The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has teamed up with Pitchblack Playback and MQA for an all-day, fully immersive listening event to celebrate National Album Day 2018.
Pitchblack Playback, which hosts officially-approved playback sessions for everyone from Radiohead to Childish Gambino, allows audiences to listen to albums in the dark through high quality audio systems.
MQA is a technology that delivers master quality audio in a file that’s small enough to stream or download.
Taking place on the first-ever National Album Day on Saturday, October 13 between 11.30am and 6pm in The Sensorium at Aures London, six albums released by AIM member labels will be played back in MQA.
The six albums to be featured (in order of playback) are:
- Mogwai – Every Country’s Sun (Rock Action)
- Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here (XL)
- The Fall – I Am Kurious Oranj (Beggars Banquet)
- Public Service Broadcasting – The Race For Space (Test Card Recordings)
- Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar (Ninja Tune)
- SOPHIE – Oil Of Everything Pearls Un-Insides (Transgressive)
There will also be a series of events and activities featuring artists, songwriters, labels, retailers and sleeve designers across the UK in the week leading up to National Album Day.
“The album remains a much-loved artform and we are delighted to be able to help highlight its continuing importance.”
Paul Pacifico, AIM
“As a partner of National Album Day 2018, we are excited to be curating an event that will celebrate amazing independent music in a unique format,” said AIM CEO Paul Pacifico.
“With Pitchblack Playback and MQA, we are offering music fans the chance to experience seminal independent albums from start to finish in a uniquely immersive environment. The album remains a much-loved artform and we are delighted to be able to help highlight its continuing importance.”
Mike Jbara, CEO of MQA, added: “It’s inspiring to be involved in a project that puts artists and music fans at the centre of the experience. We’re proud to partner with AIM and Pitchblack Playback to deliver the ultimate listening event for National Album Day.”
The inaugural National Album Day is being organised by the Entertainment Retailers Association in partnership with record labels body, BPI.
The national event is also being backed by the likes of AIM, Classic Album Sundays, BBC Music, Featured Artist Coalition, Music Managers Forum, Music Producers Guild, Official Charts Company, PPL, United Talent Agency and industry umbrella body UK Music.Music Business Worldwide
