aaamusic | On 21, Nov 2011

 

V/A

The Decade Box

(Late Night Tales)

 

In celebration of ten years of impeccably selected compilations, Late Night Tales releases a deluxe ‘Decade’ CD box set comprising all 27 albums in the series.

 

During the past week, fans have voted for the track they love the most from any of the Late Night Tales albums from the past decade. With well over 400 songs on offer the choice was broad to say the least, but a few tracks eventually climbed to the top. Sebastien Tellier ‘La Ritournelle’, The Cure ‘All Cats Are Grey’ and – quite the surprise considering it’s from a rare 60’s Christian psych-folk LP – Dave Bixby ‘Drug Song’ were the close run top three. The Cinematic Orchestra, MGMT, Air and Groove Armada emerged as the fan’s favourite compilers, each with two tracks in the top ten.

 

With the votes counted, the final standings were:

 

1. Sebastien Tellier ‘La Ritournelle’ (Cinematic Orchestra)

2. Dave Bixby ‘Drug Song’ (MGMT)

3. The Cure ‘All Cats Are Grey’ (Air)

4. Midlake ‘Roscoe [Beyond The Wizzards Sleeve Remix] (Groove Armada)

5. The Velvet Underground ‘Ocean’ (MGMT)

6. The Velvet Underground ‘Venus In Furs’ (Trentmoeller)

7. Scott Walker ‘The Old Man’s Back Again’ (Air)

8. RJD2 ‘Here’s What’s Left’ (Belle & Sebastian)

9. Depeche Mode ‘Enjoy The Silence’ (Groove Armada)

10. Shuggie Otis ‘Aht Uh Mi Hed’ (Cinematic Orchestra)

Artist ‘Song title’ (Compiler)

 

Late Night Tales was initially created as the musical comedown to a night of partying. The calm after the storm, if you will. Since then, however, it has diversified and taken on a life all of its own, though still with the emphasis on music that fits the wee small hours when we only have owls, a steaming cup of cocoa and the shipping forecast for company.

 

It would be demanding to name check all 25 compilers (the set includes the ‘Cover Versions’ album previously only available in Japan), but during that time we’ve benefited from a bewildering array of styles and choices, from the questing genre-bender Four Tet to the happy-go-lucky vibes of Sly & Robbie. Occasionally, the compiler has opted for an unspoken theme that threads their choices together like the melancholy blues of Turin Brakes’ fine selection or, more recently, Trentemoller’s surprising and intensely atmospheric dark pop.

 

‘The Decade Box’ set is available to buy via latenighttales.co.uk.