For Ear Sake

DJ Shadow - Dark Days (2000)
Genres: Hip Hop, Instrumental

Have you ever been fond of a soundtrack just as much as the film? Well, that's what this Soundtrack post represents. This post is a detail of both films and soundtracks I enjoy.

DJ Shadow created a short and sweet score for the documentary Dark Days, and it fails to disappoint. The soundtrack only contains two tracks, "Main Theme" and "Spoken For Mix"; but it managed to win six awards in various competitions despite it's short duration. Moreover, the Dark Days soundtrack is looked upon as the component that completes the puzzle of the film, and is arguably the last recording DJ Shadow made in his "original style."

The documentary Dark Days featured more of DJ Shadow's music besides the two tracks he composed solely for the film. Excerpts from the album Entroducing... and material he created with UNKLE is also heard throughout the documentary. Sadly, those songs aren't a part of the soundtrack. However, the two tracks that are, are more than satisfying, and help tell the tale of Dark Days.

DJ Shadow - Main Theme

The first track "Main Theme" sets the tone for the film. It starts off dark and grim. Imaging yourself living beneath the ground is easily possible while listening to this track. Spine-chilling echoes, a murky guitar sample taken from Bill Osborn's track "Bamboo and Rice", and other atmospheric sounds help this track mesh in a dusky and soulful way.

DJ Shadow - Spoken For Mix

The second track "Spoken For Mix" is more of an extension of "Main Theme". All of the eerie components to "Main Theme" are also found within this track. However, dialogue snippets from the film helps differentiate this track from it's counterpart. "Main Theme" is chill and woeful, whereas "Spoken For Mix" breathes life into the soundtrack.

"When he relocated from London to Manhattan, Marc Singer was struck by the number of homeless people he had seen throughout the city. Singer had befriended a good number of New York's homeless and later, after hearing of people living underground in abandoned tunnel systems, he met and became close to a group of people living in The Freedom Tunnel community stretching north from Penn Station past Harlem. After living with them for a number of months, he decided to create a documentary in order to help them financially. Singer had never been a filmmaker before, and saw the production of Dark Days as a means of gaining better accommodation for the residents of the tunnel." - Wikipedia

Many people overlook the homeless. We know they exist but we chose to pay them no mind like we do our own shadows; homeless individuals are nothing more than a reflection of what any of us could possibly become. Some of us judge in the midst of throwing chump change into their buckets, or we grab them a bite to eat because we're too concerned with what they'll do with our chump change, or worst of all, some of us don't give anything at all. While driving by or brushing shoulders with society's forgotten, many of us aren't concerned with the stories of the destitute. However, Marc Singer created the documentary Dark Days to help change the stereotypical perceptions many of us have towards individuals that are homeless.

I remember seeing Dark Days for sale a few years ago at Turntable Lab, and the description of the documentary quickly struck me as a "must see" film. Homeless people living similar to the urban folklore Mole People? How could I not be interested? However, I never purchased the film, and it eventually went from being a "must see" to a film that I'll eventually get around to watching. Luckily, thanks to Netflix, it didn't take much time for me to wrap my eyes and ears around this bone-chilling documentary. I remember my face being glued to my 13" Macbook as I observed the stories of a group of people that took refuge underneath the ground. These individuals were simply fleeing from the ills of the world; a disregarding world, a inhuman world. They were escaping the tormenting citizens above ground, as well as imprisoning themselves from the results of their own life-altering decisions. Dark Days may be seen as melancholy, but the cast brings an array of light to the forefront with their personalities, humor, and the way they peacefully co-exist with each other. Consequently, the stories the cast shares with the world is not only daring and exposing, but their stories have the power to change even the coldest heart.

"Shot in noirish black and white, Singer shows how society's discarded and disenfranchised fashion a community of sorts in the sunless labyrinth of the station's transit tunnels. Though told without narration, a dozen or so individual stories emerge. Dee (the sole woman depicted in the film) lost all her children in a house fire while she was high on crack; Ralph remains inconsolable after his five-year old's rape and mutilation during a stint in prison. In the final reel, Amtrak sends in armed police to clean out the tunnels, citing health concerns. However, the subterranean tenets happen upon a stroke of luck, as an NYC social worker discovers a cache of previously unclaimed public housing. Featuring a sparse soundtrack by DJ Shadow, Dark Days won the Grand Jury prize for cinematography, the Freedom of Expression award, and an audience award at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival." - Jonathan Crow, Rovi

"I enjoyed this film on a lot of different levels. The camera work is really beautiful, and the film has a loose narrative structure with an uplifting ending. All of the people in the film are very articulate in their own way, which shatters some of the stereotypes people have about the homeless. The movie definitely takes sides, and is sympathetic towards the homeless, but it also makes it very clear that the people made poor choices in their life which lead to their situation. Even in the midst of all their suffering, I found it surprising that they all have excellent senses of humor. The score by DJ Shadow is also extremely well done and appropriate." - Soujiro (IMDb user review, 2000)

In final consideration, I hope that at least one person views this documentary, and walks away with a change of heart the same way I did years ago. Dark Days is highly recommended to open minded individuals, and the soundtrack is recommended to anyone that enjoys Trip Hop music or DJ Shadow's earlier compositions. Dark Days (the documentary) can be found for purchase on Amazon (here), or for rent via Netflix (here). According to an MCA press release, copies of the soundtrack are limited to 7,000 CDs and 3,000 7" vinyls. Fortunately, Discogs has both formats for sale (here), so be sure to grab yourself a copy!