{"id":682910,"date":"2026-01-08T19:53:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/682910\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:53:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:53:16","slug":"pitchblack-playback-we-the-curious","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/682910\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitchblack Playback @ We The Curious"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Gabriel Lordon<\/strong>, Third Year, Philosophy<\/p>\n

Creator Ben Mogori describes it as a type of \u2018deep-listening\u2019 event, which \u2018makes music feel more intense, lets you hear it in more detail, and allows your brain to feel less distracted\u2019. \u2013 Pitchblack Playback. Not only are all the lights off, but you are provided with an eye mask, ensuring an absolute blackout that creates a truly heightened sensory experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The concept has gained traction amongst key figures within the music industry, including Jamiroquai\u2019s Jay Kay who described it as \u2018a fabulous idea.\u2019 It\u2019s an interesting way of putting complete albums back into the spotlight, considering \u2018we\u2019re repeatedly told the album as an artform is dying\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The planetarium at We The Curious provided the optimal space to undergo listening to Erykah Badu\u2019s Mama\u2019s Gun, a classic album celebrating its 25th anniversary. Listening in this unique way felt like taking a step closer to the music; you noticed how the tracks flowed seamlessly into one another, creating an ongoing and uninterrupted experience.<\/p>\n

You didn\u2019t have to wait long for the experience to truly come to life. Second on the album is the unforgettable\u00a0\u2018Didn\u2019t Cha Know\u2019, which slid in with complete seamlessness from the opening track. I thought this song sounded incredible through my Bose speaker, but in total darkness, on a state-of-the-art system, it felt like the music was swinging around my head like a pendulum.<\/p>\n

\"\"The We The Curious Planetarium | Epigram \/ Gabriel Lordon<\/p>\n

Other highlights included\u00a0\u2018A.D. 2000\u2019, which seemed to reverberate around the room and reveal some of the silkiest tones in Badu\u2019s arsenal. Each track evoked a different mood, with this one offering a perfectly tranquil moment. Another favourite was\u00a0\u2018In Love With You\u2019, where Stephen Marley\u2019s deep vocals beautifully complement Badu\u2019s softness, creating an intimate, warming duet that invites you to sink into the gentle piano and jazzy rhythms.<\/p>\n

By the end of the experience, I\u2019m not sure I was fully conscious. Not asleep, but somewhere in between, as if the mind adjusts to the darkness and enters a new state designed purely for listening, free from all other senses. Time had completely disappeared. I left We The Curious feeling zen, and with an undoubtable new appreciation for Mama\u2019s Gun and Erykah Badu\u2019s genius.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2018Everyone is doing everything all the time\u2019: In conversation with Nobody\u2019s Dad<\/p>\n

From diary-entry lyrics to grungy guitars, Nobody\u2019s Dad discuss DIY songwriting, Rough Trade milestones, and why Bristol audiences show up for small bands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a music lover, keep an eye out for Pitchblack Playback\u2019s next event<\/a> in Bristol or around other major UK cities.<\/p>\n

Featured image: Epigram \/ Gabriel Lordon<\/p>\n

What album would you like to hear at Pitchblack Playback?<\/p>\n