Night Clerk Radio: Haunted Music Reviews

Reminder: Our patreon is up! https://www.patreon.com/nightclerkradio Heimat Der Katastrophe (HDK) is a DIY label managed by an artist collective in Milan. They produce a wide range of albums from genres described as "ambient punk, minimal-synth, dungeon-drone, wartime music and post-nuclear wave." On this episode, we discuss two of their recent releases: a classic dungeon synth album and a soundtr...

News: The Night Clerk Radio Patreon is now live. You can check it out and support us at: https://www.patreon.com/nightclerkradio You'll get bonus episodes, access to our community Discord, and much more as the Patreon continues to grow! Each yeah, the vaporwave subreddit (r/vaporwave), compiles a list of their favorite albums of the year. For this episode, we checked out the "Best of 2020" albums...

Hyperreality, a term coined by Jean Baudrillard, is the point at which the real can no longer be easily distinguished from  fiction or simulation including simulations of realities that do not exist known as simulacra. The connection to vaporwave, a genre of music which seeks to induce nostalgia for eras that never existed, is immediately apparent. On this topic episode we briefly introduce some o...

Often, technology evolves at such a relentless pace that consumers may not be able to explore something's full potential before moving on to the next upgrade. In this episode, we dive into two artists who are linked by their common goal to produce novel audiovisual art using these abandoned technologies as both inspiration and instrument. Join us as we explore two very different slices of computer...

Yig, this year's entry in Cryo Chamber's annual Lovecraft Collection, features over two hours of eclectic soundscapes and atmospheric music produced by a collaboration of some of the best dark ambient musicians. Join us as we dig into this masterful album and unpack some of our favorite parts. Don't forget the corn. Albums Discussed ------------------ Yig by Cryo Chamber Collaboration Silent Hill...

The chilling and eclectic soundtrack of Unsolved Mysteries is comprised of hundreds of hours of original music written during the show's decades long run. The theme song alone is renowned for its ability to frighten and unsettle young viewers of the show. In recent years, a small portion of this music has been curated and released as two records. In this episode, we are joined by Caleb Stokes from...

Christmas, particularly in the US, has become a yearly affair of seasonal pop music and rampant consumerism. Fortunately for us, this makes it the perfect target for vaporwave and mallsoft, where critiquing capitalism by manipulating pop music is the standard fare. This, combined with the ever-present themes of hauntology and nostalgia, means we have a lot to discuss. So, grab a mug of your favori...

Intersection of multiple influential elements - Jet Set Radio introduced a generation of gamers to new styles of music and art, a legacy still felt today. It gave us an alternative to the forever war narrative of most games, a world where violence and greed is defeated by art. It’s hopeful, a model for utopian praxis. Despite its flaws, JSR had a vision. This vision affected countless artists, mus...

The smooth jazz soundtrack and automated aesthetic featured on The Weather Channel in the mid-90's has been finding its way into vaporwave and internet art for nearly a decade. It represents a kind of forgotten nostalgia for calmer times. In this episode we talk about how this music came to be, it's relationship to vaporwave, and its impact on our memories of The Weather Channel. Albums Discussed...

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 ---------------- Quake Sound...

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 a...

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...

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 -----...

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...

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 ne...

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...

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...

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 gener...

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 list...

Hypnagogia is the state of consciousness one experiences when transitioning from waking to sleeping. Hypnagogic vaporwave attempts to capture this sensation through the production of music that can be airy and ethereal or moody and ambient. Join Ross and Birk as they discuss one of their favorite sub-genres of vaporwave through the lens of two classic albums. Albums Discussed ------------------ vi...

Whether it hits you with aggressive 808 kicks or lifts you up with airy synths and trap beats, vaportrap offers a unique and wide-ranging blend of hip hop and vaporwave that can't be found anywhere else. In this episode, Ross and Birk talk about two classic vaportrap albums discussing topics such as production styles, the relationship between albums and genres, and the preservation of art in the d...

Dungeon Synth is a genre that presents a unique blend of aesthetics by combining the fantastical themes of role-playing games with the moodiness and storytelling of dark ambient. In this episode, Ross and Birk listen to two albums from two very different periods in the history of Dungeon Synth and explore how the genre has evolved from its roots in black metal and 90's synths to a more nostalgic c...

We recently talked to Ron Parres, the organizer behind Vaporspace StL. They are launching a massive online vaporwave concert on May 22 and 23. Find out what the live vaporwave scene was like before Covid and what online concerts are like.    Music Mentioned ---------------- Sound Market- Eco Regions Extra Breezy by Bonus Points Smoker's Lounge Deluxe by Trans World Airlines   Related Links -------...

Plunderphonics is a term coined by composer John Oswald in 1985. It describes any music that is constructed by mutating existing audio recordings into entirely new compositions. By making plunderphonic music artists tackle copyright law, fair use, the legitimacy of sampling, and numerous other issues surrounding the production of art in a digital world. Join us as we discuss the history of plunder...

Mallsoft is a subgenre of vaporwave that aims to comment on our relationship with retail spaces and consumerism. By emulating and sampling muzak, often mixed with field recordings of actual stores, Mallsoft creates a sense of occupying now abandoned shopping centers. Wander the aisles of nostalgia with us as we discuss two pillar albums of the genre. The Albums Hologram Plaza 슈퍼마켓Yes! We’re Op...