Listening Club - 24th June 2012

Greetings and salutations!

Listening club preamble today comes to you live from Mr.Monkeytypes living room in Brighton, being tapped out on @dingsters iPad. Yes, that's right folks, there's been a little LC meet up. Much alcohol, music and gesticulation was involved, as you'd expect, and a splendid time was had by all. So here I am, getting this sorted while taking alternate swigs of Purdeys and leftover lager (yay, go me!) before we head off to find a cracking Sunday lunch...

So, casting my mind back, last week I had the pleasure of curating LC myself, and threw two albums at you due to my procrastination. And donchajustknow, it all turned out splendidly. First was Salyu X Salyu's "Sound Beams", followed by AM & Shawn Lee's "Celestial Electric", both of which, I'm delighted to say, went down very well. Forgive the lack of cover artwork representing them in this post, but it's going to take all my effort to cut and paste the next bit, which is what you're waiting for, so over to @fraserlaeto for this week's intro...

"I never believed that this would be a difficult choice to make, but it has been. I've had about 5 dead-certs that I abandoned over the course of the week.

I thought about albums that have been on this before, and the thread seems to be that they're not just a barrage of a particular style for 45 mins; they tend to have some variety, be proper peaks-and-troughs works. I thought about why other people had played what they did, that it probably wasn't their favourite album, that it wasn't necessarily something they thought everyone should hear. It seemed not to be about impressing your music tastes on others, so much as offering something up that's an entry into your world.

I've rejected the choice that was funniest to me; the last Harvey Milk album 'A Small Turn of Human Kindness (2010)', an absolutely desolate, sparse club-to-the-head of a noise-rock record that I love, and find real emotion in despite the fact it's clearly supposed to irritate me.

I've rejected the statement album, which might be Sunn O)))'s 'Monoliths & Dimensions' or something, a real "this is something you've never heard before".
I decided against Slint's 'Spiderland' - the 'everyone needs to hear this' option, and probably my favourite album, really.
I abandoned Deerhoof's 'Offend Maggie', which would have been perfect, but was a bit close to the choices of last week.
The favourite right up until the 11th hour was Jim O'Rourke's 'Insignificance', a really nice accessible jangly acoustic rock album with an undercurrent of mean spiritedness-ness that only really reveals itself after a good 10 listens, but you're only hearing it once, listener.

In the end I remembered this record and thought "yeah that's a good choice". The undercurrent of mean-ness and discomfort reveals itself pretty much straight away in this one, but it's a varied effort that sits well and flows like a real album should. It's got definite head-nodding 'everyone has to be into this!' moments, but there's also a fair bit of difficult listening in there too, and that's the part of this that appeals most to me."

Download is here (Dropbox link) or the Mixcloud link is here.

Start time, as always, is 8pm BST (GMT+1), search #listeningclub and follow @listeningclub to see what's going on. See you then!

Listening Club - 17th June 2012

Greetings to you all.

I do think it's about time I did something to the layout of this blog, seeing as it's getting good use. However, in the time honoured tradition of deferred DIY, every week I have a look, say "must do something about that" and then promptly forget it. Well, at least I'm honest.

But O, my brothers and sisters, what fun I had last week making my way back through London communing with you all and the sound of The Delgados "Peloton" collectively drifting through our earholes. Another thumbs up from everyone, so hugest of thanks, as always, to @MonkeyTypes for the pick.

My return journey across town obviously tickled the aforementioned Mr.Types, as he selected yours truly to be this week's selector. So... er... over to Me for the introduction...

"Thanks for that, Me! Ooh, it's nice to be in italics for a change.

Now, I really thought I had this one in the bag - in fact I'd already earmarked an album as perfect Listening Club material, but half way through the week, a wild last minute contender leapt out from behind a bush and demanded equal attention. In the time-honoured tradition, I stuck both albums in a washing-up bowl out the back and let them duke it out, but after several days of wrestling, neither has come out the victor...

So you're getting them both.

I think they provide a decent balance, and really, both are worthy additions to the Listening Club Hall Of Fame. Not sure if you'll want to cue them up back to back (Mixcloud does that automatically, I think), or have a ten minute intermission between the two to bring the start of the second one to 9pm, but we'll figure it out I'm sure. No worries if you don't want to play both tonight, keep the second one back if you like and listen at your leisure..."

Download both albums here (mediafire link), or stream via Mixcloud here and here.

Start time, as always, is 8pm BST (GMT+1), search #listeningclub and follow @listeningclub to see what's going on. See you then!

Listening Club - 10th June 2012

Greetings and salutations,

Hope you're all well and good. Here in England we're settling into the season, knotting waterproof hankies for our heads and enjoying our national summer hobby of cursing football performance / lack of decent weather / jubilee / olympics / beer / asbos / some guy called Jeremy etc. Those bloody people, I tell you, they do my crust in. Cor blimey, where's the skiffle? Etc.

One thing no-one has any reason to complain about is the excellence contained within the albums delivered to Listening Club, because it is Consistently Ov Thee Highest Standarde. And last week's selection of "Six Million Ways To Live" by The Dub Pistols, made by @jonnydapigg was no exception - another fine choice, and a splendidly funky complement to the midst of the Jubilee weekend.

Jonny picked @Monkeytypes to go back in the chair this week, so over to him for the preamble...

"This was an easy choice that I tried to make complicated. Not that I'm complaining. I unearthed some long forgotten gems while deliberating over my selection and had a chuckle at some of the evil I could have unleashed. However, deep down I knew I was going to opt for this.

Recommended by a friend, this marks a transitional period in my life, a time when I changed careers and somehow found myself married. I can remember the novelty of starting a job that allowed me to listen to music and this got played a hell of a lot in those early months.

I don't think I can put into words just how much I love this album so I'm not going to try. Even now there are parts that still give me chills. If you've not heard it before I think around the 2 minute mark you'll be won over.

I hope.

So, sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy a beautiful journey that never quite goes where you expect."


Download link is here, or you can stream the album at Mixcloud here.

Start time, as always, is 8pm BST (GMT+1), search #listeningclub and follow @listeningclub to see what's going on. See you then!

Listening Club - 3rd June 2012

Greetings to you all,

Apologies for the slight tardiness of this weeks posting - London transport grinding to a go-slow thanks to some anniversary or other, and me unintentionally napping this afternoon following a night on the tiles are to blame. Ooops!

Back to life now tho, so thanks are of course in order first to @samsmitter for last week's selection of Fred Neil's 1966 eponymous album, which transported everyone back to the hazy smoky environs of a Greenwich Village coffeehouse. First time we've dived back as far as the 1960s for a selection, and a mighty fine one it was too, even getting a thumbs up from our special guest listener: my mum!

Sam also picked @jonnydapigg to make this weeks choice, so over to him for the intro...

"Reets then, my go. Been kinda hoping that I could get a summer time nomination as most of the potential choices I had are of a definite summer vibe. The choosing of the album wasn't so hard once I'd narrowed it down to one band, this intro however has been reworked more than Andy Coulson's testimony, and with that I'll begin...

This album came to me by way of a remix that has been in my record bag since I got it in 2004 to this very day and has been played at every gig covering all manner of events and styles.  Such was the allure of this remix I eventually  went out and bought the album without listening to anything else by the band,  well, actually I got the album after this one, then the one after that, and then went back to get this one and then went for the one before that, bit of a stupid order but that's just how this went.

It's mainly this time of year when these albums make their way back into my playlist, sunshine seems to fit with this (and their others), possibly this is down to the association I have with this genre and live events like Newcastle's Green Festival which as fate has it is this weekend, so at the time of listening I'll have had 2 days of booze, sun (hopefully) and tuneage which will make for a perfect build up to this listening club.
I fully expect some of you to know/own this album so sit back and enjoy and to those who don't I can recommend plenty of volume, get the subs up  and prepare to enjoy."

Download link is here, or you can stream the album at Mixcloud here

Start time, as always, is 8pm BST (GMT+1), search #listeningclub and follow @listeningclub to see what's going on. See you then!

Listening Club - 27th May 2012

Eurovision greetings to you all!

Mixed feelings here over a contest victory decision that showed the Euro-mass expressing preference for wiggle-footed trance-pop over a posse of biscuit-baking octogenarians. Lordy, and indeed Lordi, what has the (euro)world come to?

Meanwhile, back on planet LC last week, @jayesofine stepped up to the turntable and delivered Leslie Winer aka © 's "Witch", which managed the rare feat of silencing quite a few of the LC faithful as they moved into "serious listening" mode, and showing how tough it is to get deep into a record and tweet simultaneously. Another fine choice - Thanks Jaye!

(Note also that, in a wonderful bit of synchronicity, the John Peel archive picked the same album as their "Hidden Gem" of the week at exactly the same time, showing how we, the LC, are firmly in the centre of the retro zeitgeist, if you allow such a thing to exist in your universe.)

Although the tweequency (c) was reduced, wit and wisdom was still in evidence, allowing Jaye to nominate @SamSmitter to be thrown into the spotlight this week. Over to him...

"The album I have chosen for this week comes into the 'neglected artist' category. I don't have an autobiographical tale about how I came to it - I read an article about the artist (it may even have been an obituary) which sounded interesting, and I investigated and ending up buying everything they produced in a sadly truncated career. I wanted to choose something with a different feel and genre from the previous Listening Club selections, all of which I have enjoyed, and some of which I have loved. This is a much older record, made before I was born. I wanted something which I consider to be a great album, but which may not be familiar to everyone. If you don't know the artist, you will probably know at least a couple of the songs on this album in versions by other people.

 

This one is more of a mellow 'downer' of a record than a roller-coaster ride. A single-malt whisky in a darkened room sort of record. As is now customary for Listening Club, it will not be to everyone's taste, but I hope it will be a discovery for one or two. If you know it, I hope you will enjoy the close listen I think it rewards. If it is new to you, relax and enjoy the warm blanket of a great voice, great musicians, and a great songwriter."

Download is here (direct dropbox link), or the album can be streamed online here (via Mixcloud)

Start time, as always, is 8pm BST (GMT+1), search #listeningclub and follow @listeningclub to see what's going on. I'm off to boil in the sun whilst building my mum a new shed. Happy Sunday, and hopefully see you this evening.

Listening Club - 20th May 2012

Hello once again,

Writing this up a day early, as I'm off on the razz tonight, and want to get it promptly to you, unhindered by whatever state I happen to find myself in come Sunday morning. To post today or to rely on my phone tomorrow though, I don't know. I'll think about it whilst I run through the scores on the doors...

So last week @dorianrodgers came amongst you all with the decidedly outré choice of Sudden Sway's "76 Kids Forever". Were the #LC ready for an album-length 80s soap opera dwelling on the changing attitudes and fortunes of a bunch of small-town Englanders? For the most part the answer was "yes", although a rather muted "yes", to be honest. It certainly got the chat flowing though, and fitted the LC bill to a tee, so thanks to Dorian for the pick.

Not only did Dorian make a fine album choice, he also nominated @Jayesofine to go into the hot seat this week, making her the first two-times nominated selector, and forcing her to take time out from planning her upcoming wedding to write this!...

"Picture the scene…

It’s the Nineties, a young woman walks the streets of a small town in East Anglia, streets of boredom, streets of charity shops, dog shit and discarded McDonalds wrappers. 

She’s searching, searching for something new to listen too, something to lose herself in. Escapism is all there is in this town, be it drink, drugs, or losing yourself in the soundscapes available at the local independent record shops. (remember when you had more than one?)

Mix tapes were the currency that kept you free, traded over full ashtrays and half-drunk cups of coffee in friends kitchens, usually kitchens of the disco variety as if there were any other kind. But the mix tapes were predominantly old songs, not that there is anything wrong with the old songs, but she wanted new songs, songs that smelt of a brighter future. 

But then out of nowhere a new CD/Magazine arrived, ‘Volume’  its name, the size of a CD it was packed with new bands, new music, rare songs, remixes and interviews. A chink of light shone into her life, leaving her feeling more confident than ever.

Through this magazine her CD collection grows and thanks to a 6 page interview and 1 track she discovers an album that still gets regularly played today and that is the overly flowery write up of how my selection for tonight’s listening club was discovered.

It’s another WTF is that album. It’s a fairly mellow affair containing aspects of dub, techno, sampling, rock and spoken world but mixed into a hypnotic whole. 

It’s also the first album to Listening Club by a woman and it has something to say.

All I ask from you Listening Club is that at 8pm tonight could you turn the lights out please?"

Download is here (direct dropbox link), or the album can be streamed online here (via Mixcloud)

Start time, as always, is 8pm BST (GMT+1), search #listeningclub and follow @listeningclub to see what's going on. I'm going to post this up now, so I've one less thing to remember! See you Sunday...

Listening Club - 13th May 2012

Hello again,

Sun has finally poked it's head out in London, and after spending yesterday afternoon enjoying live music and jynnuntonix at an impromptu street party, I dare to suggest that summer may have arrived in this part of the world.

Which is just as well, as I've spent most of the week cleaning up LC-HQ following last week's chaos - the first time I've missed a playback and oh boy, look what happened... @rebeldiamond7 's choice of Foxy Shazam's eponymous 2010 album certainly provoked a stong Marmite reaction. Some hated, some loved, lines were drawn and shots were fired, but huge respect to @rebeldiamond7 for giving it a go, this is truly what the LC should be about.

Now the dust has settled, and been hoovered away, we find @dorianrogers in the hot seat...

"As you can tell from my inventive Twitter handle my name is Dorian Rogers. I edit and write stuff for the music website/blog www.neonfiller.com. Not professionally though as you can tell if you read my stuff.

I spend most of my time listening to jangly guitar based indie pop, miserable country music and chin stroking guitar noise records. Although none of that really describes the choice I made this week.

I thought it would take me a while to come up with a selection if I was picked, but in the end it really selected itself. I had just picked up a CD of this album so i could have a digital copy after previously only owning it on slightly scratched vinyl.  It fitted the bill for me by being unusual, unlikely to be well known and most importantly a fantastic record. It isn't going to be to everyone's tastes I'm sure but I hope that people enjoy it and find something to like.

Happy listening!"

Download is here (direct Dropbox link), and the Mixcloud stream is here!

Start time, as always, is 8pm BST (GMT+1), search #listeningclub and follow @listeningclub to see what's going on. Let's see what happens this time....