Anyone with even a modest amount of knowledge about the past 25 years of electronica and IDM music probably knows the name Chris Clark. From his seminal 2001 Warp debut, Clarence Park, to his forthcoming, rave-focused record, Steep Stims, Clark has produced a varied, respected body of music that moves between disciplines and styles with ease. Naturally, we were curious to know what some of Clark’s favorite songs for hyper-specific situations are, and he was kind enough to give us some responses. Read the piece below!

Best song to reset your ears after you’ve been working on music for an extended period of time?

4′33’ by John Cage 

Hmm hard for me to answer this as I tend to not want to listen to music after being at the coal face all day. John Cage 4′33’. Silence! Glorious. Let the world creep in.

Best song that reminds you of Bristol in the 1990s?

Third by Portishead 

Cliche, but it would have to be something from the first Portishead record. Can I swerve the cliche slightly by saying I much prefer Third which is a fave record of all time. But it still reminds me of Bristol in the 90s though I’m not sure what to make of that.

Best song from a movie soundtrack?

 

The Omen Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith 

“L’ultimo” by Ennio Morricone, oh actually, that’s not in a film, it was an odd B-side piece of library music. Can I pick something non-modern and trendy? I find a lot of music in modern film pretty basic. I’m gonna say The Omen. Pure madness. So over the top, virtuosic, terrifying, throw caution to the wind—there’s more to life than “drone/sound design to make stuff feel tense but essentially quite generic and forgettable” that seems to be the default in a lot of film these days.

Best song to play quietly as you read?

 

I can’t listen to music and read. Nope no no sorry can’t answer this. What’s next, listening to a podcast whilst reading?!

Best song with a weird noise that you do not understand?

 

“Ondes Croisées” by Bernard Parmegiani

I never understood that elastic bands also have a libido until hearing this piece of music.

Best song to listen to on a long drive?

 

“Irene” by Beach House

The solo snare bit with the drone. That is the kind of well employed non-Netflix analogue drone I can sign off on.

Best song that is completely improvised?

 

“Mutism” by Basic Channel

I’m not sure anything is ever completely improvised, this is the problem! I’m gonna say “Mutism” by Basic Channel though. 

Best song that puts you in the mood to rave?

 

"Cutslo (Lokuste Mix)" by Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce

Surely that patch is the Dysonia preset on the Access Virus synth with some tweaks. “Dysonia” is a good made up word. It’s an amazing piece of music, elegant, rough, euphoric, fearsome all in one.

Best song that puts you in the mood to rock?

“Crow” by Shellac

 

I’m never really in the mood to rock and I’m a bit concerned by the aesthetic/image of rock guitar, but despite myself I really love the track “Crow” by Shellac. It almost makes me want to question everything and throw all my synths into a skip.

Best song that makes you laugh?

 

Hmm not sure. Can I include music that makes me laugh because it’s so bad? Sorry, but it’s an honest answer. I can’t include any names though, that would be mean.

 

Photo Credit: Alma Haser