The Listening Club - 25th March 2018

Greetings folks,

Hope all are well and good. Springy vibes here in Amsterdam, and also just remembered I forgot to wish this here club a happy 6th birthday last week - I always seem to forget it, but yay and woo anyways, we are so amazing, n'est-ce pas? Next week, as I mentioned, I'm away in that London (might see some of you there), so the legend @JimMcCauley will be taking care of business, many thanks to him.

Don't forget, too, European clocks have changed today, so we're back on BST (GMT+1) for the next six months.

Last week, @holette was in the chair, blasting some rock action courtesy of Dream Wife's eponymous debut album, which got the whole place pogoing happily. Thanks to Sarah for the pick, and for flipping the frisbatron across to @faberfedor, who's here with this week's intro...

"Sometimes the songs we, well, I, listen to aren't about the music but about the stories being told. 

Tonight's artist is known for her stories. As you might imagine, some of the stories are touching; probably more so if you've ever been a young woman (for the record, I've never been). Other stories (my faves) are satirical or humourous (is that how y'all spell it?). I imagine the women in the audience will get a bigger kick out of some of the stories than the guys.

I've seen her in concert three times. The second time, not only did I roadie for her, I was the only one in the audience; starting a music career is hard! She has since joined a group with revolving artists that I first heard of in 1992 and they're still going strong.

Now, we're not talking Dylan here. This is a woman who can tell a good story while playing the guitar. The music isn't going to blow you away, although I was impressed with her musical growth between the first and second album (tonight's pick). The song that brought her to local fame is on her first album and I'll play it at the after-party if  there's any interest.

So let's listen to some stories..."

Right. Direct download is here, and the HearBeSpoilers stream is below:


See you at 8pm BST (GMT+1).

The Listening Club - 18th March 2018

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing good. Sunny but chilly here in Amsterdam. Growing impatient for warmer weather, but plenty of film watching making the time go (see Annihilation if you get a chance, very good). Reminder that I'm away week after next, so vortex or not? Let me know what you think...

Last week, wor @nessiest was in the chair, debuting David Byrne's new album "American Utopia", which bopped and popped its way around the assembled to mostly positive effect. Thanks to Vanessa for the pick, and for whizzing the frisb across the ice to @holette, who's here with this week's introduction...

“Here’s a debut album that screams don’t fuck with me attitude, uncompromising pop and a fierce sense of identity.

There will be shouty girls with guitars. There will be hand claps, harmonies, heavy riffs and big tunes.

You can spot some of their influences easily enough but for me their sound is empowering, a cool mix of raw and slick and they just seem like a whole lot of fun.

It’s short and sweet so anyone hyped up and ready for the after party might want to to chuck in a tune or two inspired by the album. Go!”

Okaydoke. Direct download is here, and the HearBeSpoilers stream is below:

See you at 8pm GMT.

The Listening Club - 11th March 2018

Hey folks,

Hope all is good. Spring sprungness has hit Amsterdam, which is lovely, so the trad joy of opening long-shut windows and airing out the place is the order of the day. So, with fresh oxygen in my lungs, a heads up to you all that I'll be away Sunday 1st April, and therefore need someone to take care of business here. Hmm... April 1st eh? That might be one for a foolish vortex if someone fancies running it...

Last week, @JimMcCauley was in the chair, getting a little spooky with his pick of Cobalt Chapel's eponymous debut album, which went down pretty well with the assembled. Many thanks to Jim for the pick, and for flipping the frisb across to wor @nessiest, who's right here (okay, actually she's upstairs right now), with this week's intro...

"This artist was on posters ripped from music mags and blu-tacked to my teenage bedroom wall, the inspiration for fashion choices back in the day (you’ll know which) and for me has formed part of the soundtrack of life. They’re an international treasure, long may they continue to create, unite and inspire.

My pick this week was part of the usual filtering and selection process, my initial pick pretty much immediately dismissed for a couple of reasons, one of which means that after discussing and agreeing with Mr  Kleptone, the download will be pulled after tonight. The other possibles may be future picks (if you lot don’t pick em all first) but for this week there were good and valid reasons they weren’t quite right: too much like last week’s pick/from the same town as one of my last picks/album not out yet (!)...

This is the right album. Even though I haven’t heard it. Let’s listen to it together. À la Listening Club back in the day."

OK, direct download (until 9pm GMT!) is here, and the HearTheSpoilers stream is below: 



See you at 8pm GMT.

The Listening Club - 4th March 2018

Greetings,

Hope you're all defrosting nicely, especially those of you around our neck of the woods. Yep, the thaw has hit Amsterdam finally today, much to the annoyance of the oddball locals who have quite literally been skating on thin ice for the past week or so - rather them than me I must say. Happily booking future good times too as both John Cale and The Decemberists have announced shows here later in the year, hoorah. And it's @nessiest's birthday too, so cake and bubbles are most likely being consumed here as you read this....

Last week in #LC-land, @akx was in the house, busting out a vintage electro mix courtesy of I-F's "Mixed Up In The Hague Vol.1" which got the assembled busting moves all over the place. Thanks to Aarni for the selection and for sailing the frisb across to @JimMcCauley who is here with this week's intro...

"I've been sitting on this one for over a year; I nearly picked it back in January 2017, but it had only just been released and I wasn't quite sure about it. 13 months and many plays later, I'm reasonably sure about it.

"It's a sound that evokes terrifying old kids' TV show such as Children of the Stones and Timeslip, and watching them on grey Sunday afternoons with a slight fever making everything seem that bit more plausible. It takes all the weird, unsettling bits of psychedelia, prog and folk, mixes them up a bit and shows them to you through a modern lens with a completely straight face.

"Basically, if Scarfolk had a soundtrack, it would be this album. Enjoy!"

Okaydoke. Direct download is here, and the HearMySpoilers stream is below:


See you at 8pm GMT for playback.