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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, 20 May

Pitchblack Playback: Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On (55th Anniversary)

Immerse yourself in one of the greatest albums of all-time at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark, celebrating its 55th anniversary. Hear this stunning album played loud in uncompressed audio on our powerful cinema sound system. No phones; no talking; no signing; no distractions; just you and the music. And introducing Pitchblack Pairings: our way of introducing you to records you might not know that fit perfectly with the main event. After 'What's Going On' and a 10-minute interval, stick around for Gil Scott-Heron's 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' - a 33-minute compilation of his some of his best works up to 1974 that fit perfectly with the civil rights era-focus of Marvin Gaye's classic. "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 recycled cotton Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness. As recommended by The Guardian, GQ, Time Out, Metro and BBC 6 Music. Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted Duration = 78 minutes (with 10-minute interval)

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