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Pitchblack Playback

Pitchblack Playback is a series of listening sessions inviting the music-loving public to hear upcoming album releases and classic LPs like never before.

But that’s not all. To ensure that there’s no distractions and that you're totally immersed in the music, our events are staged in the dark. It’s just you and the music.

Pitchblack Playback isn’t aimed at audiophiles; it’s simply for lovers of damn good music who still value the album as an artform and who want to hear their favourite records and exclusive first plays through the most immersive, detailed and visceral sound experience possible. You'll feel the bass in your body and hear details you never noticed before. Your hearing is heightened when your vision is cut off and it only serves to make the music feel more intense.

Once you’ve heard music like this, you’ll want to come back for more.

Wed, 12 Nov

Pitchblack Playback: Patti Smith 'Horses' (50th Anniversary Edition)

*Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted* Immerse yourself in a rock 'n' roll classic at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark, featuring 4 previously unreleased tracks included on the new 50th anniversary edition. Hear this immense record played loud in uncompressed audio on our powerful Screen One cinema sound system. No distractions; just you and the music. "This sounds great” — Rick Rubin
"A fabulous idea" — Jay Kay, Jamiroquai
"The optimal way to listen to an album" — Max Richter
"This might just be my favourite new thing to do" — Nihal, BBC Radio 5 Live Ticket includes Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness. As recommended by The Guardian, GQ, Time Out, Metro and Newsweek.

Thu, 27 Nov

Pitchblack Premiere: The Durutti Column 'The Return Of...' (Remastered)

This year marks 45 years since the release of The Durutti Column’s landmark album The Return Of The Durutti Column. To celebrate, London Records announces a very special reissue of the seminal Manchester band’s 1980 debut, set for release on November 28th. The Return Of The Durutti Column remains one of Factory’s most enduring and important works: fragile, otherworldly, and quietly radical. Produced by Martin Hannett, it showcased Vini Reilly’s distinctive, delicate guitar work against Hannett’s ambient textures, post-punk reverb and glacial electronics. Immerse yourself in the sublime sounds of the newly remastered edition of The Durutti Column's seminal debut album at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark, premiering the new version on the eve of its release. Hear this immense record played loud in uncompressed audio on our powerful Screen One cinema sound system. No distractions; just you and the music. "This sounds great" - Rick Rubin
"A fabulous idea" - Jay Kay, Jamiroquai
"The optimal way to listen to an album" - Max Richter
"This might just be my favourite new thing to do" - Nihal, BBC Radio 5 Live
Duration: 54 minutes (including bonus tracks from Disc 1 of the new CD re-issue) Ticket includes Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness. As recommended by The Guardian, GQ, Time Out, Metro and Newsweek. Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted and refunds will not be offered

Sun, 30 Nov

Pitchblack Playback: The Avalanches 'Since I Left You' (25th Anniversary)

*Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted* Immerse yourself in this mind-blowing classic at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark. Hear the unreleased Zomba Records Scandinavian promo version of the album — featuring samples from the original version of the album that couldn't be cleared for the final official release — on our powerful Screen One cinema sound system. No distractions; just you and the music. "This sounds great” — Rick Rubin
"A fabulous idea" — Jay Kay, Jamiroquai
"The optimal way to listen to an album" — Max Richter
"This might just be my favourite new thing to do" — Nihal, BBC Radio 5 Live Ticket includes Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness. As recommended by The Guardian, GQ, Time Out, Metro and Newsweek. This event is not affiliated with The Avalanches or XL Recordings.

The End

That's it for now.
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