I do some of my best thinking late at night. Lying on the roof, staring into the starry, midnight sky, I’ve contemplated everything from my flaws to my faith, my past to my future and the ever-elusive meaning of life. I often put a playlist of mellow ballads together to complement my midnight brooding.

The LateNightTales (LNT) compilation series has done this task for me.

To accompany any midnight activities in which music lovers may partake, LNT has enlisted some of the top musicians to assemble their favorite and most inspirational tracks into a disc jockey-mix set. Each album also has an exclusive cover track from the band mixing the record, and a recitation of a short story or poem often ends the album.

Gary Lightbody and Tom Simpson of Snow Patrol were recruited for the series’ 22nd release. The alternative rock quintet achieved mainstream fame with their 2006 single, “Chasing Cars,” but both Lightbody and Simpson have history behind a mixing board.

Their experience is evident listening to the eclectic tracks that blend easily from one into the next. The album crosses styles; its selections include jewels from jazz, indie-rock, folk, hip-hop and even country. Even with the genre-jumping, the transitions are flawless, proving Lightbody and Simpson’s mixing abilities.

The record opens with a warm, jazzy ballad from Captain Beefheart, “Observatory Crest,” which feeds into “Midnight,” a beat-heavy track from the lyrically adroit, East Coast hip-hop troupe A Tribe Called Quest.

Traditionally, the artist mixing a LNT record covers a song, which becomes an exclusive addition to the catalog. Snow Patrol reworked INXS’ 1987 hit “New Sensation,” a premier example of 1980s synth-rock. They scaled back the pop and birthed a new sensation in itself as a subtly sweet version of the single.

Rounding out the set is the harmonious “Sweet Little Mystery,” by John Martyn. It is intimate and understated, and Martyn’s smooth vocals are the perfect prescription to sing you to sleep.

The recitation of The Happy Detective, written and read by Will Self, ends the record. The beginning of the story is found on the 20th LNT release. The second episode of the four-part mystery novella is like a bedtime story, guiding you to the Land of Nod.

This album explores the record-collecting, music-enthusiast sides of Lightbody and Simpson. Each selection creates a different story, guides a new thought, and leaves a distinctive impression. For those who love discovering old hits out of the mainstream eye, LNT is a beautiful supplement to midnight explorations.

Reach reporter Ashleen Aguilar at weekender@dailyuw.com.