Globe-Trotter X Analogue Foundation Listening Station at Spiritland

You may recall The Analogue Foundation Listening Station. It’s a cross between a packing trunk and a high-end vinyl Hi-Fi. Well, I have since met it in real life.

The Analogue Foundation is a collaboration between Audio-Technica, Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Russell Elevado and experimental performance artists Soundwalk Collective. As you may have already guessed, together they celebrate everything analogue in today’s digital-dominated world.

The Listening Station event took place at Kings Cross’s centre for booze and vinyl-based tunes, Spiritland.

Listening Station at Spiritland

Whilst drying off (the weather was shocking and I decided to walk from Barbican to Kings Cross. I’m *that* clever), I took time to admire the Living Voice-based system and resisted stroking the dual-armed Kuzma Stabi turntable that was tantalisingly close to where I was stood.

The Isonoe rotary mixer is also something to behold. So much want.

The Analogue Foundation individually went through their backgrounds in a very relaxed and informal manner. There were a number of interesting points and Russell Elevado ‘s insight was particularly gripping.

However, my jaw dropped when the Soundwalk Collective played their AV piece called Eternity featuring the amazing Patti Smith’s poetry reading over Sufis chanting. I was mesmerised.

Globe-Trotter X Analogue Foundation Listening Station

The Globe-Trotter X Analogue Foundation Listening Station brings together a few of my favourite things. It combines Hi-Fi, booze, and records. Furthermore, it does so encased in an ornate wheeled cabinet.

I can well imagine this placed in a drawing-room whilst its owner relaxes in a silken robe sipping on a fine whisky.

Does it get any cooler than this?

Kit

The Listening Station, however, is not just for looking at. It is pretty serious about music, even though it is loaded in to a travel trunk.

You spin records on a customised Technics SP10 turntable that’s loaded with a choice of three Audio-Technica phono cartridges – AT-ART9 and OC9/III moving coil options and AT33Sa Shibata alternatives.

Below the deck is a drawer of Audio-Technica headphones. These are none-to-shabby either. You can slip either the ATH-W1000Zs, ATH-ADX5000s, ATHA2000Zs or ATH-W5000s on your noggin. Audio is supplied by way of the station’s AT-HA5050H headphone amp.

Finally, the important part. Yet another draw cossets a bottle of bourbon and a set of tumblers.

Also, here I should note that, while the analogue army has kitted the station out with some high-end tech, it is Globe-Trotter, using its luggage-based leather-knowledge, who’s behind the station’s impressive craftsmanship.

Price and availability

If you fancy one of these for yourself, sorry. The Listening Station is unique and is not for sale.

However, it serves a higher purpose. It is to tour the world and educate the populous about the joys of analogue sound.

Although, you can get your hands (and ears) on it.

Having been on tour around Europe for 18 months, the Globe-Trotter X Analogue Foundation Listening Station is returning to London to be displayed in Globe-Trotter flagship UK store, from February 19th and will be there for a fortnight.

Check it out and try not to want one.

Gallery

Here are a few snaps from the night.

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