The Dirty Projectors and David Byrne/The National - Knotty Pine/Once Around the Bend (Dark Was the Night)

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4...according to our Brett on Thu 29 Jan, 2009.

I could say anything about this 7" and it'd still sell. It's got The Dirty Projectors doing a song with David Byrne called 'Knotty Pine' and The National doing one called 'So Far Around the Bend', plus it's for an AIDS charity. I could tell you that I saw this record raping a hedgehog on the way to work and it'd still fly out like runny dog shit from a Play-Doh Fun Factory being stamped on by Rik Waller. Honestly though, the music's all a bit annoying to me but you should buy it anyway because if you don't you hate people who've got AIDS and Freddie Mercury will poltergeist your house and throw knives about.

Dark Was The Night, a 31-track compilation produced for noted Aids charity The Red Hot Organisation, features a stellar cast of musicians (see right) and is being released on February 16th 2009. This single features two tracks from said compilation – a fantastic collaboration between the Dirty Projectors and David Byrne backed with an excellent new track from The National – and both serve as a perfect prelude to the album.

Having been produced by both Aaron and Bryce Dessner from The National with John Carlin (the charity’s founder) acting as executive producer, Dark Was The Night really is nothing short of exceptional. Over two years in the making, it’s an essential document of where the Independent music scene is today and makes for a brilliant listen. All tracks are exclusive to the release and not one contributor has approached this half-heartedly.

For those unaware, the Red Hot Organisation is an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS, using music as a great way of achieving both. Their track record is second-to-none, having worked with many greats in their time (including U2, George Michael, Madonna, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Wu Tang Clan among many, many more) and Dark Was The Night is the next instalment in an already esteemed compilation series.

It comes at a poignant time, as it’s not only the twentieth compilation the charity have been involved with but it also helps mark the charity’s twentieth year. Sadly, Aids hasn’t gone away in those years, it continues to spread and ruin lives the World over. For that reason, Red Hot aren’t done and their founding principle hasn’t floundered an inch; even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease.

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