The Listening Club - 19th December 2021

Greetings and humbug to the lot of you.

Hope you're all doing as well as can be expected, possibly better than here in Amsterdam, where the "not quite a lockdown" has finally shed it's disguise to reveal, yep, an actual lockdown. So it's been rather a depressing, fretful week, watching social plans get vapourised, and travel plans (and their related covid-test requirements) getting shaken up with still no signs of settling. My fingers are truly worn out from crossing...

Still, here's hoping that you all successfully get to enjoy whatever it is you're planning over the holiday period with the minimum of disruption! *raises glass to everyone*

As mentioned previously, we'll be taking a break next Sunday, returning on the 2nd January to ring in the new (and hopefully improved) year with our customary #festivevortex, containing all your favourite tunes of 2021, so get them sent in to me (@kleptones) via email as soon as you get a chance, thanks!

Last Sunday it was @iamwahl in the chair, setting forth the soulful sounds of Remy Shand's "The Way I Feel", which grooved the assembled quite successfully, so it seems. Thanks to them for the pick, and for sailing the frisb over to Wales, where @holette is waiting with the last intro of 2021...

"As I seem to have found myself hosting the LC Christmas party, I've ditched the downbeat selections and chosen a pro to bring you dance floor delight.

This is an early mix is by a producer and DJ who has gone on to make an ambitious range of music from soundscapes to the more banging end of the spectrum.

I write this from Wales, where today it was announced that nightclubs are being legally shut for the foreseeable from Boxing Day. 

So join me in listening to some dance music and celebrating that precious thing that is club culture. Set your fairy lights to flash mode and enjoy the vicarious deep thrill of dancing in a dark space with others lost in music. 

Alternatively good music to speed wrap Christmas presents by.

Drinking club: Mine’s a Tuaca and a bottle of water please"

Mmm, Tuaca. Shots all round I think! Download is here, stream's below:

See you 8pm BST tonight!

The Listening Club - 12th December 2021

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. In a pretty grumbly mood here, to be honest, as we're faced with a semi-lockdown-curfewish christmas, which is dampening the enthusiasm somewhat, just crossing fingers things don't get any worse, sure you're all doing the same right now...

Looking to the calendar, we'll be taking 26th December off here, returning on 2nd January with ye customary #festivevortex, comprising of y'all's favourite tunes of the last 12 months, so get thinking...

Last Sunday it was me, @kleptones, in the chair, sending out a short and sweet dose of soulful chill in the shape of The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble's "This Is A Mindfulness Drill - A re-imaginging of Richard Youngs' 'Sapphie'", which seemed to go down very well, which was nice. All that remained was to sail the frisb over to @iamwahl, who's here with tonight's intro...

"Like so much of my music listening / collecting this album came to me in a round about way. I first heard a track or two on the radio and, as the artist seemed to be a favourite of the network I regularly listen to, the music kept coming around for a time. Although I liked what I heard, it wasn’t my “usual” and I wasn’t enough enamoured to seek out the album. A decade, give or take, passed and the album popped up while perusing the bins at one of the places I frequent when looking for albums of seasons past. Somehow the time seemed right to invest in a more fulsome listening of the artist’s work. The album delivered a very satisfying, smooth, and soothing groove that has sustained over repeated visits. 

So wrap yourself up, snuggle down and get cozy; set aside anything that might harsh the vibe; then let yourself drift away….

For #DrinkingClub I’d suggest whatever you turn to when looking to drive away the chill of a winter’s day and get your hygge on…."

Okaydoke. Download's here, stream's below:

See you 8pm GMT tonight.

The Listening Club - 5th December 2021

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Cold and wet here in Amsterdam, as you'd expect, but as we're still stuck in a not-lockdown-not-curfew-honest-but-everything-fun-is-shut situation, it matters little, as there's not much to do anyway. Hoping that there will be some change to that before xmas, but it's doubtful. Already Le Guess Who back in November is seeming like a happy little mirage in my memory, sigh. So, to hibernate, mull wine and cross-fingers, eh?

Last Sunday saw the assembled looking to happier times with the construction of our first-ever-can-you-believe-it #christmasvortex, which jollied the assembled like a fat dollop of cream on a steaming pudding, for sure. Thanks to everyone who chipped in tracks, and to @JimMcCauley for wrapping the gift. Back to regular programming, we see, hey, it's me, @kleptones with the frisb, so let's get italic..

"I had plenty of possibilities to choose from this week, for a change. Tempted to submit y'all to the recently-departed Alvin Lucier's classic "I Am Sitting In A Room", but that might be a bit harsh for the uninitiated. Also was tempted to celebrate the recent Fab Four film thing with Laibach's fine cover version of the whole "Let It Be" album, but that got me thinking, so instead, here's a different kind of cover album, one from this year, yet sadly absent in the year-end best of lists so far (with one notable exception)... which is a real shame as it deserves it...

I first saw these guys...*googles*... blimey, 12 years ago at Glastonbury, where they blew the roof off the tent with a stunningly energetic mid-afternoon performance. This album, however, shows a different, far softer, more emotional side to them that is new to me, but very welcome indeed, especially after a year that promised so much, but seems to have delivered little, this could be seen as the perfect meditative balm. Hope you enjoy. (and bonus points if you recognise any of the guest voices...)

#Drinkingclub? Hmmn.... something strong, dark and long, I'd say.

Download's here, stream's below.

See you 8pm BST.