The Sound of Song - BBC Four

Teriffic set of programmes. Analogue vs Digital? What's your poison? http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b04yk00k

Stone Rollin ABC - Fifth Album Club 3rd March 2014

3rd March 2013, The Oak and Pastor pub, Junction Road, Archway, London.

Question:  Best Venue?
Discuss...

Albums to Enjoy (maybe?):

Chris B chose ABC - Lexicon of Love
Ali chose Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin

What do you like about these plates of black vinyl?

Fourth Album Club Meeting: September 2013

September 2013, The Oak and Pastor pub, Junction Road, Archway, London.

Question:  Best Soundtrack Album and why?
Many suggestions - add your own and discuss...

Albums:
Chris chose Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
Adam chose Black Cab - Call Signs

No dislikes here - all enjoyed by the crew

Wiki Site - The Trials of Van Occupanther

Listen on Grooveshark



Black Cab Official Web Site 

Listen on Black Cab Web Site

Album Club

Album Club, a set on Flickr.

Joy Division....by Royal Appointment

We took a visit to the Royal Festival Hall last night for noise-fest of this re-working of some of Joy Division's greatest hits.  The selection and presentation felt more like a tribute to Ian Curtis and seemed to me to be a particularly one-sided re-working, as is there prerogative of course.  Sadly the re-work missed a huge section of their work in the process.

This interpretation focussed on the grimmaced-face and discordant shout of JD's music.  This misses the subtler contrasts clearly there throughout 'Closer' and hinted at with tracks like 'New Dawn Fades' on 'Unknown Pleasures'.  JD and Ian C contrast hard-edged electronic sound with mournful and heart-felt vocals, splattered with anger.  We got the anger last night in spades in every aspect of the sound from orchestra and synth however apart from the great use strings in  'Love Will Tear Us Apart' we got zero contrast.  And where was 'Atmosphere'?

Highlights were Ian Curtis's voice being used for 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and in background for 'Heart and Soul' along with his lyrics to 'Isolation' writ large and heart-wretchingly on the large projection screen between the audience and the orchestra.

Go and make your own mind up!

What amazes me is the thought that these scanky boys from Manchester, inspired by Sex Pistols hand-made music could end up with their oeuvre being projected to the world through one of its cultural worship venues such as the Royal Festival Hall.  Joy Division....by Royal Appointment.

Joy Division Re-Worked  U Tube video of event  Joy Division - Transmission

Midlake - Young Bride (Artist Commentary)

Interestingly non-commital and laid back commentary (click link below).  Do they really want to be there.  Does she?  Who knows.  Good track though.  Better when combined with a whole album of course!

Midlake - Young Bride (Artist Commentary)

Interesting Soundtracks