The Listening Club - 16th May 2020

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Pretty average week here in Amsterdam, bit of sunshine, bit of showers, definitely a few tourists wandering around for the first time in aaaages too. And the wisteria is finally flowering, a good few weeks late, which is kinda appropriate, as everything and everyone seems to be emerging into the light a little later than expected right now... 

Last Sunday it was @simonlandmine in the chair, with The Creatures' "Anima Animus" from 1999, which seemed to go down very well indeed with the assembled. Many thanks to Simon for the pick, and for sailing the frisb over to @ohmyliver, who's here with tonight's intro...

"I’ve taken up exercise.  This is something that I would not have expected to write. Ever.  But these are unusual times.  I actually should have got into such a healthy habit years ago.  So essential for mood and motivation.

The key was finding a workout that gels with me.  The breakthrough was discovering Fight Klub, who do workouts to Drum and Bass, with proper DJs and emcees like MC Navigator.  Although, as I find the monstrous metronome of the 4/4 kick drum better for working out to, in my search for 160+bpm music, I’ve wandered through genres I’ve not really listened to before..   

UK Hard Bounce, apparently evolved out of Scouse House. Sirens, whoops, old school rave samples, and a dominant synth sound which sounds like what I’d imagine beating a block of plasticy adulterated “hash” known as soap bar, with a hollow metal pipe, would sound like. It may be the frantic sound of nihilistic hedonistic annihilation, but going by the data from my fitness band, it’s pretty good at being a heart rate raising, calorie burning workout soundtrack.

Hard House, similar to the above, albeit with slightly more variety in synth sounds.   French Hard House, as before, but someone seems to have left French daytime TV on in the studio, and it’s been accidentally mixed into the music. 

Fast Italo.  This is either what going to a Club Med cheesy disco on huge amounts of uppers of questionable purity sounds like, or the sound of Euro Pop singers like Sabrina on the 2nd or 3rd day of an ill-advised sleepless teeth-grinding hedonistic marathon.  I mean, listen to Sheila - Summer Dream Of Love (B1 Mix) you can almost feel an impending horrific multi-day comedown hiding behind the extremely catchy ‘la lala laa’ pop chorus, squelchy synths, and pounding 4/4 kicks. Obviously for legal reasons I hasten to point out that I’m not actually suggesting that Euro Pop singers like Sabrina ever actually did that sort of thing, nor have I ever been to a Club Med disco.

But have no fear, I’ve not chosen any of the above for this pick.  I mean those genres are fine in varying degrees for ludicrous but efficacious exercising, but not everyone wants to do that on a Sunday night.   So I’ve picked this.  

Let's go back to the early 90s. To the land where they put mayonnaise on chips, clubbers danced to the dark of the Cherry Moon, rearing horses aggressively insisted that people danced, and huge hoovers, saws, and supersaws menaced the dance floor.  To a time when primitive electronic devices simply responded with ‘E’ to anything that blew their computational minds, and people who worked as secretaries typed all day.

But imagine that it’s at least couple of decades since you were raving to this music, and you wanted to do a mix to pay homage to this music, which both spawned a range of genres mostly prefixed with ‘hard’, and influenced the sound of British rave, and the genres that spun off from that. Well, you’d probably want to slow it down from a tempo ideal for over-stimulated teenagers, to something more palatable to the now middle-aged raver, wouldn’t you?

So that’s what they’ve done.  The slowness accentuates a synthetic psychedelic side which can be otherwise obscured by the intensity of the tracks when played at their more usual speed.  It may be a bit like the sound of the robot takeover defragging an industrial zone for better post-human  utilisation, but I’ve rinsed the f*ck out of it recently at a variety of speeds. 

If you don’t like overbearing synths, crunchy overdriven 303s, and the thud and skitter of various 80s drum machines, albeit at a sedate 115bpm, then you might well struggle with this one. 

Drinking club? Trappist monk beer?  Isotonic drink with a double overproof rum? Warmish tap water with a hint of nostalgia for a misspent youth, and a nice sit down on the side?"

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

See you at 8pm BST (GMT+1)

The Listening Club - 9th May 2020

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. A surprise super warm day here in Amsterdam, so it's time to say hi to the neighbours and a few total strangers whilst sipping a beer or two on the stoop. Even hype cat was enjoying the bon temps. 

Last Sunday chez #LC, @iamwahl was in the chair for their debut pick, and treated the assembled to the skanking accordions of Edward II's "Wicked Men" from 1991. Many thanks to Ian for the selection, and for sailing the frisb over to @simonlandmine, who has this today by way of introduction to tonight's pick...

"I managed to narrow down an extensive shortlist to a choice between two albums, and having picked a solo singer/songwriter for my last pick, I decided to go with the one that wasn't another of those (you'll probably get them for my next pick in about six months, instead). Anyway, so what do we have tonight?

This is an album that I was introduced to on the dancefloor - one of the tracks having become justly recognised in at least one subculture as a fine floor-filler, and one that I've unleashed a few times myself. In the process of getting hold of the track, I picked up the whole album, and it has grown on me further since.

I know that at least one of you definitely knows this artist, and I'm guessing that some of the others might too, but to be honest I have no idea how well known it is or isn't. Even those who don't know the artist may recognise the vocalist, as they are better known for another part of their career than for this project, and another member is often regarded as being a master of their craft.

If you've previously heard it, I hope you don't mind the re-introduction and, if you haven't, I hope you appreciate it. Oh, warning if you have small people around - some of the lyrics include swears, so please apply the Parental Advisory automatic recommendation sticker.

Drinking club - maybe a red witch, if the barman will serve it."

Righto. Download's here, stream's below.

See you 8pm BST (GMT+1)

The Listening Club - 2nd May 2021

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Still chilly here in Amsterdam, seems like everything is moving a couple of weeks behind schedule nature-wise, even the wisteria hasn't started blooming yet, and this time last year it was in full force. At least the sun managed to pop out for Kings Day, which was socially distant fun for us, but got a bit crazy with many of the cities' younger denizens partying like there was no pandemic. So it goes, I guess. Also, as I mentioned during the week, happy to have got back into my personal twitter account, thanks to finding an old phone that, as long as I kept it away from the interner, still thought I was logged in to the account, and therefore would happily generate the precious 2FA code I needed. No thanks at all to Twitter's Support system, which seems minimal-to-non-existent, so be aware, it could happen to you too...

Last Sunday was the #namethattimethatisn't4/4vortex, and for the most part it lived up to it's name. Some mighty fine offbeat selections indeed, many thanks to all who chipped in some tunes, and @JimMcCauley for gathering the harvest and sorting the segues.

Back to regular mode, we find @iamwahl clutching the frisb, with this to say, by way of introduction to their debut pick...

"I first heard this around the time I made a big shift in my life. Not sure this is significant but it helps me locate the album in time. My first listen was compliments of a friend who has always been a music geek and who enjoyed introducing people to the unexpected. I can’t say it was a favourite of mine back then but through the shift it kept popping up among different folks I encountered along the way, and I enjoyed the reacquaintance every time. However, I didn’t own a copy and it eventually fell out of my purview. Fast forward some time and another friend who is known for finding and sharing eclectic music was divesting themselves of the physical media that comprised an expansive collection. It was nearing the end of the clearing out when I had my opportunity to sift through the remainder bin. Among the weird and wonderful items that had been passed over by many an enthusiast I spotted this and was delighted to claim it for myself. Since then the acquaintance has been happily renewed with repeated listens.

I suspect some #ListeningClub members will be familiar with this album/band (and maybe even have a cousin who shared a flat with a band member or two…). Of course I’m hoping it will be new to more than a few. For those who have heard it before, may it be a warm reunion that brings a lift. Headphones if ya got ’em (and like that sort of thing). Feel free to twirl….

As for #DrinkingClub, might I recommend a rum ’n’ lime, or something by way of a dark ale; or simply a frosty ginger beer for those of us in the earlier (or non-tippler) zones…."

Okaydoke. Download's here and the stream's below:

See you 8pm BST (GMT+1)

The Listening Club - 25th April 2021

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Still a bit chilly here in Amsterdam, but that won't stop folks from populating the outside from wednesday onwards as the govt allows the reopening of terraces and outside eating / drinking spaces, even though our infection numbers aren't dropping much. A calculated risk, yes, we'll see how it goes... Also yes, I'm still locked out of my personal Twitter, now praying that Twitter Support's account is kindly when they reach me in their backlog, which is quite hefty as you'd imagine, especially as it seems they only work US west-coast 9-5 Mon-Fri, hem ho... 

Last Sunday chez #LC, @corin_ja was in the chair for their debut pick, which turned out to be Curtis Mayfield's mighty fine "Curtis Live" from 1971, which awed the assembled as you'd expect. Thanks to Corin for the pick, and for keeping up the debut run by sailing the frisb over to @IamWahl, who has an extra week to ponder their choice, because...

...yea, end of the month means vortex time, this time it's been decreed that we have an #anythingbut4/4vortex (aka #namethattimevortex), which has been helmed and assembled by @JimMcCauley, so advance thanks to him for the work, and everyone for chipping in, let's see how we do...

Download's here, and the stream's below...

See you at 8pm BST (GMT+1)

The Listening Club - 18th April 2021

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. First decent sunny Sunday of the year here in Amsterdam, so an afternoon of sitting out on the stoop with a beer and catching up with the neighbours has been in order. Cheered me up a bit, as I've been hit with a bit of a hack attack over the past day or two across the social / musical medias  - fortunately no damage done, but I'm currently locked out of my personal twitter and can't get back in as I left an old phone number as contact :( Hopefully someone there will hear my pleas and let me back in soon... le sigh.

Also to note that next Sunday will be a #vortex, helmed by @JimMcCauley, who is currently canvassing opinion on the theme - stay tuned to the twitters for the result and, whatever we end up with, get some tunes in, please!

Last Sunday we had @myemuisemo in the chair for their debut pick, which was the sole album by Boston garage rockers The Remains, which got the assembled frugging in an appropriate manner. Thanks to Eilonwy for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across the Atlantic to @corin_ja, who's right here with the intro to their debut pick...

"Honoured to be doing my first Listening Club selection ever, thanks a lot to @myemuisemo for the frisbee.

This isn't a super-obscure pick, and you'll know who the artist is within 10 seconds of the start. I'm hoping that lack of mystery doesn't spoil the enjoyment. I guess my reasons for wanting to share this recording are just how much joy it brings me. It's a well-known and well-loved artist, but most of whose work doesn't make me particularly stand to attention. I mean, I like it, but it doesn't blow me away.

This record completely blows me away. There's something about it which conveys the atmosphere of the situation, makes me feel like I'm there. It rewards proper attention, I reckon. It's a journey, man. It brings tears to my eyes, and laughter to my heart.

I like to imagine you'll all be listening to this in a darkened room, with shades on, wearing roll-neck jumpers & leather jackets. Perhaps clustered around small round tables that have standing lamps on them. Headphones may be advisable for total immersion. Possibly a bourbon on the rocks in hand #DrinkingClub"

Right then. Download here, or stream below:

See you at 8pm BST (GMT+1)

The Listening Club - 11th April 2021

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Bit of a week of same old same old here in Amsterdam; still chilly and soggy with the odd flash of sunshine, and the vaccination programme continues its crawl down the age groups. We personally won't see a sniff of it until mid-May at the earliest, as long as they don't end up banning 'em all due to random side effects that is... :-/

Back in the safe land of #LC, last Sunday we had @wojsvenwoj sailing one in from left field, with his pick of "Black Christ Of The Andes" by Mary Lou Williams from 1965, which had the assembled clicking their fingers and boggling their brains in equal measures. Thanks to Woj for the pick, and for sailing the frisb across to @myemuisemo, who has this to say by way of introduction to their debut selection...

"Two of my fascinations collide here. One is for finding ways to experience 1960s music as raw, fresh, and innovative, the way it was originally heard, rather than as iconic tracks everyone knows. The other is music somewhat local to places I’ve lived. The Beatles are the obvious touchstone for this band’s debut album, but with a tougher, more swaggering tone. I’m curious what knowledgeable listeners will make of this lost band that dissolved before this album was released.

Mix up a cocktail garnished with a maraschino cherry and contemplate whether it’s too early to swap the white shirt and narrow tie for something in psychedelic paisley."

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

See you 8pm BST (GMT+1)

The Listening Club - 4th April 2021

Greetings folks,

Hope you're all doing okay. Here in Amsterdam it was 20°C and gloriously sunny earlier in the week, and there's snow forecast for tomorrow. Good old April, eh? 

Last Sunday we were a-vortexing, in the shape of the mammoth #NonEnglishVortex, which covered all the bases and more, for sure. Many thanks to @saucer for helming and compiling, and to everyone who chipped in some tracks. Tracklisting here, if you missed it...

Two weeks previous, we left the frisb in the hands of @wojsvenwoj, and here's what he has to say by way of introduction to tonight's pick...

"I don't know much about jazz. I've heard the classics and have picked up on things i like and don't care for as much. Unsurprisingly, i veer towards the weirder stuff. Even so, I still don't know much about all that there is to learn and explore in that genre. So I was a bit surprised to learn that the artist who released this record was well known, influential, and involved with some of the bigger names of the big band era. 

I had come across her via a mixtape that included the final song on this record. It's a soulful, religious barnstormer of a celebration that caught my ear, perhaps because it was kind of unjazzy, and resulted in an album purchase (it was a bit hard to find but eventually found it digitally). The rest of the record is a mixture of some really nice combo work and a few other idiosyncratic pieces, including a really striking opening number which is just as unjazzy as the closer but in a completely different way.

Anyway, enough clues. This is a re-issue so includes a few extra tracks bringing its length a little above the optimum but hey! It's Sunday and you have nothing else to do! 

P.S. I was not thinking about Easter when making this selection - it's been in the back of my head as a Listening Club pick for a while now - but it's apropos. Everybody clap your hands!"

Okaydoke. Direct download's here, stream's below.

See you at 8pm BST (GMT+1)