The Listening Club - 25th August 2013

Hey there,

Hope you're all doing fine. It's been a rainy, humid weekend in Amsterdam (and in England too from the looks of the Reading / Leeds mudfest reports), but that hasn't stopped the party train from chugging along - an ace night at Magneet Festival for me, and not too much of a sore head today, which is always a bonus. Onwards...

Last week, as you should remember, @akx pushed out some seriously sunny vibes with his choice of The New Radicals "Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too", which pleasantly surprised quite a few of the assembled, me included. Many thanks to Aarni for the pick, and for sending the frisbee out to @mrhig for next week's selection, but first... (cue drumroll...)

It's the "Covers That You Think Are Better Than The Originals" Vortex! Judging by the online pontificating seen this week it's proved to be a far tougher choice than any of the vortexes (vorticies?) so far. Still, a good many of you reached a decision, so we now have 18 seriously wide-ranging selections for you - so many bases covered here, you will not believe your ears!

(Note - I haven't levelled out the volume of the tracks, so be warned - volume levels WILL vary - I have set the volume levels on the actual MP3s using Replay Gain so if your player supports that, make sure it's turned on, otherwise keep your hand on the dial, OK?)

So... Direct download is here, Mixcloud stream (which may well reveal the track titles, you have been warned!) is here!

Search #listeningclub to see what's going on, and follow@listeningclub for the admin.

Hope to see you tonight at 8pm BST/EST (GMT+1)!

The Listening Club - 18th August 2013

Howdy doody folks,

Another early typing session for me, getting this out of the way before I take advantage of a gloriously sunny Saturday with a stack of plans, including an afternoon classical concert in a disused munitions factory, a Japanese dinner, an evening of drinking and experimental electronics, finishing off with the last big night at the soon-closed Korsakoff club. Tomorrow I would like to sleep in, so better get this out of the way, yes?

Don't forget NEXT WEEK is the "covers-you-think-are-better-than-the-originals" vortex, or #cytabttovortex for short - must say I've changed my mind a dozen times today already for my pick, but gotta make a choice, as have you lot, so please mail 'em in!

Last week, @thejayarr stepped up to the plate and hit us with The Handsome Furs' "Sound Kapital" from 2011, which did the trick for many of you. Thanks to him for the ace selection, and for flipping the frisbee east to @akx. And here he is...

"Right, so. This band is pretty much very much an one hit wonder (you'll probably recognize the single when you hear it), which is one of the reasons I want to share the rest of the album with you lot.

I can't remember the exact reason why -- well, other than the tune being catchy alright -- but this is, like I mentioned on Twitter, actually the first album I spent my own money on. I must've been, what, ten or eleven?

But anyway, spending that hard-earned money was a good choice if you ask me, for the album's full of good songs. At least in my opinion.

So, er, I hope you enjoy it!"

Okaydokie, Direct download is here (tracklist for afters here), Mixcloud stream (which may well reveal the track titles, you have been warned!) is here!

Search #listeningclub to see what's going on, and follow@listeningclub for the admin.

Hope to see you tonight at 8pm BST/EST (GMT+1)!

The Listening Club - 11th August 2013

Hey there,

Hope you're all doing well - Amsterdam is looking fine and dandy at the moment, although seems to have gone a rather Prince crazy, as the little purple one has dropped a couple of last minute shows at the Paradiso tonight, leading to some pretty chaotic scenes as folks scrabble for tickets. Did I get lucky? No, sadly not... but have still had a fine weekend nonetheless, tasting and supping artisinal treats at the Kimchi Farm Festival, and making the most of Amsterdam's scuzziest, most random alternative club Korsakoff before it closes down next weekend. So yes, another happy hangover Sunday...

Last week, @emmaprice stepped up to the plate under difficult circumstances, but musical serendipity triumphed and her pick of The Avalanches "Since I Left You" gave us the opportunity to dance away the shock and sadness that followed @jayesofine's tragic accident last Saturday. A finer tribute I'd be hard pushed to find. Many, many thanks to Emma for the selection, and for spinning the frisbee across to @thejayarr, who is here with the pre-match...

"This is one I've had in the chamber for ages now so while other albums were fleetingly considered, this was a pretty straightforward pick.

About a year ago I was listening to an episode of the All Songs Considered podcast and heard a band that was really great, but had something familiar about them. Upon looking them up I realised that one of the two leads of the group was also in another band that I had just started listening to and had been enjoying. That was enough for me to buy the album, which turned out to be one of my favourites of 2012.

It turned out that the second lead of this low-key supergroup had previously been in a fairly well-known band that I recognised but had never listened to. While I still haven’t actually got round to checking out that band, I noticed that he had another project, where he recorded three albums with his wife and a drum machine, which I felt strangely compelled to seek out. I'm glad I did, because they turned out to be three albums of awesome synthy electro rock, one of which we’ll be listening to tonight.

As always, I've no idea how well this will go down. I think it’s got something for everyone though."

Okaydokie, Direct download is here, Mixcloud stream (which may well reveal the track titles, you have been warned!) is here!

Search #listeningclub to see what's going on, and follow@listeningclub for the admin.

Don't forget the next vortex is in two weeks - theme is "Cover versions that are better than the originals". Get your selections in!

Hope to see you tonight at 8pm BST/EST (GMT+1)!

The Listening Club - 4th August 2013

Hello to you all.

Well, I really hoped this would never be something I'd be writing as an intro, but sadly, as many of you already know, our most esteemed and awesome #lc compatriot @jayesofine was killed yesterday in a cycling accident in Manchester. Jaye was part of this thing from the very beginning, and her excellent selections, boundless enthusiasm, wicked sense of humour and huge personality will be very much missed indeed. Although I never got the opportunity to meet her in person, she was, without a doubt, one of the people I've met through twitter that I had the most love and respect for - I'm truly gobsmacked that she's gone. My deepest love and sympathy goes out to @cakehugga and all their family and friends at this impossible time.

However, the show must go on, and Jaye would be the first one to insist on that, I think.

Last week we #videovortex-ed ourselves square eyed and much fun was had by all. As always, huge thanks for the selections - a great range of stuff. The tracklist has been added to the comments of last week's post if you want to see who picked what. Next month's vortex theme also got decided, and it will be "Cover versions that are better than the originals"!!! So get your thinking caps on...

Way back in time, I zipped the frisbee over to @emmaprice for her debut selection and here she is with the intro...

"So I'm a bit nervous about my first catch of the frisbee. I've spent a while thinking about albums I thought you'd all enjoy or be intrigued by. One of the things I love about #listeningclub is the unexpected discoveries I've made so I thought I'd give you one of mine.

You know the feeling when you meet someone special and realise you both have music in common deep down somewhere primal. There follows many conversations about bands, gigs and lending of albums (and maybe the odd mix tape) There's a need to share the joy that music brings with someone you know will appreciate it. You keep remembering things you want to tell them and hear their reaction to. You discover bands and songs you'd never have found on your own but which leave their mark on you.

This is how I discovered my album. It sums up for me the voyage of discovery I went on in my early 20's & reminds me of a time in my life where round every corner there was something new to be excited by.

Plus it never fails to get me dancing round the room. So I'll be cracking open a fresh pair of glow sticks and turning the volume up. I expect most of you will have heard this already but either way, Share and enjoy."

Okay, Direct download is here, Mixcloud stream (which may well reveal the track titles, you have been warned!) is here!

Search #listeningclub to see what's going on, and follow@listeningclub for the admin.

Hope to see you tonight at 8pm BST/EST (GMT+1)!