacket
This mix and all the others are in the Music Vault!
Downloaded! I’m just starting a first listen on this snowy (well, up in the mountains, anyway) Sunday afternoon. As it is all one track, I’m trying to take the time to listen to it as such, something I don’t often do with albums. My ADD usually keeps me bouncing from one thing to the next. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and listen.