The Listening Club - 6th April 2025

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Cool and dry here in Amsterdam, with plenty of sun, which is nice, but also an icy cold northerly wind, which is not. Still, the plants are happy, looking like we'll be having an early crop of wisteria flowers this year, hoping that there's some left by Kings Day, hem.

Big thanks to @saucer last week for not only helming the #ChangingTimesVortex but also for taking care of admin here whilst I was away. Looking back we find @zbender in the chair, with this to say by way of intro to today's pick...

"It’s refreshing to relax, and it’s relaxing to be refreshed.

I came back to this recording recently, when I realised *waves hands* all this *keeps waving hands* was getting me down. Quite down.

And I remembered that when I luxuriated with music, I feel better. But there’s no time to just luxuriate.

Or is there? There is. During #ListeningClub, we can float away.

You may, or may not, or may a little, or shall not, or whatever, this album. But it’s olde-time crafted, in a yesteryear style, by talented people, from a little while back.

I would recommend a bittersweet beverage, and a small platter of cheese and crackers. That’s just for your soul. For you, as a person, I would suggest the most relaxing drink you can find, with the most time-consuming snack you can find."

Right then. Download's here in mp3 or flac, stream's below:

See you 20:00 BST (GMT+1) tonight.

The Listening Club - 30th March 2025

Welcome to Summer Time, friends in the now BST and CEST timezones!

Hope you’re all doing okay. It’s @saucer here, in for @Kleptones  as he’s away for some family duties. Here in Boulder—in the United States of Apartheid (ahem)—we saw an intense hailstorm yesterday evening and a dusting of snow overnight. So in this neck of the woods it’s still well within the winter-to-spring transition zone. As for how things are going otherwise… well, when our jaws aren’t dropping at hourly demonstrations of incompetence by those in power, we’re enjoying certain signs of solidarity in the artistic and activist and human rights communities. Inklings of hope if you will.

Looking back to last Sunday, the very same vacationing @Kleptones was in the chair to offer the LC a straight up classic from 1971 in the form of "Nilsson Schmilsson," seventh album from singular pop genius Harry Nilsson. The pick stirred a range of responses from happy recognition, to “ah!”s for the hits, to some first-time appreciation of the piece’s timeless musicality. Thanks extended to Mr Kleptones for the pick and also for flipping the frisbee over to @zbender for his first time in the chair in a while. And Mr Haylock has an extra week to select because it’s vortex time!

Theme wise, last week the assembled gravitated to honoring the post-winter time change today for the UK and Central Europe, with a #changingTimes vortex. Yours truly, @saucer, has wrangled the submissions into shape for tonight’s curated entertainment. Hope you enjoy!

#DrinkingClub suggestion: a reflective cocktail.

Vortex download’s here, stream’s below:

See you 20:00 BST tonight.

The Listening Club - 23rd March 2025

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Dry and warm here in Amsterdam for the most part, which is very welcome, as spring finally takes a firm hold and daffodils and tulips and yes, tons of humans start bursting out all over the place. Also welcome to get back into the Paradiso to see Orbital deliver a fine set of their first two albums... making me feel like 30 years have gone by in the blink of an eye, so it seems.

Also don't forget next Sunday is #vortex time, so get your thinking caps on, there was already some good ideas coming forward a week or two ago iirc, also advance gratitude to @saucer who will not only be handling the vortex but will also be taking care of admin right here, as I will be away on family duties.

Looking back to last Sunday, which saw @iamwahl in the chair, delivering a pair of emotionally charged Scots in the shape of "These Actions Cannot Be Undone" by Gentle Sinners (aka James Graham of The Twilight Sad and Aidan Moffat of Arab Strap). Thanks extended to Mr Wahl for the pick and also for flipping the frisb across to me, @kleptones, so it's time to go all italic for tonight's intro...

"... and here we are. 

Like a lot of folks, I have a little list of  #LC possibilities, but again, like a lot of folks, when it comes down to the crunch, often the list goes out the window. So... checking back over my last few picks it seems I've been firmly in the new and challenging releases camp, therefore this time, as a change from all that, as a balance to last week's pick, and also as a balm for the torrent of deeply vile shit that is spewing from certain people and certain parts of the planet, let's all head for the middle of the road, for a record that is considered a career-best for the artist in question, containing one grammy award winning mega hit, and a whole bunch of other mighty fine tunes. And even if you know a few of 'em, which you will, chances are you haven't heard the whole album. (And as it's such a short album I've included one of the CD bonus tracks, because it's easily as good as the rest.)

Oh yeah, the artist? A walking contradiction in their own lifetime for sure, a mighty songwriter (though their biggest hit's a cover) and one hell of a singer (but they never did any gigs), and a grammy nominated album that can easily be found for small change in many junk shops (mine cost 50p, still with the original (terrible) poster included). But it rocks. And after a track or two you'll be singing along too.

#DrinkingClub = Anything, as long as it's at least a treble. And keep 'em coming."

Right then, download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight. (US clocks are still askew, check your local timezone!)

The Listening Club - 16th March 2025

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Bit of a nippy week here in Ol' Amsterdam and more chills forecast to come, which is dashing hopes of an early spring and also dashing Hype Cat's hope of a decent early mouse catching season. He's only brought us one so far, but the temperature drop will most likely not be defrosting any more tasty morsels for his amusement for a good while, so he's back inside looking a bit grumpy and demanding extra snacks. Which is pretty much par for the course, I'd say.

Last Sunday saw @ThatNewSound in the chair, getting the assembled grooving with their pick of Snarky Puppy's "We Like It Here" from 2014. Thanks extended for the pick, and also for flipping the frisb across to @IamWahl, who's here with today's intro...

"Earlier this week I started down the path of choosing what to offer the #ListeningClub this Sunday. I maintain a list of albums that have (at least) at some point seemed worthy offerings. As I consulted this I found a couple of solid contenders, but it also occurred to me that I hadn't done a deep dive into my digital collection for some time, most of my listening being vinyl these days (I'm also behind on this—where does the time go…?). I went down that rabbit warren and found something that really struck a chord for me (pun intended). So I rolled it up into a single mp3 file and was ready to assemble my package when it dawned on me that I hadn't checked it against the list of what has gone before. Although my selection wasn't on the list, the artist was, and not all that long ago, so the time didn't feel right. And, as it turned out, several of the other creators I had as possibilities for this week also had previous entries (and one chosen album had already been presented—yikes!), so that was that. What to do, what to do…?

This album, which seems to fit/reflect these anxious times, is brought to you by Covid. During the time when much of the world had been in and out and in and out and back into lockdowns, a time musicians were uncertain when (or whether) their ability to play for audiences would return, two lads, each a member of a separate band, were out on a ramble when their conversation turned to breaking out of musical routines. They wonder if the time is right to try a side project, and soon music is being exchanged, lyrics written, and songs recorded. The poetry is not in any way cheery, but the sombre and heartfelt lyrics are woven into a luxurious, if ruggedly layered, tapestry of beats, tones, and effects. While dark and brooding, the result is not entirely without a kind of uplifting element. Assuming you've not heard this, you may still think you recognize it. This could be due to my using one of the tracks in a #Vortex some time ago (I'm hoping this hasn't broken an unwritten #ListeningClub bylaw).

WARNING: there is a Grade A Swear a couple times in the mix, and some lessor curses that may not be suitable for all ears. 

#DrinkingClub: Given the current state of things I will be day-drinking something with some heft…

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

See you 20:00 GMT tonight (US timezones are still slightly askew, check your local clocks!)

The Listening Club - 9th March 2025

Hola, amigos!

Hope you're all doing okay. Sunny weekend here in Amsterdam, which is very nice indeed, doubly so as we've just returned from a week's rest, relaxation, jamon and vermuth, amongst other things, many of which made their way home in our suitcases also. Therefore feeling reasonably rejuvinated and optimistic about life in general (especially relating to the contents of the fridge). Let's hope it lasts for a while, eh?

Last Sunday saw @woj in the chair, demonstrating Mabe Fratti's "Sentir que no sabes", which, despite my absence, I'm sure managed to dazzle the gathered ensemble quite satisfactorily. Thanks to @woj for the pick and for sailing the frisb across to @thatnewsound, who's here with today's intro...

"This pick I had a few queued up, one was pretty chamber pop so after last week’s selection it felt the wrong time, one is very chilled but quite wintery, the other just had a bit of sunshine in it and thanks to the uncharacteristically warm weather this week that just felt right. Some of you might recognise this, but hopefully that doesn’t spoil the fun. This album is made by a group of disgustingly talented musicians and is one of those albums that proves no amount of talent can account for taste. It might not be for everyone and I've been known to call this album cheesy, which means I guess drinking club should enjoy a glass of cheap vinegary red wine, but personally I would suggest an Old Fashioned with a twist."

Right then, download's here, stream's below:

See you at 20:00 GMT - US CLOCKS HAVE CHANGED, check your local timezones!

The Listening Club - 2nd March 2025

Greetings, hares and ides alike.

Hope you're all doing good. Tapping this out a day early as we're heading out on a magical mystery trip tomorrow for a few days. Mystery in so much as we know where we're going but you don't, ho ho. Have a guess if you feel so inclined, might post some clues if I remember, but we'll be back by next Sunday, rest assured!

Last Sunday, being the last-of-the-month, brought forth a timely anti-fascist, anti-nazi, #musictopunchnazisbyvortex, and boy did everyone deliver. Many thanks to everyone who chipped in a tune or two, and double plus thanks to @akx for the fine mix job, good work everyone!

Looking back we see @woj holding the frisb, so let's go over to him for today's preamble...

"Over the past few years, I have been flipped the baton either right at the end of a year or just at the start of the new one which has been conducive to picking something unheard from the numerous best album lists that flood the zone around then. Alas, my last pick was in the Autumn and this is my first of 2025 so was tempted to skip the potentially risky move this time around. However, thinking back to the most excellent FestiveVortex and the records from last year I still haven't gotten around to listening to, I decided that the tradition must be upheld as 2024 really was a good year for new releases.

So, here is the highest ranked record from a famous music blog's Top 2024 Albums by someone I have never heard of. Fortunately, the description sounds very promising but if it turns out to be a dud, well, I will take the appropriate actions as penance for my choices...

Enjoy!"

Right then, download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight.

The Listening Club - 23rd February 2025

Hey folks,

Hope you're all doing good. The warm bubble of weather arrived here in Amsterdam as predicted, which resulted in a spontaneous time of bobbing around the city sucking up food, drink and culture, and exposing skin to some much needed rays. It's still very mild, which is continuing to give the place an early spring vibe, as we continue on the "spring cleaning" tip by removing a good few kilos of never-to-be-worn-again clothing from the wardrobes. Hype cat is also continuing to enjoy the warming weather, too, gifting us one of his first mouse catches of the year, bless 'im.

Last Sunday saw @faberfedor spacing out the assembled with his pick of Traffic's "The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys" from 1971, which got most everyone grooving in a pastoral stylee. Thanks to FF for the pick and for flipping the frisb over to @woj, who has an extra week to ponder because...

...yep, end-of-month means #vortex time, and this time pulling an idea that got suggested a considerable number of years ago but sad to say now its time has come, it's a #musictopunchnazisbyvortex. As to what that entails, no one knows, so let's find out...

Download's here or here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT for playback.

The Listening Club - 16th February 2025

Salutations folks,

Hope you're all doing as good as can be expected. Amsterdam is still mostly clear and chilly, although a pocket of warm air is apparently about to decend on us, which should make next weekend very enjoyable indeed. Despite the chill, a definite vibe of "early spring cleaning" is in the air, as freezers are defrosted and computers treated to an overdue backup (and in one case a complete virtualization, something I've never done before, looking forward to seeing how that turns out). A gentle and positive activity anyways, maybe in personal retailation to the unpleasentness of the daily news? It's very possible.

Timely reminder that, as February is a shorty, it's already time to pick a #vortex theme, so get your thinking caps out and pitch your ideas later tonight...

Last Sunday saw @ogili in the chair, getting highly verbal with his pick of John S Hall & Kramer's collaborative album "Real Men" from 1991, which got a mixed bag of reactions, as one would expect from an admittedly "marmitey" pick - nothing wrong with that either. Thanks to Oliver for the pick and for sailing the frisb across the sea to @faberfedor, who's here with the intro to tonight's selection...

"Another one from the back of the closet.

I don't remember when or how I got turned onto this album but the eponymous song is one of my all-time faves. I like the whole album _except_ for two tunes. While good tunes, I don't think the fit the rest of the album. But what do I know? One of those songs was the only (minor) hit from the album.

In researching the album, I was surprised that it didn't do all that well commercially. It eventually went gold, then platinum, and then double-plus-good and all that but it _has_ been around for awhile.

This will be a laid-back session (except for those two damn songs!). Pour a glass of your favorite libation, get comfortable, and relax."

Right then, download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight.

The Listening Club - 9th February 2025

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing okay and keeping safe. Another clear and cold week here in Amsterdam, which is very welcome, even though hype cat, being solar-powered, is starting to believe spring is just around the corner and is therefore now enthustically digging around any available hole for recently de-hibernated mice. We shall see if he is successful - An early spring would be very welcome indeed, all things considered. 

Last Sunday saw @eryngium in the chair, dealing a psych-out in the shape of The Black Angels' "Wilderness Of Mirrors" from 2022, which did the trick for the assembled, so it seemed. Thanks to Eryn for the pick, and for sailing the frisb over to @ogili, who's here with tonight's intro...

"I’ve got into the bad habit of doom watching dystopian films late at night.  While I did discover that the post-apocalyptic absurdity of The Bed Sitting Room (featuring Spike Milligan, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, and other post war British comedy types) is available to stream.  I also stupidly watched Children Of Men again.  I mean it’s amazingly shot, and expertly realised, but its portrayal of a crumbling Britain with caged and beaten refugees is just so depressingly believable as a warning from the near future.  Listening to the soundtrack took me to this album….

No, scratch that.  F*ck wallowing in dark dystopian music right now.  It’s not healthy.  The world is grim enough already.  

So I’ve gone for this. I discovered this album in ‘91 or so.  It’s the artistic collaboration between  the man behind a cult underground New York label, and a Brooklyn born performance poet/author/singer/lawyer.  The latter was in an avant-garde band whose biggest hit was a song about a removable bodily organ.  It’s by turn, absurd, funny, weird, and f*cked up. But it also hides some serious points underneath the monologues and musical soundscapes. 

It will be a marmite pick, so be warned.  

Oh, and If you have children in earshot, save yourself having to dodge a lot of questions you really don’t want to have to answer by listening on headphones. 

Drink?  Yes, some form of intoxication would probably help. "

Right then, download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight.

The Listening Club - 2nd February 2025

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing good. Happy to see February arrive if only to categorize the crap stuff of the year so far into "January" and hope for improvements. Weather has been clear yet cold here in Amsterdam, but one out of two ain't bad, so we've been doing some much needed perambulating around town and dealing with the household external greenery's pre-spring haircut. Everything's looking a lot neater now, so we can pour ourselves a restorative glass and look forward to an early spring, wouldn't that be grand? (crosses fingers firmly)

Back in the land of #LC last Sunday we were celebrating the man, the myth and the hair that was David Lynch with a #LynchianVortex, which saw a fine variety of sounds and emotions on display. Many thanks to everyone for chipping in a tune or two, and king size thanks to @JimMcCauley for the mixdown. Looking back to regular programming, we find @eryngium holding the frisb with this to say by way of introduction to tonight's pick...

"Things in my part of the world have been overwhelming these last couple weeks, so I’m a bit low on energy and focus for an album introduction. I thought I had decided on a selection last week, only to change my mind multiple times at the last minute because nothing felt right. I finally ended up with this one because the album title, along with some of the themes and lyrics in the songs, reflect some of my feelings about this moment in time." 

Right then, download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight, I hope.

The Listening Club - 26th January 2025

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Nearly at the end of January and just as well, not got much good to say about any of it, apart from making it through to the other side. Congrats to you for any achievements this month, that's good going. Still, the days are starting to brighten up and there's even been the odd hour or two of sunshine, so I think I'll go back to focusing on that, if it's all the same to you...

Last Sunday saw @soundclamp rock the assembled with "Beacon Of Hope" by Sea Scouts, from Hobart in Australia. Many thanks to him for the pick and for sailing the frisb over to @eryngium who has an extra week to ponder because...

Yeppers, it's #vortex time again, and given the events of last week, and well, the whole world at the moment, a #LynchianVortex seemed very appropriate. So here 'tis, many thanks to everyone who chipped in a tune or two, and extra mega thanks to @JimMcCauley for blending it all together.

Download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight.

The Listening Club - 19th January 2025

Hey folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Well, '25 just keeps on biting, eh? Barely two weeks in and if they're anything to go by I'm already kinda ready for it to end. Most everyone was aware that David Lynch was very unwell, but it's still been a massive shock (for me anyway) to wake up and find he will no longer be available to read us the weather report. Right now it feels like we need folks like David more than ever, to remind us, as many have said, of the beauty of the weird and the strangeness in the everyday, and to stop the world from sinking further into the humdrum. And we need to carry on doing that as best we can, in his name and to honour his memory. So long, Bud!

Don't forget also next Sunday is the last of the month, so we need a #vortex theme - pitch your ideas in the usual place later on, please!

Last Sunday saw @Corin_ja in the chair, treating the assembled to a classic slice of dystopian rock in the form of Pink Floyd's "Animals" from 1977, which got a variety of responses from outright love to outright dislike. Thanks to Corin for the pick and for sailing the frisb over to @Soundclamp who's right here with tonight's intro...

"Greetings, good morning, and some cases good nite! Are you ready for this? Of course not. But we're going to Australia for some do-or-die punk from this ferocious trio’s 1998 album. Ah yes, the nineties. When you could still get in the door in a cramped club to see five bands for five bucks (or sometimes less!) and all the fiddy cent beers you could handle. What a time to be alive. You thought the Cold War was over, but something else, something more insidious, was taking root. Now those chickens have come home to roost.

Drinking club: Something stiff because boy, you’re gonna need it.

Right then, download's here and the stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight.

The Listening Club - 12th January 2025

Greetings folks,

Hope you & yours are all doing okay. Sheesh, only one week in and look at the mess '25 is in. As many folks are saying, "didn't like the 10 day trial, how do I cancel the subscription?". Gonna have to go some to turn this year around, eh? *rolls up sleeves / cracks knuckles*

Last Sunday saw the first #LC of the year come at us from @akx, who rocked everyone's collective blocks off with his back-to-back pick of Joey Valence & Brae's "Punk Tactics" & "No Hands". Thanks to Aarni for the pick and for sailing the frisb down to South London, where @corin_ja is waiting with tonight's intro...

"So, I've gone for what I would call a 'stone-cold classic' this week (you may have a different categorisation). I was reminded of this record by a new release from a different band last year, that everyone compared with the artist I've picked here. I very nearly chose that new release for this week's LC but at the last minute thought, why not just go back to the source? Plus, one of the members of this band released a record last year which I personally thought was absolutely, insufferably terrible and I want to cancel it out by reminding myself of their glory days. This particular release I have a few observations about which I might mention depending on which way the discussion flows and the wind blows as we listen to it together. Drinking club: tea, definitely tea. Tea and a spliff."

Right then, download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight!

The Listening Club - 5th January 2025

Greetings folks,

Happy new year I guess? Even though my sum total of the year so far has been dealing with the nasty cold that emerged in my body just before NYE and thence managing to pass it on to unlucky @nessiest, who is now looking paler by the minute, poor dear. Still, at least I have a low baseline to improve on as the year evolves, eh? Sigh.

Last Sunday though, I was in finer fettle, and enjoying the 2024 #FestiveVortex with you all, a journey that took in europop, black metal, Brazilian jazz and a whole crapton of other genres. I say it every year but the range of tunes seems to get more extreme than ever, and even though I curse that range as I try and thread it into a listenable mix, I'm still glad it's as wide as it is, so big thanks to you all for making it so. Long may our breadth of musical enjoyment continue! *raises glass and drinks*

Now, back to regularly scheduled programming, we find @akx with the frisb, and this to say to kick of the #LC 2025 season...

"Happy new year! Double feature today because these people pack a punch, please look out for the cassette noises to know when we're switching from side A to side B (i.e. the 2023 album to the 2024 album). Because I don't really know what else to say here, I'll just paraphrase the act's Wikipedia page:

> All of their music is produced and recorded mainly in  ████’s childhood Pokémon themed bedroom. [...] The song was compared to the music of the ███████  ████ [...] The music video for the song was entirely filmed on a Nintendo DSi.

#drinkingclub: these albums are maybe the worst pick for dry January, right after Flogging Molly, I guess."

Right then. Download's here (right click save-as!) and the stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT tonight.