The Listening Club - 13th April 2014

Hey there,

Well, another bright spring weekend here in the Dam, so the windows are flung open, and spring cleaning is in motion to the soundtrack of Coachella via livestream on Youtube. Bryan Ferry in particular sounding very good indeed, can't wait to get a bit of that when he plays Glastonbury... Also only two weeks now until a good number of you #dambusters descend on Amsterdam for Koningsdag weekend, which really is going to be a very jolly time indeed, to say the least. It will also be a #vortex weekend, so bring forth the suggestings for possible themes please!

Last week @emmaprice sat in the big chair, and presented Ian Siegal's "Broadside", which brought a pretty even split of sitting room shimmying alongside steadfast fence-sitting. A divisive choice, but all the more welcome for it. Thanks to Emma for the pick, and for sending the frisbee bouncing across, eventually landing at the feet of @nessiest for her debut pick. And here she is...

"Being from a country where the inhabitants can be irritatingly parochial about anything home-grown, I'm fitting the cultural stereotype nicely tonight.  I've chosen an album from one of our finest independent labels. It also happens to be a movie soundtrack.

I've heard this album described as being a primer to the label's work and to me it showcases some of the highlights of a particular time and place in music when something special happened. It's been in my collection a long time, rediscovered in the last year or so and a couple of the tracks are among my favourites. The movie's not bad either.

The album probably won't be to everyone's tastes, but then every pick for listening club is a calculated risk in some way. I think tonight most of you will hear at least a few bands that are new to you and I hope some of you will be knee jiggling and toe tapping like I will be.

At 14 tracks long it still manages to come in at under an hour in duration and there's some variety and pacing. It was in my view compiled with a lot of care and a clear passion for the music.

So here goes, with my first album pick for the Listening Club, two weeks before #dambusters history is written all over Amsterdammage. I'm very glad to be able to share this with you. Settle back, crack open something #drinkingclub-worthy and get ready for the guitars."

Okaydoke! Download is here and the Mixcloud stream (which may reveal the song 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 (GMT+1)!