Favorite Albums of 2015
New albums that got the most burn for you this past year...
A few that come to mind for me:
Quantic presents The Western Transient - A New Constellation [Tru Thoughts]
Will Holland playing maestro to a jazz ensemble, his band mates from LA, on a record full of perfectly breezy, blowy-shirt jazz tunes with flourishes of latin and caribbean inspiration throughout. Another successful direction from Quantic's impressive oevre.
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Chassol - Big Sun [Tricatel]
A fascinating auditory experience from French composer/pianist/vocalist, Christophe Chassol. Part of Chassol's aesthetic is using sampled field recordings (streets, voices, animals) core to its location, this time around we're taken to the island of Martinique, a caribbean island part of the overseas region of France. The album is a unique blend of field recordings, Chassol's own poetry, whistling, featured vocalists from Martinique, and some gorgeous jazz melodies played alongside various instruments, notably the flute. If only I understood French to better decipher his story within.
Mac Demarco - Another One [Captured Tracks]
A bit short in length for an album, but it was accompanied by a batch of great instrumental songs entitled "Some Other Ones" (free DL), and both of these together seemed quite right as summer came around.
A few that come to mind for me:
Quantic presents The Western Transient - A New Constellation [Tru Thoughts]
Will Holland playing maestro to a jazz ensemble, his band mates from LA, on a record full of perfectly breezy, blowy-shirt jazz tunes with flourishes of latin and caribbean inspiration throughout. Another successful direction from Quantic's impressive oevre.
Chassol - Big Sun [Tricatel]
A fascinating auditory experience from French composer/pianist/vocalist, Christophe Chassol. Part of Chassol's aesthetic is using sampled field recordings (streets, voices, animals) core to its location, this time around we're taken to the island of Martinique, a caribbean island part of the overseas region of France. The album is a unique blend of field recordings, Chassol's own poetry, whistling, featured vocalists from Martinique, and some gorgeous jazz melodies played alongside various instruments, notably the flute. If only I understood French to better decipher his story within.
Mac Demarco - Another One [Captured Tracks]
A bit short in length for an album, but it was accompanied by a batch of great instrumental songs entitled "Some Other Ones" (free DL), and both of these together seemed quite right as summer came around.
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So far for me:
Lianne la Havas - Blood
Yo La Tengo - Stuff Like That There
Ty Segall - Mr. Face EP
Neon Indian - VEGA INTL. Night School
Mac Demarco - Demos Vol 1
Future - DS2
Kurt Vile - b'lieve i'm goin down...
Dungen - Alias Sak
TPAB
Summertime '06
DS2
Slime Season
Sremm Life
Complete Strangers
Ego Death
Vulnicura
56 Nights
90059
Allas Sak
Wildheart
Days With Dr. Yen Lo
Dark Energy
Hairless Toys
Blackheart
Godspeed
I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside
All of these have had plenty of run this year - relative to their release, of course. Bound to be a few others I've forgotten.
Social Lovers - Enjoy The Ride
Deafheaven - New Bermuda
Honorable mentions for:
Kamasi Washington
Liz Vice
Tame Impala
Dre
Leon Bridges (don't hate on my Starbucks vibes!)
Julio Bashmore
I haven't kept up with new releases at all but this one got lots of play from me.
Drew Lustman - The Crystal Cowboy (Planet Mu)
FaltyDL returns to form with his eclectic and emotional take on UK Jungle/Bass sounds. I'm going to include my thoughts on it from the New Release thread in case I ever get an answer:
I'm impressed but confused. His early music for Planet Mu is brilliant, and I wasn't surprised when Ninja Tune poached him but the music he then did for Ninja was a real let down for me; less gritty, less experimental, and a bit boring really. Don't think I bought anything he did for them. Now he's released this album with Planet Mu again, and the music is great. I'm guessing Ninja management will also be scratching their heads...
In short, it's fucking mint.
Trust Image - Rory's World (1080p)
Another New Yorker 'aving a go at a London sumtin', also with great results - although Rory's World harks back to an earlier break-beat Hardcore sound conjuring up an authentic '91-'93 feeling with modern production and some lovely melodies. Bonus points for transforming the end of one of his tracks into a PM Dawn-sound-alike!
Singles:
Fracture & Chimpo - From Early/Hard Food (Metalheadz)
These two both killed it in last summer's soundcloud Jungle wars and have now teamed up as a production duo operating at the very top of the Jungle revival. I like Hard Food (despite it's cheekily lifting the majority of it's drums straight from a Boyerang remix) but From Early is absolutely my favourite track of the year, fusing Footwork with slamming Jungle breaks and a brilliant half-tempo sample. I want a full album from these fucking Dons right the fuck now!
DJRum - Plantain (Samurai Red Seal)
Clattering percussion in a strange time signature, eerily atmospheric, and a production aesthetic that takes the breath away. Don't know whether to file this as blazing downtempo or if it's at the outer reaches of the Jungle/UK Garage/Bass music scene... but it's fucking good lights-out music.
Detroit Swindle - Figure Of Speech (Freerange)
Some naughty Fela edits/remixes done rather well.
Jamie XX - Gosh (Young Turks)
My favourite track from his new album, it's got that knack of effortlessly building up momentum to something, and sounds rather reminiscent of Orbital with modern breakbeats and subbass bolted on.
Tap Throw - Dip Switches (Modified Magic)
New Jungle that sounds so good it feels like it should be from '95-'96, only it's somehow better, even more authentic.
Tim Reaper - Sounds Of Life (Subtle Audio)
Ditto for Mr Shoe-On-Head with an uplifting-yet-hardcore Jungle workout. This had the bonus of some excellent artwork.
Pender Street Steppers - Bubble World (Mood Hut)
I need these Mood Hut cunts to start releasing digitally! Bizarre, distorted, mellow, addictive deep house.
Acre - Don't Get Me Started (Wisdom Teeth)
A slice of weird golden-age UK electronica blended with modern cavernous Bass sounds. Claustrophobic, intense, and apparently needs more hi-hat.
RQ - Traces (Blu Mar Ten Music)
Lush organic Jungle that could've come from Adam F in his Colours prime, keeps you waiting for the amen to drop, but well worth it.
Sully - Flock (Astrophonica)
New Jungle shit from the man like Sully. Wish he'd release more of the stuff from his soundcloud page as nobody chops, filters, and twists drums like he does.
Mix of the year:
Fracture & Chimpo for Fact magazine. Trap/grime/jungle/trip-hop? Fucking brilliant, I would have paid good money for this back when DJs actually sold mix CDs, but luckily it's a free download at 320.
Mbongwana Star - From Kinshasa
Bosq - Celestial Strut
St Germain - St. Germain
Owiny Sigoma Band - Nyanza
Floating Points - Elaenia
Eli Escobar - Up All Night
HNNY - Sunday
D'Angelo - Black Messiah
Some singles:
Archie Pelago - Clammy Customer
Seven Davis Jr. - Friends (Detroit Swindle remix)
Obas Nenor - My Way Home / Change Got to Come
Djoon Experience - Baptize Me ft Kenny Bobien (Afshin mix)
[shameless self promo] Sol Power All-Stars - Plaza Bolivar EP [/shameless self promo]
I did get this one last week though,it says its a mini-album on the sleeve, I think its an album.
Mini or not its very good:
http://www.discogs.com/Len-Leise-Lingua-Franca/release/7645163
I cosign Floating Points - Elaenia. Good stuff!
Kamasi Washington - The Epic
Tom Misch - Beat Tape 2
great list and mine is
Kamasi Washington – The Epic (Brainfeeder)
The Loop Pilots – And then the Sea (Bandcamp)
Mickey – Eye Witness (PPU)
Pomo – The Other Day (HW&W)
Eman x Vlooper – XXL (7e Ciel)
Bonus Beat : Wutang secret record
And I'd add Disclosure - Caracal
Tortoise - The Catastrophist
Recent 2015 entries:
Erykah Badu - But You Caint Use My Phone has faded a little bit for me but I still like it.
Built to Spill - Untethered Moon was better than I thought it would be if you like Built to Spill, which I do.
Jessica Pratt - On Your Own Love Again gives me chills.
This is great.
So, a fun year music wise - move to Germany meant a review of purchasing techniques and a switch up to much more Bandcamp related stuff.
It's been a bit fragmented but some notables for me:
Summertime 06 - Vince Staples I do think it loses momentum on disc 2 but that's more foregiveable considering how blisteringly energised the first disc is. Not the album I expected him to drop but one I really, really enjoyed.
56 Nights - Future Still sounds amazing however many plays later.
Gowanus Drifts - Dialect Not normally someone to gush over an Ambient album but this just really clicked for me - love the way it builds over the running time.
Half Free - US Girls Not sure if there has been a discussion on here about the samples etc but it's just a really catchy album and even overcomes my natural dislike of Remy's shrill vocals.
Ibeyi - Ibeyi Yeah it's "world music" but it's also really decent music: Purchased for my parents and ended up copying for myself.
So the Flies Don't Come - Milo Never thought he had this in him but, props to him for making an album that made me review my attitude to concious rap.
Kneebody and Daedelus - Kneedelus
Sons Of Kemet - Lest We foget what we came here to do
Flanger - Lollopy Dripper
Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color (your attempts to front will be met with haughty derision)
The Bird and The Bee - Recreational Love
Emanative - The Light Years of the Darkness