Dark Dark Dark are a band with travel in their DNA. All bands spend time touring, but with members from as far afield as New York, New Orleans and Minneapolis, this brooding four-piece have become experts in covering the miles between US cities and states. They seem to spend their lives on the road.

For most of us, travel is just a way of getting form A to B, sometimes including a stop-off at C for a Big Mac and a piss, but for these guys, it’s a big part of their lives. Theirs are lives lived on the road and, as such, journeys become not only more frequent, but more significant. Time spent traveling is time to bond, time to reflect and time to dream. It’s not time wasted in anticipation of reaching a destination, but time well spent.

That’s a pretty positive outlook and a nice antidote to the bratty “are we there yet?” mentality that I myself have been more than guilty of in the past. One thing that provides the perfect accompaniment to any journey is music, and with that in mind, we asked Marshall LaCount from the band to put together a list of songs to soundtrack a typical Dark Dark Dark journey.

We spoke to Marshall about his song selection and the thinking behind their playlist, in the hope that we could learn a bit about his philosophy of travel, and also get to listen to some pretty great music in the process.


Platform: Hey Marshall, explain what you’re doing for us here. What was the idea behind the playlist?
Marshall LaCount: We wanted to create a playlist like one we might listen to in our tour van, between dance parties, after everyone has run out of things to talk about for a while.

It’s full of friend’s music, and a few other favorites. It’s during contemplative stretches of road like this that we sometimes voice our new ideas, and many of our wants. Little cartoon light bulbs can often be seen hovering around inside the van, and on rough road, sometimes smashing to the ground or knocking against the window.

“I want to make a giant goth castle so bad, with gargoyles and a rehearsal room,” or “I wish I had a dog,” or “Remember that time we went to Far Rockaway Beach after the show?” It’s common to hear utterances like these during “Still A Way” type drives.

Wow, that’s pretty specific. Are you equally specific about how someone should listen to this playlist?
It is recommended that the listener attempt these songs with a good attention span, and maybe a sense that they are a fortress of solitude. Listen alone, or in a small group of sympathetic friends; the fireworks here are subtle and won’t send a room into a frenzy. Certainly, those that are susceptible to depressions should be aware that this is a moody mixture, and is capable of amplifying their existing condition. This should not turn off the party people, it just asks that they consider the listening time and place carefully.

What’s next for Dark Dark Dark?
We’ve just released the Bright Bright Bright EP, and are currently mixing an LP. We’ll tour the U.S. throughout spring and summer, and are looking for ways to come to Europe next winter. As it is winter in Minnesota right now, we’re huddled over meals of potatoes, squash, and the caribou meat that our wolves brought home last week – we’re still savoring our final memories of swimming and cliff-jumping last year, and hoping to renew the memories soon. We all grew up listening to Graham Parker’s “Squeezin’ Out Sparks” record.

Thanks for having us!

DOWNLOAD: Dark Dark Dark “Still A Way” Playlist for Platform

Tracklist:
1. Shep And Me – Track 01
2. Elephant Micah – Wild Goose Chase
3. Sibylle Baier – I Lost Something In The Hills
4. Nico Muhly – Mothertongue III : Hress
5. Caethua – In A Garden Barely Looked At
6. Dark Dark Dark – Something For Myself
7. Callers – Meet Between
8. Steve Reich – America-Before The War
9. Brute Heart – Brass Beads Sharp Teeth
10. Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Heart’s Arms
11. Santiago Mostyn – New Orleans Highway Bridge
12. Hurray For The Riff Raff – Is That You?
13. Uke Of Spaces Corners – Doggies
14. Train