Night Clerk Radio: Haunted Music Reviews

The Quake soundtrack, written and performed by Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, is as dark and atmospheric as the game itself. Its blend of industrial, dark ambient, and drone is rich and textured, marking a step forward for video game soundtracks. In this episode, we talk about the impact of Quake on our musical tastes and discuss the album in detail.

Music Discussed
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Quake Soundtrack Vinyl Release

Related Links
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NIN Wiki Entry: The Quake Soundtrack
Carmack and McGee's lost essay on the soundtrack.

Credits 
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Music by: 2Mello  
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell  
Ross on Twitter 
Birk on Twitter 
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

John Carpenter is responsible for some of the most iconic horror movies of all time. These movies are famous for both their visual imagery and compelling soundtracks, many of which Carpenter wrote and performed himself. Since "retiring" from filmmaking, Carpenter has gone on to produce two albums, Lost Themes I and II. These albums offer an excellent introduction to Carpenter's influential sound and sheer mastery at producing evocative and thematic music. In this episode, we talk about Carpenter's influences, his music and unique sound, and his lasting influence on the genre of synthwave.

Music Discussed
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Lost Themes by John Carpenter
Lost Themes II by John Carpenter
Anthology: Movie Themes 1974​-​1998 by John Carpenter

Related Links
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Look, John Carpenter Just Wants to Make Music, OK?
John Carpenter Talks To Us About Playing Music
John Carpenter: The Horror Master
John Carpenter on the Music That Made Him a Horror Icon
Sound On Sound: John Carpenter
The Synth Sounds of John Carpenter by Reverb

Credits 
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Music by: 2Mello  
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell  
Ross on Twitter 
Birk on Twitter 
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

Have you ever wished that your music could whisk you away to a fantasy world of corporate culture and values? If so, look no further than the dulcet MIDI-inspired tones of Muzakcore. A niche genre that embodies the musical spirit of being put on hold, sitting in waiting rooms, watching PowerPoint presentations, and of course, standing in elevators. This is the music of waiting. Of boredom. Join us as we explore two classic albums of the genre and discuss how Muzakcore fits into the larger context of Vaporwave.

Music Discussed
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Corporate Mixtape by 猫 シ Corp. & Donovan Hikaru
Home: Complete Edition by PrismCorp Virtual Enterprises
ClearSkies: Complete Edition by PrismCorp Virtual Enterprises

Related Links
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/r/Vaporwave wiki on Muzakcore
Adam Neely's Video Essay on The Girl from Ipanema
Yamaha MIDI Library used on ClearSkies

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

Inspired by the positive reception received by Miles to Midnight we decided to dig deeper into the genre of dark jazz. Dark jazz combines noir instrumentation with the cinematic sensibilities of dark ambient to produce music that is evocative and moody. We discuss two albums that take dark jazz and move in a funerary direction with haunting effectiveness. Come listen with us!

Music Discussed
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Anthropocene by Dead Melodies & Zenjungle
Ghost by Blackmole

Related Links
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Dark Jazz Suggestion - Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation
Dark Jazz Suggestion - The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble
Dark Jazz Suggestion - Dale Cooper Quartet
Arkady Severny - Wikipedia

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

Dream Catalogue is one of the oldest and most prolific record labels for vaporwave and beyond. Their founder, Hong Kong Express (HKE), has commented excessively (and sometimes controversially) on the future of the genre and how it should continue to evolve. In this episode, we talk about Dream Catalogue and what importance genre has, if any. We then discuss two recent albums released on the Dream Catalogue label.

Music Discussed
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NEW by CVLTVRE
Mount To Nothing by Sangam

Related Links
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Dreampunk: The Soundtrack To Dreams
Vapor Memory
The Statement — on the future of Dream Catalogue and the dreampunk scene
Upfront 066 / Dream Catalogue
ASK CVLTVRE ANYTHING from r/vaporwave

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

How do you find new music? For some, this can be a difficult question as the landscape of music distribution continues to evolve. In this episode, we talk about some of ways we scour the Internet for new albums and artists. Even better, we get to listen to two new albums recommended to us by Ronny from Vaporspace StL. Join us as we discuss these two excellent albums and let us know how you find new music!

Music Discussed
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Extra Breezy by Bonus Points
Smoker's Lounge Deluxe by Trans World Airlines

Related Links
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Find more music at Vaporspace StL
July 12, 1979: 'The Night Disco Died' — Or Didn't
Strings Attached: How Symphonic Soul Scored Big In The 70s

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

This episode we are joined by our good friend Bridget to discuss the music and sound design elements that go into making horror video games. Great games, like those we discuss, create an atmosphere of dread and anticipation while keeping the player engaged without becoming fatigued. The developers, working alongside composers and sound designers, must carefully balance these cycles of tension and release. Join us as we explore how three classic survival horror games nail this balance.

Support Bridget
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Bridget on Twitter
Bridget on Patreon
Cry on Twitter
Cry on Sponsus
Cry on Itch.io
Cry on Role Playing Public Radio

Music Discussed
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Resident Evil 3 - Nemesis Theme
Silent Hill 2 - A World Of Madness
Silent Hill 2 - The Darkness That Lurks In Our Mind
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented - Projection Room
Resident Evil - Safe Haven
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented - Head Builder
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented - Reika
Akira Yamaoka - You're Not Here
Amano Tsukiko - Koe

Related Links
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Interview with Akira Yamaoka (Music 4 Games)
Akira Yamaoka: How the Silent Hill Composer Revolutionised Survival Horror

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross  on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

Dark ambient could not exist without movie soundtracks. The quiet moments of dread in a horror film sparked something in musicians and listeners alike - who craved more of these soundscapes of dread before the monster appeared. In this episode we look at two albums that are clearly linked to cinematic masterpieces of fear. They are also some of the high water points of the genre, reaching slightly more mainstream audiences than most dark ambient albums ever get.

Albums Discussed
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Anthology Resource Vol. I by Dean Hurley
Everywhere, an empty bliss by The Caretaker

Related Links  
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Revisiting Eraserhead’s haunting, industrial soundtrack
In Heaven: Celebrating the surreal sounds of David Lynch
Soundtrack from Twin Peaks by Angelo Badalamenti
WhoSampled for Everywhere, an empty bliss
Example of Numbers Stations
Leyland James Kirby On The Caretaker, Alzheimer's Disease And His Show At Unsound Festival
My Father's Brain: What Alzheimer's Takes Away by Jonathan Franzen

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross  on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

What do we mean by the term "haunted music?" This phrase is rooted in the concept of Hauntology, a philosophical concept that refers to how we relate our memories to the past, whether that past is real or imagined, and how elements of those memories persist and "haunt" us today. Join us as we discuss how Hauntology relates to vaporwave and how it can be a useful tool for examining media more generally.

Relevant Links
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Ghosts of My Life by Mark Fisher
Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher
Babbling Corpse by Grafton Tanner
Specters of Marx by Jacques Derrida
Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (Official Video)

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross  on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates

We sit down with Caleb Stokes to discuss Cryo Chamber's 2019 release "Hastur," part of their Lovecraft Collection. This massive double album is a collaborative effort by over 20 artists who worked together to create its unique blend of sounds and textures. The result is a two and a half hour journey through an immense variety of genres and soundscapes. Grab your drink ticket and join us for a listen!

Album Discussed
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Hastur by Cryo Chamber

Where to Find Caleb
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Caleb on Twitter
The Mixed Six Podcast
The Mixed Six on Twitter

Credits
--------
Music by: 2Mello 
Artwork by: Patsy McDowell 
Ross  on Twitter
Birk on Twitter
Follow Night Clerk Radio on Twitter for updates