Five albums which sound much better at night
The long nights so many glum folk artists talk about are here, as you wake up and it’s dark, you finish work and it’s dark, it’s dark all the time, and there’s nothing you can do about winter time entering your life.
Well, actually, I might be wrong there, as while these endless nights can often feel a bit draining, you can make them less so by fully leaning into them. Don’t resent them but revel in them, and create a setting which would only ever make sense amongst the backdrop of a dark sky. This means cosying up, hot chocolate, red wine, and music which complements your mood.
Most people have summer albums and winter albums, and that’s nothing new, but these records always tend to be a little bit obvious. You go for the more upbeat stuff in summer and then slightly more stripped-back music in winter, which is fine, in theory, but we’re not just coping with winter anymore: we’re embracing it, we’re fully giving into the jet black sky with spots of stars flickering down, and that means expanding our taste.
There are so many more albums to listen to at night than just the more chilled-out records which have become somewhat predictable, and we at Far Out figured we would put some of our favourites in a list. So, if you’re ready to fully embrace the long nights without dusty tunes, here is the music you should look to.
Five albums to better soundtrack the night
D’Angelo – ‘Black Messiah’
When D’Angelo passed away, the entire music world felt some kind of aftershock. He sang R&B at the start of his career, which was tinged with soul; however, one of his later albums, Black Messiah, was a soul record with hints of R&B, which lends it an atmosphere that transcends what most albums could only ever dream of achieving.
D’Angelo’s voice, paired with that of the backing singers and band, makes for a sound so soulful it feels more evocative against the backdrop of the later hours of the day. Granted, an album this good can be enjoyed whenever, but when the stars are out, it just adds that little bit more emotion that can whisk you away.
Cocteau Twins – ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’
Cocteau Twins have mastered the shoegaze sound in a way that stays true to the genre but also gives them a unique edge. They have that layered style, sure, blending effects in order to create some kind of sonic wall that hits the listener in the face, but it’s also incredibly sweet-sounding, borderline soothing, and one of the best examples of this is their album Heaven or Las Vegas.
The music on this record is layered, but it’s also stripped back enough that it remains somewhat accessible. You can pick out individual instruments being used, which isn’t always the case with shoegaze, and additionally, the indistinguishable high-pitched lyrics add to that sweet sound. A record this soothing needs to be played when you’re winding down, as night draws in, so close the curtains and soak up this completely untouchable piece.
Bruce Springsteen – ‘Nebraska’
OK, the Bruce Springsteen biopic is receiving relatively mixed reviews, and that’s somewhat understandable, but if we’re going to give it credit for something, it should be how much it understands the album Nebraska. This record is incredibly difficult to define, coming from Springsteen when he was struggling with mental health issues, making for an eerie and very stripped-back take from ‘The Boss’.
There is a darkness that lingers behind this album, one which is soul-stirring and immediately apparent upon first listen, and while that comes through at any point in the day, if you play it when the sun goes down, your experience will only be heightened. Let yourself be haunted by stories, real and fictional, and by Bruce Springsteen at his most vulnerable.
FKA Twigs – ‘EUSEXUA’
Pull your head out of the gutter! Yes, this is quite a sexy album, but the night doesn’t only work perfectly for it because you can play it while you get up to…extracurricular activities. The pounding bass, subdued high-pitched vocals and droning synths give this record the feel of a club, and therefore, a dark atmosphere is the perfect way to experience it.
With this record, FKA Twigs has really established herself as one of the best pop artists in recent years. It is intense, gritty, and deeply addictive, and you won’t want morning to come when you start listening to this album, but the sexy scenery portrayed by this electronic triumph to linger as long as time will allow.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – ‘Their Satanic Majesties Second Request’
Amongst the plethora of music that The Brian Jonestown Massacre have released, their record Their Satanic Majesties Second Request is truly varied musicianship at its very best, balancing the delicate combination of maximalist and minimalist sound better than any other LP from the time.
What makes it the perfect night prowling record is that the general mood just suits the dark better, but, if we were to go deeper, it’s because this album specialises in pockets. It doesn’t overthink, it just creates pockets of sound and lets you rummage around in them, and while there is an element of isolation, there is also warmth, and both feelings match a night sky over broad daylight for an immersive experience.
