Art&House Listening Sessions
- Soups & Sounds -
Listening sessions are small, intimate gatherings that I am hosting regularly, dedicated to hearing albums in full. We slow down, listen with presence, and allow the music to unfold as a shared experience. Each album comes with a soup, paired to the mood of the music.
13.04.2026 - Listening Session #7
Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen (1985)
Soup pairing for the album: Brussel Sprouts Soup
Another special evening with good music and company.
There was a shared appreciation in the room for how clean and beautifully produced this album is (check out the producer, Thomas Dolby). What stood out to everyone was the honesty and vulnerability in the lyrics, but also their humour. This balance seems to be part of what makes this album quietly powerful.
For me, it’s also the unusual song structures, the little twists in each track, the tasteful use of synths, and of course the passionate voice of Paddy McAloon that make it so rewarding to return to. Bonny and When Love Breaks Down remain my personal highlights, with their emotional weight while staying incredibly elegant in their melody and arrangement. Moving the River is another one I like, especially in how it reflects the struggle of keeping creative standards high.
I know I’ll come back to this album again, and I hope you will too, whether on a quiet evening when you are feeling down or when you are simply out for a bit of horsing around.
30.03.2026 - Listening Session #6
Esthero - Breath From Another (1998)
Soup pairing for the album: Mushroom & Chestnut Soup
Thanks to all who managed to join. As an album that has many different flavours, we moved from genre to genre with each track. When the second half of the album settled in, it set the tone for the night: Like a late-night drive through the city with someone close, where the world softens, time slows down, and you simply exist in that calm and quietly connected moment.
The tracks Lounge and Superheroes remain to be my favourites. I also loved seeing how Country Livin’ (The World I Know) appealed to many of you. For me personally, there was a lot of joy in turning this album (one that I only discovered myself quite recently) into something shared.
16.03.2026 - Listening Session #5
Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
Soup pairing for the album: Parsnip & Pear Soup
Thanks to those who managed to attend to listen to this wonderful album together. It is great to see these gatherings taking shape, with familiar faces coming back, new ones joining each time and a shared space is forming around music & conversation (and soup).
In Rainbows is an authentic album that has been in my library since a while. Weird Fishes / Arpeggi is still my favorite track, however Jigsaw Falling Into Place had even bigger impact on me yesterday.
09.02.2026 - Listening Session #4
Soup pairing for the album: Potato, Leek & Corn Chowder
Another wonderful listening session in this series. Bloom diffused beautifully through the room. The soup warmed us up, as we were sinking into layered synths and tremolo guitars that seemed to vibrate through the skin, together with the intimate lyrics.
Personally, Wishes and On the Sea lingered with me long after the album, and it was lovely to see how many of you connected with Other People (pun intended). A moving album, and an even more moving evening. Thank you for being part of it.
26.01.2026 - Listening Session #3
Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas (1990)
Soup pairing for the album: Cauliflower & White Chocolate Soup
Thanks to everyone who joined Heaven or Las Vegas listening session. I really enjoy how these evenings are evolving. It feels like we are building a shared space that people can keep returning to.
It was beautiful to watch the shift from trying to decipher the lyrics to simply letting Elizabeth Fraser’s voice wash over the room as pure sound. What I loved most was that everyone seemed to walk away with a different favorite track, a good sign of how balanced and personal this album is.
For me personally, Fifty-Fifty Clown was the song that first made me notice Cocteau Twins years ago. More recently I found myself falling more for Road, River and Rail. And for those who want to dive deeper, Treasure (1984) remains another very special Cocteau Twins album worth spending time with.
12.01.2026 - Listening Session #2
Massive Attack - Mezzanine (1997)
Soup pairing for the album: Beluga Lentils & Mushroom Soup
Thanks to all who managed to join on Monday to listen to Mezzanine by Massive Attack. I’m still carrying the atmosphere of the night with me. It meant a lot to see how much openness, curiosity, and presence everyone brought with them.
One small personal note: Group Four remains my favorite track on Mezzanine. I love its tribal undercurrent and the way it slowly builds tension and release. If you feel like revisiting the album, I highly recommend giving that track (or the whole album) another listen with headphones to explore its depths.
15.12.2025 - Listening Session #1
Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)
Soup pairing for the album: Pumpkin & Ginger Soup