are you afraid of the dark?
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I took today off so here I am with more posts than a broken record. They won't be shushed; I'll sleep when I'm dead.
Today is free-associatin' Monday. 2 weeks to Halloween.
Howl down there in the old skool player on CD made me heady, then I digitized only to forget about it. Lately I've been re-ripping music to a higher bitrate. Howl's turn came. When I played the 320's, I discovered layers, the absence of which must've been what disinterested me in the 192's.
This reminded me of someone who once made me a 36-page handwritten letter. One thing he wrote stuck with me: how he was in this café writing the letter and looking out to a sunset that he knew for reasons would not ever be the same way. I know it doesn't make sense to you, and we broke apart burned away after all, but that in turn reminded me of how I had loved to listen to music only in total darkness.
We, he and I, turned us on to so much music in the dark. We'd sit on the floor in the dead of night, against the wall a few feet from my desktop PC, the sole source of light flickering from the monitor. Played stuff we thought the other hadn't heard and would love. Wouldn't say much, just kind of sit there and really listen. Screen goes to standby, fade to black and zzppff, nothing but sound.
I guess I forgot about this listening quirk somewhere in the years that I would eventually share space with someone (else) because that changes things, for better or worse, and was not reminded until tonight. Beautiful Freak seemed to ask me to kill the light and I did.
So I'm writing this post in close to pitchblack, it's hard as f*ckall to find letters, and reacquainting myself with moving in darkness unawkwardly. If nothing else, it is liberating. Lastly, all these remind me of something Martin Amis wrote that I'd shared once before on MOG but bears repeating: "Cities at night, I feel, contain men who cry in their sleep and then say Nothing."
It's the first line off The Information and oft reminds me of him. He still writes sometimes.
Tonight play something that begs the dark of night.
(Listening post-lights-out to get to sleep doesn't count.)
Comments (16)
Wonderful post, poe! Dark times, good times.
What I very often do is sit in the dark and spin some trip hop, and especially Tricky. Nothing makes more sense, but everything feels more deep, and I enjoy that feeling.
Afraid of the dark? No. I'm only afraid of the light, it reveals too much.
notsure if you saw my post and the comment I made but if you didn't that makes thismore freeky! Lights Out! Thanks!
I too enjoy music in the dark, the one sense fills the rest.
hmm, i didn't realize Schloopy's still around. as i was saying...
i guess i'm doing old favourites this week, like Eels up there.
this one, i did not seek out. it found me.
"Racin' with the risin' tide to my father's door"
Anna - trip hop and the dark = sensory euphoria
"No. I'm only afraid of the light, it reveals too much." - spoken like a true darkling, my dear.
Indy - no, i haven't seen your post but i go look now. i like freaking myself out, as you can maybe tell.
Jeff - "the one sense fills the rest" - that's what i'm talking about. this is why i love talking to you lot.
You are an amazing author...so glad I added you! :-) Listening to music with no other sensory distractions is like the ultimate high sometimes...so intense it'll bring tears to my eyes...literally! Thanks for reminding me :-)
GarageRock - seconded! it is very much like the ultimate high sometimes. and it did bring tears tonight just enough that i had to hold 'em back. thanks for that honest remark, much appreciated.
There's no greater way to experience recorded music than to slap on some big headphones and turn off the lights, then snuggle into the couch and let the tunes wash over you. If there's an electrical storm going on at the same time, even better.
I should try some Burial that way, I bet that deep bass would really pop in that setting. Or one of Nick's dubstep compilations.
love the eels song.
mmm. sensory deprevation heightens other senses! and that's a wonderful thing...
So what made you decide to take the day off? I've had some incredible experiences listening to music in the dark. BT's opus 'Sasha's Voyage To Ima' off his 'Ima' cd is an almost 43 minute sensory overload of sound, especially when there is a full moon about. It rushes over your body, mind & titilates your soul, truly taking you on an aural journey.
There's also a wonderful 'classical' piece of music by the Russian composer Giya Kancheli which I posted over on the dark side(as well as the BT, I pmed you w/the links).
So no way am I afraid of the dark. I'm a vampire, in case you forgot.
I worked with a friend who was a huge Eels fan, so this one's a cinch to dial up.It's been awhile, so thanks - since there's no music on mog tonight. Well, everyone needs a break from time to time. Hey, I even unplugged the 24-7 turtle lite..I guess I did cheat a little, 'cause the laptop has a built in keyboard lite (I'm a pc) ;)
Dale - an electrical storm! best idea ever.
Burial and dubstep would mos def do it for me. i've been a long-time total headphones junkie, i just kind of lost the "in the dark" part. i can not imagine how (life) but i'm glad i got it back.
Charley - love Eels. from first to latest release. all the way.
Ardy - relatedly, i was mentioning in a different post how deprivation taps the deeper recesses of the brain. oopsie, i hope supermodels didn't just hear me say that...
Aug - well, i spent birthday Sunday with friends after chillin' at the spa so i thought i'd have Monday to stay home and catch up with some spontaneous me-time. but as i was saying in another post, i soon discovered the boredom involved was horrifying.
i am all over your darkness tunage as i type. and sweetie, i never forget you're a vampire because you're awake when i'm awake. ;d
Scott - for me, too, it's been a while. the birthday posts got me into '90s favorites, for some reason, and it's all i'm listening to now. got more to post.
well, PC, if this Mac gets unplugged (i.e. me), it will be dead. i think MOG's got the musics back now.
well, the Eeels did we right, love that song.. fault line, good harmonica mixed in too, highlighting the storyline..
Indy - a favorite track off the album. thanks.