Berlin / Amsterdam 1997

Rock · 2004 · 21 tracks

Berlin / Amsterdam 1997

A raw, sprawling document of Soul Coughing's 1997 European club dates. Expect beat poetry, jazz-inflected grooves, and off-kilter samples in a live setting.

May 4, 2004 · KUFALA Recordings

Berlin / Amsterdam 1997 plunges listeners directly into the raw, unvarnished energy of Soul Coughing's live performances during a pivotal year for the band. This double-disc set captures the essence of their unique sound: a heady blend of M. Doughty's beat poetry, Yuval Gabay's intricate drumming, Sebastian Steinberg's distinctive upright bass, and Mark De Gli Antoni's eclectic samples and keyboards, all filtered through the spontaneous combustion of a live club setting. It's music that feels less like a performance and more like an overheard conversation in a dimly lit, smoke-filled room, brimming with urban anxiety and intellectual curiosity.

Tracklist · 21 Tracks

01

Mermaid

1:45

02

Disseminated

3:53

03

Soft Serve

3:14

04

Paint

3:15

05

Moonsammy

4:45

06

So Far I Haven't Found the Science

3:16

07

True Dreams of Witchita

4:55

08

The Idiot Kings

4:08

09

Funky Town

1:48

10

Unmarked Helicopters

3:34

11

Mr. Bitterness

4:17

12

Super Bon Bon

3:54

13

Lazy Bones

5:23

14

St. Louise Is Listening

4:11

15

Down to This

7:30

16

Screenwriter's Blues

8:42

17

The Incumbant

3:14

18

Buddha Rhubarb Butter

4:02

19

Miss the Girl

4:00

20

Lemon Lime

4:25

21

4 Out of 5

3:28

Moments Worth Listening For

The way the upright bass line on a track takes on a life of its own, driving the improvisation with a distinct, woody thrum.

The sudden, jarring interjection of a perfectly timed sample or turntable scratch that completely recontextualizes a familiar vocal phrase.

The frontman's stream-of-consciousness vocal delivery, building from a whisper to a frantic, almost spoken-word shout, capturing urban anxiety.

The extended instrumental jams where the band locks into a groove, allowing each member to explore their sonic space before coalescing again into a tight unit.

Reviews

AllMusic

Where This Album Departs

How does Berlin / Amsterdam 1997 sound next to the rest of Soul Coughing's catalogue?

Live Recording+4.0σ

The production is built around live recording than this artist usually allows.

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