The manner in which we experience music has fundamentally changed.
Don’t let that sink in; it’s likely so bleedingly obvious that it’s already left your brain by this point.
What I’m getting at here – and this applies as much to nightclubs, urban spaces, homes, festivals and any other space within which we experience electronic music – is that a sense of nuance has been lost somewhere along the way, in hearing the music. Of course, feeling the music and dancing remains – one of life’s most wonderful pleasures, as a sort of listening actively.
Silent discos, to their credit, have gone some small way in restoring the experience of actively listening, but to the detriment of the lovely visceral noise that fills the space between us. Besides their obvious and very positive benefits, silent discos place us as an individual amongst individuals. Take the headphones off and you’re left with dull and goofy sounds of shuffling, and an altogether sense of it being a bit pointless.
Besides their obvious and very positive benefits, silent discos place us as an individual amongst individuals.
An alternative exists in vinyl listening sessions, these in some stark contrast to the advent of silent disco. The music is presented in glorious hi-fi, a deliberate return to the experience of listening without distraction or interruption. Some might well snigger at the thought of such an event “for purists”.
And yet ultimately this is an environment without expectation. The great beauty of the vinyl listening session is in its restorative nature, its attention to nuance and artist detail. While I find the tagline “presented how the artist intended it to be” a little problematic (different albums and formats will necessarily denote totally different contexts), it goes a long way to refreshing our faith in the album format, and the idiosyncratic details present within.
Sydney’s Classic Album Sundays, hosted by the very lovely and well-seasoned DJs/travellers Jean-Philippe Ducharne and Jim Poe, is one such example. A recent write-up in The Guardian has given them some welcome exposure and promotion, and for good reason; their passion extends beyond simply sharing some of their favourite (and canonical) albums, and further into a personal reflection and history of the album of choice.
Find out more at theworldbar.com.
This week’s playlist
We’re talkin’ all that jazz this week: Pete La Roca’s Basra is one of the great lesser-knowns of the Blue Note and jazz worlds; every member of this ensemble is absolutely on point – Joe Henderson shines alongside drummer La Roca (whose candle burnt very short but very bright), displaying an incredible range of Eastern and Latin style.
Also, check out Ahmad Jamal’s But Not For Me: Ahmad Jamal Trio At The Pershing, a 30-minute burst of melodic, playful piano from Jamal. Plus Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers’ Ugetsu; one of the Messengers’ most stunning live outings, with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (whose title track solo is one of his finest moments) and tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter (soon to be snapped up by Miles Davis) in blistering form. Cedar Walton and Curtis Fuller provide outstanding backing.
Recommended
SATURDAY JUNE 10
Native Takeover
Club 77
SUNDAY JUNE 11
Berlin Underground – Long Weekend Special
Civic Underground
FRIDAY JUNE 16
Vakula
Goodbar
Djebali + Lamache
Burdekin Hotel
SUNDAY JUNE 18
Maurice Fulton
Club 77
SATURDAY JULY 22
Bonobo
Hordern Pavilion
