SONG: “When the Lights Go Out.” (To download: double right-click & “Save As”)
ARTIST: grant.
SOURCE: “Sleep-deprived brains alternate between normal activity and ‘power failure'”, Labspaces.net, 21 May 2008, as used in the post “Lights Out.”
ABSTRACT: I often feel like romantic love and blackouts have a lot in common. I also live in a house with small children and dogs and lots of bills, so sleep-disruption is pretty much a way of life. And, you know, I miss being able to lie down without spontaneously losing consciousness. Especially when there’s a lovely lady in the bed beside me. But, zap!, there I go. From what I read, this is one of the most widespread problems in modern society (that’s what I tell myself in the morning while blearily humming The Diodes into my pillowcase).
This song used no string instruments, now that I think of it. It’s built on a very simple mellotron loop with a few effects tossed in. There’s a very processed sample of a MIDI file of the Chinese national anthem. There are some fake drums from Jammer. There’s a hulusi. And there’s me, singing. I don’t know if I was trying to imitate Stephin Merritt imitating Cole Porter or if I was more inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh, but it all rhymes. I did the music early and wrote the final verses and bridge about 15 minutes before recording, because as well as having trouble with sleep I also have trouble with deadlines. But I made it. Now, to rest.