Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse – Dark Night Of The Soul

You know that an album’s going to be good when there is that much turbulence over its release. Such was the beginning’s for Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse’s Dark Night Of The Soul.

Dark Night Of The Soul had its release date chopped and changed on numerous occasions. Due to a legal dispute which occurred last year between Danger Mouse and record company EMI, it was initially reported that the album – which contains numerous high-quality guest appearances on it – may never end up getting released.

Speaking to The Tripwire last year, Danger Mouse (real name, Brian Burton) informed the online magazine that he couldn’t release the album at the time with the fear that EMI may sue him. Rather, the album – which features the likes of Julian Casablancas, Black Francis, The Flaming Lips, David Lynch, Suzanne Vega and Iggy Pop – leaked online, with the accompanying book sold with merely with a blank CD-R.

With a line-up like that, who wouldn’t want this project to be released?

Legal disputes aside, the album eventually did get released… and thank God it did.

Not only does it involve two high-quality producers that have combined forces, it also involves musicians and artists that bring name to the record; each of their voices doing the songs on the record justice.

From the guitar-heavy sounds of The Flaming Lips in Revenge, to the gloriously angelic sounds of Suzanne Vega on The Man Who Played God, and everything in between – Dark Night Of The Soul contains a fulfilment of musical excellence.

And if those facts don’t inspire you to listen to the album, then this just might: the album’s title track even guest stars American filmmaker and visual artist, David Lynch – known for his nightmarish and dreamlike images and meticulous sound design.

This “nightmarish” appeal of Lynch’s is even brought to light within the song; his vocals, adding to that eerie-like element that makes the song so unique.

My personal highlight? Well, if my iTunes is anything to go by, it would have to be Suzanne Vega’s heavenly performance in The Man Who Played God. Her voice, so gentle yet empowering, is nothing short of beautiful. Simple as that.