Good morning.

It’s Friday so we’re listening to something more upbeat. Today we’re listening to The Black Dog, a techno trio from Sheffield, UK. The group formed in 1989 and self-released their first few albums before signing to Warp Records in the early ‘90s.¹ While folks have tapped in and out of the group over the years, Ken Downie has been the single throughline across their brutalist techno discography. We’re first playing The Grey Album, an LP from May of last year. In recording the album, the three members recorded on one synth each in separate warehouses in Sheffield, resulting in a spare, reduced sound.² We’re also playing their 2010 LP, Music for Real Airports, which uses less percussion and features scene-setting audio and titles like “Wait Behind This Line” and “Business Car Park 9.”

The Grey Album - The Black Dog (60m, background vocals on tracks 4 and 14)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Bandcamp / Tidal

Music for Real Airports - The Black Dog (60m, some vocal field recordings)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Bandcamp / Tidal

Have a super great weekend.