The Listening Club - 13th January 2019

Greetings folks,

Hope you're doing fine. Not much to report from grey, soggy Amsterdam as we dig deep into the post-festive grims, not even a sprinkling of snow to liven things up. Ah well, plenty of time to plan ahead to sunnier times as usual...

Last week chez #LC, @SamQuitter was in the chair, on a legendary tip with his pick of Marianne Faithfull's "Before The Poison" from 2005, containing major contributions from P.J. Harvey, Nick Cave (avec Les Bad Seeds, natch) and Damon Albarn amongst others. Many thanks to Sam for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across to @EmmaPrice, who has this to say...

"Greetings from London, I hope you're all having a splendid 2019 so far. First pick in a while from me and as ever I experienced the joys of pre pick tension when deliberating what to select for you this evening.

2018 was a pretty toxic year politically and it's definitely bleeding into music and art in lots of fantastic ways which are reflected in this album. Maybe in 2020 we'll be listening to tales of foraging for mars bars in the giant car park of Kent using vegan sausage rolls as missiles. At this point I'm ruling nothing out.

I'm not entirely sure what I feel about this album yet. It's definitely more instantly accessible to me than their previous album which i'd waited a long time for. It has grown on me in the past couple of months and I definitely need to spend more time with it. I hope you enjoy.

I'm off to stock up on survivalist rations (books, cider and extra cynicism)

#drinkingclub is whatever you can get your hands on."

Okaydoke. Direct download is here, and the HearMayBeSpoilers stream is below:


See you at 8pm GMT tonight!

The Listening Club - 6th January 2019

Greetings and a very Happy New Year to you all.

Hope you all had a more-than-decent festivity, and yes, here's hoping that there's at least a little bit more sense seen around the world in the next twelve months... slim chance, I admit, but one thing last year has shown is that you never know... On home turf it's very much back to normal in Amsterdam, as the streets pile up with discarded xmas trees and flat-screen TV boxes and the January grey takes hold once more. But still, at least spring is on the horizon, so round we go again...

This time last week, we were deep in the midst of the 2018 #festivevortex, which proved to be another cracker - many thanks to all who chipped in a couple of tracks, it's always great to hear what's been floasting your boats. So now we return to regularly scheduled deprogramming, and here's @SamQuitter, who, having made us the single exception to his twitter exit, has this to say by way of introduction to his selection for tonight...

"My pick this week comes into a special sub-category which I'm pretty fond of, which is that of an older, perhaps somewhat neglected artist collaborating with modern artists and/or producers to produce something special and unique. In the eighties I enjoyed the singles that the Smiths and Pet Shop Boys made with Sandie Shaw and Dusty Springfield, then the great album that Pet Shop Boys made with Liza Minnelli. The best of the sub-genre for me is maybe the Johnny Cash 'American Recordings' albums made with Rick Rubin et al. 

This one is a collaboration from the early 2000's between a great distinctive voice and some equally great modern (well, modern to me anyway) artists. As usual it took me about 10 years after release for me to discover it. I have no idea whether this is something everyone else is already very familiar with or not. Its quite easy to spot the collaborators on each track, which adds to the enjoyment for me. As usual, I hope you like it, or failing that, have some fun disliking it."

Right then. Direct download is here, and the HearMayBeSpoilers stream is below:


See you at 8pm GMT tonight!

The Listening Club - 30th December 2018

Greetings and happy #festivevortex to you all!

Hope your holiday season is proving to be satisfying in as many ways as possible. Here in Amsterdam it's been pretty mellow, although the onset of New Years Firework Season means that the mellow is being increasingly interrupted by booms and bangs as the locality tests out it's newly purchased pyrotechnics... plus ça change etc.

Back before xmas, @holette was in the chair, getting downright angular with her pick of Gazelle Twin's "Pastoral", which had the desired effect on the assembled, so it seems. Thanks to Sarah for the selection, and for sailing the frisb across to @samsmitter, who has a luxurious few weeks to consider his options, as first...

Yes, here its. The 2018 #festivevortex in all it's glory. Thanks to everyone for chipping in their sound selections. No spoilers from me, you'll just have to wait and see...

Direct download is here, and the HearThis stream is below.


See you at 8pm GMT. BYOB or GTFO.

The Listening Club - 16th December 2018

Greetings folks,

Well, the last #LC of the year, and the lurgy has been banished, lights are twinkling, the tree is up, the booze delivery is neatly stashed, a bit of snow has fallen and all is harmonious within the house. Outside, well... the less said about that the better, a sentiment that I'm sure will be echoed countless times by many over the next few weeks. So, let's make the most of what we have, and help others do the same and more, while we still can, eh?

#FESTIVEVORTEX alert: we're back on 30th Dec with our, and that means your, favourite tunes of this year, so pick a couple out and send 'em in, the sooner the better!

Last week, @mutster101 was in the chair, getting us all electro-funky with his pick of  Cabaret Voltaire's "Micro-Phonies" from 1984. Thanks to Gareth for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across to Wales, where @holette is waiting with this to say...

“It’s not Christmassy. Those seeking festive cheer might as well pick up their port and look away now. 

This is an unsettling listen. I’ve chosen it because if there’s an album which sounds like being in Britain at the end of 2018, for me this is it.

This artist came out of nowhere to me with an album that sounds vital, confrontational, musically astounding and frankly a bit scary.  There’s a strong and sinister performative aspect to the music and the accompanying videos are well worth watching.

I hope you find it absorbing - it definitely warrants a few listens as there’s so much depth and intricacy to the music, lyrics and samples. 

Anyway, it’ll be a break from Slade.”

Nothing wrong with Slade. It's the Wham I have a problem with, personally. Anyways, direct download is here, and the HearThis stream is below:


See you at 8pm GMT tonight, and wishing you all a peaceful and joyful holiday season.

The Listening Club - 9th December 2018

Greetings and bleurg.

Hope you're all well and good. Colds are such bastards, are they not? Haven't had one as bad as this for a few years, but my word, how much of a wipeout it has been. Especially now with a job that's a little more mentally draining than previous, which has meant a lot of early nights (but at least I have the Beastie Boys Book to read). Finally moving onto the lung-rattling cough stage now, so that hopefully means the end is in sight... I pray.

On the #LC planning front, looking at the calendar, I'm proposing that we take a little break on the 23rd, as a lot of folks will probably be in the midst of their holiday planning / partying / travelling, then reconvene on the 30th for the customary #xmasvortex (for the uninitiated, and lurkers, that means you all send us a couple of your new favourite tunes released this year, we jumble them all together then playback and get very merry in the process). Let me know if you don't think that makes sense and propose an alternative, please!

Last week wor @nessiest was in the chair, getting spacy with Moses Sumney's "Aromanticism", which hit the spot for a good many of you. Many thanks to Lady V-ness for the pick, and for sailing the frisp across to Sir "Oh" @Mutster101, who's right here, avec intro...

"Daft choice or serious choice or Christmas choice. That’s the dilemma I faced this week. Was there a way I could do all three? Well, no.

One of the important things with lots of music is knowing the time and context that it fits into. It explains why it is the way it is, tells you its purpose. Without that you might sometimes be left thinking “What the hell are they doing?” - the musical equivalent of an #OhGareth.

There’s probably a reason for these musings but I think I’ve lost what I was trying to say. Anyway! This is my pick. I’ve chosen not to give you much in the way of context.

As for drinks... I’ve no idea, sorry. But let’s all have a mince pie."

Rightyho. Direct download is here, and the HearThis stream is below:


See you at 8pm GMT tonight.

The Listening Club - 2nd December 2018

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing fine, well, at least better than me right now, as the advent calendar opens up and brings me a mightily unpleasant lurgy, reducing my dulcet tones to autotuned sandpaper and calling out an army of snot goblins. Bleurg and a half indeed. At least we managed two cracking gigs this week, in the shape of Underworld and Beak> before the grot fully kicked in... So, hastily onwards, before I retreat back under a blanket on the sofa...

Last week, @xpollen8 was in the chair, digging deep and coming up with Carmel's finest Champs Élysées debut album "All Champs Go To Heaven", which went down very well indeed with the assembled. Many thanks to David for the pick, and for sailing the frisb back here to @nessiest, who has this to say by way of introduction to tonight's selection...

"I’m taking the classic listening club risk - I love this album and I know, I just know, not all of you are going to love it. The album will be my solace, it’s a swooning, soothing beauty.

I first heard this artist this year, they were an immediate standout amongst all the other acts on a festival stream. I’ve since seen them in person as well and this album has become a regular on my personal playlist. They’re almost frighteningly talented and not afraid to take risks to pursue their vision at the expense of quick commercial success. 

Their deliberate choice to craft from a specific part of the palette means you’re not getting banging bass and driving beats tonight. Slip on your pyjamas, angel wings or something fluffy and delicate if you dare. If you’re after a drinking recommendation, a cocktail with froth, or maybe a hot chocolate."

Okaydoke. Direct download is here, and the HearThis stream is below...


See you at 8pm GMT tonight!

The Listening Club - 25th November 2018

Howdy folks,

Hope all is good with yourselves, mellow here in Amsterdam as the greyness blankets us, but upcoming grooviness this coming week from Underworld and Beak> should help that, also plonked money down for Snapped Ankles' visit to these shores in Feb, for which #LC is wholly responsible... hoorah!

Last week in these environs, @akx was in the chair, dosing everyone up to the eyeballs with his pick of Lindstrom's "Six Cups Of Rebel", which lived up to his description pretty accurately. Many thanks to Aarni for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across to @xpollen8, who's right here with tonight's intro...

"2017 marked my return with a vengance to buying vinyl, and one small label in particular I practically cleaned out.

Among their offering was a mysterious band from Cleveland, Ohio, the sole information I know is what was published on the record's "buy" page:

"The album was recorded completely DIY in their living room, with help from friends, reels and recorders purchased off craigslist, and a lot to learn as they went. The result is a work of art thoroughly representative of the band’s vision – a nugget of pure, independent, alt-rock beauty."

So - a debut/only album by a group of ambitious kids, and a label which stopped selling vinyl shortly after the 125 copies of this record sold out.

Enjoy this dynamic charmer. Wish I knew who they were!"

Right then. Direct download is here (right-click save as), and the HearThis stream is below:


See you at 8pm GMT tonight!