4AD stands to deliver costumary darkness // Suburban depressed indie fanboy in a coma

The latest newsletter from the Beggars Banquet group made me skip various heartbeats and gasp for air. Last time I check my personal email at work for fear of dropping dead in the middle of the office, although I would most certainly go out with a smile on my face just by imagining the likes of Justin Vernor and Aaron Dessner. That would be from last year's and 2007's Top Bands, Bon Iver and The National, respectively.

4AD is pleased to officially announce Dark Was The Night a compilation album double cd, triple vinyl) to benefit the Red Hot Organization. Red Hot is an international organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. This release marks the 20th anniversary of the Red Hot Organization, and is also the 20th Red Hot release! Dark Was The Night was produced by Aaron & Bryce Dessner of The National, and will be released by 4AD in February of 2009. Dark Was The Night is the title of an early blues song by Blind Willie Johnson, which is covered on this album by The Kronos Quartet. The album consists of 32 exclusive tracks by a multitude of today's most beloved and respected independent recording artist, some of which include Sufjan Stevens, Feist with Grizzly Bear, Feist with Ben Gibbard, The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, The National, David Byrne with Dirty Projectors, Bright Eyes, Spoon, The New Pornographers, Antony, The Books with Jose Gonzalez, Blonde Redhead, Bon Iver, Andrew Bird, My Brightest Diamond, Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio and Riceboy Sleeps (Jonsi from Sigur Ros).

There is more music greatness quoted above than you shake your Animal Collective hyped fists at kids and it keeps getting better and better. Their myspace, although rather scarce on tracks since it only features the Feist + Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service fame) track Traing Song, does feature the full track listing for the upcoming charity oriented gloomy double album.

THIS DISC (DISC ONE):

1. "Knotty Pine" - Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
2. "Cello Song" - The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
3. "Train Song" - Feist and Ben Gibbard
4. "Brackett, WI" - Bon Iver
5. "Deep Blue Sea" - Grizzly Bear
6. "So Far Around The Bend" - The National
7. "Tightrope" - Yeasayer
8. "Feeling Good" - My Brightest Diamond
9. "Dark Was The Night" - Kronos Quartet
10. "I Was Young When I Left Home" - Antony with Bryce Dessner
11. "Big Red Machine" - Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
12. "Sleepless" - The Decemberists
13. "Stolen Houses (Die)" - Iron & Wine
14. "Service Bell" - Grizzly Bear + Feist
15. "You Are The Blood" - Sufjan Stevens

THAT DISC (DISC TWO):

1. "Well-Alright" - Spoon
2. "Lenin" - Arcade Fire
3. "Mimizan" - Beirut
4. "El Caporal" - My Morning Jacket
5. "Inspiration Information" - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
6. "With A Girl Like You" - Dave Sitek
7. "Blood Pt. 2" - Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
8. "Hey, Snow White" - The New Pornographers
9. "Gentle Hour" - Yo La Tengo
10. "Amazing Grace" - Cat Power
11. "Happiness" - Riceboy Sleeps
12. "Another Saturday" - Stuart Murdoch
13. "The Giant Of Illinois" - Andrew Bird
14. "Lua" - Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch
15. "When The Road Runs Out" - Blonde Redhead & Devastations
16. "Love Vs. Porn" - Kevin Drew

myspace darkwasthenight
label 4AD