Mark Lanegan seems to be restless since the Blues Funeral credited to Mark Lanegan Band in 2012. After various collaborative works with names such as Duke Garwood and Moby, one covers album (Imitations) and two EPs (Dark Mark Does Christmas 2012 and No Bells on Sunday), he released his full length album Phantom Radio last October which inflamed a significant shift from his established alternative folk rock and bluesy style towards more electronic and synth-based arrangements.

But "Dark" Mark moved this project a step further earlier this spring when he introduced A Thousand Miles of Midnight after recruiting a diverse set of artists from UNKLE and Moby to Greg Dulli, Pye Corner and Soulsavers to contribute by remixing tracks from both Phantom Radio and its preparatory EP, No Bells on Sunday.

According to its creator who said about the album that, "it would be interesting to hear what other artists might make of the them" by referring to the tracks of these albums, A Thousand Miles of Midnight goes beyond plain experimentation and curiosity. It is a carefully produced collection that showcases various electronic tunes with extensive synth passages, accelerated and slow beats, long rich reverb and distortions. Similarly to its predecessor, the album suffers from some lengthy and dreary bits however its various featured elements create a puzzle of trip-hop, deep and tech house, electro pop and technoid sounds. 

Distorted guitar loops, furious flat beats and synthed bass lines seem to take over the set electronic landscape during the whole album but its sonic magic is evoked by Lanegan's gruff and seductive voice; His characteristic raw vocals lead and create a manifestation of emotional states that may fluctuate from calmness and romance to something dark, mysterious and to some extent dangerous. 

So yes, in my humble opinion this different approach to Mark Lanegan's original recordings and style affirms his artistic nerve and skilfulness. A Thousand Nights of Midnight is available on Spotify, so go on and give it a try.

Review by Eirini Gialou

Track List

Death Trip to Tulsa (Mark Stewart’s Exopolitix Demix)

I Am the Wolf (Greg Dulli Remix)

Judgement Time (Alain Johannes Tempus Judicii Venit Remix)

The Killing Season (UNKLE Remix)

Torn Red Heart (Moby Remix)

No Bells on Sunday (Moon Gangs Remix)

Sad Lover (Mikey Young Remix)

Seventh Day (Tom Furse Extrapolation)

Waltzing in Blue (Earth Dub Mix)

The Wild People (Alastair Galbraith Remix)

Dry Iced (Thomas Barfod Remix)

Floor of the Ocean (Pye Corner Audio Remix)

Jonas Papp (Soulsavers Aural Disorientation Remix)