ALBUMBLE

10 Touché by Interactive

In a strange Quantum Leap-esque straddle from the previous episode, we stay in Germany *and* with the Forever Young theme as Andy asks us all to listen to the mid-90s rave combo Interactive.

Although not the most known electronic dance artists (especially outside of Germany), Interactive's work comfortably spans the realms of hardcore/techno/hard trance/commercial chart music and creates a sound that many do not initially think of when they are asked to dwell on the 90's European dance scene. There are plenty of lyrics - most of which are not that repetitive - some pleasant earworms, multifarious tunes and a varied array of layered electronic instrumentals.

Our news round up is very short this week and ends up being more of an ESC advert! As always though, we reveal of the next albumble album which is VERY different to anything we've reviewed before! 

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Touché is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Interactive's work and whether you agree with our views !!

 

Farty or Party 2024 - ep3

ALBUMBLE BONUS EPISODE ALERT !!!

It's that time again! It is time for Junior Eurovision 2024!

17 countries will be looking to win the contest that is being held in Madrid, Spain. We quickly discuss why it's being held in Spain and the make up of this year's contest.

Ann and Andy are joined by their 9 year old Marcus who, if you have listened to previous FOPs, has an extremely good track record in picking the acts and songs that will do well.

In episode three we review songs from, in alphabetical order:

France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy and San Marino...and reveal our Farty Or Party review winner!!!!!

This year, jESC is being held on a Saturday - namely November 16th at 6pm UK time. Don't worry if your country is not taking part, you can still watch and even vote...!!!!

Go to the official channel at junioreurovision.tv for more info !

Farty or Party 2024 - ep2

ALBUMBLE BONUS EPISODE ALERT !!!

It's that time again! It is time for Junior Eurovision 2024!

17 countries will be looking to win the contest that is being held in Madrid, Spain. We quickly discuss why it's being held in Spain and the make up of this year's contest.

Ann and Andy are joined by their 9 year old Marcus who, if you have listened to previous FOPs, has an extremely good track record in picking the acts and songs that will do well.

In episode two we review songs from, in alphabetical order:

Armenia, Germany, Malta, North Macedonia, Poland and Ukraine

This year, jESC is being held on a Saturday - namely November 16th at 6pm UK time. Don't worry if your country is not taking part, you can still watch and even vote...!!!! Go to the official channel at junioreurovision.tv for more info !

Farty or Party 2024 - ep1

ALBUMBLE BONUS EPISODE !!!

It's that time again! It is time for Junior Eurovision 2024!

17 countries will be looking to win the contest that is being held in Madrid, Spain. We quickly discuss why it's being held in Spain and the make up of this year's contest.

Ann and Andy are joined by their 9 year old Marcus who, if you have listened to previous FOPs, has an extremely good track record in picking the acts and songs that will do well.

In episode one we review songs from, in alphabetical order:

Albania, Cyprus, Estonia, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

This year, jESC is being held on a Saturday - namely November 16th at 6pm UK time. Don't worry if your country is not taking part, you can still watch and even vote...!!!! Go to the official channel at junioreurovision.tv for more info !

09 Forever Young by Alphaville

We go back to 1980's West Germany as Ann unveils the totally underrated and under-the-radar band Alphaville and their 1984 debut album "Forever Young".

Depending on where you are (or where you where in the mid 80s) you will probably know them for a different hit depending on what was released and pushed in your region! Their moniker of being a 'one hit wonder' really does not do this band justice as their music was powerful and memorable while their song writing skills were possibly passed over at the time. As we discover, you might *think* you know them for just 1 hit but you actually know them for more! This album is an undiscovered synth-pop gem which should be upheld as a classic of its genre which we wish more people knew about!

We start with a bit of a news round up regarding previous albumble artists and end with the reveal of the next albumble podcast alumni!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Forever Young is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Alphaville's work and whether you agree with our views !!

 

PS - the Junior Eurovision podcasts will be with you over the next week!

08 Tilt by The Lightning Seeds

Andy's choice this month takes us back to the Liverpool music scene and to the talents of Ian Broudie in the guise of The Lightning Seeds.

Although best known for their jangly pop numbers and some '90s football/adjacent songs, their 5th studio album "Tilt" was their first new music LP after the release of their Greatest Hits album. It seems that the band were taking some risks and avenues that were slightly unexpected for the general public which resulted in a rather subdued chart performance for the album and its singles releases... and as you will hear these choices did seem a little odd... and still do 25+ years on. On the face of it, the personnel involved should have resulted in chart smashes.... but they didn't... and we wonder why this might have happened and why it shouldn't!!!

At the end of the pod, Ann reveals the album to be reviewed for the next show as well as setting up the extra Junior Eurovision podcasts that will be popping up in the feed over the next few weeks!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Tilt is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Tilt, The Lightning Seeds - or any of the other acts we have discussed - and tell us if you agree with our views !!

07 Fryslân by Joost Klein

It's the start of the month so it was Ann's choice and sooner or later Eurovision had to come into it! We listened to "Fryslân" by Joost Klein

Joost had been well known in his native Netherlands through his YouTube exploits as a teen. Slowly but surely he transitioned into using music to connect to the world and connect us to *his* world. Released in 2022, the album is a surprise mish-mash of styles although the majority of the album is deep in his electronic roots. More importantly, the albums touches upon Joost's life story which he portrays through those different styles and vocal deliveries. At times, it is not an easy listen, but this also provides a training ramp to where many may have discovered him - EUROPAPA.

At the end of the pod, Andy reveals the album to be reviewed for the next podcast and plugs many of the places (real and fictitious!) you can find us and get in touch with us!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Killjoy is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Coach Party - or any of the other acts we have discussed - and tell us if you agree with our views !!

06 Killjoy by Coach Party

It was Andy's choice this time, and he brought to the table our most recent and up-to-date album yet - "Killjoy" by British indie band Coach Party.

Although the album is very much based in the 21st century there are definitely some call backs to the original emergence of the indie genre in the late 80s and 90s. It is a relatively short album which makes for a nice short and snappy podcast! 

At the end of the pod, Ann reveals the album to be reviewed for the next podcast and plugs the potential of some bonus Junior Eurovision pods popping up on the feed in the near future!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Killjoy is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Coach Party - or any of the other acts we have discussed - and tell us if you agree with our views !!

05 The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe

In episode 5 Ann chooses a modern RnB gem which not only tells, nay continues, a track-by-track story but also acts as a show reel of genre swishing singular songs. 

Needless to say blues and soul is not usually our first choice of music and although this album has some mega highlights, neither of us are afraid to highlight its pinch points.

We also start with a bit of a news round up regarding news from some of our previous albumble artists!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (The Arch Android is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Janelle Monáe and whether you agree with our views !!

04 Angles by Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip

In our fourth episode Andy proposes a electronic, spoken word, hip hop album. As you will hear the "Angles" has some rather confronting themes which could be quite triggering but is balanced by some interesting musical choices and humorous viewpoints.

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Angles is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip and whether you agree with our views !!

03 Who Killed... The Zutons by The Zutons

In our third episode, we listen to the early 2000's phenomenon that was The Zutons' debut album. Although seen as a Scouse extension to the '90s Britpop era, we decide it is a lot more nuanced than that.

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Who Killed... The Zutons is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of this alum or ANY of the albums we have reviewed so far and whether you agree with our views !!

02 Victory by Daan

In our second episode proper, Andy asks me/us to listen to Belgian music superstar Daan's early 2000's album "Victory". He's a quite the well-known name in Belgium - and our house - but not so much elsewhere.

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Victory is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Daan, Victory and whether you agree with our views !!

01 Different Class by Pulp

In our first episode proper we go back to 1995 and listen to Pulp's seminal contribution to Britpop... although it was a little bit more than that, don't you think?

Listen to the album yourselves before listening to our appraisal and remember to get in touch with your thoughts and feeling about Different Class or how you feel about our opinions!

Albumble introduction

In this clear-as-mud episode, I (Ann) collar my husband (Andy) and sound him out on my idea for a podcast.

I envisage that there will be 2 episodes a month - one on the 1st of the month and another  roughly on the 16th - so come back on July 1st for our first episode proper!!!

At the end I suggest the album which will be the focus of the first show so once you've listened to this intro - go and listen to that album too !!!