James Blake is the man of the moment; his name is on everyone's lips.
'Willhelm's Scream' and 'To Care (Like You)', both taken from his forthcoming LP, are sublime and soulful.
He sounds like TV on the Radio's Tunde Adibimpe or Justin Vernon but with an even more incredible voice, muffled, and electronified.
Tall Ships' debut EP fused spaced out post-rock with melancholic harmonies. I liked that. On their second, they kept the soothing vocals, but instead opted for an accompaniment of hook-laden blasts of math-rock, reminiscent of Minus the Bear. I liked that even more.
On lead tune, 'Chemistry', they opened with a jolting, riffed disintegration, and the song subsequently evolved into a creeping, Foals-esque euphoria of soaring guitars and pop hooks.
Since its release, I have not been been able to get that line, 'There is Nothing But Chemistry Here', out of my head. Rather spookily, this line is the name of the EP as well.
They make an commendable amount of noise for a trio, and the music they make is rather 'ace' - watch out 2011, Tall Ships are gonna make wavvvvvvvvvvvvvvves (and sell records).
4. The Arcade Fire - Spawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
This year, the most prolific and all-enveloping act of our times, The Arcade Fire, were elevated to 'musical genius' status, in a year which has seen them headline Reading and release a marvellous follow-up to a follow-up (always a hard record that, the third one) which encompassed a gazillion different genres. The most beguiling song came in the sublime 'Sprawl II...', sang by Regine, who also provided the vocals for the highlight on their seminal 'Funeral' album, in 'Haiti'. What makes the song so enticing and indeed, so fantastic, are the synths. 'What?', I hear you say... Yes, that's right, this is an AF song with synths. It's amazing. It thumps and clatters, swerves and rolls, develops and complicates. They sound like a futuristic Blondie, echo-stricken, recorded in a church, and rock n roll-ed. This confirmed their place as the most innovative and perplexing band on earth.
3. James Blake - Limit to Your Love
Last week, when James Blake's 'Limit to Your Love' reached the unassailable realms of godawful sh*t, also known as 'the charts', music fans up and down the country rejoiced in celebration.....
With this soul-infused, post-dubstep concoction, the inventive minimalist was making pop music interesting again. Showcasing an astounding voice, soulful like Antony Hegarty's, set against a backdrop of a trip hop beat and off-kilter keys, it was overlayed with spine-tingling pop hooks.
Blake was once a member of Mount Kimbie, purveyors of post-dubstep minimalism of a very different kind. Although his voice did sit perfectly amidst their pounding clicks and intricate electronics, his departure from the group seems right.
This week also saw him shortlisted for the BBC sound of 2011 poll and Brit Awards 'Critic's Choice' Award. Forget Auto-tune, forget Lady Gaga, forget frickin' Jessie J, 2011 is James Blake's.
2. Hot Chip - I feel Better
If there's one British electronic act who you can always rely on to produce fabulous pop tunes, it's Hot Chip. Although they've never made that instant classic of a record, they can never faulter in the singles field. 'I Feel Better' was their best tune to date, and was accompanied by the funniest promo I have ever seen (thanks to comedian/director Peter Serafinowicz). It features a bunch of JLS-lookalikes singing the song, only to be zapped and overpowered by a bald, Christ-like freak who joins in for the first chorus.
1. Gold Panda - Snow & Taxis
This is hypnagogic, intriguing and stunning. This is my favourite song released this year.
It needs no further explanation. Sit back and listen.
Complete list: [60-56]60. New Young Pony Club - Chaos 59. 2.54 - Creeping 58. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio 57. Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go 56. Beastie Boys - Sabotage (Alex Metric Re-Edit) [55-51] 55. Pantha du Prince - Satellite Snyper 54. Archie Bronson Outfit - Hoola 53. Big Boi - Shutterbugg 52. Beach House - Norway 51. James Blake - CMYK [50-46]50. Kisses - Bermuda 49. Janelle Monae - Cold War 48. Small Black - Photojournalist 47. Crystal Castles - Baptism 46. Sky Larkin - Still Windmill [45-41]45. Balam Acab - Regret Making Mistakes 44. LCD Soundsystem - You Wanted a Hit (Soulwax Remix) 43. Male Bonding - Franklin 42. Gorillaz - Stylo (feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def) 41. Disclosure - Offline Dexterity [40-36]40. Wild Nothing - Golden Haze 39. Mount Kimbie - Mayor 38. Kanye West - Power 37. Familjen - Det Var Jag 36. Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane [35-31]35. Gayngs - The Gaudy Side of Town 34. Grinderman - Worm Tamer 33. She & Him - In the Sun 32. Cults - Go Outside 31. T33TH - See Spaces [30-26] 30. Lindstrom & Christabelle - Lovesick 29. Lali Puna - Remember 28. The Babies - Meet Me in the City 27. Lykke Li - Get Some 26. Yuck - Georgia [25-21]25. Smoke Fairies - Hotel Room 24. The Hundred in the Hands - Commotion 23. John Grant - Chicken Bones 22. Mount Kimbie - Before I Move Off 21. Sarah Jaffe - Clementine [20-16]20. Teengirl Fantasy - Cheaters 19. Gold Panda - You 18. The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs 17. Caribou - Odessa 16. Twin Sister - Lady Daydream [15-11]15. Tame Impala - Solitude is Bliss 14. Mix Chopin - Bliss 13. Perfume Genius - Mr Peterson 12. Cloud Nothings - Hey Cool Kid 11. Fair Ohs - Hey Lizzy [10-6]10. Agnes Obel - Riverside 9. Liars - Scissor 8. Warpaint - Undertow 7. Pantha du Prince - Lay in a Shimmer 6. Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La 5. Tall Ships - Chemistry 4. The Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) 3. James Blake - Limit To Your Love 2. Hot Chip - I Feel Better 1. Gold Panda - Snow & Taxis
Having topped MS'F's 25 for 2011 list back in September, Yuck have posted 'Holing Out', which confirms their position as the best band of 2011, already.
Out in February, it is a brash, Dinosaur Jr-esque flurry of flanged guitars and distortion. From the outset it is v. grungey, but also v. catchy.
Ahhhhhh that guitar solo! yes!
Every few years a singer with a unique, celestial voice mystically skies in on a magic carpet, writing haunting, traditional folk songs laden with modern hooks. Last time it was folk troubadouress Joanna Newsom. This time it's Denmark's new sensation, Agnes Obel. On her sombre debut, 'Philarmonics', she showcases beguiling vocal beauty placed in a mire of eerie piano and acoustic guitar. 'Riverside' epitomises this, with her simple piano and heavenly harmonies brought to the fore.
9. Liars - Scissor
Since Liars' formation 10 years ago, a large multitude of genres have been invented, re-invented and coined because of them. From the post-punk revivival they fronted back in 2001, to the dance punk, noise rock and drone rock genres they later fronted, it's fair to say music has changed because of them. On latest freakout, 'Sisterworld', as of yet, unclassifiable, they infuse frenetic, angular rhythms with distortion overloads, juxtaposed with soothing melodies and keys. Lead single 'Scissor' is a wild animal stuck in a cage, which destructively breaks free at roughly 2.10.
8. Warpaint - Undertow
Mystical art-rockers Warpaint were formed back in 2004. Until 2010, they had been performing only locally, hiding away in their hometown of LA. They were best known for their celebrity links (inc. having a RHCP member as an alumnus).
This year they finally released their debut album, 'The Fool', six years in the making. It was one of the most critically revered works of the year, and one of the best-selling alternative LPs released in the UK; it is currently topping end of year lists everywhere and they have just been featured on the BBC Sound of 2011 poll.
Their success was down to their totally spine-tingling music; their deftly constructed record was infused with enchanting harmonies, pounding funk bass (very reminiscent of ex-Interpol man, Carlos D) and reverberating guitar twangs. 'Undertow' encapsulated all these traits marvellously.
7. Pantha du Prince - Lay in a Shimmer
Like the aforementioned 'Satellite Snyper', this was another track in which German electronic extraordinaire PdP combined his trademark bells, clicks and a subtle yet miasmic beat. Taken from his best entire work to date, and indeed one of the best album releases of the year, 'Black Noise', the beguiling minimalist in this tune has created one of the best tunes of the year.
The album also featured a notable collaboration with Animal Collective's Panda Bear who played his role perfectly, his vocals adding alot to the record's soporific, clicky and laid back ambience.
6. Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La
Now I have to say there are a lot of these American, female-led, lo-fi garage groups. I think the scene started with Vivian Girls, who wrote some very pretty tunes and made a couple of good albums, which were both left nice and rough around the edges, but they didn't write any brilliant, infectious pop tunes, which I believe is key. Neither did Beth Consentino's Best Coast who saw considerable success this year with their lusty single 'Boyfriend', as did Frankie & The Outs with their debut record
But there was one group of female renegades who did, however, stand out from the crowd. This was Dum Dum Girls, a group of goths who create sleazy, pounding singalongs, distortion galore, like a female Jesus & Mary Chain, but fronted by a modern-day Siouxsie Sioux, apparently called 'Dee Dee'.
'Jail La La' is undoubtedly the greatest rock n roll song of the year. It's raw, catchy and sassy, and that's cool.
First up is folk newcomer Benjamin Francis Leftwich. This is a stripped back, acoustic rendition of Arcade Fire's seminal single 'Rebellion (lies)'. Bare, but hypnotic and soothing.
MS'F favourite Clare Maguire has already featured in my 25 artists for 2011 list and is now on the BBC sound of 2011 longlist too. On the back of releasing debut single 'Ain't Nobody' and completing support slots with Hurts and Plan B, she has uploaded this, a cover of Antony & Johnsons' 'Hope there's Someone', from their Mercury Prize-winning 'I am a Bird Now'. Her controlling voice magnificently prevails.
15. Tame Impala - Solitude is Bliss
In this, Australian psych-rockers Tame Impala do not sound tame, in fact rather savage. Their transcendental scapes are swathed in funky, flanged guitars and 60s psychedelic vox. They encompass the swagger of pop 'lads' Kasabian whilst still retaining a bit of homeland pride in intellectual rawk reminiscent of Nick Cave. It's all overlayed with sublime, nostalgic vocals, quite unique in these times; the end package is memorable, infectious and retro.
14. Mix Chopin - Bliss
This is my guilty pleasure of 2010. 'Bliss' is a thoroughbredcheese concoctioncomprising over-the-top synths, slap bass and phunk rhythms, under gleaming, immaculate production. This is like what Duck Sauce did with 'Barbra Streisand', but instead exuding humour lyriclessly, and varying the song structure a bit.
13. Perfume Genius - Mr Peterson Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) has produced one of the finest albums this year in the form of 'Learning'. A fair comparison you could make is with that of Sufjan Stevens' more delicate moments. The songs typify great minimalist music; he fortunately manages to eschew the usual monotony of gentle album-filler tracks. Simple piano tunes and chords are layered over one another (but only one, two or three parts are used at one time). The lyrics are simplistic but very personal. In 'Mr Peterson' he speaks about his Maths teacher who we find out encouraged Cannabis use in front of PG, lent him Joy Division tapes and later committed suicide. Its obvious how emotional the singer is getting at times; there has been no production to alter the vocals. This leaves us raw, intimate yet intricate music. Tear-jerking stuff.
12. Cloud Nothings - Hey Cool Kid Cloud Nothings are retrospective; they are punk like a kerplunk!-era Green Day, but everything is cast in a raw, lo-fi shadow. They create brief but perfected, fuzzed out euphorias; they are the brightest, most propitious bunch rock n roll has seen in years.
They posted their first song, 'Hey Cool Kid' online at the tail end of 2009, and have since released their debut full-length, 'Turning On', on Wichita, which is full of similarly fantastic, visceral tunes.
11. Fair Ohs - Hey Lizzy
Fair Ohs describe themselves as a 'punk Paul Simon'. Sounds odd, right? Yes, yes it is. But this band are exceptional. They create a melange of noise rock and afro-pop, infusing No Age-esque avant-garde NOISE with spikey African-influenced harmonies, transcending all the best areas of the genres inbetween.
20. Teengirl Fantasy - Cheaters
NY's noiseniks Teengirl Fantasy, aka Nick Weiss and Logan Takahashi, are not your normal teengirl fantasy. Their ethereal ramshackle, 'Cheaters', is a dreamy freakout which builds and builds into an off-kilter, hazy synth-rock jam drenched in soul samples and Kraftwerk-esque analog synthesizers. They sound like a forward-thinking The Orb, but making music with the intent of inducing drowsiness- it is not just a resulting side-effect.
19. Gold Panda - You
As this list has probably affirmed, leftfield electronica has certainly flourished this year. From the ethereal dreamscapes projected into the stratosphere from the US' Blondes, Teengirl Fantasy and Kisses, to the thriving UK 'post-dubstep' scene comprising Mount Kimbie and James Blake, and from the slick Scandinavian pop of Lykke Li, Robyn and Lindstrom & Christabelle to the ever innovative sounds of German eclecticist, Pantha du Prince, this year has been the most important year for electronic music in decades. It has been a transitional phase, showcasing development and ingenuity.
But the man who led it all, unmentioned as of yet, was a very unlikely figure named Derwin Panda, under his moniker, Gold Panda. He was not an inept animal, but a musical genius. His lo-fi, bedroom production of samples, chiming bells and keyboard pounds were groundbreaking, melodious and funky. Much more will be explained in due course....
18. The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The best band of our generation and the best film director of our generation. Spike Jonze directing an Arcade Fire promo? Yes please!
17. Caribou - Odessa
Like Gianfranco Zola was the university-educated genius of the footballing world, Caribou's Dan Snaith has become the world's first popstar with a Phd in Mathematics (I think?).
Ensuing 2008's marvellous Polaris prize-winning 'Andorra', this year, Caribou released their most pop-orientated album to date in the form of 'Swim', which was also nominated for the Polaris prize, but this time also charted on the Billboard top 100 - quite an achievement for such an artist.
On it, they entangled psychedelic and prog. rock influences in a brash, electronic mesh of harmonious vocals and unorthodox synths. The beguiling first single, 'Odessa', is incredible; Snaith sings 'She can say' frenziedly, in a thrilling, introspective conception of Can-esque freakout funk.
16. Twin Sister - Lady Daydream
As I said before, Twin Sister are unworldly, neo-psychedelic lovelies, whose music you could place somewhere between Yes and Bat for Lashes.
Back in January, they released debut EP 'Color Your Life', whose lead single was this; a kaleidoscopic fusion of droning synths, distortion, lead singer Andrea Estella's saccharine vocals, catchy little riffs and quirk. Like the aforementioned 'All Around and Away We Go', this is another song that you can submerge yourself in entirely, jiggle a little bit to and be compelled to play over and over again.
25.Smoke Fairies - Hotel Room Smoke Fairies make music like Joni Mitchell, but doubled up, dangled upside down and drenched in folk music's most important epochs.
The sussex girl-girl duo first caught our eye back in 2009 when they released 'Gastown/Riversong', featuring Jack White on drums, and released on his 'Third Man' label.
Since then they have released debut full-length 'Through Low Light and Trees', and its lead single, 'Hotel Room', a tender folk song of sublimity and beauty, whose retrospective accompanying video reflects these qualities.
24. The Hundred in the Hands - Commotion
New York's latest purveyors of IDM are duo The Hundred in the Hands. They fuse psychedelia with pop hooks, overlayed with frontwoman Eleanor Everdell's enchanting vocals.
On some tunes, they showcase Kid A-esque beats with creeps and crawls; on others, rampaging riffs and thumping bass; on the rest, robust, neatly-produced, miasmic rays of pop delight. This is one of those. Be prepared for one thunderous guitar riff, some delicate, alluring vox and one infectious chorus.
23. John Grant - Chicken Bones John Grant has been plagued with problems all his life. At high school, he was beaten up for being the sole homosexual. Then he fronted perhaps the most criminally underrated band of our generation, The Czars, had an affair with a drug dealer, got hooked on cocaine and contemplated suicide. His personal trauma has always overshadowed his music and his unique baritone vocals and sardonic lyrical content have passed most of us by.
But this year saw the modest, tortured protagonist finally receive the recognition he has long deserved. He released his debut solo effort, 'Queen of Denmark', to a host of extraordinary reviews (In fact, he just topped Mojo's album of the year list).
On the record, he was backed by the delicate sounds of Texan folkies Midlake, their trademark Jethro Tull-esque flute emanating nostalgia. It was beautiful, dark and atmospheric. Lyrically, it still accentuated his funny, frank and evocative traits; the highlights coming in the comically-titled 'Sigourney Weaver', 'Jesus Hates Faggots' and this, 'Chicken Bones'.
22. Mount Kimbie - Would Know
This is Mount Kimbie's second track on the list, and there is no need to further explain why they are on it, apart from what I said earlier, about their unique fusion of 'sublime intricacy, seemingly effortless musicality and use of indistinguishable yelps from anonymous singers they've sampled.'
21. Sarah Jaffe - Clementine
Hailing from Denton, Texas, birthplace of the aforementioned Midlake, newcomer Sarah Jaffe is the greatest singer-songwriter of the year. When asked in a recent interview as to how she went about writing the 13 melodious tunes on debut record 'Suburban Nature', she said confidently: 'I pretty much do it on impulse'.
She was a delight when I saw her perform on her first tour of the UK back in January. The best track she played was 'Clementine', which, now professionally mixed, and backed with a string section, has been brought to life, sounding even more emotional.
Lindstrom, Norway's producer supreme, revisited his roots earlier this year, when he collaborated with Norwegian-Mauritian songstress ChristabelleSandoo once again. The pair, last heard together on 2003's Music in My Mind, this time produced a panoptic full-length of ten succinct, electro rambunctions.The slick standout was 'Lovesick' with its huge wumps of funk and ravishing vocals.
29. Lali Puna - Remember
In a year when Chillwave began to dissapate, one band who made sounds that still mattered was Lali Puna, arguably the forefathers of laid back minimalism. Founded 12 years ago, they've been creating electro-infused iciness for a long time now. They released their best work to date this year in the form of fourth album, 'Our Inventions'. Single 'Remember' is anthemic and overlayed with tender vocals very much a la The XX.
28. The Babies - Meet Me in the City A Black Lips-esque ramshackle freakout from hot new Brooklynites, The Babies. This is extremely promising stuff - expect to hear alot more from these lot next year.
27. Lykke Li - Get Some
When Lykke Li popped up again this year with her first new material since her 2008 debut Youth Novels, the world went crazy. The song that provoked the interest was 'Get Some', in which the Swedish songstress yelps 'I'm your Prostitute, you gon' get some'. Strong words, but catchy ones, and that's all anyone cares about nowadays, right?
26. Yuck - Georgia
No one expected that such a term as the 'Grunge Revival' would be coined this year - however, it was. Most of the attention was centred around London shabbies Yuck, who despite having the worst band name in the history of the universe, make the most raucous, most enjoyable hazy noise rock in the history of the universe. Comprising two ex-Cajun Dance Party party members, a Japanese girl and an American drummer with a massive afro, they're the best new band in ages. This song, their first, is a simple yet perplexing shoegazey love song and features the vocals of lead singer Daniel AND his sister, who supports him.
When the blogosphere received news of Gayngs, a new (sorta) supergroup, featuring Bon Iver, rapper P.O.S. and members of Megafaun and Solid Gold, there was a definite buzz. Later, upon the release of their chilled track 'Gaudy..', we were marvelling at the prospect of a debut full-length. Their ideas were huge and their sonics were intoxicating - hypnotising. But, the song was archetypal of everything clichedin laid-back music terms - something you would have thought would not be so delightful to the listener, instead rather dire.
But it actually worked, and very well at that! - it utilised frickin' cool suave saxes, retrospective slap bass and effortlessly smooth and reverbed vox - forming a loose yet confident, though-provoking blend of cheese and lo-fi.
34. Grinderman - Worm Tamer
'Worm Tamer' is an amalgamation of all of Nick Cave's strongest, most visceral tendencies; it's psychologically chilling, grandiose and lyrically lewd and humorous. It exudes ingenuity, commingling gaudy distortion, unworldly guitar screeches and dark, gruff-voiced vocals.
He here cements his place as rock n roll's faultless funny man, saviour and tour de force - indeed, he begins each verse with a squall of different names for his 'lover', and ends the song with one for himself: she’s a ‘Worm Tamer’ and a ‘Serpent Wrangler’, but he is just an ‘Abominable Snowman’. 33. She & Him - In the Sun
In the last few years, Zooey Deschanel has carried on her role as an actress in many a blockbuster, but has revived her musicality too, as singer in She & Him, her joint musical endeavour with Bright Eyes member, and artist in his own right, M. Ward. She sings in a dainty and melodious manner - some might call it 'twee'.
The duo released their second album, 'Volume Two' this year, which although sluggishly titled, was a transcendent collection of songs, all highlighting Deschanel's saccharine, downbeat 50s-esque harmonies and Ward's rococo guitar solos.
The first single, 'In the Sun', was a utterly brilliant pop tune, equipped with one infectious piano riff and a fittingly cheesy high school video to accompany.
32. Cults - Go Outside
This year, a whole congregation of adroit lo-fi-arbiters emerged, all purveying their rock n roll-tinged, chillwave-influenced fuzz pop. The band who stood out from the crowd were New York's Cults, who write cute, silvery little tunes, and use xylophones. Debut single, 'Go Outside', which according to their website is to be released on December 23rd 2012, mysteriously, is actually already available on their bandcamp, as is a 7".
31. T33TH - See Spaces
T33TH, London's rollicking electronic three-piece shot to fame earlier this year for two reasons:
1. Being geeks and die hard Gaga fans. They hacked her twitter account, tweeting the following'<3 <3 <3 @T3ETH NXT TIME REALNESS PIC A BETTER PASSWORD!!!! PVNKS UNITE!!!' and 'I swear my dick is not as big as T33TH’S!!!! POPWRLDSUCKZ!!! PUNX UNITE!!!! <3'.
2. Being the greatest, most exhuberant, most exhaustive alternative techno act since Crystal Castles. Their debut single 'See Spaces' stormed right to the top of the Hype Machine chart back in Easter, and remixes from Dreamtrak and Dolby Anol showcased their ability to write a damn hawt dance track.
This does exactly as it says on the tin - an utter, transcendant haze. This sounds like The Smiths gone zorbing into the fourth dimension. It opens fading in with an intricate Orange Juice-esque riff, and then the deep, melancholy vocals, Rourke-style bass and jingle-jangling synths kick in. Emanating nostalgia from the outset, this is bloody fantastic - a marvellously plangent, reverb-infused kick-up-the-bum to other Smiths-aspiring wannabes (*cough* The Drums). This wasn't on their debut album released this year, however, I would recommend all of the tunes on that record too.
39. Mount Kimbie - Mayor
'Mayor' is Track 10 off Kimbie's 'Crooks & Lovers' album - their clear and streamlined debut of innovative, clicky shenanigans. This, one of the highlights, rampages off the vinyl/plastic/mp3 file and awesome fusion of technical rhythms, clicks and pop synths which encompasses and sums up all of what their music is all about - sublime intricacy, seemingly effortless musicality and use of indistinguishable yelps from anonymous singers they've sampled. So, here's to Mount Kimbie and their thwacks of post-dubstep beauty - and let their longevity extend to beyond that of the duo's dubstep precedessors!
38. Kanye West - Power
This song conveys one thing West's outrageously perverse ego. Ever since his horrendous outburst during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at that awards ceremonylast year, the egotistical hip hop protagonist has been at the fore- for god's sake, even the renowned rudeboy Barack Obama had something to say about him.
And it's this scrupulous intimidation and exposure to the limelight which has clearly had the most profound influence on his recording of the new material - this is for the good. In 'Power', his incrongrous yet innovative King Crimson sample oddly works and seemlessly flows the tune on - it all progressing with West's catchy, angular rhythms and pronged lyrics. The end result is awe-inspiring. As is the rest of his fifth album - a fabulous collection of collaborations and samples (take your pick from Aphex Twin,Bon Iver, Smokey Robinson...etc...).
Yesterday, on the day the album's release, he received Pitchfork's first '10.0' awarding since Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot hit the jackpot back in 2002 - though perhaps slightly over the top, this is at last true recognition of the man's faultness musical moves.
37. Familjen - Det Var Jag
Credible and trendy Swedish pop hasn't half flourished in the UK recently.
Whilst we've witnessed chart domination and rising cult followings for the likes of Miike Snow, The Radio Dept., Robyn, The Knife, Lykke Li and.... er... Eric Prydz, amongst many others, one band who ostensibly passed us by was Familjen. This could be down to their indirect, unpronouncable name and lyrics in native tongue, however, it could just be due to a lack of desire to make it over here, or a bad push on the marketing front. But that that's boring. The fact is Familjen, alias of Johan T Karlsson, is one great pop songwriter and deserves more credit.
36. Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane
Just the other day, I was left dumbfounded when I discovered supreme laptop-man Flying Lotus had 40,000 fans on facebook. I just had no idea he had such a following. But it's unsurprising, really, considering the brilliance of this year's 'Cosmogramma' album and its high-profile Thom Yorke collaboration.
That, however, is not the song which stuck the most with me. That honour in fact goes to '...Astral Plane', an astonishing work whose infectious human 'badom-badom's, 'oooo's and 'hahahah's domineer.
As Balam Acab's influence box on myspace states: he is inspired by 'feelings, vibes, souls, spirits, nature and essences'. And so, his music is awash with them too. With sitars, harps and haunting Indian samples, in 'Regret Making Mistakes' he presents us with a cultural sweep of all things musically 'kool'/relevant - we've got the looped female vocal, the pounding 4/4 synths /w thumping bassdrum and the Active Child-esque soars of vocal emotion.
And so what if I were to tell you this prodigious, introspective delight is the brainchild of an 18-year old still at music college (named Alec Koone) - would you believe me?....Probably not!
But it's true - unbelievable considering what this guy is doing is so frickin' trailblazing - honestly, he's up there alongside Flying Lotus, Mount Kimbie, Gold Panda and the like, as one of most innovative electronic musicians out there.
44. LCD Soundsystem - You Wanted a Hit (Soulwax Remix)
When James Murphy announced that this year's This is Happening album was to be the last release under his LCD moniker (let's be honest - it's all his work really), fans all over the world expressed their discontent. The album subsequently became their highest charting (no. 4, if I remember correctly) and we all eagerly awaited the announcement of a tour. Luckily enough for us, they have since travelled the world over... like a billion times.
The best track off the new rec was 'You Wanted a Hit', a surging crescendo of guitars, synths and pop hooks. The Soulwax guys made a remix, funking it up a little bit. It's awesome, and that's why it's on the list.
43. Male Bonding - Franklin
Male Bonding are the ultimate rock n roll band; nearly all their songs clock in at under 2 and a half minutes, their live shows are raucous, momentous occasions (literally everyone goes mental) and barre chords prevail.
Their visceral noise rock, reminiscent of grungers Dinosaur Jr and Hüsker Dü, and legendary punk Iggy Pop, is scroungy and dirty, yet loveable. The explosive musical energy they inflict on our ears (in a good way) is so powerful, so abrasive, so exhaustive, so IT. This band is IT. IT is this band.
42. Gorillaz - Stylo (ft. Bobby Womack & Mos Def)
Damon Albarn's side-side-side-project Gorillaz returned this year ubiquitous, and under much controversy; their first new single in five years was a 'blatant rip-off', or so claimed legendary Reggae singer Eddy Grant. As it turned out, the allegations were pretty low-founded (come on - a few similar notes does not amount to plagiarism!). In fact, the tune was sublime and funky - we had disco legend Bobby Womack make brief but exciting, catchy interjections and Mos Def do his thang alongside the usual Gorillaz choir of Damon plus a few anonymous apes singing a typical Gorillaz chorus of 'Overload, Overload, Overload, Coming up to the...'... A superb return to form, if I might say so.
41. Disclosure - Offline Dexterity
Like Joy Orbison on holiday in Ibiza, reading The Independent, while listening to a Metronomy DJ set. This = blissful, simple electronica.
Love it.
That's all for today.
LA boy-girl duo Kisses garnered much attention earlier this year for their cute, appealing brand of synth-twee. This was their debut single, released back in March on the groundbreaking Transparent label. It was a perplexing and plaintive delight, highlighting their fabulous, wistful synth pop reminiscent of Hot Chip, but as if influenced by Paul Simon's Graceland and Belle and Sebastian's Tigermilk.
49. Janelle Monáe - Cold War
If there was one artist this year who really got robbed of her record sales, it was Janelle Monáe. She had it all perfected - the tunes, the phunk, the dance moves, even the hair. It seemed obvious to the world that these elaborate traits, topped off with her creation of one of the finest, most original concept albums since Ziggy Stardust, could only lead to one thing: stardom. Unfortunately and ashamedly, the only adoration she got in the UK was from the critics. The standout track was 'Cold War', an epic alt/r'n'b crossover, highlighting her powerful voice and a superbly directionless guitar solo.
Hopefully, unlike the similarly talented Aaliyah, Monáe's first no. 1 will not come posthumously - indeed I think it will come soon.
48. Small Black - Photojournalist
Chillwave burst onto the blogs back in 2009 with incessant flourishes of praise for Neon Indian and Washed Out's lo-fi loops and electro fuzz . However, after the release of the former's Psychic Chasms album and the latter's Life of Leisure EP, it seemed the genre was dead - there was no way in which it could be developed further, we thought. But then came along Small Black, the newest wavey, technicolour sensations purveying all things electronically laid back. Having put on one of the most talked about shows at this year's SXSW, they subsequently released superb debut album New Chain, defying Chillwave its death and prolonging its influence on today's music culture.
47. Crystal Castles - Baptism
Noyau dur electro-thrashers CC returned to the scene this year with another eponymous album Crystal Castles II, the follow-up to 2008's successful Crystal Castles. Back with live shows as hectic as ever, the highlight of my musical summer came when watching the big screen at Suffolk's Latitude Festival, and seeing singer Alice Glass punch one of her fans right in the face (Youtube it). She jumped about, shrieking for the whole set (which typically for the duo, was cut short). They recently released the visceral but transcendent single, 'Baptism', with a suitably brash accompanying video. There's also a cool Rihanna mash up of the tune, which I urge to Youtube, in addition to the punch.
46. Sky Larkin - Still Windmills
I love Sky Larkin. I love how the entwine heavy guitars with gentle vocals and make it sound normal. On their recent second album, they were obviously influenced more by American bands like Pavement, Sleater-Kinney and Death Cab for Cutie (with whom they have producer John Goodmanson in common), rather than being your usual Clash-aspiring indie band. On 'Still Windmills' Nestor's powerful, intricate rhythms and Doug's rolling bass combine to form the perfect backdrop for lead singer Katie Harkin and her kaleidoscopic guitar swirls.
Another fabulously off-kilter electro tune from Germany's PdP , once again combining his trademark bells, clicks and a gradually complexing beat, culminating it all in a rather mainstream-esque, dancey euphoria of synths. Taken from his best entire work to date, and indeed one of the best album releases of the year, 'Black Noise', the beguiling minimalist hypnotises us in this musical mosaic.
54. Archie Bronson Outfit - Hoola
Everyone loves a bit of dirty rock n roll now and then, don't they?
Indeed, Domino-signed rawkers Archie Bronson Outfit purvey all things musically raw and sordid. This hippie-tinged concoction of jangling guitars and vocal rambunctiousness is taken from their superb third effort 'Coconut'. On its release, it went criminally unnoticed by the press - and was yet another fantastic album the guys at the Mercury prize inadvertedly missed off their list.
53. Big Boi - Shutterbugg
2010 was the year the newly found solo artist broke free from the creative limitations of his or her dayjob, and instead, this time conquered the music world alone. We had Cee-lo Green (ok... not so new, but he at last had found the popularity he had been waiting for!), and there was er... Nadine Coyle.. and we also had Big Boi - you know, the one from Outkast, but not the one in the Hey Ya video? No? Well he's the cool one in the duo, and judging from this, 'Shutterbugg', the first single from his '....Luscious Foot' album, he's a very talented songwriter too. The same can't be said for one Ms Coyle, however.
52. Beach House - Norway
This is an ethereal haze of melodious utterings, flanged guitars and gruff, yet girly vocals from leader Victoria Legrand. Its chorus of 'Norwaa-aa-aa-aay-ayy' is pretty catchy too, it strangely making my brain think of Norwegians things like fjords and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
51. James Blake - CMYK
At the moment, the name of one artist, and one artist alone, is on the tips of every journo's lips. The name concerned belongs to the rising, soul-inspired DJ/singer-songwriter, James Blake. This, his Kelis-sampling breakthrough chant is a wonderful medium by which we can see into his world - his inspirations are vivid and his astounding skill seems effortless. A former Mount Kimbie touring member, now an artist in his own right, the man looks set to own 2011 - what's more, on the recent EP 'Klavierwerke', he showcased his own unique, soul-infused melodies for the first time, proving that he isn't just a man behind a laptop, who can loop a bloody good sample.
Well, since it's nearing the end of year and everyone loves lists, I thought now would be the right time to compile a sort of mini-musical-almanac, one featuring each and every song which has soundtracked my life this year.
In this list, created after lots and lots and lots of contemplation and relistening, I have tried to encompass tracks from throughout the year, from all genres. From Balam Acab to Kanye West, from Gold Panda to The Arcade Fire- I hope this list will be satisfactory for all persona.
It' s actually been very hard settling on who should make it, and if you're wondering why I'm starting at 60 - it's because 2010's music has reflected my tastes so much, and in so many different ways - I couldn't possibly leave some of these beauties out. I'll be posting the choons in chunks of five over the next couple of weeks.....have a listen!
60. New Young Pony Club - Chaos
First up... New Young Pony Club. At the end of last year, NYPC told fans 'The Optimist', the follow-up full-length to their infectious 2007 debut, was to be less 'pop', and instead rather 'sombre', which got us all worried. Fortunately, it turned out that they had, to some extent, lied - what we actually got was another very damn catchy and slick pop album - the highlight being robust lead single 'Chaos'.
59. 2.54 - Creeping
London's 2.54 create simple, awkward music. That little opener probably makes it sound pretty dire- but believe me, this is brrrrrrrrrrrilliant stuff. In 'Creeping' they fuse intricate, distorted riffs with macabre Warpaint-esque harmonies, all under severe lo-fi production, sounding like a British Vivian Girls, or summit of that ilk.
58. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Brooklyn's crit-adored alt-goths The National released 'High Violet', their fifth album, back in May to much acclaim and many sales (it charted at no. 5 - no mean feat for such a group in these tough times)- indeed it was, in some sense, a reward for the former esoteric band and their relentless touring and seemless creation of audacious album after album. Half a year ago now, the first taste of the new material we got was this. Obviously turning it up a notch production-wise, and at last showcasing their ability to write a bloody catchy tune, this is a heart-wrenching anthem whose epic nature will never cease to intrigue and bewilder. In fact, it's the kind of music you can imagine ITV nicking for the intro of a Champion's league game.
57. Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go
Neo-psychedelic lovelies Twin Sister create music with a definite summer vibe.This tune is from an EP entitled 'Color Your Life', which was released right at the beginning of the year. With the echoed 'ah-ah's, the sensual coos from frontwoman Andrea and the prevalent, swirling synths, this is, from the outset, a tune that you can dance to, immerse yourself in entirely, and then be drawn to listen to it over and over again. Essentially, this is what you would get from a Yes-obsessed Bat for Lashes or Cat Power.
56. Beastie Boys - Sabotage (Alex Metric Re-Edit)
Despite the fact we have to thank Beastie Boys, the original white rap boys, for the later unholy obliteration of popular music by way of influencing a whole host of 'nu-metal' turdwipes, they did indeed, in their time, write some of the best songs of their generation. This year, 'Sabotage', debatably the most superior of the lot, was re-worked by innovative UK remixer Alex Metric, who introduced some extra impounding crescendos and heavier funk guitars to bring it to life, 2010-style - and indeed it now sounds just as refreshing as it did twenty odd years ago.
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
'Living is so Easy', the new single from nature-loving guitar-beaters British Sea Power, is a wonderful amalgam of the epic soundscapes and intellectual themes which have come to characterise the band's work. And it just so happens to be a free download from the player above - score!
It's taken from the new LP, Valhalla Dancehall, which I believe is out in the new year.
