The Blue Lotus Smoking Rooms

Idiot Friends - Friends Of The Bride

2007-11-22T15:25:00.000-08:00

Snappy pop. Snappy dressers. Snappy entry. Snap.
You And Your Idiot Friends - Friends Of The Bride

My Autumn's Done Come - Tindersticks/Lee Hazelwood

2007-11-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

"I tired of holding my stomach in."
Says it all really.
Fantastic version of a fantastic song.
.
My Autumn's Done Come - Tindersticks

Remembrance Day 2007

2007-11-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. Couldn't let Remembrance Day pass though so here is a song that should be as annoying as, as...well, something that's dashed annoying. But it isn't. It's bizarrely moving in a jolly sing-a-long way. Enjoy. But remember.
Goodbooks - Passchendaele

Live From The Smoking Rooms at the Blue Lotus

2007-08-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

Recorded live, a session of selections by a club member who wishes to remain anonymous. May not be the most technically accomplished mix, those 78s can be a bit tricky, but it does capture the spirit of The Smoking Rooms so thanks, Oofy.
Oofy's Session

Ulrich Schnauss - 'Goodbye'

2007-07-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Tough one this. Members of the Blue Lotus are divided into two camps; those for hoisting Ulrich Schnauss shoulder high and proclaiming him genius status; the other for hoisting him from the nearest lamp-post for the crime of utter tediousness. The last album 'A Strangely Isolated Place' kicked off the debate, either beautifully emotional electronica or saccharine middle of the road, depending who you asked. Between then and now we've had a few albums that have taken the blueprint further, notable Dextro's 'Consequence Music,' and these have only entrenched the positions.

And then the new album, 'Goodbye', came along, only this time Mr Schnauss has brought his chums,their guitars and a HUGE reverb.
And what a difference.
Now if you'll excuse me, we're all off for some brogue-gazing.
Buy it!
Goodbye

Find out more at Mr Schnauss's Myspace

PS If you do check his myspace, don't let the frankly shite lyrics to the track 'Shine' put you off. Although there is no excuse for that sort of thing, it does throw the rest of the album into brillian relief. Honest.

The Cure - "All Cats Are Grey"

2007-07-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

Forget all that Love Cats nonsense, this is an unmistakedly English band at the top of their miserable form. Building on the foundations laid by their previous 17 Seconds album, The Cure's 1981 "faith" pushed the design deeper into isolation & brooding dispair with a production approach to match. "faith" and the follow-up, the even more angst laden "Pornography" still sound like nothing else.
The Cure - All Cats Are Grey

65daysofstatic - Massive Star At The End Of Its Burning Cycle

2007-07-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Bit of noise, some kung-fu nonsense then BANG!!!!!!!!
Massive Star At The End Of Its Burning Cycle

Find out more at 65daysofstatic's website.

Burial - 'Ghost Hardware' (Hyperdub)

2007-06-22T05:17:00.000-07:00

Last post for this week and what a corker! Burial return with a fantastic new EP; three tracks of rain-soaked, emotionally charged dubstep. Just quite, quite amazing. This so far vinyl-only release has been on constant rewind here in the Blue Lotus and if you haven't already got the Burial album, last year's Smoking Rooms' Album Of The Year (& thankfully also available on CD), then do so. Now!
Ghost Hardware

Find out more at Burial's Myspace

Buddha Machine

2007-06-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Cult Fetishes here in The Smoking Rooms, the Buddha Machine is a small, plastic piece of kit from China and the creation of duo FM3, again from China. All it does is loop one of nine drones until either the battery runs out or you switch to another loop. It comes in random colour selection in an ace box and is willfully low-tech, yet has captured our hearts.

Once a month the club runs Buddha Days when members turn their boxes on as they enter the Smoking Rooms, set to a random loop, and pick them up as they leave. That way the day is filled is crescendos and lulls of ever changing texture. But in an ever so relaxing way....

For more info on the Budda Machine go to the FM3 Buddha Machine website. Most of us got our boxes from Boomkat.

Patrick Balthrop - "Autopoetic" (Gears Of Sand)

2007-06-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Released on the excellent Gears Of Sand label this album really was the Sound of the Smoking Rooms when it came out - an album that works however hard you listen to it. The track featured here still is a particular fave.

Bedbox

Find out more at Patrick's Myspace

Test Post

2007-06-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Just testing, don't you know?