Just two weeks ago I was visiting London for a couple of days. From Amsterdam it is easy to do by train, really a delightful trip. It was a bit cold, but what can you expect in November. Drizzly rain made way for a shy watery sun, and all came with a rather cold wind. We’ve been visiting Christmas markets around Europe for a while now, and this year would be no exception. Mulled wine and sweets it would be again.
I also took the time to visit the record store of HMV in Oxford Street. I heard about this new live record of Fink, and I wanted to have it. My neighbouring store didn’t have it, so maybe? I wasn’t disappointed. I had to drag it through the city all day, while we were also looking for family presents in the ever present souvenir shops around China town.
The gatefold packages two records full of live recordings from between 2014 and 2017. Not the latest, but it is like it picked up where part one ended: in 2012. From the pictures it seems the band rather likes my country: out of 29 pictures in the booklet 20 were taken at concerts in festivals and concerts in the Netherlands. That booklet also has a short article written by the drummer. He writes that the band was growing up during this time. During the recordings of the previous live album in 2012 they were still adjusting to the touring, being surprised at the luxurious venues and overfilled fridges. This album shows them having to make the sound bigger, for huge audiences. It is that difference that characterises this album.
Part one was intimate and looking for sound perfection. Here the sound is clearly bigger, but also less perfect. I think the earlier album is clearly the better of the two. Singer Fin Greenall writes in the same booklet that he was looking for perfection in the beginning. Every note had to be right. It stymied passion and emotion. It is in the imperfection that beauty lies.
This was the last record of my current collection. It means I cannot write daily anymore. I will keep this up, but less frequent. When I buy new records, I will add them here. I’ve reached my goal: listening to every record in my collection, and then write a short piece about it. That journey ends here.
I learnt a lot doing this: I’ve learnt my own personal history is reflected in my musical choices. While writing this I’ve revisited my life. There is an amazing story to tell from every choice, but what is more personal that what we listen to? Even the fact that some records were never my choices to begin with, says something about me. In 1706 days I hope I’ve shown you myself. And the rest is future.