The word of the day today is..."irrational".
Thanks to some work between the Archive and Hannah at Editors' online forum (thanks again H), we now have the complete set from the band's first night at Alcatraz, 11th Feb 2020. I didn't realise just how much DJ chatter was present here until I had to try and remove it. There's a lot.
No really, let me repeat that, there's a lot.
So much so that some of it was impossible to trim, and so it remains because to take it out would have damaged the intros and beginnings of a few tracks. I'm sure that from Virgin's perspective the act of talking over a concert was a selfless and noble act, but unfortunately it interferes with any attempt to preserve the material. I went through and cut out some MP3s as best I could, then moved on to uploading the complete broadcast to YouTube to replace the version with two songs missing. At this juncture, things got weird.
I was hit with a worldwide ban on the video when it was uploaded. Why? That old familiar reason, Munich from Glastonbury 2016 has been flagged as present in the video. Yet as we all know, it isn't.
So we are now in a situation where the first version I did is still online and available to stream, but the second one is blocked. They both have Munich but neither has the take from Glastonbury 2016. I've appealed the decision, but this only goes to show that the breach of copyright recognition system at YouTube is a little bit..flawed. Until I hear back from my appeal (which they have until 13th March 2020 to do), it's downloads all the way I'm afraid. Anyway, on with the music.
The Black Gold party rolled into Italy yesterday, and tonight the band played a show at Alcatraz in Milan. Big shout out to the I.P.K. who I know would have been in attendance. Hope you all had fun.
This is the first professional recording we have of the material on offer, and it's almost like they recognised the significance because they changed things up. We've all been waiting to see what would fall away from the current running order to be replaced by something from the back catalogue, and it's now apparent that the substitution of songs has begun. Out goes ERM=BD, in comes Life is a Fear.
Even on the radio, you could really get a sense of the energy in the room tonight, and everyone's playing sounded really punchy and forceful. The mix here meant that you could isolate and appreciate everything. Right at the centre of it all, Mr Smith energetically acting as the ringmaster to the dark circus of reminiscence. The drums and electronics at the start of Upside Down, Russell's bass on Violence and Sugar, Justin's guitar which was consistently ragged as hell, something which I have difficulty finding an issue with. For all those instances of pop etiquette, the vocal harmonies and the sweeping synths, there was also room for some downright filthy, feedback-covered riffs. Another piece of evidence to add to a dossier that's already pretty bullet-proof, making the case that Editors are very much a rock and roll band at heart, in spite of the criticisms that they had left that part of their personality behind them in recent years.
Did you spot the reference to Dead or Alive's You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record) in Papillon? It's still a very trippy thing to hear, because it took me back to when Tom would sing the "red rain is coming down" refrain during Spiders and "You are like a hurricane" when they played Like Treasure.
I'm listening to this show now as I'm putting the words together for the post. I love that the experience I have when I hear songs like Escape the Nest is going to be a totally different one felt by those of you who discovered the band more recently. This may be your first time getting to hear them live, but as someone who heard it back in the day I have to say that they're as good now as they were then. They've managed to present it in a fresh way while retaining the utmost respect for their source material. This is not a band going through the motions to grab a paycheck, and cash in on their historical achievements. Enjoy the tunes ;)
Uncut YouTube Version (if it works)
stream it here
Cut Youtube Version (minus You Are Fading and WTFR)
stream it here
stream it here
Cut Youtube Version (minus You Are Fading and WTFR)
stream it here
Full set - MP3s
An End Has a Start (with intro) - download hereBullets - download here
Bones - download here
Escape the Nest - download here
Magazine - download here
Sugar - download here
Upside Down - download here
Violence - download here
Frankenstein - download here
Papillon - download here
Ocean of Night - download here
The Weight of the World - download here
Spiders - download here
A Ton of Love - download here
Formaldehyde - download here
Life is a Fear - download here
Blood - download here
Fingers in the Factories - download here
Walk the Fleet Road - download here
You Are Fading - download here
Distance - download here
The Racing Rats - download here
Munich - download here
Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors - download here
Uncut MP3 of full broadcast (with DJ chatter)
download here
Bonus Materials
Bonus Materials
As well as playing a show at Alcatraz in Milan, Russell and Tom met with the wonderful Giulia Salvi to drop some words. Guilia very kindly did a translation of the questions and answers for her listeners, so everyone gets to enjoy it. Unfortunately, I have already openly revealed the setlist of the current tour by the very act of posting their shows on the blog. But then again, if you even know the Archive exists, you're the kind of cat that doesn't avoid spoilers. As long as we keep it between us, we'll be fine. Enjoy the chatter ;)
Provided by YouAreTheLaw (thank you), here's Tom running through The Weight of the World at the show.
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
