Emeralds

2011-05-18

Netherlands - Amsterdam
OT301

Version: DPA 4060 -> DPA MMA6000 -> Edirol R-09HR

It Doesn't Arrive
[unknown]
Double Helix
[unknown]
Does It Look Like I'm Here?
Candy Shoppe

Length: 44:00 min
Source: FLAC
Sourcenotes: Type: Audience (master), recorded front of house; 5 metres back from the left, ceiling-mounted PA stack.
Source: 2 x DPA 4060 mics -> DPA MMA6000 amplifier (100 Hz low-cut filter) -> Edirol R-09HR recorder (44.1 kHz/16 bit WAV)
Lineage: Audacity 1.3.13-beta (tracks split, fades added) -> FLAC (compression level 8) [libFLAC 1.2.1 20070917]

Recording Type: Audience
File Size: 210mb

The OT301, a dirty, pokey little den on the Overtoom, was the inauspicious setting for tonight's gig by swirling psychedelic synth trio, Emeralds.

New York's Skeletons were up first at 21:30 and played an interesting set that I found myself wishing I had recorded. I think they might have played for longer than the band they were supporting.

In no hurry to set up their equipment, Emeralds didn't appear on stage until
23:05, but it soon became apparent that they had been worth waiting for.

With one's eyes closed, it could have been an early seventies gig by Teutonic kindred spirits, Tangerine Dream. What followed may not have been built from an original blueprint, but it was captivating and never dull.

At 43 minutes, the set was a bit on the short side. Calls for "one more" were met with a steadfast shake of the head and that was that.

To be honest, I was glad to get out of there. The venue staff had openly smoked from the moment the doors opened, which had encouraged the audience to do the same. Consequently, the place stank to high heaven and so did I.

I doubt I'll be returning to the OT301 if this is the level of respect they show for their customers.

I've done my best on tracking, but there are probably mistakes. 'It Doesn't Arrive' segues into a track I don't recognise. Either it's a new track, or this was just a much extended, perhaps improvised version of 'It Doesn't
Arrive'.

Track 4 is also unknown to me. It could even be multiple tracks that segue into each other. It's impossible to know and the band had no set-lists on stage.

The remainder of the tracks are drawn from the band's acclaimed 'Does It Look Like I'm Here?' album.

As usual, nothing has been added to the recording and nothing taken away. The small audience -- perhaps 100 people -- made very little noise and the sound quality is excellent throughout.