PICCADILLY RECORDS END OF YEAR REVIEW
INTRODUCTION We thought we’d seen it all in our four decades at the cutting edge of music retail; floods, terrorist attacks, the changing fate of vinyl and CDs, Rob Butler’s fire-starting abuse of the shop microwave and the strange case of Matt Ward’s snow-poncho all left their mark on our Piccadilly psyche, but nothing could compare to the utter insanity of 2020. The year began in buoyant fashion, our in/ out-store series bringing the likes of Field Music, Smoke Fairies and Circa Waves to a shop floor / venue near you for maximum musical enjoyment. Then before we knew it, our doors were shut, staff furloughed and customer interaction reduced to a mail order minimum. Darryl and Laura manned the phones, email connections and picking lists, keeping orders fulfilled whilst staving off a seemingly inevitable nervy-b around the time of the first RSD drop. Enlisting Ryan and Javi in socially distanced fashion, the owners kept the plates spinning during those summer months, a feat which would have been impossible without the continuing support, understanding and optimism of our customers — many thanks to all of you.
Outside of everyday operations, we took inspiration from Tim Burgess’ excellent twitter listening parties to take our pending outstores into the realm of the live stream, enjoying great performances from Fontaines D.C., Katie J Pearson, Hinds and This Is The Kit. RSD was reshaped into a trio of online events, and though we missed seeing you all in person, we’re glad that our brand new mail-order system just about managed to give everyone what they wanted. It’s been a strange year, and one which has taken its toll on the venues and independent businesses of the NQ and beyond — we send our best wishes to everyone who’s struggling right now and have faith we’ll see you on the other side. Thanks as always to the supremely talented Mark Brown for another gorgeous booklet design, to the musicians responsible for the sublime sounds within, and to you lot, our friends electric.
PICCADILLY RECORDS COMPILATION 2020 Vinyl fans rejoice! We’re delighted to announce that we’re once again releasing a compilation LP, jampacked with 12 tracks cherry picked from this year’s Top 20 albums. All for the bargain price of £9.99 again!
PICCADILLY RECORDS SAMPLER Our ever popular sampler CD is back once again for 2020, bursting with 18 top tracks from the last 12 months, including the likes of Rheinzand, Kelly Lee Owens, Caribou, International Teachers Of Pop and many more. As usual, it’s free with the Top 100 Albums, Top 20 Compilations and Top 20 Reissues (whilst stocks last!)
The Top 100 Albums
PICCADILLY RECORDS ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2020
RHEINZAND RHEINZAND
Javi: Bringing groove, gloom and glamour aplenty, Belgian mavericks Rheinzand have crafted a powerhouse of a disco album, dragging even the most rhythmically challenged of us onto the metaphorical dancefloor. ‘Rheinzand’ had hardly been out a week before Mine and I founded The Rheinzand Alliance: an intra-Piccadilly splinter group hell-bent on securing the band a spot in our coveted top 10. We played the album a lot, and watched as our Piccadilly pals were drawn in by the seductive synths, smart bilingual lyrics and ethereal grooves. Fast-forward five months, and ‘Rheinzand’ has marched into our Album of the Year spot with practically the whole shop united under its dark and sparkling banner. Released on the much-loved Music for Dreams label, ‘Rheinzand’ is as atmospheric as it is insistent; behind the four-to-the-floor beats, funking basslines and slick Balearic production sheen, something sinister lurks. Monstrous
PICCADILLY EXCLUSIVES
synth-basses squelch and stomp while distant choruses yell and clamour for our attention. Old Testament logic is carried out to its perverse conclusion on the stellar “Blind” with singer Charlotte Caluwaerts imparting that “an eye for an eye will make you blind”, while the album’s more pensive moments, “Porque” and “You Don’t Know Me”, see Caluwaerts evoke the spirit of Julee Cruise. There’s something very Twin Peaks about the album as a whole too — ‘Rheinzand’ is like a David Lynch wet dream recorded straight to tape (or vinyl, or whatever else you’re into…) There’s bangers in them hills, too. “Fourteen Again” puts a nostalgic singalong chant over a rugged DFA-style backdrop (expertly crafted by producer Reinhard Vanbergen), while “Obey” combines batshit grit with pop brilliance, in part thanks to the sub-Iggy Pop growl of Mo Disko in the vocal booth. Rheinzand’s distinctive brand of nu-disco is ballsy and joyous — an album to celebrate and savour in a year that’s been anything but.
Get the Rheinzand album on coloured vinyl or CD exclusive to Piccadilly Records!
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Q & A with Rheinzand’s Charlotte Caluwaerts, Reinhard Vanbergen, and Mo Disko How did the Rheinzand project come together? Charlotte & Reinhard: About 10 years ago, Mo and Reinhard started saying they should do something together. That conversation went on for 3 years then 7 years ago, they made the first Rheinzand track, appropriately named: “The First Time”. When they made a second track, Charlotte was asked to write some vocals. After making about 10 tracks we wanted to perform them live, so we asked Stephane Missegers and Bruno Coussée to join us on stage. Mo: From time to time I used to see Reinhard at a bar where I used to play and we were always talking about doing something together one day, countless times later we were again in that same situation, looked at each other thinking are we gonna have the same conversation again. So Reinhard suggested we meet on Monday, I told him that I don’t play any instruments, have no clue in notes and other musical theory, just know what I like and love about music and how I want it to be. He replied that that’s not a problem at all but demanded that I sang which made it very challenging as I never thought of me singing. We made “The First Time” in one afternoon and that felt pretty nice. After we did our second track Reinhard told me that his girlfriend was coming over that night and that maybe she could do some backings. The next day I received a file and after listening to it one time I knew Charlotte was the missing link; I call her my little angel so from that moment it was the three of us. What approach do you take when making music? Mo: Usually I select two tracks as inspiration / direction. The two tracks are chosen for their specific vibe. Reinhard & Charlotte: Then anything goes, no limitations, we just throw stuff at it. Some electronic stuff, some very acoustic. The studio is filled with instruments of all kinds. The living room table is a timpani for example…We own a lot of vintage keys and rhythm boxes, and about 30 different stringed instruments, so the challenge is to make it sound modern really. Trying to make something new and fresh with old sounds, and try to get them married with some new sounds. They are not always easy to match. The new keys you can buy, have a different soul you could say. Built to make EDM or other more commercial genres. It needs some tweaking to make them blend with a juno, a Korg 800 or even a dx7. Nevertheless, they are very useful, because they have more options and are more stable. The combination makes it
RECOMM E IF YOU L NDED IKE: YELLO LCD SOU NDSYST EM DJ HARV EY
interesting. Mo and Reinhard usually start off with a track while Charlotte sits in the room and gets inspired by the sounds and writes the lyrics. When there’s enough of a track, she’ll lay down the vocals. Mo: Then I start bouncing off on Charlotte’s vocals in order to create my part if needed in that certain track. The LP features a Talking Heads cover, what made you choose that track? Also, who are some of your other influences? Reinhard & Charlotte: Talking Heads are one of those bands that really jump out. Even today, David Byrne is an exceptional artist, with genius ideas. Talking Heads always had that urge to look for adventurous LIDACCIP DROCER YL arrangements, without losing the S ability toFO DNE RAEY Rdance EIVEto W it. That’s very similar to our approach. It’s also in that corner you should look for our other influences. Stuff that is made for the dancefloor, but that is a little off or is special. Early new beat, old techno, psychedelic disco, made with the very first limited electronic instruments and samplers, but are genius because of those limitations. You could say, most of these influences come out of Mo’s vinyl collection, or DJ sets, while the lyrics have more of Charlotte’s influences. She loves the great female singers like Donna Summer, Blondie, Liz Torres, Roisin Murphy. The seventies glam and the eighties roughness. If you could choose anyone to cover one of your tracks, who would it be and which track would you like them to take on? Reinhard & Charlotte: Kraftwerk covering “Porque”. Mo: Must agree with R&C here, would love to hear that. You’re our record of the year, but what’s been your favourite album this year? Reinhard & Charlotte: Róisín Murphy: ‘Róisín Machine’ Mo: Blitzzega: DISCO 5-HO-DMT What’s next for you guys? I would imagine you’ve missed out on a lot of touring during the pandemic, has this allowed you to focus on making music? Reinhard & Charlotte & Mo: We are bringing out some remix EPs and a full remix album from some amazing artists. For most of them we do a remix in return, so that keeps us busy, and in the meanwhile we started working on a second album. We’d like to release that in between pandemics. In fact, I think we might have a great album title with that.
The Top 100 Albums
JIM NOIR A.M JAZZ Andy: It’s 14 years since Jim Noir’s debut album and the way the music scene works (chew them up spit ‘em out, next!) you could be forgiven for heaving an almighty shrug. Playful, whimsical (his stage name is derived from Vic Reeves’ real name!) quirky Mancunian, songs used in adverts and video games, cute, charming, retro sounds, etc etc; all kinda true, but only half the story. This guy, real name Alan Roberts, is a genius songwriter, for whom the notion of pop “relevance” should not apply. His way with melody is right up there with the very best, and these harmoniously overlapping songs actually remind me of a Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson. This record is quite simply beautiful. Forty one minutes of lush, blissed-out, mesmerising song craft. It starts with a Fanclub-style classic, moves through upbeat Super Furries fun then slides into three Air style velvet funk groovers, including album highlight “Hexagons” which is the best song I’ve heard all year. Then a nine minute mid record three song instrumental passage (a dream!) sets you up perfectly for Side 2 where Alan revisits that stunning opener but with added melancholy, before drifting off into second big standout “Lander” where swathes of shoegaze distortion, heavenly keys and percussive beats provide chillwave vibes as the chords shift gorgeously underneath. All that remains is for the record’s fourth instrumental and title track to play you out; high, lonely, but fuzzy and still beautiful. It’s a trip.
RECOM IF YOUMENDED LIKE: BRIAN WILSO N SUPER ANIMFAURRY LS AIR
SDROCER YLLIDACCIP WEIVER RAEY FO DNE
Well this is an entirely unexpected delight and probably the proudest day of my Mancunian life! First and foremost I’d just like to say a big screw you to everyone who didn’t believe in me along this journey to becoming the second best IN THE WORLD. The guy in A1 Music on Oxford Road who laughed at me for buying a cheap distortion pedal when I was 15. The guy in Johnny Roadhouse for throwing me out for playing “Blackbird” when I was 15. The guy across the road from Piccadilly Records (the best shop in the world) who wouldn’t buy my old CDs because he thought I’d stolen them when I was 15. And everyone else who laughed at and underestimated me before and after the age of 15. I always knew in my heart there was only one record shop worth visiting to buy a copy of ‘Ice Hockey Hair’ when I was 15. Thank You to Piccadilly Records for being the greatest shop in the world and actually having the balls to acknowledge real talent. Jim Noir
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RÓISÍN MURPHY RÓISÍN MACHINE Mine: Róisín Murphy has always had that certain indefinable something; a selfassured demeanour that although grandiose never seems pretentious. Perky and eccentric, but always charming — someone you can look up to in an artistic way but equally just want to take out for a pint and a bit of banter. Add to her showmanship, incredible voice and pop sensibility, the musical genius of long-time collaborator Richard Barratt aka Crooked Man / DJ Parrot and you end up with an irresistible mix of shimmering disco strut, pulsating synths and thumping club beats. ‘Róisín Machine’ seems like the culmination of and logical conclusion to Murphy’s 25-year career — from her time as one half of Moloko through to collaborations with the likes of Boris Dlugosch, Maurice Fulton and Crooked Man — but at the same time feels new and exciting and oozes with confidence, as if Murphy is only just getting started. “I feel my story is still untold, but I’ll make my own happy ending...” are the revealing opening words of the album which has been a decade in the making. Even though every song on the record is a standalone winner that would feel at home on most dancefloors, the album also works extremely well as a whole, with one track seamlessly blending into the next. It therefore equally lends itself to an afternoon on the sofa — headphones on, choice of drink in hand and dreaming of a time when we can finally hear it blasting through the speakers of our favourite clubs. Luckily, there is a wealth of lockdown video content by Murphy herself that will keep us entertained until then!
For ‘Róisín Machine’ to be included in Piccadilly Records’ End Of Year list feels like a particularly sweet kind of full circle for me. I spent many hours in there as a kid pawing the records and wishing I had more money but spending everything I had. The record itself harks back to those times when I fell into the music scene in Manchester, when music helped me build myself and create a life I could be proud of. ‘Róisín Machine’ is about individualism not escape. It looks back at what could be lost and what must be saved. Long live brilliant record shops! Róisín Murphy REC O IF Y MME N O GOL U LIKEDED : DFR A P A P HOR NNIE S DISE MEA CO T
SDR O WEIV CER YL LI ER R AEY DACCIP FO D NE
The Top 100 Albums
20
20
GRIMES
Miss Anthropocene -
21st Feb
TKAY MAIDZA
Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2 -
7th Aug
U.S. GIRLS
Heavy Light -
6th Mar
THE LEMON TWIGS
Songs For The General Public -
21st Aug
PURITY RING Womb -
3rd Apr
FUTURE ISLANDS As Long As You Are -
9th Oct
BING & RUTH Species -
17th Jul
ADRIANNE LENKER
Songs And Instrumentals -
23rd Oct
BECKY AND THE BIRDS Trasslig -
24th Jul
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THE ORIELLES DISCO VOLADOR Andy: Wow, no second album worries whatsoever for The Orielles, then! Crashing into our hearts with their supernaturally energised blend of psych, post-punk, dream pop, disco, Tropicalia and good old fashioned indie-pop, this record absolutely does it all. Some of the baggy grooves on their debut have been whipped up to speed; this is a taught, funky, crisp and punchy sound. I’d say it’s also a more experimental record, definitely more challenging, but that doesn’t mean the tune count is any lower: these are massive, dead catchy pop songs, designed for the dancefloor but especially the live experience; what a shame that’s been denied them (and us!) in this annus horribilis. Opening track “Come Down On Jupiter” is a heavily phased and flanged waltz before its driving middle section and grooving outro, whilst elsewhere there’s saxophone, congas, handclaps galore, and an ever burgeoning love affair with Manchester’s very own A Certain Ratio. Lead singer Esme has such a sweet, unaffected voice in which a tiny sense of longing can be detected, though not in any navel gazing way, she’s probably pining to meet somebody out on the astral plain or she’s dreaming of space travel, cosmic connectivity or just another dimension altogether! This is music to get you off your arse alright, the drums and percussion are just incredible throughout, as is the overall production, so tasty, so nuanced, so many flavours. I really think they’re one of our best bands right now.
We feel so honoured to be part of this selection in what has been a whirlwind of a year for most!
REC O IF Y MME OU NDE LI D ACR KE: PAS TE ORA NGE LS JUI CE
‘Disco Volador’ took form at Eve Studios in Stockport, Manchester and we worked once again with the amazing Marta Solagni to create a record meant for escapism, with nods to Italian Library music and the late 70s New York City art and avante-garde music scene. In the studio, we became pretty accustomed to the occasional gong bath in between takes and the warm hum and vibrations left us with inspiration and such a clear headspace to be able to write and play in new and interesting ways. A favourite of ours to record SDR OCE was a track called “Material Mistake”, heavily R WEIV ER R YLLIDAC AE‘Dummy’. Y FO CIP inspired by Portishead’s 1994 record, DNE We came up with a lot of the lyrics and vocal melodies in the studio (shortly after a gong bath session) and it aims to highlight the issues we are faced with regarding climate change and the global crisis we are in at the minute. To be able to share this record during such an uncertain time of drastic change has been interesting, but having constant support from independent record stores is such a blessing and something we’ll be forever grateful for! The Orielles
Photo © Neelam Khan Vela
The Top 100 Albums: Top Ten
WORKING MEN’S CLUB WORKING MEN’S CLUB
SDROCER YLLIDACCIP WEIVER RAEY FO DNE
Laura: It’s perhaps unsurprising that a band from the Calder Valley on the edge of the Pennines draws on influences from both sides of the hills. Todmorden’s WMC have done just that, splicing the synth led sounds of 80s Sheffield with doomy Mancunian post punk stylings to create a forward thinking monster of a debut album. The acidic synths and pulsing beat of album opener “Valleys” encapsulate the claustrophobia of growing up in a small town and the smothering intensity is maintained through the industrial clatter of “A.A.A.A.” With its funk fuelled grooves, nonchalant vocals and bitter sweet chorus, “John Cooper Clarke” could easily be an undiscovered classic from early Factory days. As side one draws to a close, the mood is lifted with the choppy guitar groove of “White Rooms and People”, and on “Outside”, it feels like they’ve escaped the town for sun kissed wide open spaces. Side two reverts to pounding industrial grooves and distorted guitars on “Be My Guest”. “Tomorrow” marries monotone vocals with a super catchy chorus while “Cook a Coffee” takes a cheeky snipe at a certain TV presenter. “Teeth” is aimed squarely at the dancefloor with its relentless synth stabs interwoven with doomy guitar riffs and “Angel” brings the album to a triumphant close: Jangling guitars and crashing cymbals over a driving rhythm that morphs into a sprawling psychedelic wig-out. They set out to make a dance record that wouldn’t be pigeonholed as a dance record. I think they’ve nailed it.
In the very early days NDED MME : RECOYOU LIKE of Working Men’s Club IF R ORDE I’d walk around the NEW RLD O W R Northern Quarter with UNDE RET CABA Giulia when we were AIRE VOLT supposed to be in college and we’d go in Piccadilly and sift through records. I tended to spend the little money I had on clothes but I’d always go into Piccadilly when it was a friend or family members birthday. Since releasing our first single “Bad Blood” they’ve been avid supporters and we owe a great deal of thanks and gratitude to them. The world needs more independent record shops as good and as caring about the music they love as Piccadilly is. It’s important that record shops along with independent venues continue to support new and unsigned artists as well as those on indie and major labels, I know that Piccadilly do that alongside local venues in Manchester such as Night & Day, Yes, The Castle, Gullivers and many more. They were the foundation for us finding our feet as a band and it’s important that bands, venues and record stores continue to help each other out during and after this difficult time. Thank you Piccadilly! Syd — Working Men’s Club
Photo © Andy Nicholls
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2020 SRD PICCADILLY PICKS JIM NOIR
‘A.M JAZZ’ LP/CD (DOOK RECORDINGS) #2 IN PICCADILLY RECORDS ALBUMS OF THE YEAR “A trippier, dreamier mood and some of his most seductive melodies to date.” 8/10 UNCUT
CORIKY
‘CORIKY’ LP/CD (DISCHORD) “Former members of Minor Threat, Fugazi and The Evens deliver a bracing blast of moral, melodic US punk.” 4/5 THE GUARDIAN
SONIC BOOM
‘ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL’ LP/CD (CARPARK RECORDS) “Urgent, retro-futurist and profoundly absorbing.” 8/10 MOJO “A brilliant, timely return for the original psychedelic spaceman.” 4/5 SHINDIG!
THE COOL GREENHOUSE
FOUR TET
‘SIXTEEN OCEANS’ 2LP/CD (TEXT) “This club/non-club ratio is similar to that of New Energy, the last Four Tet album, but Sixteen Oceans surpasses that LP through the strength of its ambient and electronica.” 8.0 RESIDENT ADVISOR
CRAVEN FAULTS
‘ERRATICS & UNCONFORMITIES’ 2LP/CD (THE LEAF LABEL) Long-form analogue electronic journeys across decades and continents, and swathes of post-industrial northern Britain. “Glacial landscapes a go-go on mesmerising debut by Yorkshire producer.” 4/5 MOJO
FLOODLIGHTS
‘FROM A VIEW’ LP/CD (WOO ME! / SPUNK) “Imagine Rolling Blackouts with a rawer, more new wave and politically articulate edge; a way with a tune that’ll please you if you adored The Chills in their first phase.” 8.3 BACKSEAT MAFIA
KEELEY FORSYTH
‘THE COOL GREENHOUSE’ LP/CD (MELODIC)
‘DEBRIS’ LP/CD (THE LEAF LABEL)
“Acidic debut from post-punk’s new poet laureate...irresistible to fans of the likes of IDLES and Fat White Family.” 4/5 Q
“Debris is an astonishing debut, not just for the power of the songs, but for the journey they trace.” 8/10 UNCUT
ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF
VINTAGE CROP
‘ALL THOUGHTS FLY’ LP/CD (SOUTHERN LORD)
‘SERVE TO SERVE AGAIN’ LP (UPSET THE RHYTHM)
“von Hausswolff pulls out all the stops to create an equally monumental work of art ingeniously fusing ancient and modern music.’’ THE WIRE
“This Geelong quartet look to Wire, Fugazi and Celibate Rifles rather than to Aussie pub rock..The whole 12-track set is a winner.” 8/10 UNCUT
VARIOUS ARTISTS
‘PACIFIC BREEZE 2’ 2LP/CD (LIGHT IN THE ATTIC) Follow up to LITA’s critically acclaimed and best selling 2019 release Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986.
MCCARTHY
‘THE ENRAGED WILL INHERIT THE EARTH’ 2LP+7” (OPTIC NERVE) “Living Marxism meets The Byrds on this LP by Stereolab co-founder’s first band.” 7/10 UNCUT LEAD REVIEW
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R O V C E E R R R YL A EY LID FOAC C D IP N E
The Top 100 Albums
FONTAINES D.C. A HERO’S DEATH
Martin: Following the moody brilliance of the universally lauded ‘Dogrel’ was never going to be easy. Such a weight of expectation! Add to that a relentless schedule that goes with maintaining the momentum of success and a lifestyle that stretches minds and bodies to the limit (all too often beyond) and Fontaines D.C. could well be forgiven for buckling under the pressure. They certainly weren’t immune. Instead of blunting their creativity however, they channelled the world weariness and cynicism into their music, giving darker breadth and depth to the snarl and vigour of their debut. Grian Chatten is as poetic and articulate as ever, his wry observations irreplaceable, but here they are shot through with defiant nihilism and a wish for independence, from everything and everyone. They cite the Beach Boys as an influence on this album, but, while their chopping, post punk growl certainly has added harmony and changes of pace for sure, this ain’t surfing weather. Where they do throw in a ballad, the gorgeous drunken drawl of “No” that closes the record, it’s under leaden Dublin skies. The glorious, rolling sneer of “Televised Mind” and the tortured glam of the title track are perhaps other standouts, but then this album is full of them. All killer, certainly that.
REC O IF Y MMEN OU L DED SHA IKE: ME THE M CAP URDER ITAL IDLE S
Tom from Fontaines D.C.’s Top 5 albums of the year…. Tiña: Positive Mental Health The first full length LP to be released on the Speedy Wunderground label, which is based out of Dan Carey’s studio in South London. I’ve been lucky enough to have heard the album a few months ago and I love it. Equal parts good craic and genuinely touching. “Golden Rope” and “Rosalina” are big stand out tunes for me. Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers Definitely my favourite release of the year. This album was a huge part of my early lockdown buzz and it’ll always bring me back to that strange time. “Slumlord” and the closing tune “Say Nothing” are special with the outro refrain of “Baxter loves you” being a very endearing way to close an album. Girl Band: Live at Vicar Street I wouldn’t usually put a live album in my albums of the year list but this year is an exception to the rule. This was one of my Record Store Day buys and was made more special by the fact that I was at the Vicar Street show myself. It felt like the most 2020 thing ever to be listening to a record of a live show that I was at months previous but getting the energy of a live show again was amazing. Pottery: Welcome to Bobby’s Motel Fellow Partisan label mates Pottery put out this record during the summer and I have to give all the love to them. I heard a lot of these tunes when we were on tour across the states with them and it’s so cool to hear them recorded now. “Hot Like Jungle” is an absolutely beautiful tune and the cowbell on “Bobby’s Forecast” is deadly. The Scratch: Couldn’t Give a Rats The Scratch are an Irish band who play a mix of traditional style Irish ballads with a strong metal influence on acoustic instruments. They are the epitome of Irish craic and really amazing musicians. This album is a truly different debut and well worth a listen.
‘A Hero’s Death’ is absolutely and identifiably Fontaines D.C., it couldn’t be anyone else, but it’s a leaner, more layered and brooding upgrade. If ‘Dogrel’ was a victory, ‘A Hero’s Death’ is a reflection on the cost. It’s just magnificent.
Photo © VALERIAN7000
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KELLY LEE OWENS INNER SONG
By her own admission, this album emerged after the hardest three years of her life, and even a cursory scan of the lyrics hints at a little darkness before the dawn. “‘On” and “L.I.N.E.” explore the end of a troubled relationship, “Melt” references the climate crisis and “Wake Up” warns against extended screen time. Rather than wallowing in the melancholy though, Kelly strikes an optimistic tone, serving a resilient reminder that we all have the power to overcome adversity, mirrored in the vital beats and healing frequencies which underpin her emotive songwriting.
Photo © Sarah Stedeford
Patrick: Three years on from her championship season and KLO returns to the long format with a deeper, more refined distillation of her trademark techno pop style. If her debut album delivered on the promise of those early singles, ‘Inner Song’ offers us a dizzying premonition of just how far she could go.
REC O IF Y MME OU NDE ORB LIKE: D ITA L B JON JÖRK HOP KIN S
SDR O WEIV CER YL LI ER R AEY DACCIP FO D NE
Much like Arthur Russell, an early inspiration, Owens revels in the space between genres, providing a fresh perspective on established styles. Crystalline electronics sit beneath a shoegaze shimmer on “Night”, the bastard offspring of the Cocteau’s and Kraftwerk in a fresh pair of dancing shoes. “Re-Wild” splits the difference between futuristic RnB and taut Detroit techno, a new Minimal Nation woozy on lean, while “Jeanette”, a celebration of the life of her nan, renders an organic landscape in precise electronics. On this complex yet cohesive album, Owens tackles serious subject matter with poetic sensitivity, pop hooks and thunderous beats, all the while retaining the ethereal beauty of her Welsh heritage.
It’s an absolute honour to once again be included in the Top 10 Albums Of The Year at Piccadilly Records. They are one of the best record stores in Europe and have supported me since day one, when I first dropped off my self-pressed 12” of “Lucid”. KLO
The Top 100 Albums
S W DR E O I V C ER E R R YL A EY LID FOAC C D IP N E
ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER SIDEWAYS TO NEW ITALY
Darryl: It’s been well documented that we love the sunshine rich sound of The Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever here at Piccadilly; two EOY Top 10 entries with 2018’s ‘Hope Downs’ and 2017’s mini-album ‘The French Press’ speaks for itself. And now the Australian quintet have returned with ‘Sideways To New Italy’, a superbly crafted and exceptionally well produced album that’s easily on par with their previous releases. Kicking off the album with the timeless “The Second Of The First” it’s clear that they’ve lost none of their songwriting wizardry, all the key RBCF elements are here; interlocking jangling guitars, pristine melodies, a driving rhythm section and hooks that’ll earworm their way around your head for months on end. Track after track of effortless sunkissed indiepop follow including the standout “Cars In Space” where the intertwining triple guitars really hit their peak, layers upon layers of blissful golden soundz over an infectious motorik beat. This is RBCF at their best, where all five members click into a groove that you’ll never want to end. ‘Sideways To New Italy’ is the sound of a band that’s happy to be back in the confines of their studio again having spent around 18 months touring the world; finding warmth in the familiarity of their setting, but wiser for the adventures and tribulations that they’ve encountered so far. Here’s hoping the next album is just as good!
Thanks so much again Piccadilly for your support during what has been an undeniably weird year. In an alternate universe we would REC O have been stopping by IF Y MMEN T HE G OU LIKEDED Manchester to play the : O-BE TWE PA songs from the new record, E PAR VEMEN NS T QUE among other places. We T CO URT S plan to come and do that as soon as we can. These songs were written in a different world to the one they were released in, but hopefully they have struck some kind of chord. They interrogated various ideas of ‘home’, and came into the world during a time when we were very much re-acquainted with our homes . One heartening experience has been seeing the support and appreciation for the record coming in from afar, while we were all housebound down here in Australia. Sending much love and solidarity to you all doing it tough over there. We’ll come and see you when this thing blows over! x RBCF
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SUFJAN STEVENS THE ASCENSION Javi: From the opening choral glitches to the sea of ambience which sees the album out, ‘The Ascension’ is a patchwork of electronic experimentation, distorted lamentations, and intimate confession. Sufjan Stevens has long been a musical chameleon: from the alt-folk expression of ‘Carrie & Lowell’, to the meticulouslyresearched bombast of ‘Illinois’ and digital catharsis of ‘The Age of Adz’, he’s proven time and time again that whatever the instrumentation or subject matter, he can write rich, personal, spiritual songs like no one else. ‘The Ascension’ draws on all these and more, to create an album as fragile as it is grand, as despairing as it is defiant, and as inspired (if not more so) than anything he’s done before.
D NDE MME E: RECOYOU LIK IUS IF GEN UME PERF LE BON E CAT AVER E WE JAN
‘The Ascension’ is a predominantly electronic affair: huge, distorted drums pulse throughout the album, underscoring hordes of ghostly voices and shifting synths. Celestial car alarm effects argue with auto-tuned vocal cries, while album highlight “Landslide” sees Sufjan bow to a guitar solo, of all things, teetering in-between The Durutti Column’s understated beauty and wild math-rock frenzy. Lyrically, Sufjan seems desperate for a response, making demands and pleading with us, the listener, to soothe his anxieties. Faith and certainty are out; desire and anxiety are in. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the penultimate and titular track, which sees Sufjan explore those thoughts he “couldn’t quite confess” to gut-wrenching effect. Like Dante’s Inferno reimagined as a tour of purgatory, ‘The Ascension’ is a deeply conflicted, gloriously lost, and tentatively comforting album. It’s Sufjan’s finest hour (and twenty minutes) yet.
The Top 100 Albums: Top Ten
ANDREW WASYLYK FUGITIVE LIGHT AND THEMES OF CONSOLATION Barry: Despite the times we live in, there remain beacons of musical light in an otherwise shadowy world. It’s my hope that people will hear Andrew Wasylyk’s latest outing and like me, be taken away on a dreamlike bed of carefree strings and soaring plucked harps. On his second album for Athens Of The North, Andrew takes the sound of his previous album, ‘The Paralian’ and injects those stories with a little more of everything, more ambient joy, more curative groove and more heart. As the equal and opposite to this, we get the meditative lows and mournful minor-key intersections that make the bliss seem all the more profound.
D MENDE: RECOM LIKE IF YOU M RAH NILS F E IN CAF PENGUHESTRA ORC HIRE HAMPSFOAT AND
For the soaring, sun-dappled morning of “Last Sunbeams Of Childhood” we get a thoughtful and pensive “In Balgay Silhouettes”. It’s this sense of balance that really sets this music apart, with elements of jazz and folk tempered by an ambient leaning persuasion akin to the sleeper Prefab Sprout hit of 2003/2019, ‘I Trawl The Megahertz’. It’s no easy feat to take in all this breadth of sound and to make it your own, but ‘Fugitive Light And Themes Of Consolation’ couldn’t have seemed any more effortless, with restful interludes and seismic emotional shifts taking place seamlessly in the blink of an eye. It’s an organically growing whole, cohesive and emotional without being overblown or pretentious. A true treasure.
Berman said, “It takes a society to raise a generation.” Then, it takes institutions like Piccadilly to gently invite that generation to dream. Deeply humbled and grateful to be among such wonderful work. Lang may Piccadilly Records’ lum of goodness reek. Thank you. Andrew Wasylyk.
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The Top 100 Albums: Top Twenty
11. CLEO SOL ROSE IN THE DARK RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: ERYKAH BADU SHUGGIE OTIS SOLANGE
Emily: Finding peace of mind amidst the constantly shifting background of apocalyptic news and mounting uncertainty has been quite the challenge this year. Thankfully, London based singer-songwriter Cleo Sol has created a sonic antidote for our pervasive lockdown induced malaise. Her debut album has proved to be a perfectly timed blessing — one that contains a collection of tender musings on love, faith and finding strength in moments of darkness. ‘Rose in the Dark’ is mostly pared back and organic in feel, with orchestral flourishes weaving in and out at just the right moments. Sweet, self-soothing vignettes are framed by rolling Shuggie Otis style grooves and sultry Badu inspired backing vocals. Yet perhaps the most rousing moments of the album are heard in the simple gospel influenced tracks where Cleo’s effortless vocal agility takes centre stage. It’s a compelling debut which carries a fitting message for our times: “Do you know, do you know, do you know that things get better?”
12. ZARA MCFARLANE SONGS OF AN UNKNOWN TONGUE RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: NUBYA GARCIA YASMIN LACEY KHADJA BONET
Millie: Zara McFarlane’s striking album ‘Songs of an Unknown Tongue’ is a reflective, hypnotic release filled with rich tones of roots-reggae, futuristic soul and rapid jazz tempos. The standout track for me is “Future Echoes” beaming with vibrancy and paired alongside a deep bassline, its soaring highs accentuate her stunning vocals and lyrical song-writing prowess. This genre-fusing album is a work of art, accentuating her personal growth and reflective aura through captivating storytelling. McFarlane’s rich and vivid vocals project a soothing, cathartic atmosphere, as though being awoken from a deep slumber — it feels warm and personal. Her vocal range is what takes your breath away, from steep impactful high-notes then fluctuating to deep, profoundly rich soft presence. It’s clear to see why Zara McFarlane has been highly regarded on the Brownswood label as one to watch, well here she is.
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13. BAXTER DURY THE NIGHT CHANCERS RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: JARVIS COCKER SERGE GAINSBOURG BARRY ADAMSON
Laura: Over a pulsing beat, Baxter drawls “I’m not your fucking friend” and with that the tone is set for his sixth album, ‘The Night Chancers’. Since his gently psychedelic Velvets tinged debut, ‘Len Parrot’s Memorial Lift’ back in 2002, Baxter has been gradually honing his style and here amongst the shady, louche characters of ‘The Night Chancers’ he’s hit his stride. His nonchalant downbeat delivery is engaging throughout, as he tells their wayward tales and is countered perfectly by female vocals that at times echo and at others act as a kind of opposing view to his narrative. The whole album is driven by slow-mo beats, languid, meandering basslines and lush strings that create a perfect noir-ish backdrop to the lugubrious tales. You can almost smell the cigarette smoke and cheap aftershave as the neon reflects on the rain soaked pavements.
14. KHRUANGBIN MORDECHAI RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: CYMANDE MENAHAN STREET BAND EL MICHELS AFFAIR
Emily: The international peddlers of smooth, stylish grooves are back, and this time they’ve returned with a slightly revamped sound. They haven’t stopped trawling the globe for sonic inspiration and this could be some of their most eclectic work to date, adding elements of East and West African music to their already diverse sound palette. The vocals are far more present on ‘Mordechai’ than previous albums, but Khruangbin haven’t completely abandoned the deep instrumental format that they started out with. There is plenty of stripped back Cymande style elegance to be enjoyed in tracks like “If there is No Question” and “Father Bird, Mother Bird”. Perhaps one of the prettiest tracks is “One to Remember”, a shimmering dub incarnation of “So We Won’t Forget” which makes for a satisfying self-referential moment. Let’s hope their winning streak endures until they’ve distilled the essence of the entire globe into their singular soundworld.
The Top 100 Albums: Top Twenty
15. SAULT UNTITLED (BLACK IS) RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: GIL SCOTT-HERON FELA KUTI MICHAEL KIWANUKA
Matt: Following up the jaw-dropping impact of ‘5’ & ‘7’ was never gonna cause the biggest band in the hype-mosphere any issues. You get the impression that the (frustratingly still anonymous) collective have musical ideas and modern philosophy pouring out of their backsides, drip feeding us genius and revolutionary sentiment as and when they deem us ready. Gifting the 6Music demographic with an empowered, self-assured and identity-defining document wrapped in a mellifluous tapestry of Afro, gospel and soul-indebted influences; the pure, transparent production style only serves to juxtapose the often hardhitting lyrical content against this rich musical backdrop brilliantly. Sault highlight disparities, discrimination and disadvantage in Black society in much the same way as Gil Scott-Heron or Kendrick Lamar. Amongst the vitriol however, is an album of uplifting, tender and intimate moments, immediately reflective of our current times, especially poignant for 2020, and seeking to create a brighter future for everyone.
16. FOUR TET SIXTEEN OCEANS RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: BOARDS OF CANADA CARIBOU BIBIO
Barry: All of the whimsy and unmistakable glee that comes from Four Tet’s music is here on ‘Sixteen Oceans’. We get the blipping off-kilter synth stabs and dusty nu-rave percussion of ‘Rounds’ or ‘Ringer’, brought together with a smattering of vocal samples (Ellie Goulding on “Baby” is a particular highlight) and the organic, swung congas of the more recent output. “Teenage Birdsong” was an excellent choice for a single, as not only is it the most Four-Tetty cut on the album, but leaves it as a nice surprise for those fans of 2015’s ‘Morning / Evening’ when “Insect Near Piha Beach” emerges as an unsung pick of the crop. As if that wasn’t enough, side D of the vinyl pressing has a number of beautiful locked loops, these vignettes beautiful mini-songs in their own right. Never one short of surprises, Hebden once again blows it out of the water.
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17. BDRMM BEDROOM RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: RIDE THE CHAMELEONS SLOWDIVE
Darryl: The hugely anticipated debut album from the Hull based fivepiece led by Ryan Smith. Released on the ever reliable Sonic Cathedral, ‘Bedroom’ takes its cues from the early 90s shoegazing scene but magnifies it in the huge expanses of their widescreen sound. The effortlessly gorgeous instrumental “Momo” sets the scene as the guitars ripple around a taut rhythm section before the hypnotic opener cross fades into the glimmering introspection of “Push / Pull” with its Chameleons-esque chiming guitar chugs and soft-focus vocals of Smith. Throughout the album the shimmering soundscape pulses along with hypnotic chiming guitars, doomy bass sounds, and dream-pop vocals, all perfectly illustrated on mid-album highlights such as “Gush” and “Happy”. The colossal “If…” dominates Side 2 with huge peaks of crunching fuzz riffs and euphoric vocals, before the album drifts out with the lilting mellowness of “Is That What You Wanted To Hear?” and album closer “Forget The Credits”. Who knows where their next album will take them but with ‘Bedroom’ they’ve created a modern day shoegaze classic.
18. MATTHEW HALSALL SALUTE TO THE SUN RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: ALICE COLTRANE PHIL COHRAN BÜDI SIEBERT
Patrick: After a year in which most of us had plenty of opportunity to reconnect with nature, Manchester’s pre-eminent jazz musician returned with this lush tribute to the living world. ‘Salute To The Sun’ is Halsall’s first album as a leader in five years, and finds him fronting a new band cherry picked from the next generation of Mancunian musicians as well as long time collaborator Gavin Barras. Halsall’s spent much of the last decade reinterpreting spiritual jazz for the 21st century, and there’s been a consistent focus on ecological influences. On ‘Salute To The Sun’ however, Halsall looks far beyond Fletcher Moss, instead exploring the humid sounds of the tropics across seven immersive compositions. Placing a greater emphasis on percussion than on previous works, Halsall lets his expressive tone soar over the woody rhythms beneath, the marimba and kalimba adding pitched nuance to the primal drum patterns. This album is as rich, warm and rewarding as the life giving orb which inspired it.
The Top 100 Albums: Top Twenty
19. CORIKY CORIKY RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: FUGAZI WIRE PROTOMARTYR
Barry: From the first few seconds of the album opener, “Clean Kill” it’s clear that the Fugazi spirit is alive and well. Moving away from the baritone guitar and jagged anti-folk of Farina / MacKaye’s previous project The Evens, they’ve brought in Fugazi bassist Joe Lally to the fold too, only helping to strengthen the dedication to rhythmic drive and jagged, angular edges; “Say Yes” is an excellent example of this, with the dual vox of Farina and MacKaye drifting atop a jazzy, funk shuffle. Later, things get a bit more minimal with “Last Thing” epitomising the wandering, hypnotic groove that we’d expect. This isn’t to say any of the material here is reductive, quite the opposite in fact, they manage to retain the sound of each individual musician while making it clear why every instrument and every melody is present. An essential purchase.
20. TIM BURGESS I LOVE THE NEW SKY RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: KEVIN AYRES SPARKS GRUFF RHYS
Andy: Tim’s fifth solo album is his best by a mile and what’s even sweeter is that he wrote every song totally by himself. It’s the quintessential Tim experience; warm, open-hearted, playful and experimental, but absolutely always with a catchy pop hook at the centre of everything. There’s a sense of wonder and a carefree spirit at play, but don’t be fooled; these twelve ditties have sophisticated arrangements and are expertly embellished with sax, strings and piano, the latter provided by Grumbling Fur’s Daniel O’Sullivan. You could call this soft psyche or indie easy listening except Tim always throws a spanner in the works, a mad detour or delightful quirk. It’s a record full of surprises. Having warmed the hearts of a nation with his wonderful listening parties this summer, Tim has made the kind of album we’ll all be pouring over ourselves for many years to come.
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NICK CAVE
SLY5THAVE
Bad Seed Ltd
Tru Thoughts
MOOR MOTHER
ERLAND COOPER
Don Giovanni
Phases
Idiot Prayer
Circuit City
VARIOUS ARTISTS
La Locura De Machuca (1975 - 1980)
What It Is
BO NINGEN
Sudden Fictions Alcopop!
LA ROUX
Supervision
Supercolour Records
THE BELOVED
THE MYSTERY KINDAICHI BAND
New State Entertainment
WEWANTSOUNDS
Hether Blether
Happiness (Special Edition)
BOY PABLO
THE DREAM SYNDICATE
PURE X
777 Music
Epitaph
Fire Talk
Wachito Rico
Universe Inside
The Adventures of Kindaichi Kosuke
Pure X
Analog Africa
CLOSE LOBSTERS
J LLOYD
(Arte Povera In The Forest Of Symbols)
JFC Worldwide
Post Neo Anti
Last Night From Glasgow
Kosmos
FELBM
REUBEN VAUN SMITH
Soundway
Soundway
Tape 3 / Tape 4
Warm Nights
The Top 100 Albums: Top Fifty
21. MOSES BOYD: DARK MATTER Laura: Sitting at the heart of the British Nu-Jazz scene, Moses Boyd steps forward to bring us ‘Dark Matter’. An upbeat album with amazing depth and complexity, featuring the likes of Nathaniel Cross, Joe Armon Jones, Theon Jones, Nubya Garcia and Ife Ogunjobe. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: BUGZ IN THE ATTIC, EZRA COLLECTIVE, SONS OF KEMET.
22. PROTOMARTYR: ULTIMATE SUCCESS TODAY Barry: ‘Ultimate Success Today’ is a superb, burning fire of an LP from start to finish. Dark and foreboding while somehow managing to elicit a headnod from even the most stationary of listeners, this is Protomartyr’s finest moment yet. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: THE MURDER CAPITAL, IDLES, FAT WHITE FAMILY.
23. MILDLIFE: AUTOMATIC Patrick: Mildlife’s first LP ‘Phase’ wowed us all at Picc HQ and their subsequent live shows sent all and sundry into utter rapture. Their second LP takes a little side step away from the more cosmic moments of their debut, leaning into a more sleek and streamlined discoid style which could elicit a wiggle from even the most ardent wallflower. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: STEELY DAN, PAQUA, LINDSTRØM & PRINS THOMAS.
24. SURPRISE CHEF: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Barry: Sunny Melbourne soulsters Surprise Chef return for another LP of sunshine groove and jazzed out instrumentals. Toeing the line expertly between frenetic, percussive mayhem and Khruangbin-esque downbeat business, they have crafted a uniquely innovative and sun-dappled sound. Another perfect pick-me-up. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: DAVID AXELROD, J DILLA, KHRUANGBIN.
25. IDLES: ULTRA MONO Darryl: Including guest performances from David Yow, Jenny Beth, and Warren Ellis, their third album is an exhilarating punk tour-de-force. Bludgeoning drums, pummelling bass and searing guitars combine with wry social commentary for their most assured album to date. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: SHAME, THE JESUS LIZARD, METZ.
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26. THE AVALANCHES: WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU Patrick: Inspired by love, humanity, space and at least 6,000 sample-able records, ‘We Will Always Love You’ sees The Avalanches return in record time for a third album. The album dips into hip hop, disco, house and electronica with all the warmth, wit and wanderlust we’ve come to expect from the Aussies. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: KANYE WEST, DJ KOZE, BLOOD ORANGE.
27. THE LOVELY EGGS: I AM MORON Barry: Even a global pandemic can’t stop the infectious punk drive and soaring snarling groove of Lancaster’s The Lovely Eggs from taking your worries and smashing them into a thousand pieces, as ‘I Am Moron’ deftly illustrates. Rawkous, wry politicism, chanting punk-rock ethics and HUGE sounds, defying all the odds with only two people in the band. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, ELASTICA, YEAH YEAH YEAHS.
28. TAME IMPALA: THE SLOW RUSH Andy: Less dense, more varied than its predecessor, ‘The Slow Rush’ feels like a combination of the looser, more meandering aspects of Kevin’s earlier work, but with the stunning song-craft and the blissed-out production values of ‘Currents’. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: FLAMING LIPS, DAFT PUNK, CARIBOU.
29. DOVES: THE UNIVERSAL WANT Barry: It’s been plenty long enough since a new Doves album, and this one hits all of the high notes we’d expect. Superb melodies, brilliant songwriting and a crystal clear narrative throughout. It’s a brilliant return after eleven years, and one we’ve been sorely needing. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: THE VERVE, ELBOW, THE NATIONAL.
30. WIDOWSPEAK: PLUM Barry: Widowspeak mix the swooning, airy aspects of country with drifting melodic twists and a gorgeous, heady production aesthetic. A rewarding and heartening experience, exactly as you’d expect from such stellar talent, and a perfect fit for Captured Tracks. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: MAZZY STAR, BEACH HOUSE, SPECK MOUNTAIN.
The Top 100 Albums: Top Fifty
• THE ORIELLES • Disco Volador
• BAXTER DURY • The Night Chancers
• ANNA BURCH • If You’re Dreaming
• MARK LANEGAN • Straight Songs of Sorrow
• CHERRY GHOST • Live at the Trades Club
• MILDLIFE • Automatic
• WORKING MEN’S CLUB • Working Men’s Club
• KATY J PEARSON • Return
• KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD • Eco-Friendly Vinyl Reissues
• THE MAGIC NUMBERS • The Magic Numbers
• CHERRY GHOST • Beneath this Burning Shoreline
• TERRY HALL • Home
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31. DOUGLAS DARE: MILKTEETH Barry: Tender ballads of loss and hope, brittle instrumentation and Dare’s rich syrupy vocals combine into an atmospherically rich but instrumentally minimalistic suite of heartfelt ballads and hypnotic, swimming bliss. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: ELLIOT SMITH, ANOHNI, JAMES BLAKE.
32. SPORTS TEAM: DEEP DOWN HAPPY Darryl: Ace raucous indie-pop, London based six-piece Sports Team finally release their debut album after a plethora of singles, and it doesn’t disappoint. Spiky indie guitars, furious driving rhythms and off-kilter melodies. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: PARQUET COURTS, PAVEMENT, BLUR.
33. OTHER LIVES: FOR THEIR LOVE Andy: Other Lives return with their fourth and greatest record yet. ‘For Their Love’ combines their dark and doomy, widescreen baroque rock with the best set of songs they’ve written so far. Well worth the wait. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: FLEET FOXES, ARCADE FIRE, TIMBER TIMBRE.
34. SILVERBACKS: FAD Laura: There’s a definite NYC vibe to their sound: Television, The Strokes and Parquet Courts all spring to mind as reference points, but there’s more to them than just that. The shared vocal duties and interplay of their three guitarists (yes three!) creates a unique and compelling sound that might draw on art-rock, post-punk, math-rock or whatever else from the past but gives them a sound all of their own. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: TELEVISION, THE STROKES, PARQUET COURTS.
35. BC CAMPLIGHT: SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF Andy: Surely this must finally be the record which brings Brian Christinzio the attention he deserves. He is simply an incredible melodicist and creates tracks full of surprising twists and unusual turns. Dark, crazy but funnily inspirational lyrics are offset against the sweetest voice and catchiest songs you’ll hear all year. Just brilliant. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: BRIAN WILSON, JOHN GRANT, TELEMAN.
The Top 100 Albums: Top Fifty
36. ANDY BELL: THE VIEW FROM HALFWAY DOWN Barry: ‘The View...’ is a beautifully meditative, slowly unfolding journey from the mind of Andy Bell. Layers of reverb and delay follow the carefully picked riffs and shifting walls of sound. It’s an album for really sitting down and listening all the way through, and in the current climate, that’s a perfect thing. Lovely stuff. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: RIDE, THE STONE ROSES, THE CHARLATANS.
37. ROSE CITY BAND: SUMMERLONG Barry: Ripley Johnson once again brings the good stuff for his second album under this moniker. Swooning guitars and hazy atmospheric ambience underpin the solid backdrop of Ripley’s sweet vocal delivery and syrupy, languid melodies. It’s an enchanting and evocative collection, and one that continues the (very high) reputation set by last years’ eponymous debut. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: WOODEN SHJIPS, VELVET UNDERGROUND, MOON DUO.
38. HANIA RANI: HOME Javi: Rani adds ghostly vocals, subtle synths and a healthy dose of echo to her already-distinctive neo-classical soundscapes, creating something as haunting as it is heartbreaking. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: NILS FRAHM, ÓLAFUR ARNALDS, AGNES OBEL.
39. NADINE SHAH: KITCHEN SINK Darryl: Nadine’s superb fourth album is an atmospheric blend of warm PJ Harvey style vocals, moody guitars and groovey rhythms. The album is an razor-sharp observational piece on the expectations of a woman in her 30’s and all the pressures that come with it. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: PJ HARVEY, JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN, ANNA CALVI.
40. GRASSHOPPER: SCUTTLE Matt: Stylish post-punk with noir-ish and gothy undertones, grasshopper’s blanket of sonic claustrophobia impresses and arrests. Though sporting technicoloured hair, lead singer Javi’s lyrics are shaded with multitude blacks and greys; vivid, existential and inner-gazing, with stark and sharp motifs and phrases that’ll circulate your mind long after the album’s completion. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: JOY DIVISION, THE CURE, THE FALL.
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THUNDERCAT IT IS WHAT IT IS
JULIANNA BARWICK HEALING IS A MIRACLE
LITTLE DRAGON NEW ME, SAME US
ACTRESS KARMA & DESIRE
MARIE DAVIDSON RENEGADE BREAKDOWN
BONOBO & TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS HEARTBREAK
[BRAINFEEDER]
[OUTLIER]
KELEKETLA! KELEKETLA!
[AHEAD OF OUR TIME]
JAYDA G BOTH OF US / ARE YOU DOWN
BICEP ATLAS
The Top 100 Albums: Top Fifty
Ultraísta Sister
Laura Marling Song For Our Daughter
Pottery Welcome to Bobby’s Motel
Fontaines D.C. A Hero’s Death
Chubby and the Gang Speed Kills
IDLES Ultra Mono
Emel The Tunis Diaries
Craig Finn All These Perfect Crosses RSD
Bombino Live in Amsterdam RSD Black Friday
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41. RICHARD NORRIS: ELEMENTS Barry: Now THIS is exactly up my street. Slowly morphing arpeggios and modulated filters work their way around a solid rhythmic backbone, bringing to mind some of the early pioneers of Kosmische synthesis, or more recently, Panabrite. Beautiful. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: PANABRITE, HARMONIA, NILS FRAHM.
42. CRAVEN FAULTS: ERRATICS & UNCONFORMITIES Matt: In a kinda Will Bevan / Burial type fiesco, Craven Faults has got us all eagerly scratching our heads trying to work out who this post-industrialobsessed Northerner could possibly be! The music is phenomenal, glacial electronics conjuring desolate sonic canvasses of a forgotten North. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: PYE CORNER AUDIO, CAVERN OF ANTIMATTER, THE FIELD.
43. PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS: VISCERALS Martin: There’s little more fitting for our times than the grooving, distorted assault of Pigsx7. Encompassing the political leanings of hardcore and punk with the crisp, glacial distortion of more modern metal and the snarling vox of garage rock, all imbued with the cleverly written and melodically astute compositions of perfect rocking indie, the Pigs have once again proven that they have something to say, and you’ll hear it whether you’re listening or not (you should be listening). RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: METZ, THEE OH SEES, WARMDUSCHER.
44. GREG FOAT: SYMPHONIE PACIFIQUE Barry: Greg Foat has always had a firm place on the shop stereo, and ‘Symphonie Pacifique’ cements that likelihood with a swaying, filmic mashup of syncopated hooks, frenetic percussion and effortless, jazzy cool. As perfectly redolent of the genre’s past as it is it’s future. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: BOB JAMES, ROY HARGROVE, INNERZONE ORCHESTRA.
45. KAMAAL WILLIAMS: WU HEN Patrick: Frankly exceptional stuff here from Kamaal Williams on his sophomore album, ‘Wu Hen’. I’m gonna drop that F-bomb (fusion...) but don’t get it twisted, Henry blends jazz, soul, funk and r&b with the bottom end and rugged beat of grime, jungle, house and garage to create a little thing he likes to call ‘Wu Funk’. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: ROBERT GLASPER, TENDERLONIOUS, JOE ARMON-JONES.
The Top 100 Albums: Top Fifty
46. NILS FRAHM: EMPTY Barry: Frahm is back! Returning to his much sought after piano-forte after a fruitful foray into synthland. ‘Empty’ is a hushed affair, gorgeously plaintive and brimming with the sort of atmospheric recording and room sounds which made ‘Felt’ such a beautiful success. Gorgeous. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: MAX RICHTER, HAUSHKA, PETER BRODERICK.
47. THUNDERCAT: IT IS WHAT IT IS Millie: Thundercat is the definition of cool, I think we can all agree. ‘It Is What It Is’ confirmed this with the blend of funk, streaked with an electronic-fusion and unique boldness. Characteristically fast, energetic and unrelentingly stylish. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: GEORGE DUKE, FLYING LOTUS, ANDERSON .PAAK.
48. TOM MISCH & YUSSEF DAYES: WHAT KINDA MUSIC Martin: The fertility stemming from the collaborative nature of the South London jazz scene is beautifully illustrated by ‘What Kinda Music’, Yussef Dayes’ deeper and darker rhythms acting as perfect counterpoint to Tom Misch’s clean, exquisitely rendered pop leanings. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: ROBERT GLASPER, MOSES BOYD, COLLOCUTOR.
49. TREES SPEAK: SHADOW FORMS Barry: Shadow Forms is a perfectly balanced juxtaposition of grooving, angular kosmische and haunty, soundtrack sort of business. We get little bursts of jazzy instrumentation and smooth-flowing psychedelia, all brought together with a deftness of touch and a keen ear for melody. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: CLUSTER, HARMONIA, BRIAN ENO.
50. GEORGIA: SEEKING THRILLS Barry: I was a huge fan of the superb album from Georgia a few years ago, and if anything, the crystal clear production and effortless absorption of dancefloor influence and soulful 80s groove in ‘Seeking Thrills’ is even more satisfying. Ram-packed with day-long earworms. RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: ROBYN, KRISTIN KONTROL, JESSY LANZA.
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cargo records BesT oF 2020
ModerN sTudIes
THe Bug FT. dIs FIg
THe weIgHT oF THe suN
FaTeN kaNaaN
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TeMPorarY resIdeNce LTd LP / cd
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PHaraoH oVerLord 6
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J. ZuNZ
LaMeNTaTIoNs
Look aLIVe
MIke PoLIZZe
HeY coLossus
ParadIse oF BacHeLors LP / cd
wroNg sPeed records LP / cd
MoNoPHoNIcs
deaTH VaLLeY gIrLs
JessY LaNZa
coLeMINe records LP / cd
suIcIde sQueeZe LP / cd
HYPerduB LP / cd
rockeT recordINgs LP / cd
HIBIscus
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LoNg LosT soLace FINd
PINs
Haus oF PINs LP / cd
HoT sLIck
eYeLeT
IT’s oNLY us
uNder THe sPeLL oF JoY
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daNces / curses
aLL THe TIMe
The Top 100 Albums
cargo records BesT oF 2020
THursToN Moore BY THe FIre
daYdreaM LIBrarY LP / cd
THe LoVeLY eggs
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MINd HIVe PINk FLag LP / cd
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egg records LP / cd
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FIre records LP / cd
wILL BuTLer
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THe ProFessIoNaLs
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Merge records LP / cd
Merge records LP / cd
MadLIB INVaZIoN LP / cd
ceNTraL ToNes LP / cd
suNwaTcHers
waXaHaTcHee
MarIa Mckee
TrouBLe IN MINd LP / cd
Merge records LP / cd
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51. EL TEN ELEVEN: TAUTOLOGY
58. FUZZ: III
Starting off a lot more driven and gradually rolling towards tender, shimmering post-rock, this is a true impression of just how varied El Ten Eleven can be. Lovely.
Fuzz have always been a perfect melting pot of the talents of their respective members, and the aptly titled ‘III’ is no different. Pummelling, grooving and hugely essential.
52. WOODS: STRANGE TO EXPLAIN
59. YOUR OLD DROOG: JEWELRY
Woods are purveyors of mellow West Coast psyche like a dream from Laurel Canyon. A totally gorgeous summer-vibed record.
YOD drops ‘Jewelry’ on our asses, celebrating chanukah by spitting the dopest doubles over non stop head nodders from The God Fahim, Quelle Chris, Preservation, Edan and Cohen Beats.
53. AGNES OBEL: MYOPIA Obel’s latest opus challenges the backdrop of neo-classical instrumentation with a modern focus on vocal manipulation and production trickery, resulting in a stunningly beautiful whole.
54. POTTERY: WELCOME TO BOBBY’S MOTEL Fusing reckless, manic energy with painstaking precision, the record is part post-punk, part art-pop, and part dance floor acid trip, hinting at everything from Devo to Gang of Four.
55. SORRY: 925 Encompassing aspects of disco, rock and flickers of 90s grunge all brought together with a keen ear for production and stunning musicianship all round.
56. MOANING: UNEASY LAUGHTER Though Moaning veer into shoegaze territory, the steady core of driven percussive streams and wistful vocals balance things into a richly emotive and hugely varied indie-rock gem.
57. BING & RUTH: SPECIES Shifting swathes of reverberated electronics, bright echoes and soaring synths slowly evolve into euphoric slo-mo key changes and aquatic phrases.
60. SONIC BOOM: ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL Pete Kember returns with every bit of the creativeness we’ve come to expect. Rich and brilliantly produced, ‘All Things Being Equal’ is a luminous triumph.
61. WAJATTA: DON’T LET GET YOU DOWN Owing as much to early instrumental hip-hop as it does modern soul and electronica, this is a rich and varied outing and one you have to hear to believe.
62. THURSTON MOORE: BY THE FIRE Thurston Moore knows more than anyone how to harness the audio powers of light and dark and never is that more clear than on the spellbinding ‘By The Fire’. A rich and transportive feast.
63. INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS OF POP: POP GOSSIP International Teachers Of Pop return with their second album of thumping basslines, sparkling arpeggios and stone-cold groove.
64. CARIBOU: SUDDENLY Infuses hook-heavy house jams, hip hop curveballs and sweet synthpoppers with the signature warmth and space of his previous work.
The Top 100 Albums
65. HARMONIOUS THELONIOUS: PLONG
72. LINDSTRØM & PRINS THOMAS: III
Stefan Schwander gets industrial and Middle Eastern, translating his usual sonic manipulations into a hypnotic set of trance dancers for the alternative club kids.
The Norse gods re-unite with Lindstrom’s ambient arps and floating pads being perfectly offset with the serotonergic buzz from PT’s unmistakeable syncopated groove.
66. LIANNE LA HAVAS: LIANNE LA HAVAS Her warm vocals come from the soul, filled with emotive energy and vibrancy. A flowing cathartic experience from beginning to end, and a perfect home listening album.
67. GOGO PENGUIN: GOGO PENGUIN This album already feels like a classic staple for every Gogo Penguin fan, their energised sound is always refreshingly contemporary and modern while maintaining a nod to traditional jazz.
68. RUN THE JEWELS: RTJ4 Bombastic, aggressive, assertive, political and absolutely effin BANGING, RTJ are back to save you from whack MCs and company stooges.
73. THEE MVPS: SCIENCE FICTION A raucous yet melodic scuzz-punk ode to all things sci-fi, for fans of old-skool Black Lips, Thee Oh Sees, and other blistering live acts.
74. DARKSTAR: CIVIC JAMS ‘Civic Jams’ is a photonegative of a dance record shaped by a dialogue between shoegaze atmospherics and UK bass music’s ‘hardcore continuum’.
75. JUNIORE: UN DEUX TROIS Juniore mix the hazy lysergic air of the 1960s into a heady dose of lounge, soul and slo-mo progressive psychedelia. A haunting but intoxicating listen.
69. KAYTRANADA: BUBBA
76. FIELD MUSIC: MAKING A NEW WORLD
Kaytranada’s 2016 outing had all of us ready for more dusty grooves and fractured vocal silk, and ‘Bubba’ leaves all the lofty expectations in the dust. Soulful, intoxicating audio bliss.
Field Music turn their grooving songcraft and shimmering studio sheen towards the political and social after-effects of the first world war, resulting in a feast for the ears and the grey matter.
70. LANTERNS ON THE LAKE: SPOOK THE HERD ‘Spook The Herd’ sees Lanterns On The Lake perfect their angular mix of post-rock and country-tinged indie into a rollercoaster of perfectly measured anthemic twists, and heartfelt sombre beauty.
71. AUTECHRE: SIGN By far their most cohesive outing yet, ‘Sign’ shows why Autechre have since their inception, been at the forefront of the electronic music landscape. Immediate but never forceful, every listen reveals another layer.
77. THE FLAMING LIPS: AMERICAN HEAD Perfectly pairing swathes of guitar and smooth-as-silk melodies, ‘American Head’ reminds exactly why the ‘Lips have a place so deep in our hearts.
78. FLOODLIGHTS: FROM A VIEW Great debut album from this Melbourne four piece. They have a distinctly Antipodean sound, that draws on 80s and 90s indie rock with a nod to Flying Nun records in its prime.
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The Top 100 Albums
79. DANIEL AVERY & ALESSANDRO CORTINI: ILLUSION OF TIME
86. SUZANNE VALLIE: LOVE LIVES WHERE RULES DIE
Daniel Avery and the underground synth mastery of Alessandro Cortini join forces to weave the most perfect of sonic tapestries.
Shimmering folky ballads, rich with glowing strings and slide guitar, all topped with Vallie’s softly enunciated vocals. A perfect mix of haze and melody.
80. KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH: THE MOSAIC OF TRANSFORMATION
87. I BREAK HORSES: WARNINGS
This is a wildly creative, beautifully accomplished coherent stream of gorgeousness, and shows just how diverse a modular synth album can be.
Reverberated bass and tone-rich FM keys form a dreamy backdrop to Linden’s soft and entrancing vocal breeze. Hazy but undoubtedly uplifting, this is top notch dream-sequence stuff.
81. WIRE: MIND HIVE All of Wire’s notable past comes to the fore on ‘Mind Hive’, with their art-rock beginnings and post-punk urgency of their later years coalescing into a hefty, soaring melting pot of perfectly managed influence.
82. JÓNSI: SHIVER While things have definitely changed for his solo material, this retains the slo-mo ambient aesthetic we’ve come to know him for, but imbued with some of the more upbeat moments from his previous outing, ‘Go’.
83. THE COOL GREENHOUSE: THE COOL GREENHOUSE A fabulous debut album on Melodic Records, lo-fi post-punk that combines the bounce and repetition of The Fall’s rhythm section with razor-sharp spoken word style vocals.
84. LUKE ABBOTT: TRANSLATE ‘Translate’ is every bit the thumping, euphoric electronic wonder that made ‘Holkham Drones’ such an essential post-club platter.
85. CARLTON MELTON: WHERE THIS LEADS ‘Where This Leads’ sees Californian psych-rockers Carlton Melton in top form, with the progressive mind-melting guitar work and fuzzed-out basses in full force, leading to more than one revelatory drone.
88. HOLY WAVE: INTERLOPER Holy Wave have done it again. The psych-pop Texans deliver another hazy, reverb laden trip. One for the dreamers!
89. SHABAKA & THE ANCESTORS: WE WERE SENT HERE BY HISTORY An immediately filmic and hurried meeting of horns and perfectly played percussion bring this Nu-Jazz wonder into the 21st century, nodding to the lustrous history of the genre, but injecting an urgency and enthusiasm that can’t be ignored.
90. PINS: HOT SLICK Pins have been a big hit in the shop, and this latest outing shows exactly why. Honing their sound down into a distillation of disco, synth-pop and 80s rock has proved hugely successful, and will surely see them played on dancefloors all over the country.
91. REAL ESTATE: THE MAIN THING Soaring, hazy guitars and shimmering psychedelic progressions make the perfect backdrop for Courtney’s longing vocals, forming a cohesive and immersive blanket to keep you warm.
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THIRDMANSTORE.COM
THIRD MAN RECORDS
ABSOLUTEGO BORIS
PETRICHOR HEATHER TROST
HOW THE RIVER GANGES FLOWS VARIOUS ARTISTS
SOUTHEAST OF SATURN VARIOUS ARTISTS
ROPED IN NORTH AMERICANS
THE HIVES: LIVE AT THIRD MAN RECORDS THE HIVES
AMPLIFIER WORSHIP BORIS
The Top 100 Albums
92. GHOSTPOET: I GROW TIRED BUT DARE NOT FALL ASLEEP
96. BADLY DRAWN BOY: BANANA SKIN SHOES
Anxious music for anxious times. That urgent Gang Of Four style post-punk guitar stabs are often tautly wound round the strings and moods couldn’t really be more apt.
Damon’s best album since his debut, the songwriting is just superb and the production so detailed and rich.
93. NUBYA GARCIA: SOURCE ‘Source’ perfectly skirts the touchstones of jazz, soul and dub and weaves them into a grooving and all-encompassing blanket of flickering percussion and rolling bass.
94. MAKAYA MCCRAVEN: UNIVERSAL BEINGS E & F SIDES Melodic and bumpin’, that’s how I’d best describe Makaya McCraven’s music, and this addendum to the fantastic ‘Universal Beings’ sees the Chicago musician continuing to hit the sweet spot between hip hop and jazz.
95. WHYTE HORSES: HARD TIMES Feel-good Piccadilly favourites Whyte Horses return with an instantly satisfying and beautifully produced album of cover versions, complete with swooning jangles and glittering harmonies.
97. MY MORNING JACKET: THE WATERFALL II Streams of slide guitar and acoustic plucks punctuate the thoughful sombre air before breaking into euphoric Floydian psychedelic stretches.
98. DEFTONES: OHMS Absolutely their finest work since all-encompassing masterwork ‘White Pony’, ‘Ohms’ sees Deftones dive once again into shoegazing metallic waters with guitar lines and Moreno’s vocals intertwining seamlessly.
99. THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION: FRIEND SHIP Phoenix Foundation present a widescreen look at the blurred peripheries between dream pop, synthwave and good old fashioned indie music.
100. SÉBASTIEN TELLIER: DOMESTICATED An electronica album that buzzes with humanity, his most melodically refined work to date and a joyous Franco-pop fantasia.
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Rheinzand Rheinzand
V/A Oto No Wa Selected Sounds of Japan 1988-2018
Ole Theill Transparent
Reinhard Vanbergen Stringworx, Presents For Friends, Ubuntu 3 LP Boxset
Aashid Himons The Gods & I
V/A Music For Dreams Summer Sessions 2020
The Top 20 Compilations
PICCADILLY RECORDS COMPILATION OF THE YEAR 2020
LATE NIGHT TALES KHRUANGBIN
Patrick: Though I swiftly snapped up a copy of their first RSD single on the advice of my more experienced Balearic brethren, it was an early online mixtape which truly turned me on to this Houston Trio. Awash with Thai funk, Brazilian soul and hazy dub, this set beguiled rather than banged, encompassing that soothing, grooving style which has since become their signature. Naturally I came to this, their first official compilation, and on the excellent Late Night Tales no less, with the highest expectations; all of which were exceeded over the course of this mesmeric mix. Through the cascading strings and shimmering harp of Santana & Coltrane’s opener, Khurangbin begin their dream sequence, an uncanny hour of vignettes in a land free from the conventions of space and time. The loved up dub of Houston contemporaries Brilliantes Del Vuelo gives way to blistering disco from 80s Bollywood, a cult art-pop classic from NY’s
Downtown follows the sublime Blaxploitation soul of Gerald Lee. Songs separated by distance and decades sit happily side by side, united by an optimistic mood and ever-present groove. More than this though, each of these songs share a transportive quality; listening to the Nigerian boogie of Mawell Udoh, it’s impossible not to picture a Lagos nightspot, or the skyscrapers of Seoul when Sanullim’s soft pop stunner bounds out of the speakers. Even the band’s own exceptional cover of Kool’s ‘Summer Madness’ offers a deep concentration of the Khruangbin style, an invitation into their personal Shangri-La. In an era in which the race for the rare can leave even the finest diggers blind to the actual merit of the music, Khruangbin’s melodies sans frontières is a remarkable feat, each selection superb on its own and sublime taken together. Khruangbin around the world and I, I, I can’t fight it baby.
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FILE UNDE R GLOBAL GR OOVES STONED SO UL MELLOW FU NK
It’s cool to think about what you would listen to late at night, as a band together, lighting a spliff, kinda vibe. We definitely wanted to cover as much global territory as possible; so it was the globe and then home. We wanted to show the treasures from our hometown, or people from our hometown that the rest of the world probably doesn’t know. That’s what makes Khruangbin Khruangbin. The stubbornness about being so hometown-centric but what makes Houston is this, this constant international influence. That’s that gulf stream, bringing it right into Houston. So I guess that’s kind of the theme. Khruangbin October 2020.
Tracklisting: 01 Carlos Santana And Turiya Alice: ColtraneIlluminations 02 Brilliantes Del Vuelo: I Know That (When The Spring Time Comes) 03 Nazia Hassan: Khushi 04 Kelly Doyle: DRM 05 Sanullim: Don’t Go 06 Maxwell Udoh: I Like It (Don’t Stop) 07 David Marez: Enseñame 08 G erald Lee: Can You Feel The Love (Reprise) 09 Justine & The Victorian Punks: Still You 10 George Yanagi + Nadja Band: 「祭ばやじか聞こえる」 のテーマ 11 Песняры: Зачарованная Моя 12 Khruangbin: Summer Madness (Exclusive Cover Version) 13 Paloma San Basilio: Contigo 14 Roha Band: Yetikimt Abeba 15 Tierney Malone / Geoffrey Muller: Transmission For Jehn —Gnossienne No 1 (Exclusive Spoken Word Piece) Available as: Mixed CD Version (Includes unmixed tracks as download) Unmixed Vinyl Version (Includes mixed and unmixed tracks as download)
The Top 20 Compilations
2. OTO NO WA Patrick: Music For Dreams score an A* for A&R once again, inviting Ken Hidaka, Max Essa and Dr. Rob to celebrate the decades of dreamy Japanese music. Tracing a path from the airy era of environmental music, through the downbeat electronics of the 90s to the wavey Walearic of the 21st Century, the trio present deeply dug rarities while paying tribute to the thriving musical community which surrounds them. Engaging, immersive and unquestionably Japanese, ‘Oto No Wa’ is an irresistible listen. FILE UNDER: DREAMY DOWNBEAT, JAPANESE HOUSE, BALEARIC BEAUTIES.
3. SEX: TOO FAST TO LIVE TOO YOUNG TO DIE Martin: Back in 1975, one time Banshee and 80s Ant Marco Pirroni was a dedicated teenage delinquent, spending his days surrounded by the pornographic polyester of McLaren and Westwood’s infamous King’s Road boutique. For this compilation, originally released on CD in 2003 and now finally available on vinyl, Pirroni raids the shop jukebox to bring us twenty tracks brimming with hormones, solvents and teen spirit, each playing its own small part in the genesis of punk. FILE UNDER: GARAGE ROCK, PROTO-PUNK, ROCK & ROLL.
4. DJ KICKS — MR SCRUFF Matt: Everyone’s favourite party potato Keeps It seriously Unreal to celebrate 25 years of DJ-Kicks, seamlessly blending thirty one disparate tracks in an hour long display of total decks-terity. Nipping from South America to South Africa, spinning electric soul, eclectic reggae and euphoric house, Mr Scruff imbues every minute of this mix with his freestyle musical mantra while placing ultimate emphasis on the shelf wobbling bass. Push back the sofa and turn off the lights, your house party soundtrack is here! FILE UNDER: PARTY STARTERS, BASS SHAKERS, ECLECTIC DANCEHALL.
5. PACIFIC BREEZE 2: JAPANESE CITY POP, AOR & BOOGIE 1972–1986 Ryan: Light In The Attic return to the optimism and affluence of Japan’s City Pop era, digging a little deeper to find a wealth of sophisticated grooves largely unknown outside their homeland. Glistening with the sheen of a new technology, these tracks fused soul, funk and new wave influences into a pristine urban pop, perfectly suited to the heat and high rises of a modern Japan. Now you can savour the flavour of Eri Ohno or Yuji Toriyama while saving your air miles for a rainy day. FILE UNDER: CITY POP, YACHT ROCK, JAPANESE BOOGIE.
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6. BOB STANLEY & PETE WIGGS PRESENT THE TEARS OF TECHNOLOGY Martin: In yet another display of curatorial excellence, Messers Stanley & Wiggs capture that strange and beautiful 80s moment when art-school drop outs all over the nation went electric in punk’s wake, paving the way for a decade of unlikely synth pop success. FILE UNDER: POST PUNK, SYNTH POP, COLD WAVE.
7. GILLES PETERSON PRESENTS: MV4 Millie: Just looking at the tracklist makes me smile at the wealth of UK Jazz talent brought together for this live session by Gilles Peterson. Recorded in one day at Maida Vale studio, this double vinyl collection showcases the incredible musicianship of these new jazz artists as well as Peterson’s continuing commitment to the future of the genre. FILE UNDER: NEW JAZZ, NEO SOUL, BROKEN BEAT.
8. SOUL JAZZ RECORDS PRESENTS: KALEIDOSCOPE — NEW SPIRITS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN Emily: It’s been a breathless few years for British jazz, with essential new artists appearing by the day on a plethora of labels up and down the country. Thankfully Soul Jazz are here to help us keep track, taking stock of the scene on this bumper triple vinyl collection. FILE UNDER: UK JAZZ, MODERN FUSION, PECKHAM FUNK.
9. MARTIN FREEMAN AND EDDIE PILLER PRESENT JAZZ ON THE CORNER TWO Laura: Eddie Piller dons Sherlock’s Deerstalker, teaming up with national treasure Martin Freeman for another trip through their enviable jazz collections. Eschewing the wilfully obtuse in favour of personal favourites from across the decades, the duo celebrate a lifelong love of the genre. FILE UNDER: COOL JAZZ, JAZZ FUNK, MODERN SOUL.
10. SOUL JAZZ RECORDS PRESENTS BLACK RIOT: EARLY JUNGLE, RAVE AND HARDCORE Matt: In a year when some serious questions were asked about the whitewashed narrative of Britain’s dance floor history, Soul Jazz go back to the start of the Hardcore Continuum to celebrate the black artists pushing the boundaries of system rinsing sounds. FILE UNDER: JUNGLE, HARDCORE, RAGGA.
The Top 20 Compilations
COM PI L AT I O N S
O F
TH E
Y E A R
A G R E AT C O M P I L AT I O N TA K E S YO U O N A J O U R N E Y V/A - KHRUANGBIN
V/A - OTO NO WA
‘LATE NIGHT TALES’
‘SELECTED SOUNDS OF JAPAN 1988-2018’
V/A - SEX
V/A - MR SCRUFF
‘TOO FAST TO LIVE TOO YOUNG TO DIE’
‘DJ KiCKS’
(Late Night Tales)
(Music For Dreams)
(Stranger Than Paradise Records)
(!K7)
V/A GILLES PETERSON
V/A LOVE SAVES THE DAY
V/A - FATBOY SLIM
V/A - HOT CHIP
‘PRESENTS: MV4’
‘A HISTORY OF AMERICAN DANCE MUSIC CULTURE 1970-1979’
‘BACK TO MINE’
‘LATE NIGHT TALES’
(Back to Mine)
(Late Night Tales)
V/A - THE LADIES OF TOO SLOW TO DISCO
V/A - COMPILED BY WOODY BIANCHI
V/A - TOO SLOW TO DISCO NEO
V/A STRUM & THRUM:
‘VOL 2’
‘UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOL. 8’
‘PRESENTS: THE SUNSET MANIFESTO’
‘THE AMERICAN JANGLE UNDERGROUND 1983-1987’
(Brownswood)
(Reappearing Records)
(How Do You Are?)
(Z Records)
(How Do You Are?)
(Captured Tracks)
MASSIVE THANKS TO PICCADILLY FOR SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT MUSIC SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE - SHOP LOCAL! WWW.REPUBLICOFMUSIC.NET
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11. MAKE MORE NOISE! WOMEN IN INDEPENDENT MUSIC UK 1977–1987 Laura: Cherry Red excel themselves with this bumper 4CD / 90 (!) track compilation of fierce females from the post-punk era. Littered with favourites from the likes of The Raincoats, Rip, Rig & Panic, the Cocteau’s and Vivien Goldman, this takes me right back to Saturdays behind the counter in Brown Street. FILE UNDER: POST PUNK, FEMALE ROCK, RIOT GRRRL.
12. CLUB MEDUSE 2 — RETOUR AU CLUB COMPILED BY CHARLES BALS Patrick: Charles Bals reopens his fictitious nightspot on the French Riviera; a place where the sea air meets the smell of incense and the dancing bodies shimmer with Ambre Solaire. The soundtrack ranges from humid Euro-boogie to Balearic bossa as Bals extols his own brand of coastal cool. FILE UNDER: EURO-BOOGIE, NEW BEAT, BALEARIC.
13. LOVE SAVES THE DAY: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN DANCE MUSIC CULTURE 1970–1979 Patrick: Roughly fifteen years on from his seminal dissection of New York’s disco scene, Tim Lawrence delivers this companion compilation, recreating the magic and majesty of a night with Mancuso, Levan, Siano and D’Acquisto. This flawless set is essential listening for anyone interested in understanding what disco really was, and why it matters so much. FILE UNDER: DISCO, LOFT CLASSICS, FUNK.
14. ANGELHEADED HIPSTER: THE SONGS OF MARC BOLAN & T. REX Andy: On his final project before his passing in April, Hal Willner invited a suitably diverse group to pay tribute to Marc Bolan. But ‘Angelheaded Hipster’ is just as much a testament to Willner’s uncanny knack for connecting people as it is to the source material; How else do you explain a musical cast containing Kesha, Elton John and Todd Rundgren? FILE UNDER: GLAM ROCK, ROCK N ROLL, FOLK.
15. BACK TO MINE — FATBOY SLIM Matt: Unstoppable since their return in 2019, Back To Mine’s hot streak continues with this amazing contribution from one of my personal heroes. As you’d expect from Mr Cook, the tracklist is all over the shop, uncovering rare reggae, soul, punk funk and disco, a few cuts he’s sampled over the years and two gorgeous exclusive tracks. FILE UNDER: REGGAE, SOUL, BIG BEAT.
The Top 20 Compilations
16. LATE NIGHT TALES: HOT CHIP Martin: Two decades into their career and it’s fair to say that the enduring electro-poppers know a thing or two about a tune, and their entry into the Late Night Tales series is brimming with them. Any DJ mix which includes Rhythm & Sound, Nils Frahm and a cover version of the Velvet Underground is fine by me. FILE UNDER: DOWNBEAT, SYNTHPOP, HOUSE.
17. THE LADIES OF TOO SLOW TO DISCO VOL. 2 Patrick: Presumably adorned in linen trousers and an apricot scarf, DJ Supermarket delivers another essential set of deep yachters and enticing AOR from an all female cast. If you need any more persuading, head straight for that Marti Caine track and thank me later… FILE UNDER: BLUE EYED SOUL, YACHT ROCK, AOR DISCO.
18. FOR THE LOVE OF YOU Millie: This time last year, Athens Of The North switched things up with a trio of 12”s featuring gorgeous lovers rock covers of boogie originals. For 2020 they deliver a full compilation on that same theme, resulting in a 12 track set of lilting interpretations of the likes of Prince, Mtume, Lowrell and the Isley Brothers. FILE UNDER: LOVERS ROCK, REGGAE DISCO, BOOGIE.
19. SOUL JAZZ RECORDS PRESENTS: DEUTSCHE ELEKTRONISCHE MUSIK 4: EXPERIMENTAL GERMAN ROCK AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC 1971–83 Patrick: Soul Jazz return once again to the commune friendly sounds of seventies Germany, casting the net a little wider to capture pastoral electronics from the likes of Klaus Weiss and E.M.A.K. and the cosmic rock of Virus and Alex. This should tide you over nicely while you wait for volume 5… FILE UNDER: KOSMISCHE, AMBIENT, KRAUTROCK.
20. UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOL. 8 COMPILED BY WOODY BIANCHI Patrick: For the eighth instalment of their Under The Influence series, Z Records hand the controls to Italian record obsessive Woody Bianchi, who showcases an impressive set of disco rarities from his personal collection. FILE UNDER: DISCO, JAZZ FUNK, BOOGIE.
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bombay bicycle club everything else has gone wrong
nathaniel rateliff and it’s still alright
denzel curry x kenny beats unlocked
tom misch & yussef dayes what kinda music
christine and the queens la vita nuova
jehnny beth to love is to live
mystery jets a billion heartbeats
margo price that’s how rumors get started
oscar jerome breathe deep
nadia reid out of my province
matt berninger serpentine prison
sylvan esso free love
m huncho x nafe smallz dna
king gizzard & the lizard wizard k.g.
another sky i slept on the floor
action bronson only for dolphins
the big moon walking like we do
soccer mommy color theory
best of 2020
nas king’s disease
tame impala the slow rush
frazey ford u kin b the sun
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
PICCADILLY RECORDS REISSUE/COLLECTION OF THE YEAR 2020
PALE SAINTS THE COMFORTS OF MADNESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Javi: This year, my new year’s resolution was “don’t buy records, save money instead”. Everything was going swimmingly for the first two weeks of January — until one grim Friday when ‘The Comforts of Madness’ received its 30th Anniversary reissue. Like a dry January defeated by an old friend’s 30th birthday bash, I cracked and splurged, and did so with good reason. Visually, ‘The Comforts of Madness’ is instantly recognisable as a Vaughan Oliver creation. Familiar shapes and textures shimmer under a psychedelic sheen, all petals and whiskers and shadow; the tracklist splattered across the back like a mystic incantation (“way the fell. deep sleep, the sun. time in sight.” Amen.) Opening track “Way The World Is” crashes in like a horseman of the apocalypse, while the much-anthologised “Sight Of You” still sounds every bit as fresh and swooning as Martin assures me it did 1990. Across the album, crushing shoegaze guitars ebb and flow, bass
lines worm and drums fizz, only letting up for tender moments like the balladic “Little Hammer”. It’s a sprawling LP of ambitious indie, pushing both instruments and the mixing desk to extremes, masterfully streamlined into a near-continuous soundscape with each song graciously giving way to the next. The bonus disc of unreleased live sessions and alternative recordings lifts the magic curtain slightly, revealing the band behind the sonic wizardry and dream-pop production — this version of Pale Saints is more earnest yet every bit as melodic, with shades of The Smiths, early MBV, and even The Beach Boys permeating the lower-fi recordings. They provide a warm and welcome counterpoint to the soaring album proper, and are well worth checking out and marvelling over. ‘The Comforts of Madness’ is from start to end, front to back, 1990 to 2020, a chaotic, ethereal, and epic work — and to these ears, at least, it might just be the 4AD album.
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When the band starts, the 3 members really have no idea what might happen. They just want to make some musical magic. A directionless music maniac from London, now living in Leeds, has to learn to play bass, then become the singer. Endless jams on a farm in the middle of nowhere, a lot of howling noise, eventually primitive songs start dragging themselves awkwardly out of the primordial gloop. Numerous sessions with engineers who had no idea. Finally finding the right team, whose ears were in tune with ours, and could help us take the music to further dimensions. Demos sent around the country by carrier pigeon. An alleged phone call from a big independent label from London: “Fuck off, you’re not Ivo Watts-Russell. Who the fuck is this?” Gigs with no applause. Red Crayola LP gives me the idea to make the gigs one continuous piece. Why not continue that idea for the album? It might even work. After a couple of years, we have enough songs to make our debut LP. Title half-inched from a novel. It survives and is given a 30 year anniversary re-release. Not quite sure why that happened, but delighted that it has. Also delighted that anyone who wants to, is now able to listen to the demos, and see how much, or in some cases, how little the songs changed during the process. Right, that’s that done for another 20 years. Time to get back to my Isolated Gate. Ian Master (Pale Saints) — Japan, October 2020.
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
2. THE CHARLATANS: BETWEEN 10TH & 11TH (EXPANDED EDITION) Barry: Though there were mixed opinions on the new direction The Charlatans had taken on the darker ‘Between 10th & 11th’, the naysayers proved to be absolutely in the wrong with Flood’s production and a dreamier, shoegazy edge still sounding just as fresh today as it did at the time. A superbly written and formative album which includes one of my all-time favourite Charlatans tunes, “Weirdo”.
3. NEW ORDER: POWER, CORRUPTION & LIES — DEFINITIVE EDITION Darryl: One of New Order’s finest albums gets the Definitive Edition treatment. Following on from last year’s ‘Movement — Definitive Edition’, Rhino present a stunning Peter Saville designed box set including an LP and CD of the original album remastered for the first time from the original analogue tape masters, an extras CD containing previously unreleased sessions, two DVDs featuring live and TV performances and a sumptuous hardback book of rare photos and a brand new essay from Dave Simpson.
4. GIL SCOTT-HERON: I’M NEW HERE — 10TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION Barry: A Piccadilly Records Album Of The Year back in 2010. There’s little that can be said about this legendary outing from XL head Richard Russell and the great GSH that hasn’t already been said, it’s an absolutely essential listen, and this expanded edition makes it even more so. A wildly groundbreaking and influential recording.
5. JOHN COLTRANE: GIANT STEPS 60TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION Barry: There are few artists more important to the history of jazz than John Coltrane, and ‘Giant Steps’ is one of the reasons why. From bebop to the development of free-jazz, you can hear the influence that Coltrane took in, and in turn his influence on the world of music. Now, we get a deluxe double album reissue with an extra disc of unheard outtakes. It’s a no-brainer for any jazz fan.
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6. THE NATIONAL: HIGH VIOLET — 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION Barry: The National are going to cause a stir whenever any of their music gets a reissue, and the 10 year anniversary edition of High Violet did that by being both riotously essential (“Terrible Love” and “Bloodbuzz Ohio” are worth it for the entry price alone), and beautifully packaged.
7. PRINCE: SIGN O’ THE TIMES — REMASTERED Patrick: Recorded during the most productive era for the most prolific musician of all time, ‘Sign O’ The Times’ is probably Prince’s magnum opus. Overflowing with ideas, hooks and slinking funk, the Purple One tackled the personal and the political while setting the template for every good R&B album released since.
8. AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE: DRUMMING IS A LANGUAGE 1990–2011 Martin: The bedrock might still be provided by master Nyabinghi percussionist Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah and spiky dub genius Adrian Sherwood but the music in this set expands on their earlier material, bringing greater coherence to their sound and journeying further and deeper into dub. Psychedelic Africa at it’s finest, every bit as essential as its predecessor.
9. IGGY POP: THE BOWIE YEARS Barry: Iggy Pop’s ‘The Idiot’ and ‘Lust For Life’ are two of the most instantly recognisable albums in rock history, and with David Bowie behind the desk, it’s really no surprise. Without this collaboration, the musical landscape may be entirely different. Seminal works all round.
10. THE FALL: THE FRENZ EXPERIMENT — EXPANDED EDITION Darryl: Beggars Arkive re-issue The Fall’s 10th studio album, 1988’s ‘The Frenz Experiment’. Released at the height of their mainstream popularity, this expanded edition (on vinyl and CD) features the monstrous “Hit The North” as well as the cover versions of “Victoria” and “There’s A Ghost In My House”, alongside firm fan favourites like “Carrier Bag Man”, and “Bremen Nacht”.
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
1111111
BEGGARS ARCHIVE 2020 RELEASES
PALE SAINTS Comforts of Madness
SOUTHERN FREEZ + JOHN ROCCA Variations on a Theem
THE CHARLATANS
PJ HARVEY
Between 1Oth and 11th
Dry
BUFFALO TOM
THE FALL
Birdbrain
The Frenz Experiment
2020 FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM Elizium
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11. ELLIOTT SMITH: ELLIOTT SMITH — EXPANDED 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Barry: Another hugely important album turns 25 years old, and we finally get a repress to go with it! Elliott Smith’s self titled 1995 outing was a perfect distillation of solemn acoustic balladry and taut, folky melodicsm always teetering on the edge of breakdown, but beautifully balanced and performed.
12. PIPER: SUMMER BREEZE Patrick: Originally released in 1985, this sophisticated Japanese classic from Piper has been at the top of the collective wantlist for years. Serving the City Pop cocktail with a resort twist, ‘Summer Breeze’ shimmies through synth pop, fusion and AOR grooves to deliver a sound as iconic as that surfer’s crop top.
13. THE KILLS: LITTLE BASTARDS Barry: It always amazes me when a band release a b-sides album that could easily have held an album’s worth of material. In the case of the new Kills retrospective, ‘Little Bastards’ (named after a presumably disobedient Roland 880 sampler) it could easily have been two albums worth.
14. PJ HARVEY: DRY — REMASTERED VINYL EDITION Barry: Available on vinyl for the first time in 20 years, PJ Harvey’s ‘Dry’ was a kick in the spine for indie music of the time, and remains as uncompromisingly raw and sonically hulking as it did back then.
15. JOY DIVISION: CLOSER: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Darryl: The totally essential second and indeed final album from Joy Division, and to celebrate its 40th anniversary Rhino have released a stunning clear vinyl edition. No extra unreleased tracks, but when the original album is this good, who needs them!
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
16. L7: SMELL THE MAGIC — 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Barry: If you’ve listened to the radio in the last 30 years you can hear all sorts of examples of how much L7 influenced other acts, and this 30th anniversary reboot of their incendiary second album is a remastered gem in the weirdo gothrock crown.
17. SUEDE: BEAUTIFUL ONES: THE BEST OF SUEDE 1992–2018 Darryl: A definitive look at one of the country’s most enduring acts. Compiled by the band themselves, ‘Beautiful Ones’ is presented as stunning six LP and four CD box set editions or as trimmed down double LP and CD editions.
18. THE BLUE NILE: HIGH Patrick: Scotland’s kings of sophisti-pop complete their reissue series with 2004’s ‘High’, an album which found a heartbroken Paul Buchanan once again staring at city lights through rain soaked windows. As emotive and immersive as any of their early work, this is well worth a first time on vinyl and expanded CD release.
19. SHIRLEY SCOTT: ONE FOR ME Patrick: Arc Records dig into the Strata-East archives to bring this jazz masterpiece back into the spotlight. Originally released in 1975, the self funded LP saw Shirley Scott, ably assisted by Harold Vick and Billy Higgins, breaking free of industry rules and expectations to release the music she wanted to hear. Now once again we can hear it too.
20. MCCARTHY: THE ENRAGED WILL INHERIT THE EARTH Barry: With poppy hooks and progressions hidden beneath a cover of driven politicism and anti-war sentiment, McCarthy presented a fascinating and enjoyable juxtaposition of styles and production techniques. This new remaster includes an extra LP AND an extra 7” too!
‘Frankly it's an incredible song' - Stereogum
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‘A remarkable reinvention, evolution, self-reevaluation' - NPR ‘Superbly ambitious' - Clash ‘Best New Track' - Pitchfork
The Weather Station Includes single ‘The Robber' Album Out February 5th - Pre-order now.
'This is their most convincing and compelling work to date' - NME
Courtney Marie Andrews “there simply isn’t anything to dislike about Old Flowers” MOJO “bracingly and courageously “a potent collection of unfiltered” emotionally raw songs” Album Of The Week NPR MUSIC UNCUT “quiet and still and unbearably sad, but somehow leaves the listener feeling better” Album Of The Week THE EVENING STANDARD “devastatingly intimate and open-hearted” NME “this really is a beautiful album: crafted, moving and sophisticated” THE TIMES “these are high quality songs written by someone who knows her craft” Album Of The Week FINANCIAL TIMES
‘A stunning, intricate, debut album' - Pitchfork ‘An utterly unforgettable record' Album of the Week - The Line of Best Fit
HELENA DELAND SOMEONE NEW
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
A Certain Ratio
Cabaret Voltaire
ACR Loco
Shadow Of Fear
CD Spearmint Green Vinyl
CD Cassette Purple Vinyl
Lee Ranaldo & Raül Refree
Erasure The Neon
Names Of The North End Women CD White Vinyl
CD Orange Vinyl
Daniel Blumberg
Nicolas Bougaïeff
On&On
The Upward Spiral
CD Clear Vinyl
Double Blue Vinyl
POLE
Simon Fisher Turner & Edmund de Waal
Fading A Quiet Corner In Time CD Double Aztec Gold vinyl
mute.com
CD White Vinyl
Genre Charts
JAZZ CHART Emily: Watching the whirring, hyper-connected spin of modernity slow to an almost standstill this year has been a jarring experience. Thankfully the lockdown hasn’t restricted creativity from flowing through the growing global pool of jazz musicians. We’ve enjoyed a string of thoughtfully crafted releases this year, ranging from the spirit lifting to the contemplative. And, at risk of sounding a little too proud of this place we call home, a great deal of new jazz output has been cooked up on UK soil. Sitting at the top of the chart is Zara McFarlane with ‘Songs of an Unknown Tongue’. Her exploratory third album sees her adopt a more electronic sound palette with the assistance of London based producers Kwake Bass and Wu-lu. But amongst the intricate sound design and throbbing synth bass there are still many organic elements at play — rolling polyrhythmic percussion and a masterful grip on jazz harmony combined with soulful storytelling. Next up are Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela, two brilliant pioneers who have both sadly passed within the past two years. The level of their musicianship was unrivalled until the end, and there is something quite poignant in them having featured a number of young jazz musicians on their final studio album — like the passing of a torch to the next generation. In third and fourth place are some artists even closer to home, MCR based spiritual jazz luminary Matthew Halsall and our leading exponents of jazz infused dance music, Contours & Yadava. Even as an outsider peering in you can tell there is something special about the new UK jazz scene — it’s a movement that transcends genre boundaries, bringing together far flung musical traditions with homegrown UK styles. A feeling of unity reverberates throughout the scene and the music that emerges from it — something that we can thankfully live vicariously through from our isolation chambers.
1. ZARA MCFARLANE: SONGS OF AN UNKNOWN TONGUE 2. TONY ALLEN & HUGH MASEKELA: REJOICE
3. MATTHEW HALSALL: SALUTE TO THE SUN
4. CONTOURS & YADAVA: COSMIC ECHOES
5. YAZMIN LACEY: MORNING MATTERS
6. TENDERLONIOUS: QUARENTENA
7. THUNDERCAT: IT IS WHAT IT IS
8. GOGO PENGUIN: GOGO PENGUIN
9. MOSES BOYD: DARK MATTER
10. KAMAAL WILLIAMS: WU HEN
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize An Album of the Year
Genre Charts
HIP HOP CHART Millie: Kaytranada takes the title with his peerless album ‘Bubba’, interweaved with dancefloor undercurrents and synth-heavy vibrating basslines. Joined by an array of talent such as Tinashe, VanJess and Masego — elevates this album to the top. Drenched in slick production and seamless transitions makes this an automatic top spot. Little Simz has enhanced 2020 dramatically by releasing ‘Drop 6’, an EP created during lockdown, her pure energy and quick flowing rap sets her apart. The euphoric synth pads and unassuming four-to-the-floor rhythm of “You Should Call Mum” encapsulates a longing for the night-life that is sorely missed. Finding time from drinking the finest natural wines known to humanity: Action Bronson delivers us the sublime ‘Only For Dolphins’. Inviting us to take a dip in the pool with the laid-back “Splash’” to entice us to sample the slow-dancing vibes of “Shredder”, this album really has it all. Other worthy candidates include Matt’s favorite Freddie Gibbs with ‘Alfredo’ which comes in useful when you need to take a moment to chill and Clipping.’s killer track “Something Underneath” is the fastest flow you’ll witness this year matched with a fractured industrial tone. Music really does help in times like these. 2020 has highlighted the injustices and racism which exist within society, with the movement of Black Lives Matter at the forefront, we all have a duty to keep educating ourselves and acknowledge systemic prejudices whilst also supporting black artists in the industry. It’s been a difficult year so we all need to support one another and listen to some good music.
1. KAYTRANADA: BUBBA
2. LITTLE SIMZ: DROP 6
3. ACTION BRONSON: ONLY FOR DOLPHINS
4. FREDDIE GIBBS & THE ALCHEMIST: ALFREDO
5. CLIPPING.: VISIONS OF BODIES BEING BURNED 6. NAEEM: STARTISHA
7. RUN THE JEWELS: RTJ4
8. NAS: KING’S DISEASE
9. GHOSTPOET: I GROW TIRED BUT DARE NOT FALL ASLEEP 10. PAN AMSTERDAM: HA CHU
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
LATE NIGHT FINAL A WONDERFUL HOPE Play It Again Sam
DANIEL AVERY LOVE + LIGHT Phantasy Sound
CIRCA WAVES SAD HAPPY Prolifica
KATIE GATELY LOOM Houndstooth
KNXWLEDGE 1988 Stones Throw
ROSE CITY BAND SUMMERLONG Thrill Jockey
MR BUNGLE THE RAGING WRATH OF THE EASTER BUNNY DEMO Ipecac
BEN CHATWIN THE HUM Village Green
CHASE & STATUS FABRIC PRESENTS CHASE & STATUS: RTRN II Fabric
MATT BERRY PHANTOM BIRDS Acid Jazz
ED HARCOURT MONOCHROME TO COLOUR Point of Departure
ALL THEM WITCHES NOTHING AS THE IDEAL New West
www.loverecordstores.com
Genre Charts
BALEARIC / AMBIENT CHART
1. UNHAPPYBIRTHDAY: MONDCHATEAU
Patrick: Though lockdown and travel bans robbed us of our usual summer fun, the furlough feeling did at least encourage a little mañana in most of us. This list is packed full of the kinds of records you’d want to hear from your hammock as the sun swings over your backyard and the ice cubes coast around your cocktail.
2. LOUIS CRELIER: RESTER PARTIR
Top of the class is the glorious ‘Mondchateau’ from Hamburg outfit Unhappybirthday, who blend hints of Blue Nile, Flash & The Pan, Linda Di Franco and Talk Talk into a sophistipop masterpiece dripping in resort cool. In at two is the inaugural release on new Parisian imprint Caldeira, an excellent retrospective of the FM sorcery and LinnDrum drama of Swiss composer Luis Crelier — essential listening for fans of Tropical Drums. Another consistent year keeps the Growing Bin quota up, the cosmic chug of Liquid Canoe taking home the bronze while the evocative Balearic boogie of father & son duo Peter & Patrick Jahn sits five places lower.
4. COMMON SAINTS: IDOL EYES
Local legend and lovable grump Moonboots gets the kudos for tipping us to Common Saints, whose psychedelic and soulful west coaster just pips Baba Stiltz’ slacker anthem (featuring an exceptionally baggy remix!) to fourth place. Begin maintains his sky high standards with the bossa-tinged optimism of “Alldaydream”, sharing a masked embrace with an all killer label sampler from those fine folks at Claremont 56. At nine there’s a surprise appearance from the generally clubby Whities firm, who threw a wonderful ambient curveball with Dylan Henner’s delightfully glitching “The Invention Of The Human”, while Calm rounds out our horizontal hit parade with a pair of sandal-clad interpretations of unclassics from his native Japan.
3. LIQUID CANOE: LIQUID CANOE
5. BABA STILTZ: RUNNING TO CHAD
6. BEGIN: ALLDAYDREAM
7. VARIOUS ARTISTS: CLAREMONT EDITIONS VOLUME 2 8. PETER JAHN & PATRICK JAHN: ABENTEUER ÜBERM SCHRANK 9. DYLAN HENNER: THE INVENTION OF THE HUMAN 10. CALM: CALM REWORKS
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
Genre Charts
BOOKS Javi: Music isn’t just for your ears, folks! From iconic label retrospectives to deep-dives into hip hop’s finest, 2020 has served up a whole host of brilliant musical books, perfect for those hours spent bored / panicking / coughing on the sofa.
and artistic innovation in Cuba: Music and Revolution’, just itching for a coffee table home. The Design Museum’s gorgeous ‘Electronic: From Kraftwerk to the Chemical Brothers’ meanwhile explores the impact of dance music graphics on the world today.
Heavenly Recordings celebrated their thirtieth anniversary by releasing ‘Believe in Magic’, a Robin Turner-penned book which reveals both the conversations that have driven the label, and the chaos behind some of its most influential releases. Other contenders for indie book of the year include the witty New Order biography by beat machine Stephen Morris, titled ‘Fast Forward’, and ‘Remain in Love’, Chris Frantz’s tell-all about Talking Heads which hit shelves back in May. Mark Lanegan’s trademark growl translates beautifully onto the page, too, in his autobiography ‘Sing Backwards and Weep’.
If words are more your thing(!), John Cooper Clarke consolidated his bard-dom with ‘I Wanna Be Yours’, an autobiography characterised by his usual wry storytelling and musings. Kendrick Lamar’s unprecedented impact on the American psyche is catalogued by Marcus J. Moore in his first biography ‘The Butterfly Effect’. I’ve also been enjoying Tricky’s ‘Hell Is Round The Corner’: structured documentary-like around monologues by both him and those closest to him, it’s by turns tragic and comic, but always utterly readable. Jockey Slut sneaked ‘ Andrew Weatherall: A Jockey Slut Tribute’ out just in time for Christmas, compiling his interviews and more from 1993-2004, and finally (deep breath), Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale has released ‘Hey Hi Hello’, a beast of a book full of anecdotes from the frontline of pop music past and present!
The visual learners among us have been treated well too. Spike Jonze’s ‘Beastie Boys’ is full of unseen candid photos of rap-rock royalty, while (further south), Soul Jazz have compiled decades of ‘Cuban musical
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
WOLF PARADE Thin Mind
MOANING
MAN MAN Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between
WASHED OUT Purple Noon
METZ
Atlas Vending
THE HOMESICK The Big Exercise
SHABAZZ PALACES
Uneasy Laughter
The Don of Diamond Dreams
ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER
JON BENJAMIN - JAZZ DAREDEVIL
BULLY
L7 Smell the Magic
LOMA
CLIPPING Visions of Bodies Being Burned
Sideways to New Italy
SUGAREGG
Don’t Shy Away
The Soundtrack Collection
(Remastered)
Staff Charts
DARRYL The year started so well, a perfect relaxing holiday on the shores of the Red Sea with my scuba diving addicted wife Lety (hi babe!) had left me happy and looking forward to the new decade, but within a few weeks the world was engulfed in a pandemic. The knock on effect was that from the end of March we were in the midst of a lockdown and the shop could only trade online for a few months. It was a time of incredible stress and heavy workloads with a skeleton staff (big shout outs to Javi and Ryan for stepping up!), but the encouragement and support from our amazing customers made it all worthwhile. Thank you all! One of the positives to come out of the lockdown(s) was the incredible amount of fantastic releases, the retro shoegazing sounds BDRRM took the number one slot for me this year, maybe it was a harking back to simpler times that won me over! Elsewhere the Rheinzand album was a constant on the lockdown playlist and a deserved number one in our main chart, Sufjan Stevens returned with a wondrous synth drenched album and Sports Team aided my hibernating Pavement addiction. It was also a good year for the locals with Jim Noir, Working Men’s Club and BC Camplight all releasing corkers!
PATRICK I was talking to my in-laws recently about music, specifically the first time they’d heard certain songs which, by the time I’d made my grand existential entrance, had long since been absorbed into our collective cultural DNA. Picture two teenagers in the first flush of young love, strolling hand in hand through Southport Funfair in the summer of 1977. They step into the strobe lit circle of the waltzer, squeezing into a car side by side. The hydraulics lock and anticipation reaches its peak, an otherworldly sound beginning to swell all around them. A swirl of sparkling electronics erupts into tachycardic percussion and pulsating bass and the ride begins to rotate. Rising, falling, rushing to the beat, and above it all there’s a voice — angelic, erotic, euphoric. She feels love. They feel love. We can all feel love. My in-laws described a moment so perfect, so deeply evocative that it almost seems implausible. But on their 40th wedding anniversary, more than four decades later, they could both recall every detail of that memory, and they chose to share it with their loved ones. That’s the power of music. Take care of yourselves, and each other.
BDRRM: Bedroom Sufjan Stevens: The Ascension Sports Team: Deep Down Happy Jim Noir: A.M Jazz Nadine Shah: Kitchen Sink Rheinzand: Rheinzand Craven Faults: Erratics & Unconformities 8. BC Camplight: Shortly After Takeoff 9. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways To New Italy 10. Coriky: Coriky 11. Working Men’s Club: Working Men’s Club 12. Pottery: Welcome To Bobby’s Motel 13. Bob Dylan: Rough And Rowdy Ways 14. Rose City Band: Summerlong 15. Protomartyr: Ultimate Success Today 16. Widowspeak: Plum 17. Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Song 18. Thurston Moore: By The Fire 19. Suzanne Vallie: Love Lives Where Rules Die 20. Fontaines D.C.: A Hero’s Death 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. Unhappybirthday: Mondchateau 2. Neuzeitliche Bodenbeläge: Der Große Preis 3. Louis Crelier: Rester Partir 4. Rheinzand: Rheinzand 5. Parbleu: Danse Cette Zik 6. Yre Den: Soilstretch 7. Clipping.: Visions Of Bodies Being Burned 8. Peter & Patrick Jahn: Abenteuer überm Schrank 9. NS Kroo: Introduction 10. Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine 11. Yosa Peit / Nauker / Glenn Astro: TERM 3 12. Hydromantic: Archipelago 13. Employee: Hold Music Vol. 1 14. Cutmaster Singh: Acid Bhangra Rarities & Re-Edits 15. Lilipulu: Four Amazing Tracks 16. Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Song 17. Mildlife: Automatic 18. Cleo Sol: Rose In The Dark 19. The Avalanches: We Will Always Love You 20. Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas: III
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
TIM BURGESS I Love The New Sky
DRAB CITY Good Songs For Bad People
MODERN NATURE Annual
EMMY THE GREAT April
THE FLAMING LIPS American Head
JONATHAN WILSON Dixie Blur
BC CAMPLIGHT Shortly After Takeoff
I BREAK HORSES Warnings
LANTERNS ON THE LAKE Spook The Herd
a selection of 2020 releases from
BELLA UNION shop all this years releases | www.bellaunion.com
Staff Charts
LAURA My year started with an incredible trip to Reykjavik and I knew it was going to be tough for the rest of the year to match up to that. I didn’t anticipate it’d go downhill quite so much! Other than that trip, I find it hard to remember anything else about pre-COVID 2020 at all. With most of the staff furloughed through the Summer, I switched to doing mailorder and one of the few positives to come out of the year was that I got to chat to customers (albeit digitally and not face to face), something I rarely get a chance to do usually. Some of you I know from back in the old Piccadilly Plaza days, some are new customers who we’ve picked up along the way. Your encouragement and concern for the shop has been incredible and really helped us get through. And of course music always helps! Pretty much any of my top 10 could’ve been my number one, I love them all and they’re the ones that I’ve kept going back to over the year. There are also at least 10 others that just missed the cut. In such bleak times, music saves!
MINE What a year, eh? I’m sure you’re all sick of hearing the c-word so let’s not dwell on how much of a write-off this year has been for a lot of us and focus on what undoubtedly will have been one of the positives of this year: Ample time to listen to music (old and new)! The strangeness of what has been 2020 has well and truly manifested itself in my end of year chart which, I’m pretty sure is safe to say, is the most diverse it has been in a while. Less drone, more disco, less shoegaze, more synths, less fuzz, more… fun? Err, I think you get the gist. Luckily, even though most of us had to adapt to a somewhat slower pace of life, the list of new releases seemed as endless as ever and has kept everyone occupied — especially us shop gremlins in the back — so I hope you have and will continue to discover a few new favourites this year. Stay safe & see you all in 2021!
1. Jim Noir: A.M Jazz 2 Silverbacks: Fad 3. Fontaines D.C.: A Hero’s Death 4. Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers 5. Other Lives: For Their Love 6. Working Men’s Club: Working Men’s Club 7 Widowspeak: Plum 8. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways To New Italy 9. Tim Burgess: I Love The New Sky 10. Matthew Halsall: Salute To The Sun 11. Protomartyr: Ultimate Success Today 12. Nick Cave: Idiot Prayer: Live Alone At Alexandra Palace 13. Gabriels: Love And Hate In A Different Time 14. Surprise Chef: Daylight Savings 15. Coriky: Coriky 16. Various Artists: SEX: Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die 17. Rose City Band: Summerlong 18. grasshopper: Scuttle 19. Sports Team: Deep Down Happy 20. Pottery: Welcome To Bobby’s Motel
1. Rheinzand: Rheinzand 2. Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine 3. Ringo Deathstarr: Ringo Deathstarr 4. Various Artists: Interstellar Funk Presents Artificial Dancers – Waves Of Synth 5. Lorelle Meets The Obsolete: Re-facto 6. Jennifer Touch: Behind The Wall 7. International Noise Orchestra: Marching in Time 2 8. Holy Wave: Interloper 9. Stash Magnetic: My Future EP 10. Liquid Canoe: Liquid Canoe 11. I Break Horses: Warnings 12. Harmonious Thelonious: Plong 13. Peaking Lights: E S C A P E 14. Mr. Elevator: Goodbye Blue Sky 15. Chromatics: Closer To Grey 16. Ela Minus: Acts Of Rebellion 17. The Vacant Lots: Interzone 18. Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Song 19. Fontaines D.C.: A Hero’s Death 20. Errortica: Safely Stowed
Eleven Of The Saviours Of 2020
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
Sink Ya Teeth Two LP/CD – Hey Buffalo
Juniore Un Deux Trois LP/CD – Outré
Einstürzende Neubauten Alles In Allem LP/CD – Potomak
The Necks Three CD - ReR Megacorp
Eight Rounds Rapid Love Your Work LP/CD – Tapete
Proper Ornaments Mission Bells LP/ LP(clear)/CD –Tapete
A Girl Called Eddy Been Around LP/CD – Elefant
Mark Olson & Ingunn Ringvold Magdalen Accepts The Invitation LP/CD – Fiesta Red
Jerry Joseph Beautiful Madness LP/CD - Décor Records
The Apartments In And Out Of The Light LP/CD -Talitres
www.shellshock.co.uk |
Louis Philippe & The Night Mail Thunderclouds LP/CD – Tapete
@ShellshockLtd | www.facebook.com/shellshockdistribution
Staff Charts
BARRY It’s obviously been a strange time for everyone but I’m grateful for the pleasures I did get to have this year. My EP launch was on the 6th of March (the last gig I attended, and definitely the last gig I played), 2 days before we managed to go and see my mum in Florida and return a whole 3 days before the first lockdown. The time at home allowed for plenty of writing music and reading and recording, playing with flashing lights and wires (all the good stuff). The music that’s come out this year has been plentiful, and as ever, incredibly hard to narrow down to a list that’s in any way representative of my listening habits. Every year I promise myself that I’ll write down records throughout the year on something that isn’t as fleeting as a post-it note or hastily ripped scrap of paper, and every year I fail. Be assured that all of the LP’s listed have a special place in my heart, but there will ALWAYS be ones I’ve forgotten, so thanks to all the music makers. X
JAVI 2020 was crap for all the usual reasons and then some, but the brilliant people in my life have given me more than enough lovely memories to stop the year being a total write-off. A special thanks to my family, housemates, friends, and boyfriend for existing in both physical and digital formats. Musically, 2020 saw my band release our debut album — if you like your post-punk Factory-y and / or Piccadilly-approved, ‘Scuttle’ by grasshopper might be for you. Working through lockdown in the mail order department turned me onto lots of weird and wonderful music that otherwise would’ve passed me by (and Fugazi! Fugazi!), and a whole slew of disco-tinged bangers from pop’s finest have helped (mostly) keep the C*vid panic at bay. I’ve also read more, watched less, bought a piano, and ventured into the world of dark synth music with the help of Polytechnic Youth and Correlations. Anyway! Here’s to a better, boring, zoom-less, music-filled 2021. Until then, stay safe and remember: be nice to retail staff (and your postie) over Christmas. x
1. Polypores: Azure 2. Andrew Wasylyk: Fugitive Light And Themes Of Consolation 3. Gabe Knox: Cosmic Motorik Adventures & Machine Language Music 4. Aix Em Klemm: Aix Em Klemm (2020 Reissue) 5. El Ten Eleven: Tautology 6. Sigur Ros: Takk (Vinyl Reissue) 7. Coriky: Coriky 8. Four Tet: Sixteen Oceans 9. Belbury Poly: Gone Away 10. Field Lines Cartographer: The Spectral Isle 11. The Lovely Eggs: I Am Moron 12. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith: The Mosaic Of Transformation 13. Various Artists: Scarred For Life Vol.2 14. Deftones: Ohms 15. Georgia: Seeking Thrills 16. Rebecca Foon: Waxing Moon 17. KMRU: Peel 18. Andi Otto & F.S.Blumm: Entangleland 19. Luke Abbott: Translate 20. Daniel Avery + Alessandro Cortini: Illusion Of Time
1. Rheinzand: Rheinzand 2. Sufjan Stevens: The Ascension 3. Other Lives: For Their Love 4. Douglas Dare: Milkteeth 5. Thee MVPs: Science Fiction 6. Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine 7. Moaning: Uneasy Laughter 8. Kaytranada: Bubba 9. Agnes Obel: Myopia 10. International Teachers of Pop: Pop Gossip 11. Crack Cloud: Pain Olympics 12. Cleo Sol: Rose In The Dark 13. Hey Colossus: Dances / Curses 14. Correlations: Hot Pots 15. Wax Chattels: Clot 16. Bambara: Stray 17. The Orielles: Disco Volador 18. Less Bells: Mourning Jewelry 19. Andrew Wasylyk: Fugitive Light and Themes of Consolation 20. Nightingales: Four Against Fate
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
Staff Charts
MARTIN This has been the first year I haven’t made it outside the U.K. for 16 years, which, for someone who loves doing that as much as I do, has been weird. Not as weird as the theory that all the governments of the world, representing often utterly mutually exclusive world views and with a long and almost unblemished record of not cooperating with one another, have formed a secret coalition to pull the wool over our eyes, for some as yet undisclosed reason, to shoot themselves in the foot. It’s a joy to work with music, especially when it’s with such a brilliant bunch of people. Little did I know it was going to be watching one of them, our Barry, doing an anti Rick Wakeman impression in the basement of the Peer Hat back in early March that would be 2020’s last live music experience. It’s some consolation it’s been such an amazing year for the recorded variety. Music has a way of cutting through our differences, at odds with certain world leaders who’ve got where they are/were by employing the exact reverse strategy. At least we’re ending on a positive note with the disappearing from the world stage of their odious orange overlord. Lots of love to everyone!
ANDY It feels funny writing anything about this year. I didn’t even work in the shop from March ‘til October, but followed it on Instagram, like everybody else. At least the music kept coming! Where would we be without new music? I was furloughed so if you were one of the many workless walkers hanging out Chorlton way (Longford Park, to be precise, or if I was feeling energetic, down by the Mersey) you may have been unfortunate enough to see me: pale, puny, shirt off and rocking to the new Woods record, the perfect summer companion. The shirt had to be off because I was determined to get those UV rays in. I couldn’t get them actually “inside the body” so had to make do with the inferior — straight onto my skin. By this point my bleach injection regime was well under way so I was feeling pretty indestructible in those mid-summer Covid days. Anyway, back to reality, it was a relief to finally get back into work and see all my lovely friends once again. Hopefully, next year, we’ll get to see all you lot too! All the best!
1. Douglas Dare: Milkteeth 2. Fontaines D.C.: A Hero’s Death 3. Rheinzand: Rheinzand 4. Hania Rani: Home 5. Bebel Gilberto: Agora 6. Mary Lattimore: Silver Ladders 7. Jim Noir: A.M Jazz 8. Idles: Ultra Mono 9. Metz: Atlas Vending 10. Field Lines Cartographer: The Spectral Isle 11. Zara McFarlane: Songs Of An Unknown Tongue 12. Destroyer: Have We Met 13. The Orielles: Disco Volador 14. grasshopper: Scuttle 15. Protomartyr: Ultimate Success Today 16. Working Men’s Club: Working Men’s Club 17. Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Song 18. Clipping.: Visions Of Bodies Being Burned 19. International Teachers Of Pop: Pop Gossip 20. The Cool Greenhouse: The Cool Greenhouse
1. Jim Noir: A.M Jazz 2. The Orielles: Disco Volador 3. Badly Drawn Boy: Banana Skin Shoes 4. Woods: Strange to Explain 5. Whyte Horses: Hard Times 6. Tame Impala: The Slow Rush 7. Doves: The Universal Want 8. The Phoenix Foundation: Friend Ship 9. Katy J Pearson: Returns 10. BC Camplight: Shortly After Take Off 11. Rose City Band: Summerlong 12. Soccer Mommy: Color Theory 13. Bonny Light Horseman: Bonny Light Horseman 14. Working Men’s Club: Working Men’s Club 15. Laura Veirs: My Echo 16. Tim Burgess: I Love The New Sky 17. Samantha Crain: A Small Death 18. Jonathan Wilson: Dixie Blur 19. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways To New Italy 20. My Morning Jacket: The Waterfall II
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2020
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
BONIFACE BONIFACE
MICHELLE HEATWAVE
TRANSMISSIONS: THE MUSIC OF BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND
MOONCHILD SANELLY NÜDES
SONGHOY BLUES OPTIMISME
LUPIN LUPIN
MARIKA HACKMAN COVERS
COMING SOON…. ARLO PARKS COLLAPSED IN SUNBEAMS OUT 29TH JANUARY 2021
Staff Charts
EMILY Well. It’s been a wobbly one! Thankfully, music has continued to provide a gateway to an escapist fantasy world (in which I might take up permanent residence). Early on this year I was lucky enough to play synth for The Orielles on their UK tour just before the lockdown started. Swapping rooms filled with speaker stacks and sweaty dancers for abrupt solitude was a little disarming. But my summer lockdown wasn’t without its wholesome moments — long bike rides along the mersey, making ravioli from scratch, cruising through simulated streets on GTA V. It’s been a challenging time for musicians and music lovers alike with the absence of live music and the passing of luminaries like Tony Allen, Manu Dibango and Bill Withers. Nonetheless, we’ve enjoyed a steady stream of new releases this year, providing necessary moments of brightness like the glowing lights that line a long dark road tunnel. It seems fitting that most of my list is populated by ambient releases, gentle electronica and soothing soul. But there’s still room for some dancefloor heat in there despite the decidedly static nature of the last 12 months. Let’s hope we can all bust a move outside of our kitchens in 2021!
MILLIE I’m always stumped of what to say here but now even more so. This year like everyone’s has been a strange one, I was at home for the majority of it and between me and my partner we completed the cliché stay-at-home checklist. Made sourdough (tick), made banana bread (tick), read books (tick), went on a daily allocated walk (tick). It was actually nice to get back to basics and amidst all that I’ve developed a new passion for gardening, I don’t think there’s anything more satisfying than growing something from seed, I am hooked! Music-wise, Cleo Sol holds the title for me. Her album is a thing of neo-soul beauty, I’m in complete awe of her vocals and her mesmerising flow. Alongside that, Lianne La Havas was my go-to when doing jobs around the house and Madison McFerrin I raved about to whoever would listen and featured on my Piccadilly ‘Isolation Selection’. It’s good to be back at the shop surrounded by music, colleagues and biscuits (at a safe distance of course). See you 2020, I don’t think you’ll be too sorely missed.
1. Hotspring: Obit For Sunshade 2. Cleo Sol: Rose In The Dark 3. Thomas Gray & Liam Ebbs: Recollection Of Everything Beautiful 4. Pawel’s Bar: Cantina 5. The Orielles: Disco Volador 6. Various Artists: Shanti Celeste — The Sound Of Love International #003 7. Glenn Astro: Homespun 8. Nick Hakim: Will This Make Me Good 9. Liquid Canoe: Liquid Canoe 10. grasshopper: Scuttle 11. Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine 12. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist: Alfredo 13. Parbleu: Danse Cette Zik 14. Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela: Rejoice 15. Yazmin Lacey: Morning Matters 16. Kazuya Nagaya: Dream Interpretation 17. Zara McFarlane: Songs Of An Unknown Tongue 18. Polypores: Azure 19. YS: Music Angel 20. Four Tet: Sixteen Oceans
1. Cleo Sol: Rose In The Dark 2. Lianne La Havas: Lianne La Havas 3. Madison McFerrin: You+I 4. Yazmin Lacey: Morning Matters 5. Zara McFarlane: Songs Of An Unknown Tongue 6. Various Artists: Blue Note Re:Imagined 7. Orion Sun: Space For Me 8. Kaytranada: Bubba 9. Thundercat: It Is What It Is 10. Allysha Joy: Light It Again 11. Nubya Garcia: Source 12. Moses Sumney: Græ 13. Little Simz: Drop 6 14. Rosy Lee: Syrup 15. Various Artists: Seven Wonders 16. Action Bronson: Only For Dolphins 17. Kamaal Williams: Wu Hen 18. GoGo Penguin: GoGo Penguin 19. Naeem: Startisha 20. Nas: King’s Disease
The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
A L B U M S O F 2020
DUKE DUMONT
M E TA L L I C A
TAY LO R SW I F T
P E A R L JA M
B LO S S O M S
T W I N AT L A N T I C
DUALITY
F O L K LO R E
F O O L I S H LOV I N G S PAC E S
S&M2
G I G ATO N
P OW E R
THE KILLERS
I M P LO D I N G T H E M I R AG E
D OV E S
T H E U N I V E R S A L WA N T
J E S S I E WA R E
W H AT ’S YO U R P L E AS U R E ?
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MATT What a bloody tough year ey? If you’ve made it this far with even a smidgen of cheer — well done! Give yourselves a pat on the back! With not a lot to smile about externally, plus a whole lot of enforced downtime, I, like I’m sure many of you also, had quite an inward focussed year. It feels like we’ve squeezed 8 years of spiritual development into 8 months! It’s of course been strange not having the overtly welcoming and eccentric bosom of Manchester’s nightlife and arts scene (and all the characters within it) as company. I miss you all, even the smell of The White Hotel! Just imagine when the doors do, finally, re-open though…! So while the sheer act of keeping sane and healthy during the chaos is a challenge, it at least occupies some of the mindless hours that have been involuntarily gifted onto some of us this year. For others at the coalface of the chaos — nurses, teachers, supermarket staff, carers etc, — it’s a very different story, and I’m thankful to those folks out there refusing to let humanity fail. The music – a potent tonic to the vast hardships of reality – seems as imperative as ever.
RYAN It’s been a weird year and I can finally justify never leaving my flat. We’ve been given free rein on our spiel this year and here are my most important YouTube rabbit holes, stream of consciousness style; Vocaloid holograms, what? this Is crazy/great. Wait, there are many of them. Most wholesome speed run ever? I didn’t know Zelda walks faster backwards. Cherry mx blue switches sound better than red, BAKA MITAI. I wish we could get chuhai in the UK. I should remember to... wait, 2 million people have watched the video ‘Top 10 foghorn sounds.’ Now I’m watching a time-lapse of a glass of water go moldy, how long must that take? Longer than it takes for the light to travel from the sun to the earth which is about 9 minutes I’ve just learnt. The sun is rising again. Maybe when this is all over, I should go out more. Thanks 2020.
1. Apollo Brown & Che’ Noir: As God Intended 2. Starion: Altered States 3. Morphology: Horta Proxima 4. The Principal’s: Treacherous Dub 5. Action Bronson: Only For Dolphins 6. Matthew Halsall: Salute To The Sun 7. Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine 8. Apta: Rainbow Islands 9. Radioactive Man & Ben Pest: Old Tight Selektah EP 10. Galaxians: Chemical Reaction 11. Ruf Dug: Ecstasy EP 12. International Teachers Of Pop: Pop Gossip 13. Glenn Astro: Homespun 14. Talking Drums: Dromedary / Super Express 15. Andrew Wasylyk: Fugitive Light And Themes Of Consolation 16. E.R.P: Exomoon 17. Verraco: Grial 18. A Certain Ratio: ACR Loco 19. Revolting Cocks: Big Sexy Land (Reissue) 20. Four Tet: Sixteen Oceans
1. TOPS: I Feel Alive 2. Michelle: Heatwave 3. Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine 4. Apta: Rainbow Islands 5. Unhappybirthday: Mondchateau 6. Mildlife: Automatic 7. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways To New Italy 8. Sault: UNTITLED (Black Is) 9. The Orielles: Disco Volador 10. Peaking Lights: E S C A P E 11. grasshopper: Scuttle 12. Your Old Droog: Jewelry 13. Kamaal Williams: Wu Hen 14. Woods: Strange To Explain 15. Fuzz: III 16. Rheinzand: Rheinzand 17. Piper: Summer Breeze 18. Thundercat: It Is What It Is 19. Little Dragon: New Me, Same Us 20. Widowspeak: Plum
2020 The Top 20 Reissues/Collections
PINEGROVE
SLEAFORD MODS
- MARIGOLD -
- ALL THAT GLUE -
JARV IS...
HELLO FOREVER
- BEYOND THE PALE -
- WHATEVER IT IS -
THIS IS THE KIT - OFF OFF ON -
2020
ROUGHTRADERECORDS.COM
BRITISH SEA POWER - OPEN SEASON -
Staff Charts
SIL 2020! WTAF?! A global pandemic and welcoming our new beautiful baby girl Rosa to the world – a real mixed bag! What a potato! I’ve learned to slow down and see the wonder in the world around me. Walking the baby in the pram (Oyster 3 in forest green, turns on the head of a pin) at 6am in the driving rain whilst trying to stay in the moment. Perfecting the art of queuing like a British person. Using binoculars (Olympus 118760, 10x50) on a clear night to study the moon, or study our student neighbours while they attempt to survive on a diet of Zoom, vodka and indignation. Luckily I have had wonderful eclectic music to listen to for every eventuality from labour (Brian Eno – Neroli) to lockdown (rediscovering Goldie’s discography has lifted us in more than one occasion) as we have rode the waves of this strangest of years.
PASTA PAUL 2020: what was that about, hey? As ever, music saved. Cleo Sol, ‘Rose In The Dark’, tops my albums of the year list — it’s three years since I was blown away by her single ‘Why Don’t You’ so it’s amazing to finally own it on vinyl. She is also the voice of Sault, who have released not one but two incredible albums this year. Here’s hoping both acts can tour next year. Gig wise, despite the problems, I saw The Orielles at their nearly sold out show at The Ritz. Then making my way to London in early March for the Radio 6 Music Festival, I had no idea it would be one of the last live gigs I’d see in 2020. But in October I was fortunate to see Working Men’s Club at Yes — a sit down, socially distanced gig and a much needed reminder that we will find a way to see live music again. Thankfully, one musician really kept the music alive this year: a big thank you to Tim Burgess for his #TimsTwitterListeningParties and for saving Gorilla and Deaf Institute from closure. And a very sad RIP to legendary DJ/producer Andy Weatherall. #failwemaysailwemust
1. Parbleu: Danse Cette Zik 2. Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine 3. Liquid Canoe: Liquid Canoe 4. Roger Eno & Brian Eno: Mixing Colours 5. Various Artists: Late Night Tales: Hot Chip 6. Hiroshi Yoshimura: Green 7. Agnes Obel: Myopia 8. Various Artists: Mr. Bongo Record Club Vol.4 9. Khruangbin: Mordechai 10. Various Artists: Late Night Tales — Khruangbin 11. MS-DOS: CD / DIR 12. Inner Sphere: Voyage Futur 13. The War On Drugs: Live Drugs 14. R_R_: Train Of Thought 15. Sault: UNTITLED (Black Is) 16. Kraftwerk: Autobahn (Coloured Vinyl Reissue) 17. Maat: Solar Mantra 18. John Coltrane: Blue Train (Remastered Vinyl Edition) 19. Various Artists: Back To Mine — Fatboy Slim 20. Unhappybirthday: Mondchateau
1. Cleo Sol: Rose In The Dark 2. Greg Foat: Symphonie Pacifique 3. Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes: What Kinda Music 4. Bob Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways 5. Coastlines: Coastlines 6. A Certain Ratio: ACR Loco 7. Sault: Untitled (Rise) 8. Wilma Archer: A Western Circular 9. The Orielles: Disco Volador 10. Rheinzand: Rheinzand 11. Mildlife: Automatic 12. Soul Supreme: Soul Supreme 13. Felbm: Tape 3 / Tape 4 14. Hear & Now: Alba Sol 15. Parbleu: Danse Cette Zik 16. Various Artists: Bruton Brutoff — The Ambient, Electronic And Pastoral Side Of The The Bruton Library Catalogue 17. Various Artists: Blue Note Re:Imagined 18. Various Artists: Bob Stanley presents 76 In The Shade 19. Various Artists: Oto No Wa 20. Various Artists: Back To Mine — Fatboy Slim
POLIÇA
WHEN WE STAY ALIVE
MUSH 3D routine
T H E P H O E N I X F O U N D AT I O N
FIELD MUSIC MAKING A NEW WORLD
mp h mdeu s t r iies
in
2 0 2 0 vision
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DANCEFLOOR ROUND-UP Matt: The dance music community generally shuns and disregards any remotely Tory sentiment, but when Boris Johnson announced at the end of last year that 2020 would be a great year, who knew the existential consciousness of our scene would react so violently against his premonitions! Having begun the year with the devastating, premature death of one of our treasured heroes, Andrew Weatherall, things deteriorated pretty quickly for clubland with the closure of all dancing spaces in the wake of COVID-19. Weaker-minded DJs and artists imploded, selfdestructing their careers with lame gofundme requests or ill-informed medical “advice”. A few survived though, but the landscape was unforgiving, meaning if you made dance music in 2020 you basically had one of three options (alongside potentially having to seek out a new source of income!): a) Continue producing regardless, in the hope of DJs and dancers digesting your music in their home environments or livestreams. b) Take a well earned break and focus on your gardening / DIY / spiritual improvement skills. c) Make ambient music.
Whilst most producers rather obviously and uninspiringly opted for option C, the dedicated and die-hard continued to churn out the foot friendly hits as lockdown trundled on. Our own local labels such as Red Laser, Dansu Discs, Ad Hoc, Natural Sciences, Talking Drums, Youth and Bakk Haia all kept their red lights and strobe machines a-glowing through some fine releases; club nights went interactive, prompting pilled-up zoom meetings and not-so-exclusive DJ sets on Twitch; while music lovers, commentators and selectors suddenly started paying close attention to their plants, bookshelves and interior design. It’s hard to compile a chart having witnessed zero dancefloor reactions, but the selection below should at least serve to highlight the varied and inventive developments in this broad umbrella we call dance music; whetting your appetites perhaps for when the doors finally do open again, and we can collectively sweat, jump, jive & natter in the seductively illicit bosom of the Nightclub. We’ve not ‘arf missed them, and I for one will be proudly front and left when the speaker stacks get switched on once more. Have faith massive – we will dance again I’m sure!
1. Yre Den: Soilstretch 2. Begin: Alldaydream 3. Kid Machine: Magico 4. Prince Stoner: U.V Dub 5. MS: DOS: CD / DIR 6. Zmatsutsi, Tross & Houschyar: Various Lurkers 7. Andrew Weatherall: Unknown Plunderer / End Times Sound 8. Employee: Hold Music Vol. 1 9. Morphology: Horta Proxima 10. Jorg Kunning: BH002 11. Scott Fergusson: CFD & I Am The One 12. Various Artists: Alarme Fatale 13. Hydromantic: Archipelago 14. Various Artists: Club Culture Vol. 3 (Dansu Discs) 15. DJ Deeon / Traxman: Da Disco Tekk EP 16. Pye Corner Audio: Where Things Are Hollow 2 17. Various Artists: Sweet Echoes Vol. 2 18. Lilipulu: Four Amazing Tracks 19. Omar S: Fuck Resident Advisor / Still Fucking Resident Advisor 20. Radioactive Man & Ben Pest: Old Tight Selektah EP
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Piccadilly #1 Album of 2020 (Music for Dreams)
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