Once You Understand...
One month to go until the third meeting of the Really Strange Record Club!
Hello everyone - and a BIG hello to any new subscribers to this newsletter! Hope you’re all enjoying the Bank Holiday, and revelling in the fact that there’s only ONE MONTH TO GO until we convene at Dreamhouse Records for the third meeting of the Really Strange Record Club.
The crucial details - Thursday 28th September, 7:30pm-10:30pm, at Dreamhouse Records (177 Francis Road, E10 6NQ). Bring a record - and drop me an email to make sure I’ve reserved you some time on the turntable.
But what to bring? Although obviously we were thrilled by our endorsement from The Wire1 we’re not just about the bleeding-edge sounds that the esteemed magazine covers. Any record can be a Really Strange Record - hopefully this small selection from our last event serves as inspiration.
Think - Once You Understand (1971)
Josh brought along this ostensibly anti-drugs 7” that boasts some scenery-chewing spoken word acting with a truly infectious singalong chorus - before a twist in the final seconds that not only sends the record down a very dark path but also elicited cheers of recognition from the ravers of a certain age in the room. Experience it for yourself.
Various Artists - Excavated Shellac: Strings (2010) / Sounds of Pamoja (2020)
Paul brought a pair of compilations along - kicking off with a recent slice of sonic madness from Uganda’s Nyege Nyege Tapes label before playing another Ugandan track from decades earlier rescued from a crumbling 78rpm disc that goes equally hard.
DJ Red Alert & Mike Slammer - Slammer 1 & 2 (1992)
We also love a bit of local history, and Gareth really delivered the goods with this pair of killer rave 12s released by the legendary Bizzy B on his Leyton-based Brain Records. A lovely addendum to last year’s brilliant Sweet Harmony exhibition about rave culture in Waltham Forest.
Hope this inspires you when you’re flicking through your collection - so grab a record, drop me an email, and see you on the 28th September.
Matt
In that they published a chart of some of the records we’ve listened to, which technically isn’t an endorsement but I’m banking the win