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!