A Taste of Nocturnal

Food is something we all need to energize and keep our bodies moving, but there is something else that can accomplish that: music. Music helps me focus on homework, alleviates the monotony of long car rides and ramps up my workout intensity. I enjoy many genres of music, from jazz and classical to rock and electronic. I’ve decided to take a short interlude to introduce this other aspect of my life. What’s your favorite kind of music and when do you listen to it?

Contrary to what most people think, electronic music is not just head-banging beats with no background music (although I’ll admit that a lot of it is junk). It may appear repetitive and annoying (see: Surfin’ Bird) to the casual listener but as with anything in life, the more you experience something the more you’re able to understand and appreciate it (like wine, chocolate, peanut butter). With electronic music, it’s the energy buildup and the ever-changing subtleties to the harmony and main beat that I most enjoy. For me, this type of music induces energetic feelings and keeps my mind moving even when my body isn’t, especially useful when doing work. Other than a cup of coffee and your morning oatmeal, what gets/keeps you moving?

One of my current favorite electronic artists is Matt Darey. His style of music is a blend of trance, house and rock. Every week he produces a 2-hour radio show called “Nocturnal”. The first hour is Matt Darey himself, mixing his favorite tunes from around the world. The second hour is a guest DJ who mixes his/her own blend of music. The mixes tend to have a great beat and some good vocals. I love listening to them on the long drive I make to San Francisco and back every other weekend, and many of the songs keep me energized at the gym. The mixes have also introduced me to many new musical artists.

I’ve provided links below to stream the mixes online, view the tracklists and download cue sheets. But more importantly, I’ve spent the better part of an afternoon compiling an easy-to-use list to download all of the mixes. For those of you that are new and lost among the ~300 mixes available, try streaming Hour 1 (Matt Darey Mixes) of Nocturnal 35 (trance), Nocturnal 38 (harder trance), Nocturnal 132 (house) or Nocturnal 108 (rock), they’re all great. Every week a new Nocturnal show is released and I’ll try to keep the download list updated.

* The above picture is from Sensation White 2008 in The Netherlands. Yup, everything, including their clothing, is white.

Downloads: To download any of the Matt Darey Nocturnal Radio Shows for offline (anytime) listening or to burn them onto a CD, choose from the following (in .mp3 format, ~55 MB each):

Hour 1 – Matt Darey MixesNocturnal 188 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 187 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 186 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 185 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 184 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 183 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 182 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 181 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 180 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 179 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 177 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 176 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 175 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 174 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 173 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 172 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 171 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 170 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 169 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 168 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 167 – Listener’s RequestsNocturnal 166 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 165 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 164 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 163 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 162 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 161 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 160 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 159 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 158 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 157 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 156 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 155 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 154 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 153 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 152 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 151 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 150 – Matt Darey – Listeners’ RequestsNocturnal 149 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 148 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 147 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 146 – Matt Darey Live MixNocturnal 145 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 144 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 142 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 141 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 140 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 139 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 138 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 137 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 136 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 135 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 134 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 133 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 132 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 131 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 130 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 129 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 128 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 125 – Matt Darey’s Favourite Tracks of 2007Nocturnal 124 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 123 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 122 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 121 – Matt Darey Live in DubaiNocturnal 120 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 119 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 118 – Matt Darey Live in BrasilNocturnal 117 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 116 – Matt Darey Retrospective MixNocturnal 115 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 114 – Matt Darey Retrospective MixNocturnal 113 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 112 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 111 – Matt Darey Live in BrasilNocturnal 110 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 109 – Matt Darey Live in DallasNocturnal 108 – Matt Darey Live in BostonNocturnal 107 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 106 – Matt Darey Live from Nocturnal Album TourNocturnal 105 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 104 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 103 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 102 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 101 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 98 – Matt Darey Classic BreaksNocturnal 97 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 96 – Matt Darey Retrospective MixNocturnal 95 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 94 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 93 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 92 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 91 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 90 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 89 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 88 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 87 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 86 – Matt Darey Rocktronica MixNocturnal 85 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 84 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 83 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 82 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 81 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 80 – Matt Darey Live in ChinaNocturnal 79 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 78 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 77 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 76 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 75 – Matt Darey Live in DubaiNocturnal 74 – Matt Darey Live in NYENocturnal 72 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 71 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 70 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 69 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 68 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 67 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 66 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 65 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 63 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 62 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 61 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 60 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 59 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 58 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 57 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 56 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 55 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 54 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 52 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 51 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 50 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 49 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 48 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 47 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 46 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 45 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 44 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 43 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 42 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 41 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 40 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 39 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 38 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 37 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 36 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 35 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 34 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 33 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 31 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 29 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 27 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 23 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 20 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 18 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 16 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 14 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 9 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 7 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 5 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 1 – Matt Darey Mix

Hour
2 – Guest MixesNocturnal 188 – James Harcourt MixNocturnal 187 – Lange MixNocturnal 186 – Lucca MixNocturnal 185 – Paul Oakenfold MixNocturnal 184 – Chris Lake MixNocturnal 183 – Tyrrell MixNocturnal 182 – Sydney Blu MixNocturnal 181 – Topher Jones MixNocturnal 180 – DJ Tatana MixNocturnal 179 – Anhken MixNocturnal 177 – Shawn Mitiska MixNocturnal 176 – Moonbootica MixNocturnal 175 – Dash Berlin MixNocturnal 174 – Judge Jules Live MixNocturnal 173 – Blake Jarrell MixNocturnal 172 – Andy Duguid MixNocturnal 171 – Kaskade MixNocturnal 170 – EDX MixNocturnal 169 – Dave Aude MixNocturnal 168 – David Vendetta MixNocturnal 167 – Mason MixNocturnal 166 – Tim Healey (Coburn) MixNocturnal 165 – Hybrid MixNocturnal 164 – Dave Dresden MixNocturnal 163 – Nic Chagall MixNocturnal 162 – D-Fuse MixNocturnal 161 – Tocadisco MixNocturnal 160 – Cressida MixNocturnal 159 – Shitdisco MixNocturnal 158 – Glenn Morrison MixNocturnal 157 – The Thrillseekers MixNocturnal 156 – Thomas Gold MixNocturnal 155 – Markus Schulz MixNocturnal 154 – Out Of Office MixNocturnal 153 – Wippenberg MixNocturnal 152 – Ronski Speed MixNocturnal 151 – Martin Roth MixNocturnal 150 – Cosmic Gate MixNocturnal 149 – Ferry Corsten Live setNocturnal 148 – Starkillers MixNocturnal 147 – Max Graham MixNocturnal 146 – Phunk Investigation MixNocturnal 145 – Solarstone MixNocturnal 144 – Inpetto & Duderstadt MixNocturnal 142 – Paul Oakenfold MixNocturnal 141 – DJ DLG MixNocturnal 140 – 4Mal MixNocturnal 139 – Emjae MixNocturnal 138 – Riley & Durrant MixNocturnal 137 – Cicada MixNocturnal 136 – Randy Boyer MixNocturnal 135 – Gianluca Motta MixNocturnal 134 – Redroche MixNocturnal 133 – Noel Sanger MixNocturnal 132 – Digitalism & Cajuan MixNocturnal 131 – Gabriel & Dresden MixNocturnal 130 – X-Press 2 MixNocturnal 129 – DJ Shah MixNocturnal 128 – Lange MixNocturnal 125 – StoneBridge MixNocturnal 124 – Mind One MixNocturnal 123 – Freeform Five MixNocturnal 122 – Filo & Peri MixNocturnal 121 – Cerf & Mitiska MixNocturnal 120 – D.Ramirez MixNocturnal 119 – Freemasons MixNocturnal 118 – Lisa Lashes MixNocturnal 117 – Gus Gus MixNocturnal 116 – Mason MixNocturnal 115 – Ernesto vs. Bastian MixNocturnal 114 – Umek MixNocturnal 113 – Seamus Haji MixNocturnal 112 – Richard Durand MixNocturnal 111 – Tenishia MixNocturnal 110 – Nic Chagall MixNocturnal 109 – Kyau & Albert MixNocturnal 108 – Cosmic Gate MixNocturnal 107 – Lee Coombs MixNocturnal 106 – Wippenberg MixNocturnal 105 – Nick Terranova [aka Starkillers] MixNocturnal 104 – Kosheen MixNocturnal 103 – Mark Norman MixNocturnal 102 – Freelance Hellraiser MixNocturnal 101 – Timo Garcia MixNocturnal 98 – Quivver MixNocturnal 97 – Radio Slave MixNocturnal 96 – Junkie XL MixNocturnal 95 – PQM MixNocturnal 94 – Mauro Picotto MixNocturnal 93 – Ferry Corsten MixNocturnal 92 – Mark Sherry MixNocturnal 91 – Fedde Le Grand MixNocturnal 90 – Solarstone MixNocturnal 89 – Paul Oakenfold MixNocturnal 88 – Deep Dish pres Sharam MixNocturnal 87 – Tocadisco MixNocturnal 86 – Gareth Emery MixNocturnal 85 – Max Graham MixNocturnal 84 – Dubfire [Deep Dish] MixNocturnal 83 – Perry O’Neil MixNocturnal 82 – Lange MixNocturnal 81 – DJ Amadeus MixNocturnal 80 – Matt Darey China TourNocturnal 79 – Nick Warren GuestMixNocturnal 78 – Dallas Superstars MixNocturnal 77 – Sven Vath MixNocturnal 76 – Tiesto MixNocturnal 75 – Vinny Troia MixNocturnal 74 – Live New Year EveNocturnal 72 – Bad Boy Bill MixNocturnal 71 – Benny Benassi MixNocturnal 70 – Steve Porter MixNocturnal 69 – Gabriel & Dresden MixNocturnal 68 – Judge Jules MixNocturnal 67 – Jose Amnesia MixNocturnal 66 – Markus Schulz MixNocturnal 65 – Tomcraft MixNocturnal 63 – Dave Seaman MixNocturnal 62 – Timo Maas MixNocturnal 61 – James Zabiela MixNocturnal 60 – DJ Shah MixNocturnal 59 – Sasha MixNocturnal 58 – Sander Kleinenberg MixNocturnal 57 – Thrillseekers MixNocturnal 56 – Tall Paul MixNocturnal 55 – Flash Brothers MixNocturnal 54 – Andrew Bennett MixNocturnal 52 – Christopher Lawrence MixNocturnal 51 – Blank & Jones MixNocturnal 50 – Paul van Dyk MixNocturnal 49 – John Askew MixNocturnal 48 – Marco V MixNocturnal 47 – Filo & Peri MixNocturnal 46 – Johan Gielen MixNocturnal 45 – Leama & Moore MixNocturnal 44 – Hernan Cattaneo MixNocturnal 43 – M.I.K.E. MixNocturnal 42 – Paul Oakenfold MixNocturnal 41 – Kyau & Albert MixNocturnal 40 – Robbie Rivera MixNocturnal 39 – Gabriel & Dresden MixNocturnal 38 – Markus Schulz MixNocturnal 37 – Above & Beyond MixNocturnal 36 – ATB MixNocturnal 35 – Ferry Corsten MixNocturnal 34 – Judge Jules Mix

Special & Extra MixesNocturnal 178 – NYE Best of 2008 (Hour 1 & 2)Nocturnal 143 – Requests Show (Hour 1)Nocturnal 143 – Requests Show (Hour 2)Nocturnal 143 – Requests Show (Hour 3)Nocturnal 127 – Podcast Annual (Hour 1 & 2)Nocturnal 126 – Most Popular Nocturnal Tracks (Hour 1 & 2)N octurnal 100 – Matt Darey MixNocturnal 99 – Electro Live set from Australia (Hour 1 & 2)Nocturnal 84 – Bonus MixNocturnal 83 – Bonus MixNocturnal 73 – Top 20 of 2006 (Hour 1 & 2)Nocturnal 64 – Matt Darey Live from US Tour (Part 1)Nocturnal 64 – Matt Darey Live from US Tour (Part 2)Nocturnal 53 – Matt Darey Live from Turnmills, London (Hour 1 & 2)

Streaming: To listen to any of the Nocturnal Mixes right now without downloading, check out the media player here: Nocturnal Media Player

Tracklists: To see the tracklists for the mixes go here: Nocturnal Tracklists

Cue Sheets: To download .cue files (very small files), used for splitting the Nocturnal Mixes into their individual songs, go here: Nocturnal Cue Sheets. In addition, you will need a cue splitter program which will use the .cue file to chop the corresponding .mp3 file into pieces and rename the songs accordingly, I suggest Medieval CUE Splitter. This is a convenient tool so that you have around 10 regular-length songs instead of a single hour-long song.

Additional Info:

Still hungry? Then here’s a quick recipe: Cut a crisp apple into 8-12 slices, arrange on a plate and douse with cinnamon. Place plate in the freezer for 20 minutes and serve.