The Listening Club - 12th April 2026

Hey there listening chums! It's @JimMcCauley here, keeping @kleptones' seat warm while he's away in, I think, Paris, where I once very briefly met Lou Reed. Here in Bath it's very much staying-in weather, but I was out last night seeing two of my previous LC picks in one go: Jane Weaver and, in her band, Serafina Steer on harp. A fun evening but the audience was a little thin, perhaps because Tori Amos was playing in the same building and I'd imagine there's quite a fan crossover there.

Anyway, to business. Last week I was otherwise engaged and missed @soundclamp's pick of 'Swollen' by Hetch Hetchy, an album with more R.E.M. connections than you can shake a shiny happy stick at. It certainly seemed to go down well with the assembled, so thanks to Dan for the pick and for a well-flung frisbaton in the direction of @vinomadic, who is waiting eagerly to address you all:

"Double bubble, toil and trouble??

Have a lot on my plate, but it seems so does every other Mother's son and daughter and arbitrarily, socially gendered, non-binary child...!

Made a quick decision to snatch the Frizz-Bat(R)on in mid-air as I 'browsingly' stumbled across an impulsive choice that might help us shake that funky thing a bit off our burden bags...funnily enough-- as the original selection, the artist's first recorded outing at age 19, clocked in at a scant 22 minutes, thought I'd make it a two-fer (just as I did last time at bat!) adding the 4th album-- a rather well-known, notorious outing in this act's varied & generous output...

Fairly recognisable from the git-go, dare say. Been trying to write a bit more since Sunday night, but all that stuff on my plate keeps messing with my attention, calling me away... <sigh>

I trust there will be good conversation & digital craic over the internet waves on Sunday, cheers!"

Splendiferous. Grab yourself a download here, or stream below.

Catch you at 8PM BST!

The Listening Club - 5th April 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing okay. Happy Easter, Bunnies, Eggs, Chocolate, Post-Equinox or Whatever Day to you and yours, if that's your sort of thing, no worries if not. It's still bright and sunny but cool and breezy here in Amsterdam, so the stooping has been restricted to a quick perch with a cup of tea mid-afternoon. Soon come, though.

Second reminder that I'm away next Sunday, and am still looking for someone to fill the #LC shoes for that day, so let me know if you're up for helping out, please!

Last Sunday, as was last-of month, we celebrated in style with a #NameDroppersVortex, paying tribute to those who pay tribute, and thanks to everyone who chipped in a fine range of tunes, a grand selection of bases were covered indeed, and double thanks to @saucer for managing to blend the disparate eras and sounds into a fine end-result. Looking back we find @soundclamp with the frisb, so over to them for today's intro...

"Released in 1990, this band hails from Athens, Georgia and this is their only full-length album. Volunteering the local college radio station exposed me to all sorts of hidden nuggets. If I am remembering correctly, people pigeon-holed them as punk country or cowpunk depending on what part of the States you’re from. In reality they drew inspiration from goth, dream pop, and folk music, delivering a heady concoction. There is a fun, as in — I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT BUTTER -- reveal at the end!

Drinking Club recommendation: Some kind of stiff brandy for these times."

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

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

The Listening Club - 29th March 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Still mostly sunny yet cold as balls here in Amsterdam, there's even been a little sleety snow, which will hopefully not affect the lovely collection of buds gathering around Chez-K. Not much else to report other than to mention that I will be absent in a couple of weeks time, Sunday 12th April to be exact, therefore will be requiring a guest host for the #LC - If you can help out, give me a shout, please! 

Last Sunday it was me, @kleptones in the chair, rattling everyone's collected cages with The All-Seeing I's "Pickled Eggs & Sherbet", which seemed to put many of the assembled in a good mood, which was the intention! All that remained was for me to flip the frisb across the Atlantic to @soundclamp, who has an extra week to ponder because...

...yes, end-of-month means #vortex, and this time a #NameDroppersVortex was agreed, this being folks paying tribute to other folks in song (including themselves, such ego!) @Saucer has gathered up the collected donations and lovingly stitched them together into a fine tapestry, which you can dowload here, or stream below...

See you 20:00 BST (GMT+1) - Yes, the clocks have finally moved forward in this neck of the woods.

The Listening Club - 22nd March 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing okay. A quiet week here in Amsterdam, still nice and sunny, but sadly not bringing the temperatures to match, so stooping season will have to wait a little longer, as the tulips keep pushing themselves out of the earth, we watch the buds appear on the lilac and wisteria, and sip on the last of the seasonal winter bock beers (always buy too many, but they're so very tasty).

Note that it's nearly the end of the month, so we're looking for a #vortex theme for next Sunday, so bring your ideas and shout 'em out later on... thanks in advance!

Last Sunday saw @ThatNewSound in the chair, sending everyone an emotional curveball in the shape of Apparat's new album "A Hum Of Maybe", which seemed to go down well with most of the assembled. Thanks extended for the pick, and for sailing the frisb over to me, @kleptones, so it's time for me to go into character... 

*quickly dives behind curtain*

 ... 

*curtain rises*

"What a time we're living in, O my brothers and sisters, what a time, when not a day goes by without another slice of your personal freedom being surgically removed or another wholly unneccesary war starting, truly one cannot be blamed for turning on the wireless and choosing to indulge in some carefree, light-hearted pop music to soothe the spirits and remind yourselves of those simpler days of yesteryear.

Pop music, eh? Not something I often pick for Listening Club, some might say, but, in my defence, it's all pop music to me, mate. But hey now, here comes some actual English pop music, featuring some actual English pop stars (here and there) and a couple of Top 20 hits (in the UK, natch). Despite that, this album never made it past No.45 for a week in the (UK) charts and has now been tagged by some as a "cult classic", although the actual size of that cult, I'm not quite sure. It certainly did pass me by at the time, and even though I purchased several of those aforementioned singles (at least one of which you may well recognise), I didn't think a whole album by this artiste would be worth a punt, so I gave it a wide berth. Fortunately, for some reason this album got itself re-issued last year and fell into my world-famous "In-Tray" and well, reader, I must now consider myself seriously corrected... and like I said at the start, right now we need the occasional decent distraction from all the shite, and, imho, this is as good as you'll get, I reckon. From me, anyway. So I hope you agree!

Drinking club: Pint of Best for me and a Strawberry Daiquiri for the lady."

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

See you 20:00 GMT later on. (Our clocks change next Sunday, btw) 

The Listening Club - 15th March 2026

Greetings,

Hope you're doing good on this fine Ides of March. Singular or plural, I do not know, *searches* um, singular apparently, even though it's plural in nature it refers to a single day, which is today, so there you go. Been a sunny week here in Amsterdam, although still chilly, but spots of window-opening and general "getting ready for the warmer days" activity has been spotted around the neighbourhood, which is grand. The area's birds and cats are also appearing from their hibernatory / migratory zones, which is sure to lead to the expected high jinks in the coming months for sure.

In the land of #LC, last Sunday saw @ogili in the chair, sending people on a fine trip with their pick of Lausse The Cat's "The Mocking Stars", which got the assembled grooving and pondering in those equal measures that we love so much. Thanks to Oli for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across to @ThatNewSound who's here with today's intro...

"This is the first time I've picked something that I'm almost certain at least a few of you will have heard, or at least be tangentially aware of. I picked it because the title track found its way into my lap and immediately resonated with me. If you don't recognise this sound it may be because you're more familiar with this artists earlier work, which is quite different, or maybe you know their side project, which is also kinda different. Either way, whilst this is a fairly melancholy album I hope you feel the first hints of impending summer that I felt during my first listen.

Apparently this album is the result of a writing challenge coming off the back of several years of writers block and in reviews it has been described as echoing Colour of Spring era Talk Talk, which is high praise indeed. I hear it, though, and I think the production is wonderful and eclectic and I would feel immense pride to have made something like this.

Drinking club should go for a Mezcal old fashioned with a dash of kümmel"

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

Hope to see you at 20:00 GMT - Clocks changed last week in some areas, so check your local timezones to be sure of tuning in at the right time!

The Listening Club - 8th March 2025

Howdy folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Bright and dry here in Amsterdam, still a bit shivery, but the buds are growing fast on the lilac outside, which is a good first indication that spring is on its way, bang on schedule for a change. We're feeling replenished on that front anyways, having spent a few days in slightly warmer Roman climes, enjoying some ancient history (can't really avoid it) and tasty local produce (ditto), which was very much apprciated indeed.

Speaking of changing seasons, Daylight Saving has come into effect for some folks today, so if that's you, watch out when setting your tune-in alarms for the next couple of weeks, mkay?

Last Sunday we had @JimMcCauley in the chair, delivering a quality obscurity in the shape of Dr Calculus' "Designer Beatnik" from 1986, which certainly got the assembled grooving and scratching their heads simultaneously, which is quite an achievement. Thanks to Jim for the pick, and for sailing the frisb over to @ogili, who's here with today's intro...

"Not going to lie, I only discovered this artist, and album a couple of days ago.  

Which is good, because I really wanted to pick something from what’s known as ‘UK Underground’. A  left field, experimental, British take on Urban music starting to strut its way into the global overground, again proving that it takes everything being a bit shit for British youth to make great music.  I've been amused by the thick scouse drawl and scally swagger over minimal, brutalist, synthscapes of EsDeeKid starting to take off in America, a country which collectively can’t cope with a British accent which isn’t bone-china posh or gor-blimey cock-er-ney.  Warmed to Dexter In the Newsagent’s recent ‘girl in her bedroom with a guitar’ style alt-R&B mixtape which deals with the death of her father and the anxiety of youth rather than the genre’s normal champagne sheen. Heard great things about ‘Black British Music’ by Jim Legxacy.  But Esdeekid’s album is only 20 minutes long, Dexter In The Newsagent’s mixtape isn’t available to buy digitally yet, and ‘Black British Music’ is still on my ‘must get round to listen to this’ list. 

Having said that, I’m not sure this is technically ‘‘UK Underground’ but it’s definitely British, laid back and experimental, jazz hop. 

So get some respite from the shitstorm engulfing the world with this theatrical concept album released late last year. A story about coming to terms with being lost which weaves though lush jazzy soundscapes by the self-styled Prince of Cats, Lord of The Bins. His first release after a hiatus of 7 years after a very well received concept e.p/mini-album.

You want drinks suggestions?  A saucer of warm milk infused with catnip and/or indica, Redstripe, or even a small glass of something from a bottle labeled ‘drink me’, would pair well."

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

See you 20:00 GMT, regardless of what timezone you find yourself in today.

The Listening Club - 1st March 2026

Greetings folks, hope you're doing okay - pinch and a punch of deja vu and all that. 

28-day months are weird. Glad there's only one of them. We need that bit of off-centre in our calendar, imho, just to keep us alert. Anyway, it's been another soggy week in Amsterdam, what a surprise, but the temperature is going up, so there's that, meaning hype cat's mood is improving by the day as he gets more quality mousing in, and we've got a last minute skip out of the country planned for a few days that will hopefully remain dry and warm, so can't really complain too much, really. 

Also not complaining about last week's mighty fine #CatsAndDogsVortex, which seemed pretty evenly split between canine/feline subject matter and weather-related topics. So thanks to everyone for chipping in tunes and @akx for the fine mixdown. Back to regular programming, we find @JimMcCauley with the frisb and this to say by way of introduction to tonight's pick....

"I didn't read the NME or Melody Maker or even Sounds as a teenager. When I did bother with the music press it was Smash Hits, during its imperial 1980s phase. The fact that it was on the whole marketed at teenage girls is an irony that's not lost on me but hey, I just loved its whole vibe, although I quickly learned that it wasn't something to be seen reading at boys' rugby-and-cadets grammar school.

So, one of my top social follows these days is Rob Manuel's excellent Random Smash Hits bot, which serves up a random page every hour or so complete with a link to the entire issue on the Internet Archive. And it was thanks to one of these issues that I happened upon tonight's album a couple of weeks ago.

Basically there was an interview with one of those second division pop stars who persisted while never making much impact; like, I knew the name but none of his songs. So I looked him up on Wikipedia and found mention of an album that seemed very much up my street, the selling point to me that it was described as an inspiration for one of my favourite albums of all time.

A collaboration with a trombonist who'd quit a briefly popular band after getting sick of playing their big hit song, this album was made in response to discovering a London nightclub where people were taking drugs and dancing all night to crazy electronic music. The morning after one trip to this club, the two of them decided they were going to do something about it, and this is the result.

It died on its arse. At least two years ahead of its time but sounding very much of its time in terms of instrumentation, it's an anachronistic, experimental pop curio created for a scene that didn't really exist when it was released. Naturally it's right up my street; enjoy!"

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

See you 20:00 later today.

The Listening Club - 22nd February 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Amsterdam's still doing the grey and wet thing, but hype cat has been acting more than a little twitchy over the last few days, which is always an indication that a seasonal change is on the horizon. Weather forecast indicates a freak jump into the mid-teens next week, which could mean a rare February stooping session, or at the very least a little early spring cleaning and pruning around the outside of the homestead. Exciting stuff, eh? 

Last Sunday saw @Saucer in the chair, hitting a ton of genres simultaneously with his pick of the second half of Hen Ogledd's "Free Humans", which seemed to go down very well indeed. Thanks to Mr.S for the pick, and for sailing the frisb over to @JimMcCauley, who has an extra week to ponder because...

...yep it's end of the month, and considering the aforementioned grey and wet, a #CatsAndDogsVortex was agreed, not just acknowledging the state of the weather, but also celebrating our furry companions, and possibly also making referrence to their propensity for scrapping with one another. Plenty of options for folks to get their teeth into, so let's see what @akx has made of the combined selections...

Direct download's here (right-click save-as) alt google link here, and the stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT later today...

The Listening Club - 15th February 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Back in Amsterdam again, which means no more rolling hills, draught ale or decent pies, but the weather remains resolutely grey and wet. Hoping for one of those groundhog-defying early spring bursts; could really do with it right now, for sure.

Reminder that it's nearly last Sunday of the month already (gosh), which means we'll be #vortexin' in a week's time, so please bring forth your theme suggestions tonight, and shout them out, many thanks in advance!

Last Sunday saw @spiny in the chair, getting seriously boisterous with his pick of Two Day Rule's "When You're Ready" from 2001, which got the assembled bouncing around quite successfully. Thanks to Mr. S for the pick and for throwing the frisb over to another Mr. S, @saucer, who's here with today's intro...

"You can experience a band's works as concoctions and tease out sound ingredients and label them variously as recognizable or new. That can be fun. 

And then maybe you realize you're thinking too much about what you're hearing.

Either way, this band. Their delicious song recipes include elements surprising and familiar, playful and sardonic. Fun to disentangle or to step back and experience ensemble.

I first heard their name just days ago, reading the reviews section in an issue of The Wire, seeking out a treat for LC tonight. And you know what? I'd love to be playing you their 2026 album but it comes out later this week... dang it.

Maybe you haven't heard this evening's pick. It's from their very eclectic back catalog. It's their poppiest and maybe most playful, combining nods to '70s British prog, Afrofuturist funk, Broadway musicals, Chiptune, Cosmische, and so on. Hope you enjoy at least bits of the mishmash!"

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

See you 20:00 GMT later today.

The Listening Club - 8th February 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Not much change for me since last week, still surveying the Kentish landscape, still mostly wet and grey, making the most of the environment with the aid of some decent dark beer and a tasty pie here and there, as you'd expect - some things the English still do better than most, thank the gods...

Last Sunday we had @eryngium in the chair, getting dark and mysterious with their pick of "Veils of Winter" by Blackwater Holylight, which seemed to hit the spot with quite a few of the assembled posse.Thanks to Eryn for the pick and for sailing the frisb over to @spiny, who's right here with today's intro...

"Welcome fellow listeners to this weeks pick from me.

This is my second time doing a pick, and its harder than it looks isn't it! I want to pick something that might be new to you guys, but not so obscure that its not interesting. Hopefully this is somewhere in the middle. From the early 2000s, a band local to me who had a big live following but never quite made it, as if often the way. Apologies if the sound quality isn't that great, it just sounds like that on the cd :)

Also, this is a short one, but punchy. Enjoy!"

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

Hope to see you 20:00 GMT later today.

The Listening Club - 1st February 2026

Greetings folks, pinch and a punch and all that...

Hope you're all doing okay. Typing this out with a twilight view of rolling Kentish hills, which is now a considerable novelty for m'self as the Netherlands, as u kno, are very flat indeed. Notwithstanding the change in geology and geography, the weather has been pretty similar to Amsterdam: cold and wet, sigh. Plus ça change, and all that, eh?

Last Sunday saw us celebrating a new branch of the sexageneray cycle with a #FireHorseVortex, which saw an excellently wide-ranging run of equine selections. Thanks to everyone for chipping in tunes, and to @JimMcCauley for the excellent audio corral-work.

Looking back we find @eryngium with the frisb, and this to say by way of introduction to today's pick...

"My part of the world has been crushed under a snow and ice storm for the last week, and after being stuck indoors hiding from the cold, I picked an album that makes me feel like I’m wrapping myself in a warm weighted blanket. Settle in to your comfortable chair for this one. Today also marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox in the Northern hemisphere, which I think ties in rather nicely with the seasonally appropriate title of this album."

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

See you 20:00 GMT.

The Listening Club - 25th January 2026

Hey folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Another mixed bag of winter activity here in Amsterdam, not too much of anything though, which is okay by me. Will be experiencing a slightly different slice of the season for the next few weeks as I'm heading back to the UK to take care of some family matters, for the sake of my travel plans I hope the weather keeps on just as it is, to be honest...

Last Sunday saw @SimonLandmine delivering a selection of English eletropop in the shape of "Live From Loud Valley" by Spray, which went down pretty well with most folks, as noted - thanks to Simon for the pick and for sailing the frisb across to @eryngium, who has an extra week because...

...yep, end of month means #vortex, and this time i'd been decided that we turn to the calendar for a celebratory forward-looking #FireHorseVortex. Thanks to everyone who chipped in a tune or two, and to @JimMcCauley for doin the mixin... download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT later today.

The Listening Club - 18th January 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing okay. A milder week here in Amsterdam for a change, and even the odd day of blue-ish sky and sun in between the solid walls of grey to remind us all of what that looks like. Still pretty much hunkered down pining for warmer times tho, as per usual, certainly not my favourite time of year, as I'm sure y'all know well by now...

Still, time marches on, and we near the end of the month again, which means there's a #Vortex ahoy next Sunday, so let us know if you have any theme ideas in the chat later today, please!

Last Sunday saw @aqidrago in the chair, delivering a widescreen concert experience with their pick of Depeche Mode's "Memento Mori: Mexico City" live album from last year, which got the assembled grooving and reminiscing in equal measure. Thanks to Aqi for the pick and for sailing the frisb over to @SimonLandmine, who is right here with today's intro...

"This sibling duo have been on my shortlist for quite a while, and this pick nearly got submitted back in 2022. Between them they've contributed to UK top 40 chart hits (including one that got to number 4), a UK Eurovision entry (which came 19th out of 24, in fine UK tradition), and collaborations with a bunch of other artists.

I first found out about them when they appeared on a label compilation for a friend's label, and then discovered that they a) had actually released several more albums and b) were (and are) still going, with even more releases since this 2017 compilation of their previous material.

I've seen them live a couple of times (including driving from London to Leeds to do so), and I have submitted a couple of the tracks on this compilation as 'afterparty' tracks before, so I thought I might as well pick the whole album. I hope you like them as much as I do.

Drinking club: something mostly seeming light and bubbly, but with a touch of occasional sarcasm (if things can taste sarcastic), and maybe a touch of rueful bitterness at times."

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

Hope to see you 20:00 GMT later today.

The Listening Club - 11th January 2026

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing okay. Pretty damn frosty here in Amsterdam, lowest temperatures we've had for a good few years, which, along with intermittent snowstorms, is keeping most folks inside unless necessary. City seems to be dealing with it okay despite some reports to the contrary in the press, but when it's icy, you can never have enough grit and salt, I guess... 

Last Sunday saw us usher out 2025 and welcome in the new year the only way we know how, which is, of course, with a #festivevortex, and this year's stayed true to form, stretching out wide in both style and tempo. Thanks to everyone who chipped in a tune or two and to @kleptones for stitching it all together.

Back in regular programming land, we find @aqidrago with the frisb, and this to say by way of introduction to the first #LC pick of 2026...

"It’s been an odd year for me. A break up, a move back to my childhood roots, a new job.

I am still finding my self again and slowly coming up to re-join what I love.

So a good time to delve into some nostalgic tunes, of a band with decades of success.

I’m presenting you with a recent Live album of new songs from 2023 and some quite well known ones.

This album won’t, for most of you, not stay a mystery for long, as the beat and voice are quite recognizable.

I invite you to join me on a dark, electronic, and soulful vibe ride to celebrate this band.

For drinking club, choose something equally complex and classic fitting the mood."

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

See you 20:00 GMT later today.

The Listening Club - 4th January 2026

Greetings folks,

Happy new year to you all, I'd say here's hoping for something better than last year, but it looks like the powers that be have already got started on fucking things up even more already, so... hang on to those closest to you and do what you can to support your communities, be they local, national, online or IRL, and let's collectively keep pushing back as best we can, ok?

Half an eon ago it was @EastVanHalen in the chair, getting everyone merry with their pick of Nick Lowe & Los Straightjackets "The Quality Holiday Review" from 2015, which got the assembled swinging and a-swaying most successfully. Thanks to Steph for the pick, and for sailing the frisb over to @aqidraco, who's had plenty of time to ponder, because...

Yep, it's end-of-month and end-of-year, so it's #FestiveVortex time, thanks to everyone for chipping in tunes, here's this year's phenomenally-wide-ranging-as-always selection, as blended by @kleptones... download's here, stream's below:

See you 20:00 GMT later today!