In Strict Tempo, vol. 23
Lots going on this week including Spotify news, Record Store Day and a return of clubbing to Zone 1.
No real theme to this weeks newsletter, just a round-up of news and thoughts.
Spotify have started to de-monetise tracks under 1,000 streams as announced a while back. There’s been enough written about this (including lots by me) to fill a book, but as a result they’ve really stepped up their hunt for what they’re terming fraudulent streams. If you’ve got tracks under 1k streams and you’re wanting to use some kind of service to ‘juice’ your stream counts, just don’t. It’s a really bad idea, and it’s pretty obvious to spot. Distro & label friends have all noticed an increase in warnings from Spotify, and whilst I haven’t heard of them taking any action just yet (they’re threatening to block offenders and fine distributors whos labels partake in this) it’s obviously a precursor to them cracking down on the activity.
A colleague went to see Joris Voorn at that new Outernet venue in Tottenham Court Road last week. I like Joris as a DJ, but if I’m honest haven’t thought much about him in recent years, and have little interest in seeing a highly-produced live show by him. His verdict on Outernet? Very impressive, but strange coming out of a club into the bustle of Central London. I think people of my generation were spoilt with Central club offerings, so we’ve been used to stumbling out of the End, Metro or the Astoria in the early hours. Either way, more clubs in Central London (for a long time a nightlife deadspot, whatever Amy Lame says) is a good thing by me.
It’s Record Store Day this weekend, and again there’s already enough discourse on the subject, but I still think it’s a good thing overall, even if it’s lost a bit of that original vision. I’m not going to be going out (Cambridge United vs Derby County takes precedence for me on Saturday) record shopping this weekend, but there’s some decent gems to be had amongst all the major label cash-grabs.
Next week I’m off to IMS in Ibiza. If you’re going to be there drop me a message, it would be great to catch up. I always come out of these music industry conferences feeling invigorated about the mostly great people that work hard to put new music out there, but I also reinforce my healthy cynicism about whatever this years buzzword is. Last year it was NFT this, NFT that, this years probably all going to be about AI. Let’s see…
Tortured Poets Department
Don’t worry I’m not going to review the new Taylor Swift album here. But here’s some other good stuff I’ve been enjoying.
Loren Connors & Allen Licht - At The Top Of The Stairs [Family Vineyard]
Two long-form live tracks from Loren Connors and Allen Licht here out this week. This one starts off as a gentle shimmer before meandering into something more harsh and abstract. I guess it’s like a river, from stream into rapids before moving back to something more mellow. Either way, one to sit with and just listen.
Shinichi Atobe - Ongaku 1 [DDS]
A new one from Shinichi Atobe on DDS - it’s not on digital so you’re gonna have to score the wax if you want it. I’m a big fan of his, and loved From The Heart (anyone else think the title of that sounds like a Caretaker album?) a few years back.
Ulla & Ultrafog - it means a lot [Motion Ward]
Well this is nice, guitar & vocals combine to create something blissful, if not slightly unsettling. I’m reminded of the Durutti Column, or if there was a GAS record without any kicks but vocals instead. It occupies that same world to me.
Talking of the Durutti Column, they reissued Vini Reilly this week as a fancy 5CD box set. There’s a version of Otis on there without the samples, which obviously isn’t as good as the original. It’s a crime that Otis isn’t the most streamed song on Spotify ever.
more eaze, pardo & glass - paris paris, texas texas [OOH-Sounds]
I’m gonna confess I’ve never watched the film Paris, Texas, but someone I used to work with in HMV used to play the Ry Cooder soundtrack a lot there. Anyway, my friend Ben recommended me this, and whilst I don’t get the context it’s meant to be received in, it stands alone as a decent album in it’s own right. OOH-Sounds has to be one of the most underrated labels out there, it’s well worth checking out their discography.
Still House Plants - If I don’t make it, i love u [Bison Records]
Bison Records have put out some great things lately, not all of it on streaming. There was a Sprigs cassette not so long back that I love and the Humming Dogs LP was a favourite from a few years ago. Anyway, I had a quick listen to this new one from Still House Plants last week, but sat with it a bit longer over the past few days, I’ve gone back to it a few times which is always a good sign. Can recommend.
Vivid Oblivion - The Graphic Cabinet [Downwards]
Not new, but my friend Luke has recently started up a Substack where he talks about one specific record each week. He kicked off with this criminally overlooked album on Downwards by Vivid Oblivion so it reminded me to go back to it again. I’ll let Luke do the talking here, and give him a follow if you like what you read.
Spiritualized - Songs In A&E [Fat Possum]
Jason Pierce has been reissuing his Spiritualized albums for a few years now, and chronologically we reach Songs in A&E which was widely regarded at the time as a return to form. I’m a big Spiritualized fanboy, ever since I first caught a look at the packaging for Ladies & Gentlemen. I think I’ll write more on Spiritualized at some point as they’re a massively important band for me (we were going to have Ladies & Gentlemen as our first dance at our wedding)Here’s a few Spaceman songs to have a listen to.
That’s all for this week - I’m on holiday next week so not sure how much I’ll write, but I’ll share some tunes regardless. Thanks for reading and commenting, I appreciate it massively. Support your local record shop, support indie labels, support good tunes. Out.
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