The Listening Club - 28th August 2022

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing good. Still sunny and dry here in Amsterdam, though temps are back down to a more seasonal average, but seeing as it's been the "official hottest and sunniest summer since records began" (apparently), that's fair enough, I guess. Still, impending ecodisasters notwithstanding, I very much enjoyed it, and will be sad to see things cool down... le sigh.

Last Sunday we had that @zensolo back in the chair, getting angular in an early 80s NYC stylee with his pick of The Golden Palominos' debut album, which got the assembled bopping in a zippy way. Thanks to David for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across to @IamWahl, who has an extra week to ponder because...

Yes, vortex time again, and this time we prepare to dance to an #architecturevortex - Advance thanks to everyone who has chipped in tunes, and double treble thanks to @JimMcCauley for stepping in late in the day to do the heavy lifting. (I should note here that we're always looking for more vortex compilers, so if you have the skills and want to have a go, please send us a DM, would be great to have your help!)

Anyhoo, direct download's here, and the stream's below...

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

The Listening Club - 21st August 2022

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing good. A little cooler this week in Amsterdam, with a few thunderstorms, which has been welcomed by the parched and somewhat stinky (thanks local dogs!) streets. Still warm enough to take in some alfresco cinema ("Millie Lies Low", highly recommended) and check out some lesser known Amsterdam venues, well, the ones with outdoor spaces anyways... no complaints right now, really, which is nice, eh?

Last Sunday we had @fertanish in the chair for their debut pick, sailing out the brain-boggling "Tan Man's Hat" by Sean Noonan Pavees Dance which certainly got the assembled classes chattering happily. Thanks to Bill for the pick, and for doing a fast return of the frisbee back to @zensolo, so here's that man again...

"Last week's selection fueled repeated dives down some musical rabbit holes, leading to the realization that I actually have more jazz and jazz-adjacent sounds on this HD than I realized, as I haven't listened to them in a while.

This, of course, triggered the usual bout of second-guessing as I pondered a choice for this Sunday's selection, but, at the risk of being a bit too obvious, I'm sticking with the original idea of following through on some musical connections:

The bottom line (ouch) was-- last week's bass player is a guest on a couple of tracks here.

The motor for the project was, indeed, the rhythm nexus, which led to variations-- an evolution?-- in sound and style according to the variety of personnel invited to contribute from one recording to another.

Next year will be the 40th anniversary of this first outing's release! The labels 'no-wave' and 'avant-funk' hold up pretty well. The grapevine, even at this historical distance, is that the record didn't quite live up to what this outfit, in all its various permutations, could deliver onstage.

So I'll just shut up now. There's a fun, fun connection for an afterparty selection I'll keep under wraps...enjoy!"

Right then. Download's here, stream's below.

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

The Listening Club - 14th August 2022

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Hot as balls here in Amsterdam, so it's been a week of low achievement and high speed fans, interspersed with occasional outdoor eating / drinking sessions when the temperature is agreeable. Even the expected tourist foot traffic around the neighbourhood has reduced to almost nothing, which is saying something. Meanwhile, most of our neighbours are away to their regular destinations of Italy, South of France, Spain etc... Good luck with that, I say.

Last Sunday we cooled our heels to the sounds of Marc Ribot's "Silent Movies" from back in 2010, as selected by @zensolo for the assembled's delectation, and collective appreciation, I'd say. Thanks extended for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across to @fertanish, who has this to say by way of introduction to their debut selection....

"He walked behind the drum kit and looked at us with wide eyes and a goofy grin. The message was clear, “we are going to have fun up here.” Every note played was new to my ears, but the joy of the show made it easy to turn the songs into friends.

I bought this release only hours after being introduced to the “Rhythmic Storyteller” and his wonderful band. I had doubts that the energy of the show I had just watched would be as infectious on a studio recording; however, this is easily the most-played album I have bought this year (which is really saying something). Thanks for the opportunity to share it with you and mentally revisit that concert."

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

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

The Listening Club - 7th August 2022

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing good. August already? There goes the summer etc. Felt good to get out for a boogie day to Dekmantel festival this weekend, and as it's Pride week, the city seems a little more friendly and smiley than normal, funny that...

Last Sunday, as was a month's end, twas a topical #heatwavevortex, and folks delivered quite splendidly, as did @saucer on the pick'n'mix front. Thanks & ice pops all round, I'd say. What's more, in the distance we see @zensolo with this to say by way of introduction to his pick for the eve...

"A last minute swerve. My first couple of choices went back to 1980- '82-- they were records that, with the passage of time, I have developed some mixed feelings about and thought of sharing, as per Rod Serling, 'for your consideration'. Maybe next time?

Decided this 2010 release would be truer to my current-- but usual or recurrent-- melancholy mood:

Solo guitar by an artist who usually plays a LOT louder & wilder. A soundtrack for (an) unmade film(s)-- which shows what his current direction may be...

Early in his career, he became known as a regular and favored session player with more than a few well-known artists, then developed three near-simultaneous projects.

This is a full hour. I hope it hits the spot & doesn't drag. Maybe a good meditative soundtrack for catching up on personal stuff?"

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

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