CAOILFHIONN ROSE ‘CONSTELLATION’ (Gondwana Records)
‘LETTER TO SELF’ (City Slang)
HAWK
‘RISING’ (Gondwana Records)
CARIBOU ‘HONEY’ (City Slang)
KING HANNAH
‘BIG SWIMMER’ (City Slang)
‘VIVA HINDS’ (Lucky Number)
SVANEBORG KARDYB
‘SUPERKILEN’ (Gondwana Records)
JASMINE MYRA
Welcome
I know we say it every November, but where the hell did that year go?!? It only seems like yesterday when we were welcoming Bill Ryder-Jones to the shop for an intimate January acoustic set and signing. That amazing performance was followed by some brilliant instores from Michael Head, Nadine Shah, Lovely Eggs, Field Music, and very recently, Peter Alexander Jobson; whilst the likes of Luke Una, Lou Hayter, NightjaR (AKA Jimi Goodwin From Doves) launched their albums by manning the shop decks. And let’s not forget the signing sessions: Jane Weaver, Fat Dog, Bug Club, W.H. Lung all passed through with marker pens aloft!
Our outstores continued in 2024 with Hamish (what a nice man!) Hawk and Public Service Broadcasting wowing us across the road at Night & Day, whilst ACR, Porij and Jamie XX had the crowds excited at Soup Kitchen, Low Four and New Century Hall respectively.
2024 also brought us a few staff goodbyes and hellos — Ryan moved on to pastures new, but left us a lovely parting gift in the shape of Horsebeach’s ‘Things To Keep Alive’ album. Also “Saturday Queen” Maisy has moved to Leeds with her studies, in her place we said a very quick “hello & goodbye” to Max before settling on Fred, as our new young Saturday chap. We also said a final goodbye this year to far too many musical heroes, but the biggest loss to the Northern Quarter record buying community was our dear friend and Vinyl Exchange stalwart, Rae Donaldson. I like to think that he’s up there somewhere in deep discussion with Steve Albini about production techniques. RIP.
Before you delve into the charts we need to say a huge thanks to Mark Brown for designing the booklet, and compilation sleeves again. And not forgetting Republic of Music for facilitating not one, but two Piccadilly Records Compilations on vinyl and our free sampler CD.
Piccadilly Records Vinyl Compilations
If the return of our annual Piccadilly Records EOY vinyl wasn’t exciting enough, this year we have a sibling ‘Nightfall’ compilation too, taking in clubbier electronic vibes.
Available for a bargain £15.99 each, or £29.99 for both as the ultimate Xmas stocking filler bundle.
Tracklistings and more info on the inner back pages of this booklet……
Piccadilly Records Sampler
Our ever popular sampler CD is back once again for 2024, bursting with top tracks from the last 12 months, including Moin, Caribou, King Hannah, Sprints, Ishmael Ensemble, BIG SPECIAL, Horsebeach, Public Service Broadcasting, and many more.
It’s free with the Top 100 Albums and Top 30 Collections (whilst stocks last!)
1. Fontaines D.C. Romance
Andy:
I obviously admired this band, in particular “Boys In The Better Land” and “Jackie Down The Line” (the big ones!) but I’d never committed to a full album before.
To be perfectly honest, my feeling was that with their truckload of attitude and post punk urgency, they were more a band for the younger generation and not a boring old fart like myself! That’s all changed with ‘Romance’ though.
Mainly because the song-writing has gone up about ten notches!
Grian Chatten proved himself a man of melody with last year’s superb solo record, but here that’s combined with his band’s more dynamic, rambunctious and freewheeling vibe to make the perfect sound. Absolutely brilliant!
Liam: Well, well, well, those boys from Dublin City have done it again. When we first heard the anxiety-inducing stomp of “Starburster” and the timeless indie jangle of “Favourite”, it certainly felt like Fontaines D.C. had something truly special on the horizon with ‘Romance’ — and oh boy were we correct.
From the bombastic and cataclysmic synth-led opener of the title track, to the shoegaze tinged pairing of “Desire” and “Sundowner”, Fontaines’ sonic palette is now at their most varied. “In The Modern World” is a sweeping Lana Del Rey inspired epic, whilst “Here’s The Thing” and “Death Kink” go head first into grunge. Fontaines have always been massively popular in the shop with staff and customers alike, but there’s no doubt that ‘Romance’ sets them on course to be the biggest band in the world and deservingly earning our album of the year title — absolutely incredible stuff!
Piccadilly Records Album Of The Year vinyl edition
• For as long as stocks last, all our copies of ‘Romance’ vinyl will be housed in branded Fontaines D.C. thick paper bags.
• Order either the CD or AOTY vinyl edition of ‘Romance’ to be entered in a draw to win an exclusive Fontaines D.C. throw/rug.
“we wanted to push a lot of personal boundaries on how we worked in the studio...”
Audio Q&A with Fontaines D.C.’s Deegan
Hello, this is Deegan from Fontaines D.C. Thanks so much for giving us the Number 1 Album of 2024. It’s a real honour to be given that. We really worked on our record, and it’s so nice to get appreciation for that, so thanks very much.
Firstly congratulations on ‘Romance’ being Piccadilly Records’ #1 album of 2024, joining the likes of previous winners Slowdive, Kelly Lee Owens and Mogwai just to name a few. How has the response to the record felt overall for you?
I’d say it felt really great, actually. When we were making the record, we wanted to push a lot of personal boundaries on how we worked in the studio, on how we presented ourselves, and how we wrote our songs. With that came a certain amount of fear that we could be throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak, and alienate some of our fans. So the fact that we actually pulled it off in a way, you know, and kind of got the message of the album across and people enjoyed it is really, really not just satisfying, but also a relief.
After the glimpses of it on ‘Skinty Fia’, one aspect I’ve loved on ‘Romance’ is your dabble into shoegaze. So now with the track “Sundowner” and touring with our #2 album of the year artist DIIV — is shoegaze something you’d like to further explore in the future?
I think that our guitarist Curley loves shoegaze a lot, and it’s something that he’s always delving into. He’s always delving into the more obscure acts of shoegaze. He has quite a good knowledge of the genre now. And, of course, we all love shoegaze. Like, it was one of our points of pride as Irish people that My Bloody Valentine are Irish. Of course, (they) were a huge influence on us, just for how
actualized their sound was, even from their first record and especially their second record. Man, it’s so good. Will we be pursuing shoegaze? I think that we’re kind of trying to find some sound where there’s shoegaze with a really strong beat, and it’s something that we’ve been doing, you know, “Nabokov” on our 3rd record and then “Sundowner” as well. It is shoegazing guitars but it’s also trying to make a really street worthy beat I suppose. Like a beat you could walk down the street to, I guess. I’d love to keep pursuing that.
We absolutely love “Favourite”, it’s already a proper timeless indie classic. Could you tell us a little bit about that track and how it came to be?
So “Favourite” is actually the first song that was written off the record. We started that, I think, in the rehearsals for ‘Skinty Fia’. We had this agreement with our live sound engineer at the time that when we were doing any rehearsals or any sound checks he was always recording them. And it’s because we would be jamming a lot, and we’d come up with cool ideas, and we didn’t want to forget any of them. So there was a jam we had at that rehearsal for doing the ‘Skinty Fia’ tour, basically, and, “Favourite” came out of the jam. It was really spontaneous. It just kind of emerged, with the structure pretty much exactly as it is now. It was amazing that we had that demo to take with us on the road: Listening to that and getting very excited about the idea of already having followed up our 3rd record with something, like a spark of something new. It meant that we didn’t have to feel like we had to chase the 3rd record or recreate it or anything because we already had something new before we’d even toured it, so it was amazing that way. And I think that a lot of the studio process that we did with James Ford regarding that song was trying to keep that spontaneous energy in the song.
Audio Q&A with Deegan cont...
You recently covered Lana Del Rey’s “Say Yes To Heaven”, who you have previously mentioned influenced “In The Modern World”. Are there any dream collaborations you’d like to do in the future?
I think that the Lana Del Rey thing would be really cool, to do a collaboration with her, but I feel like having done “In The Modern World”, I don’t know. I think that maybe scratched that itch. I think it’s funny, people emulating each other. You know, when people emulate someone else and then they say I’d like to work with them, it’s kind of like what would be the point for the other person if you’re just kind of doing an imitation of their sound? Do you get what I mean? It’s like she’s the best at doing Lana Del Rey in the world because she is Lana. So I don’t know why she’d want to. If she wants to make a song that was more like us, that would be really interesting, I think, to see what she would do in that genre because that would be something actually new as opposed to participating in a simulation of herself, if you get what I mean. In terms of who to work with, I don’t know. It’s been a weird kinda couple of years. Right? Steve Albini has passed away. That would have been really cool to work with him. Who else would I say? It would be very nice to work with Kevin Shields on something and learn a bit from him about textures in music would be amazing. It’d be really cool to work with a hip hop producer at some stage and just to get a bit of a lesson in how to make beats and how to make them sound amazing for the radio. That would be really cool. So maybe Timbaland, I guess.
So next year, you’ve got some massive shows — one of which being here in Manchester at Wythenshawe Park. What can fans expect from these shows?
We’re really trying to up our stage production right now. We’re actually, at this moment, having some stage rehearsals, like production rehearsals outside London. And the live show is being improved and sized up and there’s some cool stuff other than that that I won’t get into right now, but will be seen on this upcoming tour that we’re doing in Europe and the UK, this winter. And that show will probably be
levelled up again hopefully. If we get a bit more cash in the bank from doing these tours, we can afford to upgrade the production again, which would be really nice. And we’ve just been working on the other songs from the record to get them to a really great level, performance wise and live sound wise. So it should be, by the time we get there, an amazing show that we’ll be really proud of, and I’m really looking forward to sharing with everyone. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to that show in Manchester in Wythenshawe Park and the London show in Finsbury and the Cardiff show at the Castle and all that. It’ll be amazing
Finally, what are your favourite albums of this year?
Actually, this year has been a great year for me, albums wise. I’ve really loved a few that have come out. I think that the first one that I really liked that came out this year was Adrianne Lenker’s album ‘Bright Future’. I thought that was amazing. I actually got to see her at the Barbican when she was supporting that album on tour. That was an amazing show. I wasn’t unfortunately able to go and see Chappell Roan when she was here a few months ago in London, but I’ll hopefully see her some other time. I love Chappell Roan. And then I really liked MJ Lenderman, ‘Manning Fireworks’. I think that’s a great record. I love what he does with Wednesday as well, but I thought that record was really cool. The Laura Marling album ‘Patterns In Repeat’ is so, so good. Amazingly orchestrated and very mature and very, emotionally provoking, a lot of feelings that I’ve never experienced myself, which is an amazing thing to be able to do, you know. Like, you know, she’s singing about motherhood. That’s something I can’t relate to at all, apart from through empathy I suppose. And the fact that she can make me in some way transport there is a beautiful thing to be able to do. And what else? There was that Amyl And The Sniffers record, ‘Cartoon Darkness’. I love that. They just keep getting better and better, which is class. And I like that Nilüfer Yanya album as well, ‘My Method Actor’. I’ve just been really happy with music this year, to be honest. You know? It’s been a great year for it. I’m probably forgetting something now, there’s been a lot, but that’s enough I’d say.
2. DIIV Frog In Boiling Water
Liam: After 2019’s ‘Deceiver’, DIIV found themselves in a new chapter of their career.
Whilst DIIV had always toured as a band, this was the first time one of their records was written and recorded as a fully fledged outfit. What resulted was their best album to date. A monolithic modern shoegaze classic that would have even Kevin Shields quaking in his pedal tapping shoes.
Now 5 years later, DIIV have returned with ‘Frog In Boiling Water’. Once again written and recorded by Zachary Cole Smith, Colin Caulfield, Andrew Bailey and Benjamin Newman, ‘Frog In Boiling Water’ continues to build on the groundwork left by ‘Deceiver’. Opener “In Amber” is an all-encompassing shoegaze
hammer, whilst “Brown Paper Bag” has shades of Duster and MBV. The acoustic led “Everyone Out” echoes Sonic Youth’s “Shadow Of A Doubt”, whereas the ominous “Raining On Your Pillow” and the textually lush “Little Birds” add real depth to the album. Lyrically, we also see Smith tackling ideas of end-stage capitalism and the overwhelming reality of technological advance — which is perfectly captured in the looming and swirling “Soulnet”. This, coupled with all these incredible textures and sonics, easily makes this DIIV’s best sounding and most complete album to date.
As a long-serving fan of DIIV, it’s been such a gratifying and special few years seeing them blossom within this new era. ‘Frog In Boiling Water’ is everything I could have hoped it to be after ‘Deceiver’ and further proves what a special band DIIV truly are — enjoy!
3. Yard Act
Where’s My Utopia?
Matt: It’s not easy to write about Yard Act. You immediately want to find other wry social commentators to group them in with — Mark E. Smith, Sleaford Mods, Mike Skinner, Jarvis Cocker — but James Smith is none of these people. Less vulgar and coarse than Mark or Jason, more poetic than Skinner, and without Cocker’s romantic filter; James Smith tells his tales with both wit and simplicity, highlighting humour in the mundane with incredibly fast and clever prose. ‘Where’s My Utopia?’ does however, have its more tender moments: “Down By The Stream” ends with him vehemently chastising school bullies and other abusers; while “Blackpool Illuminations” is a beautiful, personal, heartfelt message to his (recently born) son. They could well end here; but
instead give us one last hurrah via the arms-aloft anthem: “A Vineyard For The North” (which alongside “We Make Hits“ and “When The Laughter Stops“ comprises the album’s big indiedisco hits).
The band possesses incredible depth and dimension. From jagged and jovial outbursts to lavish and luxurious orchestrations, sophisticated and structured arrangements seem to encompass more than they should, all with elegance and swagger. There’s sharp call-response vocal quips and jibes between Smith and his bandmates; while intricate, (sometimes) vocodered vocal harmonies, subtle dubs and plunderphonic sample usage à la Avalanches and DJ Shadow all contribute to a very ambitious album which pours out the contents of Yard Act’s hearts for us the listener to digest and surmise; rock stars aren’t all that different to the rest of us.
4. English Teacher This Could Be Texas
Barry: It’s impossible to categorise ‘This Could Be Texas’ accurately, I mean, we’ll whack it in the indie section because in places, it does broadly fall under the sort of music you’d expect to find there. We’ve got distorted guitars, soaring synths and snappy percussion beneath Lily’s perfectly placed, athletically chameleonic vocals, but keep listening and there are hints of post-punk and art-rock, modern classical and even folk seeping through as things move further along.
For me, the perfect opening piece is the beautiful and mysterious “Albatross” which is so melodically intricate and deftly delivered that while it gives you an idea of what thematically diverse delights
are in store, it doesn’t show you quite how well the band manage to pull together the sometimes disparate sound worlds. There are playful, minimalistic growers like “Mastermind Specialism” which could comfortably sit on an Explosions In The Sky album, or the vocoded rhythmic nu-jazz leanings of “Best Tears Of Your Life”. A particular highlight for me is the dreamlike lounge of “Blister My Paint”, which sounds like a touch of psychedelics in a smokey late night bar, or the acidic groove and wry vocals of the instantly recognisable “R&B”. While there are moments in ‘This Could Be Texas’ that feel like they stick out enough to not smoothly transition to the next phrase, the fear is never realised. A wonderfully forged, impeccably conceived album and a sure sign of what’s to come from English Teacher.
5. Bill Ryder-Jones Iechyd Da
Darryl: Having left The Coral in 2008 Bill Ryder-Jones released four albums from 2011 to 2018. Unfortunately the COVID period saw a downturn in Bill’s mental health, and this coupled with a broken romantic relationship has led to an understandably long wait for his epic fifth album, ‘Iechyd Da’. Explaining the reasoning behind the title (Welsh for “good health”) Bill says, “My love of Wales has always been there. Half of my family is from there, I lost my brother there, all my childhood holidays were in Scotland or Wales. It’s just a magical place with an incredibly beautiful language. Although I did have to go to Gruff Rhys and ask him about calling it this as I’m still very much an Englishman — he OK’d it.”
There’s a lot of melancholy in Bill’s music, the aforementioned loss of his brother at an early age and recent anguish and despair would
usher in the dark clouds for most people, and although the album is filled with understandable heartache its glorious widescreen warmth offers a light at the end of the tunnel.
From the very first bars of opener “I Know That It’s Like This (Baby)” to the final refrain of “Nos Da”, ‘Iechyd Da’ is a work of disarming beauty; Bill’s intimate lyrical honesty shining through as he tries to make sense of the world. His articulate musicology also comes to the fore with classy references throughout; Gal Costa on the aforementioned opener; “Street Hassle” on the poignant “If Tomorrow Starts Without Me”; “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” on the anthemic “Nothing To Be Done”; and Mercury Rev’s “Holes” on the utterly gorgeous redemption song “Thankfully For Anthony” with its lyrical refrain, “I know loss, but I chose love”.
One of Britain’s best songwriters is back, and ‘Iechyd Da’ is Bill RyderJones’ masterpiece.
6. Charli XCX Brat
Ethan: Is it possible to talk about music in 2024 without mentioning Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’? Backed by a masterclass in marketing, a hall-of-fame list of producers, and followed by remixes featuring pop music’s biggest stars, ‘Brat’ is undeniably one of the most successful pop eras of the modern age.
Throughout this album, Charli embraces a far more electronic direction. DJ culture is felt throughout, with the cokefuelled closer “365” remixing opener “360”, whilst a series of PARTYGIRL-branded back-toback sets launched the album. Producers like George Daniel, A. G. Cook and EASYFUN give this record its token EDM feel that helped it thrive in a pop landscape of short audience attention spans. It also helps that almost any song here could’ve been the lead single, proven by the amount of “sleeper hits” the album has produced.
Think of “Apple” and Kelley Heyer’s unforgettable dance (which I’m sure you’ll find our Millie recreating every so often), or Liam’s personal favourite “Talk talk”, with its pounding four-tothe-floor kick and glossy synths.
Despite ‘Brat’s “365 party girl” mentality, Charli displays a vulnerability missing from earlier works, through the emotionally messy tribute to SOPHIE on “So, I”, or the Kero Kero Bonito-esque “I Think About It All The Time” in which the artist sings about the dichotomy between her bratty persona and a desire to settle down. That’s all without mentioning the biggest pop moment of the year in “Girl, So Confusing”, where Charli sings about her uneasy relationship with popstar Lorde before they “worked it out on the remix” two weeks later.
No album better defines 2024 than Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’, and I’m sure years down the line we’ll still be referring to this summer as “Brat summer.”
7. Michael Kiwanuka Small Changes
Pasta Paul: He’s back!
After a five year hiatus, Michael Kiwanuka has returned with his fourth studio album, ‘Small Changes’ — another collaboration with super producers Inflo and Danger Mouse that brings that familiar and wonderful sound we’ve come to love from the now 37-year-old North Londoner.
Lead single and album opener
“Floating Parade” has a feel of Air circa ’Moon Safari’, with a consistent, rolling bass perfectly played by legendary musician Pino Palladino. “Lowdown (Part I)” sees Kiwanuka reflecting on being down and out but offering a musical sense of optimism, and sister track “Lowdown (Part II)” is a pure instrumental full of rousing string arrangements and guitar sounds that take influence from Pink Floyd.
The intro to penultimate album track “The Rest Of Me” takes us straight back to his debut album ‘Home Again’, but then the drum machine kicks in and kicks off a minute-long musical lead in before the words arrive, and it’s reassuring confirmation that he has no intention of resting on his laurels.
With great soul, this latest collection of songs achieves a direct hit on the heart by keeping it simple, melodically and lyrically — evocatively leading us through Kiwanuka’s musical heart ground of R&B grooves, psychedelic flourishes, folk storytelling, and pop savvy. There are stories that dig into the personal and hit out at the political all at once, that explore the big and the small stuff, but always with a cadence that hits that sweet spot between sorrowful and sanguine.
We needed this album.
8. Horsebeach Things To Keep Alive
Andy: This, the fifth Horsebeach album, is actually my favourite of the whole lot! Then again, I have genuinely preferred every single one to its predecessor so this shouldn’t really be a surprise. But what did surprise me was just how fabulously poppy Ryan has made things, this time around.
Every single tune is a heart rending sing along gem from the electro jangle epic opening track right through to the last, and sonically it takes in grunge-gaze (!?) Smithsonian jangle, Captured Tracks breezy melancholy and also a heavier more driving vibe on occasion. Talking of melancholy; there is plenty on show, but this time, as with the title track, there is now a cautious
optimism where once there was desolation. Ryan appears to be saying, there is nourishment and comfort to be had in tending to things and people he loves. Some unsuspecting soul still gets what’s coming on “Tradition” and another song ends with the line “I will always let you down”. I don’t believe him though, especially when he can write lines as tender as “you should never suffer silently / most would say that you belong in poetry / and I could write your verse” (“A Friend By The Lake”).
Best of all, is the joyful Beatlesy bounce of the gorgeous “Until You”. To the sweetest melody ever, Ryan sings: “I was buried underground / until you came and swept the dirt aside / you have freed me from the fog that suffocated me / and I know I’m gonna work it out”. The boy’s in love, and so are we. Classic!
9. Shellac To All Trains
Will: ‘To All Trains’ stands as the most powerful, and tragically final, statement of a band that have boldly stuck to their guns in the face of an ever-changing industry landscape, consistently building on their unique and enrapturing craft in the process. The sarcastic and minimal composition for which Shellac are renowned is present in bucketloads, sparking Albinisms that I quote incessantly with those in the know. But what makes ‘To All Trains’ stand out in the Shellac catalogue is some moments of actual songwriting — actual chord progressions, actual drum beats! Unsurprisingly, Shellac wear this well, typified in “Days Are Dogs”, but balance it with some of the more ridiculous
songs they’ve released (“Scabby The Rat”).
The album is full of great riffs, rugpulls and rock-outs, but it’s the songs that bookend the record that truly set it apart. “WSOD” had been a live staple for some time, as is typical of the band’s signature method of ad hoc recording, and for good reason, opening with an all-timer riff and concluding with noise fit to burst any speaker. “I Don’t Fear Hell” is a piece of genius regardless of the circumstances that rendered it an eerie closing to the Shellac saga, with its entrancing riff, unassuming dissonance and bitingly defiant lyrics from a man fit to leap into hell and kill the devil himself.
‘To All Trains’ is a rockin’, clever and confessional masterpiece from a trio that cements themselves as one of rock’s very tightest and most impressive.
10. Kneecap Fine Art
Millie: The curveball, notwhat-you’dexpect from a Piccadilly Records chart, Kneecap.
Belfast’s newest rising stars that made an absolutely belting debut album ‘Fine Art’. If you’re not already acquainted with the trio, Kneecap have taken the world by storm with their Irish Hip Hop.
Recognisable from their iconic Irish flag adorned bally, streetwear, and hoodies. In fact, it’s not too dissimilar to Andy’s Manchester weather appropriate cycling-gear, for those who haven’t had the pleasure — it consists of a bucket hat, waterproofs and plastic shop bags over his shoes. Anyway, back on track, Kneecap have a strong look and an impactful sound, their music is political and rife with anarchy.
‘Fine Art’ is bursting with quick wit, the peppered language interchangeable lyrics between English and Gaeilge is what makes this album come alive. The standout track for me has to be “Parful” which touches on how rave culture goes beyond the divide of communities within Ireland, and getting on it with your mates of course. The bass hits hard on this one taking it to euphoric levels.
Also to note, the album is set in a fictional pub, my favourite interlude being “Last Orders” is the epitome of pub atmosphere at the end of a long night, this then segues into “Way Too Much” which I’d argue is the gateway into becoming a fully fledged Kneecap fan, it’s the summertime anthem that you least expected. It’s probably time you entered the Kneecap hype if you weren’t already.
11. Goat Goat
Will: It’s Goat up and down, all the key elements present through their lush history superposing to make possibly their finest statement. Certainly their most complete. It’s the afrobeat influence of the earlier work, the adrenaline of ‘Oh Death’, and the doom-laden heaviness of ‘Medicine’. Opener “One More Death” is an album unto itself, an ambitious and confident introduction to the record that courteously offers a bird’s eye view of the inferno before you are fully submerged, while cheeky twonote “Goatbrain” is as good a dance of death as Goat have ever released. There’s fresh ground to be trodden here as well — “Fool’s Journey” and “All Is One” translate their soundtrack work into gorgeous, cinematic folk pieces, “Zombie” introduces some tasteful trip-hop elements to Goat’s sonic cauldron, and finale “Ouroboros” breaks the journey apart in as chaotic a way as it deserves.
12. Adrianne Lenker Bright Future
Liam: Ever since Big Thief rose to prominence with their 2016 debut ‘Masterpiece’, vocalist and songwriter Adrianne Lenker has remained one of the most outstanding and consistent voices in the world of indie and folk. This streak continues with her latest soloeffort ‘Bright Future’, which might just be her best work yet.
All recorded straight to tape, ‘Bright Future’ has a real sense of heart within these recordings. From the emotionally crushing opener of “Real House”, right through to the heart-breaking closer of “Ruined”, these twelve painstakingly beautiful and incredibly intimate tracks are all brought to life through Lenker’s immaculately composed lyrics — each becoming their own vivid and memorable vignette.
A once in a lifetime talent, Adrianne Lenker proves again with ‘Bright Future’ that she is one of the best songwriters of our generation and we’re very lucky to be blessed with her music — long may she continue.
13. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Wild God
Laura: ‘Wild God’ heralds a new phase in the constantly evolving story of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. It combines the meandering, fluid structures employed since 2013’s ‘Push The Sky Away’, with the more muscular, dynamic sound of earlier output. Of course it wouldn’t be a Bad Seeds album without a heavy dose of pain, sadness and death, but unlike the unending bleakness of recent releases, there’s a definite shift both lyrically and musically: glimmers of optimism cutting through the dark skies. There’s a completely different feel to this album too. A different energy. (Something that was even more apparent during their incredible live performance at the AO Arena in November.) With huge string swells and gospel-like multi vocal crescendos there’s an incredible power to the songs and you’re left with a feeling that despite all the darkness in the world, love and hope will always endure.
14. Van Houten The Tallest Room
Liam: It was back on a cold and dismal day in March when we first heard Van Houten’s debut ‘The Tallest Room’ drift over our speakers and we’ve been hooked ever since. Beginning with “Black And White”, the Leeds outfit channels a mixture of Ulrika Spacek and Yuck to create this hypnotic and krautrock flavoured opener that sets the tone for the rest of the album. “Never Did Come Back” is a blistering shoegaze behemoth, whilst the likes of soaring “Coming Of Age” and fuzzed out “Only Wanna Be With You” propel the record beyond the tallest room. However the main highlight here is the incredible closer “I Let You”; 8-minutes of pure bliss, strings and intricate guitar work, this is easily one of the tracks of the year. A truly wonderful record and one that I will recommend to people until the end of time — enjoy.
15. Ezra Collective Dance, No One’s Watching
Millie: Ezra Collective created some big boots for themselves to fill with their sublime last album. We’ve collectively at the shop been huge fans since their first EP landed six years ago now. Watching them succeed and shape the direction of the jazz scene has been truly inspiring, they’ve honed their sound over the years with a self-assured confidence that we love to see. It’d be amiss of me not to mention the shining star on the album, Yazmin Lacey and her feel good vocals on “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing”, surely everybody’s favourite track?
Elsewhere “Ajala” provides the quicker step and “Everybody” has the building optimism that hits you in the chest.
‘Dance, No One’s Watching’ gives us a reason to take the weight of the world off our shoulders momentarily to enjoy music, a thing that unites people, and just feel the joy in our bodies — and more importantly, dance!
16. Nilüfer Yanya My Method Actor
Martin: Nilüfer Yanya first came to our attention with ‘Painless’; 2022’s stunning showcase — aided by long time collaborator Will Archer — of her singular approach to creating music. In contrast to her debut ‘Miss Universe’, ‘Painless’ wasn’t an unruly expression of each of her diverse musical influences but a turbulent, coherent statement of intent.
‘My Method Actor’ follows a different path again; the distinctive, hollow picked guitar still runs through, as does the eloquent, candid introspection, mainly around the torment and vulnerability of romantic relationships, her gorgeous voice the perfect foil. The distortion driven urgency of its predecessor is, however, only apparent in the majestic “Like I Say” and title track; the remainder relying on understatement for it’s beauty and power, never more so than on “Binding”, with it’s sparse echoes of The Smiths’ ”Suffer Little Children”. All that extra space allows the soul searching room to cut through, at times to the bone. Single minded and open hearted, she’s a prodigy in a field of one.
17. Four Tet Three
Barry: There’s almost a direct correlation between the opening bars of “Loved” on the new Four Tet album, ‘Three’ and the start of one of my favourite albums of all time, his mindblowing 2001 outing, ‘Pause’. It’s this sort of self-referential treatment that makes all of Kieran Hebden’s albums a treat to behold, the more you listen the more you get out of the experience, and that’s never been more true than with ‘Three’. There are wisps of melody in “Gliding Through Everything” that bring me right back to “My Angel Rocks Back And Forth” just like “31 Bloom” harks back to his more beat-driven dancefloor work and the wandering crepuscular wooze of “Storm Crystals” brings me right back to the lysergic drift of ‘Morning / Evening’. There is a lot to be gained from hearing Four Tet in full bloom, and I don’t think that’s ever been more true than here.
18. W.H. Lung Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates
Barry: For those of you that haven’t already heard of W.H. Lung, their Piccadilly lauded albums ‘Incidental Music’ (2019) and ‘Vanities’ (2021) were impeccably forged slabs of driven Krautrock percussion and soaring hooky indie vocals. While ‘Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates’ doesn’t steer away from the oft-instrumental drive of those earlier efforts, it’s imbued with a vigorously optimistic edge. Those always-present throbbing basses and snappy, rock-solid percussive tethers work gradually into bright, stadium ready handsin-the-air anthems and soaring, jangling shoegaze. While there are moments of post-punk minimalism or thoughtful, rippling unease it is always tastefully offset with a burst of neon shine or change of direction. W.H. Lung’s discography has always veered towards the big stage sound, but it’s never been more perfectly fitting for the summer festival circuit. A refreshingly uplifting, sunny day of an album.
19. Confidence Man 3AM (LA LA LA)
Ethan: It might have gone unnoticed by the masses, but Confidence Man have been having a great couple years, with their collabs with Daniel Avery and DJ Seinfeld, two sold out nights at Manchester Academy, and now their newest record ‘3AM (LA LA LA)’, which feels like a late 90s / early 00s radio show in all the best ways. It’s clear they came to dance!
Opening track “WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU’LL FIND?” starts the album off with a burst into club grooves, Kylieesque vocals and warbling synths, including a passage reminiscent of certain Depeche Mode classics. It’s then immediately followed by my personal favourite song this Australian quartet has ever put out in “I CAN’T LOSE YOU”, which evokes Eurodance hits with its earworm chorus and brilliant vocal interplay. Guest appearances from Sweetie Irie and producer Finn Keane (aka EASYFUN) keep the party varied, with their reggae and hip-hop tint and quirky production respectively.
20. BIG SPECIAL POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES
Darryl: From the dark recesses of the Black Country comes the soulful punk duo of Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney aka BIG SPECIAL. Their debut album, ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’ cuts across a myriad of styles but at its heart is a raw and angry edge; from the bombastic “THIS HERE AIN’T WATER”, and the beautiful “BLACK DOG/WHITE HORSE” to the poetic “FOR THE BIRDS”, and the descriptive mundanity of “DESPERATE BREAKFAST” these are tales of working class deprivation, media lies, and social injustice told with a brutal honesty and humour not seen since the early days of Sleaford Mods.
Singer Hicklin’s vocal delivery alternates between brimstone-fired preacher style, spoken word and croony soulfulness, whilst drummer Moloney adds brittle percussion over the top of a Northern folk-punk soundtrack of molten electronics, melodic bass drones and industrial riffage. And despite all of the lyrical despair on show, there’s still a sense of beauty and hope in the brilliant ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’, so here’s to the next sermon!
21. Yannis & The Yaw Feat. Tony Allen Lagos Paris London EP
Foals’ Yannis Philippakis and legendary drummer Tony Allen met and recorded some music together along with Allen’s collaborators all the way back in 2016, and now one pandemic later and ‘Lagos Paris London’ finally hits the shop floor. Brilliantly conceived by a bunch of musicians that have real chemistry, and the final result is the perfect tribute to Tony Allen’s huge influence on the music world.
22. Moin You Never End
The third album from London trio Moin is an absolute must! Bursting with proper interesting mathy and angular textures, the atmosphere on this is mega! If you’re a fan of Slint, Sonic Youth or anything slowcore / no-wavey, you need to get all over this!
23. Hamish Hawk A Firmer Hand
Bold swathes of melody, bracing melodic hooks and Hawk’s incandescent vocals come together into a soaring marriage of style and substance. While Heavy Elevator and Angel Numbers both showed that Hawk was a skilled, passionate songwriter, the breadth of his undeniable talent has never been so clear as on ‘A Firmer Hand’. A stylistically diverse, soaring collection of warmly delivered tales and beautifully written instrumentals.
24. Floating Points Cascade
I know Floating Points is a hugely talented composer in every one of his guises; pensive ambient music, tentative slo-jazz and wispy drifting electronica, but without a doubt the best Floating Points for me is “Modular synth led percussive glitchy dancefloor orientated” and ‘Cascade’, with its homages to hometown Manchester excels in this genre.
25. Mdou Moctar
Funeral For Justice
Saharan rockers Mdou Moctar return for their most politically charged outing yet, getting their message across with fiercely political lyrics (so I’m told, I don’t speak Tamasheq) and the classic deep, blues-infused funk they’ve become so known for. It’s a classic Mdou sound, but with a renewed vigour and drive.
26. Mount Kimbie The Sunset Violent
Mount Kimbie have taken a little swerve with ‘The Sunset Violent’, taking their usual sound and injecting it with a concept that’s both perfectly conceived and accomplished. While all the usual MK sounds are in-situ here, the outer reaches of their sound swerves into synth-pop, gritty electronics and moody post-punk.
27. Nadine Shah Filthy Underneath
Nadine Shah’s wonderfully emotive brand of majestic call-to-arms rock takes a perfectly manicured turn into the outer reaches of synth, stadium pop and world music. It’s a beguiling and perfectly measured whole, and one that proves that Shah has plenty more to come too. Ace!
28. The Smile Wall Of Eyes
Though it’s easy to compare The Smile to Radiohead (for obvious reasons), and there is a similarity to the sound that Yorke & Greenwood bring, the end result ends up quite drastically different. The Smile are a lot less rooted in rock music, ending up presenting something that’s both beautifully organic and free-flowing whilst never straying too far into experimental territories.
29. The Soundcarriers Through Other Reflections
As unmistakably Soundcarriers as it gets, with woozy 50s tropicalia and midheavy jangling guitars wrapping deftly around psychedelic loops and lysergic reverberating vocals. Beautifully reminiscent of the golden age of psych, but with a lightness and production aesthetic that hints at yesteryear without the sonic limitations. Beautifully widescreen and airy psychedelic-rock.
30. A Certain Ratio It All Comes Down To This
Speedy Wunderground’s Dan Carey, has managed a near perfect distillation of ACR’s sound here, as the trio of Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson draw on the post-punk-funk grooves of their early days while ruminating on the current state of the world. One of the best things they’ve done in ages.
SRD PICCADILLY PICKS
FOUR TET
‘THREE’ LP / CD (TEXT RECORDS)
Written and produced by Kieran Hebden. Photography by Jason Evans. Design by Jason Evans and Matthew Cooper.
CRAVEN FAULTS
‘BOUNDS’
MINI-LP / MINI-LP (BLUE) (THE LEAF LABEL)
“Yorkshire’s mysterious electronic maverick returns to the moors on his heady, elemental third.” 4/5 MOJO
CRANES
‘FUSE’ LP / CD (DADAPHONIC)
“Re-reissue of CRANES über rare (cassette only) debut album Fuse. First time on vinyl and CD! Artwork by Chris Bigg of V23.”
VARIOUS ARTISTS
‘EVEN THE FOREST HUMS: UKRAINIAN SONIC ARCHIVES 1971-1996’ 2LP / 2LP (BLUE) / CD (DELUXE) (LIGHT IN THE ATTIC)
“The broad sweep of the anthology offers a breathtaking introduction to Ukrainian music’s scope and diversity.” PITCHFORK 8.3
SHABOOZEY
‘WHERE I’VE BEEN, ISN’T WHERE I’M GOING’ LP / CD
(AMERICAN DOGWOOD / EMPIRE)
“Epitomizes not a one-hit wonder but a songwriter who has found both his mode and his moment at the exact same time.” PITCHFORK 7.7
MONOLAKE
‘STUDIO’ 2LP / CD
(IMBALANCE COMPUTER MUSIC)
“The tenth Monolake album is Henke’s best in a decade, capturing his love of intricate detailing and slippery rhythms.”
RESIDENT ADVISOR
W. H. LUNG
‘EVERY INCH OF EARTH PULSATES’ LP (CLEAR) / CD (MELODIC RECORDS)
“A band who intuitively understand the dynamics and pull of the dancefloor as much as they do the art of crafting pop, art-rock and the odd indie banger.” 8/10 UNCUT
THEE SACRED SOULS
‘GOT A STORY TO TELL’
LP / LP (MAGENTA) / CD (DAPTONE RECORDS)
“Got A Story To Tell promises to further cement their reputation as standardbearers for classic American soul.”
UNCUT ‘WE’RE NEW HERE’ FEATURE
SHACK
‘H.M.S. FABLE’
LP / LP (Blue) / CD (SHACK SONGS)
Shack’s 1999 masterpiece issued for the first time on vinyl on the 25th Anniversary of its first release!
VARIOUS ARTISTS
‘TONY THORPE PRESENTS: POST-PUNK THEORY’ 2LP + Fanzine (MUSIQUE POUR LA DANSE)
16 sought-after tracks from the post-punk era, including works by Mark Stewart and The Maffia, Basement 5, 23 Skidoo, African Head Charge, PiL and more.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
‘BE WITH 10 YEARS : JOYRIDE + LABOUR OF LOVE’
LP + BOOK (BE WITH RECORDS)
Never-before-on-vinyl tracks from 10 Be With family members. Softcover book printed on a 350gsm woodfree uncoated board.
ASH RA TEMPEL
‘STARRING ROSI’
LP / LP (SUNRISE) (MG.ART)
Highly anticipated 50th Anniversary reissue of Ash Ra Tempel’s legendary 5th studio album ‘Starring Rosi’.
31. Jack White No Name
Emerging in the late summer in a very limited blue vinyl guise, ‘No Name’ is now available to all. Recalling the true essence of the White Stripes; ‘No Name’ is what Jack does best, raw and stripped back bluesy garage rock. Hurrah!!
32. Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band Loophole
‘Dear Scott’s mellower sibling picks up where our record of the year left off, with the stunning “Shirl’s Ghost”, and meanders beautifully through Mick’s usual magical worlds before ending on his ages old, but hitherto not recorded, lost classic, “Coda”. Mick’s only gone and smashed it again. Is Right!
33. Chelsea Wolfe She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She
We’ve been fans of Chelsea Wolfe’s music, since stumbling across her ‘Prayer For The Unborn’ release on Latitudes. It goes without saying that since that admittedly brilliant mashing of neo-folk, psychedelic and art-rock she’s increased the scope of her writing and production tenfold. ‘She Reaches Out...’ is a mind-blowingly complex, but effortlessly smooth tapestry of chamber pop, gothic rock and electronic drone music.
34. Cloud Nothings Final Summer
Equal parts rolling scuzz-garage and psychedelic grunge music, Cloud Nothings effortlessly lurch between sound worlds into places that are both terrifying and exciting. Even on record you can hear the tremendous energy emanating from the Ohioan trio, I bet they’re a lot of fun to watch live. Brilliantly raucous.
35. Coyote Hurry Up & Live
Is It Balearic? It is a bit Balearic, yeah but it’s not the sort of dreamy barely-there Balearic that sends you into an inattentive dream, it’s brave and imaginative electronic music that conjures up the feeling of a beachside bar on a sunny day, in the Balearic islands.
36. Fat Dog WOOF.
A wild and uncompromising mix of electroclash, industrial and rave aesthetics wrapped around indie instrumentation and garage rock production. Effortlessly fleeting from soaring synth atmospherics into snarling, driving mayhem. Wildly brilliant.
37. Jane Weaver Love In Constant Spectacle
We’re big fans of Jane Weaver here at Piccadilly, and ‘Love In Constant Spectacle’ takes everything we’ve known and loved from previous releases; her rich melodic thread and progressive instrumental leanings, and injects the pieces with perfectly extracted DNA from jazz, 60s psychedelic pop and art-rock.
38. Faye Webster Underdressed At The Symphony
A soaring, and swooning selection of beautifully penned ballads, grooving guitar lines and cracked vocoder vox from the brilliant Faye Webster. “Lego Ring” is for me, one of the top bangers of the year thus far. A perfectly mixed cocktail of synth-pop, indie and with wisps of country woven through her compositions, Webster is a true talent.
39. GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024
28,340
DEAD
We love a bit of GY!BE here at Piccadilly towers (Barry in particular is a super fan) so imagine our joy at the announcement of a new album! ‘NO TITLE...’ takes a little bit more of a turn towards the catastrophic post-apocalyptic dread and screeching cathartic wall-of-noise side of GY!BE. As ever, it’s a transformative experience.
40. Jamie XX In Waves
Nine years on from ‘In Colour’ and Jamie XX is back with his sophomore release. ‘In Waves’ contains beautifully rich and driven dancefloor electronica that moves deftly between the outer reaches of house, trance and IDM with a lovely selection of guest vocals, including Romy and Oliver Sim.
1 IDLES: TANGK; 2 Cigarettes After Sex: X’s; 3 Angélica Garcia: Gemelo; 4 Lip Critic: Hex Dealer; 5 Body Meat: Starchris; 6 Honesty: BOX; 7 Ezra Collective: Dance, No One’s Watching; 8 Laura Marling: Patterns in Repeat; 9 Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal; 10 Fela Kuti: Alagbon Close Reissue; 11 Cymande: Promised Heights Reissue
41. Amyl And The Sniffers Cartoon Darkness
Another blazing transmission from Melbourne pub-rock sensation, Amyl And The Sniffers. Bold, jagged sweeps of distorted guitars and pummelling percussion underpin Taylor’s acerbic vocals. This time, we get a slightly more nuanced selection, with the familiar fiery phrases balanced with some more thoughtful and tentative melodic elements, but nothing that changes everything we love about this singularly energetic force.
42. Kelly Lee Owens Dreamstate
We were always going to be super excited for a new one from KLO, and ‘Dreamstate’ takes all of the propulsive head-nodding electronic grooves she’s become so well known for and turns them all up to 11; incredibly deep electronics and soaring, euphoric vocals. A perfect return for one of the best in the game.
43. The Oscillation The Start Of The End
Lysergic, drifting guitar melodies and woozy organ, airy otherworldly vocals and meditative improvisational tangents. The Oscillation return with their most focused outing for quite a while, showing us the perfect balance of otherworldly freewheeling and concise, perfectly measured melodies and countermelodies.
44. Mercury Rev Born Horses
There is a wealth of musical influence that Mercury Rev seem to soak into their general being, and ‘Born Horses’ is an album that is full of those, from grand progressive rock and symphonic classical suites to shimmering jazzy vignettes. What sets this outing aside though is Jonathan Donahue’s bracing, wonderfully delivered spoken word throughout the whole album.
45. Jasmine Myra Rising
Following on from her debut album ‘Horizons’, Myra’s stunning sophomore release showcases a musician confident in her abilities. Aided by the production skill of Matthew Halsall, ‘Rising’ is both beautiful and spiritual, drawing on the spirit of influential past heroes whilst pushing forward with a unique and uplifting new sound.
46.
Khruangbin
A LA SALA
The inimitable Khruangbin bring us another slice of beautifully rendered, loungey ambient jazz-rock. Swimming with atmosphere and as perfectly performed as you’d expect from the Texan trio. ‘A LA SALA’ is beautifully evocative with its warm filmic soundscapes and hazy instrumental grooves.
47. Beth Gibbons Lives Outgrown
A stunning selection of downbeat-infused instrumentals, woozy psychedelic folk and Beth Gibbons’ unmistakably emotive vocal prowess. It’s brilliantly composed, deeply personal and impeccably sequenced. ‘Lives Outgrown’ further cements Gibbons as a musical legend in her own right.
48. Jon Hopkins RITUAL
Jon Hopkins once again shows his meticulous sound design credentials on ‘Ritual’, but where the last full-length was the beautiful but distinctly non-propulsive ‘Music For Psychedelic Therapy’, ‘RITUAL’ is a spiritual and sonic successor to the brilliant duo of ‘Immunity’ and ‘Singularity’. Swimming in atmosphere, gorgeously produced and beautifully danceable.
49. Nia Archives Silence Is Loud
‘Silence Is Loud’ sees the brilliant Nia Archives flawlessly pulling together soul, jungle and synth-pop influences into a distinctly after-party flavoured groove that’s both hugely enjoyable and undeniably skilled. A ground-breaking and hugely enjoyable debut from one of the biggest upcoming names in UK dance music.
50. Laura Marling Patterns In Repeat
It always seems like some sort of magic when an artist transforms so seamlessly from album to album, and Laura Marling is one of those rare talents that can easily pull in influence from all around her without sacrificing her core sound. ‘Patterns...’ will undoubtedly go down as one of Marling’s finest outings. Impeccably beautiful.
Supporting the best releases of 2024
GALAXIE 500
’Uncollected Noise New York 88’-90’
Silver Current 2LP / 2CD / 2MC
First release of new archival material in nearly thirty years and their most comprehensive collection of unreleased and rare material ever.
FRANCIS OF DELIRIUM
‘Lighthouse’ Dalliance LP/CD
“All hail the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg’s first indie-queen” – 8/10 UNCUT
THE OSCILLATION
‘The Start of the End’ All Time Low LP/CD For fans of: Spectrum / Recurring Era Spacemen 3, Loop, AR Kane, MBV, bdrmm, Cocteau Twins, Telescopes and early 90s Creation records.
KIASMOS ’II’ Erased Tapes 2LP / CD
The triumphant follow-up to their universally acclaimed self-titled debut, which re-envisioned minimal techno with orchestral flourishes and weightless production.
MABE FRATTI ’Sentir Que No Sabes’ Unheard of Hope LP / CD
“The Guatemalan-born, Mexico City-based cellist channels perpetual confusion at the world into a playful, experimental sound world that promises to reshape Latin America’s avant garde.” – CRACK
TRISTWCH Y FENYWOD
’Stristwch Y Fenywod’ Night School LP / CD
Tristwch y Fenywod are a Welsh-language gothic rock power-coven conjured from the Leeds experimental underground.
LOS CAMPESINOS! ’All Hell’ Heart Swells 2LP / CD
“Self-funded, self-released, self-produced, and self-referential, the Welsh rock band’s seventh album has a big-tent sound with all the requisite wit and panache. It is unquestionably the ultimate Los Campesinos! album” – Pitchfork Best Albums 2024
THE SOUNDCARRIERS
’Through Other Reflections’ Phosphonic LP / CD Channelling Tropicalia, Middle Eastern psychedelic Jazz/Funk, The French Library sounds of Nino Nardini, and a whole host of lavish obscurites beside, Through Other Reflection delivers another sonic adventure from one of the most unique and distinctive voices of British Psychedelia
KELLEY STOLTZ
’Through Other Reflections’ Agitated LP/CD
“San Fran’s psych-pop wizard continues to cast his spell” – **** MOJO. Feat ‘Reni’s car’.
KANDODO ’Theendisinpsych’ Rooster LP The Heads’ Simon Price returns to his kandodo project with 'theendisinpsych'; "primitive pieces of psychedelic tuneage+years of wasted time=43 minutes of headphone bliss."
PLUSH ’More You Becomes You’ Weird Vacation 2LP / CD
Reissue of the classic 1998 album from Liam Hayes. “One of the most charismatic and eccentric pop craftsmen of the past twenty years” – UNCUT
OSEES ’Sorcs 80’ Castle Face LP/CD
“John Dwyer’s ever-inventive psych-garage band plugs synth demos into samplers and thrashes and pulses without the aid of a single guitar. Just add saxophone.” – Pitchfork 7.3
51. Molly Nilsson Un-American Activities
An album of 80s style synth infused genre-mashing; melding DIY experimentation with melodic vocals and Molly’s exploration of themes like power, oppression and freedom.
52. La Luz News Of The Universe
A beautifully heady noise, somewhere between the rich psychedelic freakouts of the 60s and 70s and airy modern indie music, with a new addition of wall-of-sound synths.
53. Pye Corner Audio
The Endless Echo
I loved the beautiful warm sound bath that was ‘Let’s Emerge’, but this is very much a Ghost Box release. Dusty beats and soaring arps, throbbing basses and heavy saturation.
54. Kiasmos II
Kiasmos AKA Ólafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen return with ‘II’, a gorgeously flowing, triumphantly beautiful cascade of crips, crystalline percussion and rich, sumptuous bass.
55. The Jesus Lizard Rack
Garage flavoured chugging guitar riffs and rolling bass with snapping snare drums and snarling HC vocals. It’s as energetic and uncompromising as they ever were.
56. Max Richter In A Landscape
One of our favourite modern classical composers returns with ‘In A Landscape’. Tenderly stroked strings turn into walls of crashing symphony and echoic piano hits. Beautiful.
57. Tycho Infinite Health
The crystalline melodies and perfectly produced intertwining lead lines we know and love are everpresent, but it’s brought more toward the dancefloor with bright disco drums and neon lead lines.
58. Washed Out
Notes From A Quiet Life
Flicking melodies and glitchy delay, bucolic ambience and soaring synth lines beneath bursts of Greene’s jubilant vocals. It’s a perfect mix of rippling downbeat electronica and bright, soaring pop.
59. We Are Winter’s Blue And Radiant Children No More Apocalypse Father Efrim Menuck (GY!BE), Mathieu Ball (BIG|BRAVE), Jonathan Downs & Patch (Ada): Avant-pop, drone, electronica, punk, it’s monolithic, intimidating, mind blowing and beautiful.
60. Craven Faults Bounds
The master of atmospheric analogue synth meanderings returns for another beautifully balanced odyssey. An epic, endlessly rich soundscape.
61. Bodega
Our Brand Could Be Yr Life
The Brooklyn band have honed their propulsive, soaring garage-adjacent rock and with it brought in a wealth of perfectly integrated influences.
62. Brittany Howard WHAT NOW
Howard’s brand of wonky psychedelic soul has always been packed full of great musicianship and bold, inventive production, and ‘WHAT NOW’ is her greatest moment thus far.
63. Kelly Finnigan A Lover Was Born
A bright, soulful suite of rippling guitar stabs, rolling bass guitar and Finnigan’s unendingly powerful vocals. Smooth as silk from the Monophonics frontman.
64. Public Service Broadcasting
The Last Flight
One of two albums this year dedicated to famed aerial badass, Amelia Earhart. PSB’s take is the unfathomably epic instrumental drive and euphoric filmic bliss of ‘The Last Flight’.
65. Magdalena Bay Imaginal Disk
Los Angeles-based duo emitting unique yet familiar frequencies of synthesized nostalgia, kitschy catchiness, and warped neo-hooks.
66. Mildlife Chorus
Mildlife in ‘Ridiculously Smooth Psych-jazz Shocker’. If you haven’t heard this Melbourne band’s previous albums, now is a perfect time to hear the zenith of their creativity and songwriting capabilities.
67. Danny Brown Quaranta
Another outstanding outing from the Detroit MC master.
The flows are as superb as ever, the production is sublime and Brown’s lyrics are some of his best!
68. Dirty Three Love Changes Everything
Sweeping waves of guitar and soaring violin arpeggios break upon the shore into brittle streams of flickering pizzicato and droplets of tentative piano. Stunner.
69. Einsturzende Neubauten
Rampen (APM: Alien Pop Music)
Brooding, enigmatic and avant-garde, this is Neubauten at the peak of their powers. 44 years since they formed, and Blixa Bargeld and co. are still the kings of “Alien-Pop Music”.
70. Elbow Audio Vertigo
A perfect mix of the melodic leanings and swooning choruses that have won us over so many times over the years. Jagged drums and frantic percussion give way to Garvey’s beautifully emotive vocals and airy guitar stabs.
71. Fat White Family Forgiveness Is Yours
We get a little more sleazy lounge groove this time around, with synthesiser pulses among the instantly recognisable post-punk march and taut art-rock rhythms, but it’s the same FWF at heart. Ace.
72. Caoilfhionn Rose
Constellation
Constellation is a work of perfectly paced, beautifully organic ambient jazz and soaring ethereal vocals. Perfect in the hazy summer heat, or by the fire with a book.
73. Kim Deal Nobody Loves You More
Having been a main player in the Pixies and the Breeders, Kim Deal is bonafide indie-rock royalty. And with her debut solo album she proves that accolade is still worthy; eleven reassuringly brilliant earworms.
74. Kim Gordon
The Collective
Blurring the boundaries between electronica, art rock and avant-pop, Gordon’s unrelenting ‘The Collective’ is possibly her finest solo moment to date, and one of the highs of her legendary career.
75. Caribou Honey
Soaring, euphoric dancefloor electronica that’s both instantly enjoyable and endlessly deep, from the brilliant Dan Snaith.
76. The Circling Sun Spirits
A blissful fusion of spacey lounge music, swooning Latin rhythms and tastefully subtle ensemble vocals drifting around a percussive jazz-funk core.
77. King Hannah Big Swimmer
Absolutely stunning melodic, soaring indie-rock with rich vocal harmonies and crescentic arm-raising rock breakdowns. A beautifully endearing listen.
78. Idles Tangk
Love them or hate them, the incendiary post-punk indebted offerings from Idles have rarely been less than wildly bombastic and this latest offering sees the Brighton pentet broaden their reach from the aforementioned fiery mayhem into gothic rock, minimal wave and electronic drone.
79. Laurie Anderson AMELIA
Another album dedicated to Amelia Earhart. It’s full of soaring melodies and tender plucks of delayed guitar, topped with Anderson’s evocative reading of letters and reports of the time.
81. Thee Sacred Souls Got A Story To Tell
Sitting perfectly in the Daptone stable this San Diego trio create beautifully rich soulful melodies and perfectly produced grooves.
82. Los Bitchos Talkie Talkie
The London-based indie-rock quartet take us on a late night blast of explosive lead lines and snapping percussive loops, funky breakdowns and euphoric floor-focused groove.
80. Erika De Casier Still
Really nice catch-all of modern influences; alt-RnB, jungle, synth-pop, executed with a sophisticated and unique style of songwriting prowess.
83. Galliano Halfway Somewhere
Almost three decades on from their last release, Acid Jazz forefathers Galliano are back on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings with a feel good blend of funk, jazz, and dub.
84. Sprints Letter To Self
Sprints lurch from jagged instrumental melodies and cathartic punky groove without breaking step. A hugely impressive debut from this Dublin four-piece.
85. Silverbacks Easy Being A Winner
Taking inspiration from guitar stalwarts MBV, GBV and Yo La Tengo, Silverbacks bring their third album in four years; a superb collection of fizzing indie-rock bangers.
86. Grandaddy Blu Wav
Another beautiful transmission from Lytle & Co; swooning, country-tinged thoughtfulness that Grandaddy are known and loved for. ‘Blu Wav’ is classic Jason Lytle.
87. Greg Foat
The Glass Frog
‘The Glass Frog’ sees Foat partially eschewing his more ambient fare for the group ensemble style of flowing jazzy jams and solos akimbo. Lovely stuff as usual!
88. Erland Cooper
Carve The Runes Then Be Content With Silence?
As fascinating as the concept is of burying an album for ages and then releasing it, degradation and all, it’s actually listening to this modern classical masterpiece where the real joy lies. A perfect combination of concept and execution.
89. Amen Dunes
Death Jokes
Taking all of the woozy songwriting and soaring melodicism of his early work but rendering it in bold brushes of echoic 80s electronica and jagged, blended electronic fragments.
90. Ishmael Ensemble The Rituals
An upbeat blend of spiritual jazz, dub, experimental and electronic soundscapes, here those elements are vigorously whipped-up into huge cyclones of sound.
91. The Last Dinner Party Prelude To Ecstasy
A thrilling debut channelling the spirit of PJ Harvey, the operatic intensity of Nick Cave and the soaring cinematic orchestral arrangements of Hans Zimmer. A powerful, bold melting pot of perfectly manicured influences.
92. Peter Alexander Jobson Burn The Ration Books Of Love
Songwriter, poet, raconteur and old friend of Piccadilly Records, Pete’s debut solo album is an extraordinary collection that blends genres as diverse as country-flavoured psychedelia and cocktail jazz with the spirit of the Northern variety circuit.
93. Fink Beauty in Your Wake
Airy post-rock guitar harmonies and woozy acoustic refrains break into soaring crescendos that are both rich in the folk tradition and completely outside what people would consider “folk”.
94. Beak> >>>>
So deeply psychedelic and grand that it almost defies explanation. Think the wilder side of haunting neo-folk and Kosmische music combined with post-rock and a dash of hypnotic dancefloor percussion and you’re somewhere near.
95. Hinds
Viva Hinds
Now reduced to a core duo, Hinds smoothly move allegiance from roaring indie-rock to synthforward pop-rock and concise, snappy party music.
96. Camera Obscura Look To The East, Look To The West
Deep melodicism and swooning choruses combine with cinematic intensity and wistful grandiosity. A fittingly beautiful tribute to the sad passing of founding member Carey Lander.
97. Porij Teething
A syrup-smooth mix of airy Balearic beats and euphoric house-tinged synth-pop. Texturally varied, but without straying too far from dreamy front-room electronica or drifting dancefloor grooves.
98. The Bug Club On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System
Eleven short sharp blasts of wry, hook-filled punk pop. With fuzzed guitars and half sung half shouted dual vocals, it’s a fun packed ride. Imagine if Moldy Peaches had hailed from South Wales rather than Brooklyn and you’ll be somewhere close!
99. The Jesus And Mary Chain Glasgow Eyes
A gentle tweak of the template brings electronic bleeps and keys to that trademark Mary Chain sound.
100. Svaneborg Kardyb Superkilen
Beautiful, melodic musicconcrete mixed with poppy Scandinavian synth blips and rippling, echoic percussives.
CARGO INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTION
VARIOUS
Collection Of The Year 2024
1. Night Train Transcontinental Landscapes
1968–2019
Andy: Some purists get a bit sniffy about compilation albums; how dare
someone claim to know more exotic, rare tracks than me, I’ll do my own crate digging thank you very much! Safe to say I am not one of these folk! A lot of time and a lot of genuine love has gone into collecting then sequencing these musical journeys, themed collections that whisk you away to somewhere fantastical, somewhere other…..
Well, Brighton’s Two-Piers Records are just such folk. Not content with curating my favourite compilation of last year (‘Music For The Stars’) they’ve only gone and topped it with this beautiful double album which collects all sorts of music spanning from 1968 to 2019 and presents it as an enchanted trip through the cosmos as we travel space and time aboard the Night Train. As Bob Lind so poetically croons, in “City Scenes”, this trip will take us…
“Through the tangled wispy worries of another night / In my freely fashioned destiny I search the night / For seas of light / To sail my lovely dreams…”
The record begins with heaving sleepers and a frantic bell (some lonely midwest railroad immediately springs to mind) clanging as the Night Train rattles into the station. We’re off into 1970 with a deep, groovy version of Jackson C Frank’s “Milk And Honey”, some heady HP Lovecraft and then my own personal gem The Rationals’ “Glowin’” (1969) which is just majestic. What’s immediately apparent is that although most of this music is moody and introspective, it also grooves. Everything is gently funky on the (er) undercarriage whether that’s late 60s / early 70s hippy music or the glacial splendour of the middle of the compilation’s electronic dance’n’sparkle. In this part you have Andrew Weatherall, Chris & Cosey, and a little known beautiful cosmic electro track by an act called Nine Circles along with the shimmering glory of Tangerine Dream’s “Love On A Real Train”. As we move towards the end a song which sounds like a lost soul classic but is actually by a modern collective called Menahan Street Band just astonishes. This compilation will not be found on streaming platforms; you have to own a physical copy if you like the sound of this record. Again, something which increases my love for these things. It’s unique.
Compiler Ben Jones: With Night Train I wanted to put together a kind of soundtrack to a solo journey where you climb on board and for the next few or hours you let your imagination drift whilst the visuals, lights, shadows and darkness of the cities, fields, and skylines through your window helps create a new imagery.
Boarding at dusk I chose tracks that had an easy setting off feel and pictured the low sun creating that beautiful magic hour feeling; then when the sun drops, and the weather shifts, the moon shines bright and the journey is in full steam, there are no rules — let’s get lost…….. closing in on the destination with that new day feel, the Menahan Street Band and Saundra Williams, perfectly provide this with “There’s A New Day Coming”, lovingly dedicated to their friend the late great Charles Bradley. I also chose The Byrds, not just for being one of my favourites but as a direct nod to Easy Rider and the use of “I Wasn’t Born To Follow”
When I set about putting this together with the initial idea, and some songs I felt fitted I knew I wanted to start the record with a recording of an Amtrak Train and end with “Out In The Woods” by Leon Russell, a kind of “lost in the metropolis again — get me out of here!” song.
It is truly an honour to be voted No.1 in Piccadilly’s Collections chart, a record shop I have loved from afar for years and years and always visit when I’m in town and who over the years have helped me expand on my musical journey. I hope I got somewhere near to my thoughts over the four sides, it was a joy to put together, getting lost in the instrumentals. I hope you are planning your own trip soon.
Thank you and lots of love from a platform, heading somewhere that way….
Tracklist
1. Edward Hollcraft: South Bound Amtrak 716
2. J.J. Cale: Cherry
3. Bonnie Dobson: Milk & Honey
4. H.P. Lovecraft: Spin Spin Spin
5. The Rationals: Glowin’
6. Linda Perhacs: Hey, Who Really Cares
7. B-52’s: Deep Sleep
8. Nine Circles: Twinkling Stars
9. The Asphodells: Another Lonely City
10. Tangerine Dream: Love On A Real Train
11. Chris & Cosey: Dancing Ghosts
12. Johnny Harris: Fragments Of Fear
13. Bill Frisell: 1968
14. Bob Lind: City Scenes
15. Tony Joe White: Rainy Night In Georgia
16. Menahan Street Band: There’s A New Day Coming
17. The Byrds: Goin’ Back
18. Earth, Wind & Fire: Drum Song
19. Leon Russell: Out In The Woods
2. Down To The Sea & Back Volume Tres.
The Continuing Journey Of The Balearic Beat — Compiled By Balearic Mike & Kelvin Andrews
As fellow comrade and beloved friend Luke Una puts it: “From Greek acid folk, Balearic bossa, outsider pop and electronic chug, to cosmic machine soul, majestic songs, odd numbers, proto-techno new wave to dubbed out 5am technoid, bass buggin deepness and ethereal outer-space Detroit via San Francisco. This album is a story. A story from the heart, with over three decades digging and grafting in the trenches. In a world of faux, pastiche, counterfeit and aggrorhythm fakes, it oozes a wholesome intuitive authenticity. Majestic songs, odd numbers, cosmic dreaming and late night astral travelling as we all hold on together.”
Barry: It’s been a long wait, but we finally get the newest outing from Balearic legends Balearic Mike and Kelvin Andrews. Featuring a slew of excellently curated horizontal swooners and lysergic breeze.
7. The Emperor Machine: Dying By Wits (Original Mix)
8. Tri Atma: Yummy Moon (Long Version)
9. Pressure Drop: Unify /Rip Up (instrumental)
10. Enzo Carella: Malamore
11. Ad Vissar & Daniel Sahuleka: Giddyap A Gogo
12. Le Couleur: Underage (Original Mix)
13. Sunshine Jones: Fall In Love Not In Line (Extended Vocal Version)
14. Car Crash Set: Fall From Grace
15. Len: Steal My Sunshine (Version Idjut)
16. Mcraft: She Sells Sanctuary
Piccadilly Records exclusive vinyl edition
3. Luke Una
Everything Above The Sky
Luke’s ‘Everything Above
The Sky’ manifesto reads, “Astral Travelling in the meadowlands with acid folk, spiritual jazz, around midnight hocus pocus, cosmic psychedelic soul, magical spellbound whirling swirling love songs, Brazilian ballads of light into machine soul gospel utopia dreaming, Balearic bossa, Outer Space ancient African drum, the breath of trees, escaping the big bad modern world, gathering round winter fires, walking amongst the bracken in Padley Gorge in late summer twilight, overlooking the Hope Valley, escaping ego, detaching and finally letting go amongst the stars with the slowly floating people. It’s beautiful beyond. Everything above the Sky”.
Matt: Having fallen down the cracks of the sofa providing the soundtrack to the late night disenfranchised across two incredible compilations; our trusted socio-spirit-guide takes some time out for meditation and ascension, moving from “inside” to, generally, a more “outdoorsy” state of being on ‘Everything Above The Sky’. Designed, at least in part, to aid astral travelling; a selection to escape the mundanities and indeed the troubles of our present times. Luke’s shamanic skills as a nightclub technician transfer equally well to a more horizontal
mode of listening; take off your shoes, feel the soil underneath your feet, lie down in the daisies, look up to the sky — it’s full of wonderment!
As usual there’s some true curios (not least the ‘bongo mix’ of “Pacific State” (!!)), and some magical moments of spiritual jazz and cosmic soul; but it’s in the slowly unwinding majesty of acid folk that the compilation really finds it footing — relishing the expansiveness and novelty of nature — as much an inspiration for our curator as any debauched nights spent sweating and dancing to repetitive machine music.
Tracklist
1. John Martyn: Small Hours
2. Stephen Whynott: A Better Way
3. April Fulladosa: Sunlit Horizon
4. Sylvain Kassap: Plancoët
5. Manu Dibango: Night In Zeralda
6. Henri Texier: Hocoka
7. Nivaldo Orneleas: O Que Ha
8. 808 State: Pacific State (Masseys Conga Mix)
9. Magma: Eliphas Levi
10. Homelife: Strangers CD includes 10 bonus tracks
New 30th anniversary formats released to celebrate this landmark date include a limited edition deluxe 4LP and 2CD featuring the previously unreleased and discarded original recording session from Monnow Valley along with outtakes from Sawmills Studios plus a demo of Sad Song featuring Liam’s vocal — all recently mixed for this release by Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho. Both versions feature brand new artwork by the original art designer Brian Cannon for Microdot and original sleeve photographer Michael Spencer Jones, plus new sleeve notes.
Liam: Reissue of the absolutely legendary debut from Oasis. Most bands could only dream of writing all these songs across their whole career, never mind having them all on one album. Now with the boys from Burnage coming back, there’s never been a better time to grab a copy — Live Forever.
5. No-One’s Listening Anyway
UK DIY Post Punk & Dubs 1980–1984 (Volume 1) Compiled By Jason Boardman
Compiled by Jason Boardman (Before I Die Records), celebrated Manchester club-night curator and record label owner, DJ & digger supreme.
Compiler Jason Boardman: This is a snapshot of a fertile time in UK music, a time of independent artists, studios, labels and distributors collaborating to do it themselves, sidestepping the major labels to take their shot at the big time. It didn’t always work out but they made a record and that’s what counts. It is a collection of the lost and overlooked — not intended to be a definitive guide to the period but an opportunity to shine a light on the creative output of these artists and share them once again so they can get the recognition they deserve.
6. Richard Norris Presents Weird Scenes From The Hangout (Psychedelic & Freakbeat Dancefloor Anthems 1967–1982)
Compiler Richard Norris: Musically, the Hangout’s take on psychedelia and freakbeat had one aim — to make you dance. We weren’t trainspotters — it didn’t matter if a record was rare, so long as it grooved and worked on the dancefloor. We’d give equal time to the more bandwagon end of sixties exploitation as to hipper acts. Standout tunes got played again and again, every week, until tracks like The Left Banke’s ‘I’ve Got Something on My Mind’, the Turtles ‘Buzzsaw’, Can’s ‘Outside Your Door’ and all the other tunes you now hold in your hands, became bona fide Hangout club anthems. I hope you enjoy this compilation. Every track is a tried and tested Hangout anthem.
7. Galaxie 500 Uncollected Noise
New York ‘88–’90
Darryl: Galaxie 500 specialised in chiming slowcore-sunburst guitars, smooth rolling bass, hazy psychedelia fuzz and laid back forlorn vocals. This twenty-four track collection includes rarities, outtakes and previously never heard songs, all produced and engineered by Kramer at Noise New York 1988–1990. An absolute archival treat from start to finish on the wonderful Silver Current Records. Formats include a super limited UK exclusive double purple and silver coloured vinyl, double back vinyl and double digi-pack CD; all with historical photos and liner notes by the band.
Andy: People of a certain age will well remember this mysterious, meandering movement, a new type of psychedelia for the 80’s which will certainly have gone on to influence the likes of the Stone Roses and Primal Scream and even the Jesus and Mary Chain. I’d say the Byrds and Syd’s Floyd were the main touchstones, but these US modern day hippies made them relevant in the mid 80’s. Some beautiful songs on here....
9. Come To My World (A Brief History Of Indie Pop 1985–2023)
Laura: From its UK bedroom beginnings in the mid 80’s, with guitar jangles and swoonsome melodies wrapped in hand-made 7” sleeves, indie pop’s sensitive, (occasionally) shambling, heartfelt sound has continued to endure through the decades. This double album from Two-Piers collects together some of the finest exponents of indie pop from early pioneers like The Flatmates, Talulah Gosh, Blueboy and The Wake to more recent janglers from the UK, US and beyond. So don your duffle coat, grab your satchel and shuffle along to these alternative pop classics.
10. Kruder & Dorfmeister
The K&D Sessions — 25th Anniversary Boxset Edition
Darryl: Back in 1988 this groundbreaking compilation cemented Kruder & Dorfmeister’s reputation as geniuses of their craft — a blissful blunted smoke-filled journey that appealed as much to late night sessions as it did for the lazy-hazy sunday morning recovery. This flawless compilation has now been expanded to 6LP and 3CD box set editions for its 25 year anniversary.
‘COMPILED BY BALEARIC MILE & KELVIN ANDREWS’ (Music For Dreams)
V/A - COME TO MY WORLD:
‘A BRIEF HISTORY OF INDIE POP 1985-2023’ (Two-Piers)
V/A - EVERYTHING ABOVE THE SKY
‘ASTRAL TRAVELLING WITH LUKE UNA’ (Re:Warm)
KRUDER & DORFMEISTER
‘THE K&D SESSIONS (25TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET EDITION)’ (!K7)
V/A - RICHARD NORRIS PRESENTS:
‘WEIRD SCENES FROM THE HANGOUT (PSYCHEDELIC & FREAKBEAT DANCEFLOOR CLASSICS’ (Two-Piers)
V/A - DJ-KICKS:
‘HONEY DIJON ’ (!K7)
11. Aphex Twin
Selected Ambient Works Volume II (Expanded Edition)
Barry: There’s really very little connecting the first ‘Part’ of Selected Ambient Works to this second edition other than name. While the first one was a precursor to RDJ’s more electronic, beat driven albums, Selected Ambient Works II was (and is!) a spooky, beautiful ambient behemoth.
12. The Charlatans Up To Our Hips 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition
Andy: Boldly instating hippy maestro Steve Hillage behind the desk, this record was the moment when The Charlatans finally settled upon their classic rock, groove, soul, mod pop (and everything else!) sound. They would go on to produce three massive albums in as many magical years, culminating in the peerless “Tellin’ Stories”, but this was where it all began.
13. Sounds From The Flightpath Estate Volume 1
Matt: The first full length compilation to arrive from the creative hub / musical ashram that is The Golden Lion in Todmorden. Working with Andrew Weatherall’s friends, family and collaborators (plus two large online communities), the compilation even includes an unreleased Two Lone Swordsmen track and will likely be one of the most sought after releases on this incredibly strong and prolific label.
14. Fantastic Voyage: New Sounds For The European Canon 1977–1981
Mine: Compiled by Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley and the BFI’s Jason Wood; anyone interested in the weirder, more experimental side of European synth pop should find plenty of goodies on this amazing compilation. A must have and my album of the year!
15. Dorothy Ashby Afro-Harping — Deluxe
Laura: Master harpist Dorothy lays down spiritual grooves over insanely fat orchestral arrangements courtesy of Richard Evans (think Alice Coltrane crossed with Rotary Connection and David Axelrod). Remastered from the original ¼ inch tapes by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios and featuring eight bonus tracks, it includes the much sampled “Soul Vibrations”.
16. Alice Coltrane The Carnegie Hall Concert
Darryl: Including the incredible “Journey In Satchidananda”, this live recording comes from a 1971 charity gala given at Carnegie Hall for the benefit of the Integral Yoga Institute. Unreleased commercially until now it showcases Alice at her transcendental best.
17. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory — 2024 Reissue
Matt: It can be disheartening sometimes to see just how far hip-hop has diverged from its original themes and message. Against a backdrop of regression, with violence and misogyny seemingly rife amongst current drill and trap styles; ‘The Low End Theory’ serves as a consistent reminder of the genre’s positive, innovative and socially-engaging roots.
18. Do You Have The Force? Volume 2 Jon Savage’s Alternate History Of Electronica 1978–82
Barry: A propulsive selection of cosmic disco, thumping Italo and proto techno from compilation mastermind, Jon Savage. This time there’s a bit more snapping percussion and evocative dancefloor action, but provides the perfect development from his brilliant library music compilation over a similar time frame.
19. Celebrate Yourself! The Sonic Cathedral Story 2004–2024
Liam: Banging the drum for shoegaze when nobody was listening, this absolutely sensational box set celebrates 20 years of one of the best labels around — Sonic Cathedral. With contributions from shoegaze legends (Slowdive, Andy Bell) to current torchbearers (Deary, Whitelands), this set is perfect for both newcomers and veterans of the genre alike.
20. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era — 1965–1968 50th Anniversary Reissue
Darryl: The original punk rock! This is the original legendary Nuggets double album re-issued in its entirety. 27 three-minute blasts of screaming attitude that became the cornerstone of 60s underground psychedelic garage-rock.
21. New Order Brotherhood — Definitive Edition
Andy: ‘Brotherhood’ is possibly my favourite album by New Order and it was famously split into the rock side and the electronic side. Both are fantastic and there’s not one weak track. Highlights are “Bizarre Love Triangle” and “All Day Long”, two of my favourite all time songs; simple as that!
22. The Fall Slates (Live)
Darryl: A unique idea from the surviving members of the ‘Slates’ iteration of the Fall. Each track is presented in its original tracklist order but as an incredible alternative live version sourced from the absolute best recordings. Lovingly curated, and wonderfully presented with sleeve notes by Stewart Lee.
Barry: As one of the greatest journalists, compilers and broadcasters in the game, there are few people that would be as qualified to present a compilation as Jon Savage. Here he turns his hand to the lesser-studied library music end of the electronica spectrum, resulting in a funky blend of poppy percussion, twee synth swells and filmic world building.
24. Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Stop Making Sense Tribute Album
Barry: A collection of some of the biggest names in pop music today ‘covering’ tracks from Talking Heads and redesigning them to fit in with today’s musical trends and production aesthetic. It shines a light wonderfully on the brilliant original compositions while giving their concepts room to breathe.
25. Plush More You Becomes You — 2024 Reissue
Darryl: The legendary debut album from Liam Hayes, described by Uncut magazine as “One of the most charismatic and eccentric pop craftsmen of the past twenty years”. ‘More You Becomes You’ has been lovingly remastered with both LP and CD editions featuring a stunning deluxe booklet.
26. Shack
H.M.S. Fable — National Album Day 2024 Edition
Andy: Mick Head’s major label breakthrough album is an impeccably produced pop record that even caught the tail end of Brit-Pop (though it’s nothing of the sort) and garnered across the board praise (for once). It’s a brilliant record and this is its first ever time on vinyl. “Is Right!”
27. Fabric Presents Confidence Man
Matt: Gifting sassy Aussie party starters Confidence Man a whole Fabric compilation to curate is one hell of a responsibility but thankfully the cult UK imprint and club knows who to trust with its onions! Taking to task their incendiary, no-nonsense ethos; the duo pick out some absolute heaters from the dance music spectrum.
28. Cranes Fuse — 2024 Reissue
Darryl: Before they expanded to a four-piece the duo of siblings Alison and Jim Shaw recorded ‘Fuse’ in 1986 as a cassette only release via local Portsmouth label Bit Back! ‘Fuse’ melded sparse dark industrial noises with a brittle postpunk edge. Now fully remastered and available on both vinyl and CD.
29. Fabric Presents The Streets
Matt: A highly invigorating trip through the various avenues of the bass music super highway. There’s no head scratching or pointless obscurities; with Mike Skinner as our curator we’re treated to a no-holds barred selection of upfront, party starting soundsystem bangers. Fabric, and indeed The Streets, still at the top of their game and relevant as ever.
30. Fire Engines Chrome Dawns — 2024 Reissue
Laura: Edinburgh’s scratchy, angular, post-punk pioneers’ flame burned briefly but brightly between 1979 and 1981, and left an indelible mark on Scotland’s music scene. This collection compiles all their recorded output for Codex Communications / Pop:Aural — including the indie-pop gem “Candyskin” of course, along with both of their Peel Sessions.
Think you know Can? Think
releases
Mute
A Certain Ratio
The Singles Bar
Matt: Wow! So, unless I’m mistaken, Alex Kassian’s reworking of “E2-E4” might just be our biggest selling 12” since I’ve worked here! Especially counting sales on year of release (Todd Terje’s “It’s The Arps” and maybe an LCD Soundsystem number might beat it overall). What an achievement — have you got your copy yet?
As you can see from the list, Manchester’s still kicking it! With the usual rabble of regulars well represented plus a big shout out to Pops’ (AKA Private Joy) solo debut on Rhythm Section. Can’t get away from that Ghost Assembly record either it seems…
Edits are still flying out the shop, with labels like Talking Drums (and their cheeky sublabels), U-Bend, UHT (James Greenwood’s new endeavour), Beatconductor, Psychemagik, B-Edits, Wreckin Havoc, Almacks and Soup all dropping excellent cuts throughout 2024. Payfone didn’t make the list, but their EP “Wild Butterfly” made waves with the post-disco crowd early in the year. And LA act ASHRR kept us laid back and mellow with a steady stream of 12”s (including some stellar remixes) ahead of their debut full-length.
Outside of this chart recent trends in club music have seen ever increasing tempos and a resurgence of trance, hard techno and even gabba stylings — especially on the festival circuit. It’s not all to our liking but releases on Dolly and Hide The Junk, and releases by Max Watts and DJ Savage have kept chests beating and fists pumping well into the night. It’s still impossible to ignore the world beating, stadium slaying properties of UK bass-techno luminaries Overmono, Joy O, Four Tet and Floating Points; but nice to see Welsh boys Bodhi added to that imperative watch list with this year’s “Laurus Ascending”. There was also a retrospective delve into the Goa trance scene with two compilations “Kicking Dust” and “Gonzo Goa”.
Be With reissued one of my favourite records ever made — Arthur Russell’s “In The Light Of A Miracle”, a true holy grail record that no home should be without.
Other worthy mentions? The Ron Hardy / Adonis themed jak beat and warehouse trax of the Dirty Blends label; a street soul / proto-house excavation from System Exclusive; a few slayers on Erol Alkan’s Phantasy Sound and Salar Ansari mixing Detroit techno with Persian disco on the wonderfully named Passed Out On A Persian Rug.
1. Alex Kassian
A Reference To E2-E4 By Manuel Gottsching (Mad Professor Remix) Test Pressing Recordings
2. Tranquil Elephantizer Trisha – Inc. Felix Dickenson Remix Red Laser
3. Psychederek Alt! EP Sprechen
4. Private Joy Desire! EP Rhythm Section
5. Ghost Assembly I Miss Your Love Remixes Ruf Kutz
6. Bodhi Laurus Ascending Hotflush
7. DJ Absolutely Shit Boing Boing Boing Boing Red Laser
8. Il Bosco The Darkroom EP Il Bosco
9. Kwengface X Joy Orbison X Overmono Freedom / Freedom 2
KWENGFACE
10. Overmono & The Streets Turn The Page XL Recordings
11. Quiet Village Reunion
The Quiet Village
12. System Olympia Sanctified EP Okay Nature
13. Stimulator Jones
Stimulator Tracks Vol. 1
Star Creature
14. Traces No One (Can Tell I) Zam Zam
15. Various Artists Percussion Pals Vol. 1 Drum Chums
16. Open Secret Open Secret 1 Open Secret
17. Fontaines D.C. x Massive Attack x Young Fathers Ceasefire Battle Box
18. Another Taste & Maxx Traxx Don’t Touch It Numero Group
19. Byamm Lost In Sanity Byamm
20. Primal Scream Love Insurrection (Black Science Orchestra Remix) BMG
Funk Soul Jazz R&B
Millie: The top spot surely needs no introduction. Ezra Collective’s first release since their Mercury Prize winning album ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’ sees them grow in confidence and have an injection of even more fun. Their music has always been playful, energetic and bouncy which provides a healing energy but this feels slightly more varied within the album. We witness unbridled pleasure mixed with a nostalgia I can’t quite pin-point in ‘Hear My Cry’ and an unspoken optimism in ‘Everybody’ which I haven’t been able to play without a welling in my chest. Truly a sublime and special album.
Securing second place, Nubya Garcia’s stylistic ‘Odyssey’ is the epitome of contemporary jazz-fusion that provides the perfect pick-me-up. Garcia’s powerful and rich vocals showcase her endless array of talent, but especially for composing
and improvisation. Her creativity is fueled through the use of collaborators weaved into this standout album, ‘We Walk in Gold’ featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow is a highlight for me alongside the more dubinspired ‘Triumphance’.
BADBADNOTGOOD return with a new assured confidence, if they could bottle and sell it they’d be making millions. It’s refreshing to see artists grow and mature when they have their unique style pinned, it’s luxuriously smooth, the bass lines are precise yet have an unfussed feel, it’s got an air of ‘we’ve got this’ about it. ‘Mid Spiral’ embraces the instrumental jazz life while not feeling restricted, they blend seamlessly within genres such as funk, neo-soul and psychedelic. The standout track for me is ‘Your Soul & Mine’, it’s vibrant and inhabits a feel-good energy.
The chart wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Gondwana label jazz highlights for this year, Jasmine Myra’s reflective and poignant album on selfbelief; and Svaneborg Kardyb’s ‘Superkilen’ Scandinavian piece ranges from folk to electronica in an air of serenity. Also worthy of a mention is the wonderfully orchestral, otherworldly release from Nala Sinephro and the legendary Sound-of-Soul, Michael Kiwanuka. There’s so many brilliant albums to sink your teeth into.
1. Ezra Collective Dance, No One’s Watching
2. Nubya Garcia Odyssey
3. BADBADNOTGOOD Mid Spiral
4. Jasmine Myra Rising
5. Nala Sinephro Endlessness
6. Michael Kiwanuka Small Changes
7. Greg Foat The Glass Frog
8. Erika De Casier Still
9. Ishmael Ensemble The Rituals
10. Allysha Joy The Making Of Silk
11. Lady Blackbird Slang Spirituals
12. Toro Y Moi Hole Erth
13. Hiatus Kaiyote Love Heart Cheat Code
14. Svaneborg Kardyb Superkilen
15. Amy Gadiaga All Black Everything
16. Kamasi Washington Fearless Movement
17. Kaytranada Timeless
18. Joe Armon-Jones & Hak Baker Wrong Side of Town
19. Galliano Halfway Somewhere
20. ZG Out Of The Unknown
Electronic Ambient Modern Classical
Barry: It’s been a fruitful year for oscillators, drones and beats. Aside from the more propulsive dancefloor chart, handled more than capably by the Kicking Pigeon (aka Matt) himself, there’s a lot of more hypnotic grooves and airy orchestration to be found in these twenty albums. After being obsessed with Four Tet since I first heard ‘Pause’ all the way back at the turn of the millennium, I’ve not had a bad experience with anything he’s done, and ‘Three’ is easily one of his greatest albums to date. Insistent saturated beats and soaring delays, crisp percussion loops and KH’s unmistakeable melodic ear meant that this one had to take the top spot. Manchester’s Pure Life are one of my favourite labels at the minute, and while I love everything they’ve done, the vinyl pressing of Cult Member’s stunning ‘Ethernet’ has been a highlight with both me, a few staff and the customers.
Think AFX’s (I know, I know, sorry) Selected Ambient Works with a bit more of a synthwave aesthetic and a good deal more grit, and you’re edging closer. It would be amiss for me not to put Max Richter’s stunning ‘In A Landscape’ near the top of the chart, as there are few modern classical artists that convey so much emotion and weight.
Elsewhere, the saturated earth-decayed orchestration of Erland Cooper’s ‘Carve The Runes…’ blew me away, with a much less folky ambience and a lot more unadorned violin than we’ve heard previously from the Scottish composer. Whilst we’re up there in Scotland, it’s worth mentioning Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman’s more electronic-focused ‘Ash Grey…’, which I had the good fortune of seeing live in September, and sounds just as good on vinyl as it does in person. Elsewhere there is little surprise that the heavy hitters are peppered through the list, with the much awaited new album from Kelly Lee Owens absolutely blowing me away, as is the hefty dancefloor odyssey that is Floating Points’ ‘Cascade’ and Caribou’s stunning ‘Honey’. The new Warrington-Runcorn album is something to behold too, and has a stunning remix of my favourite song on the LP by none other than the great Vince Clarke. What a year!
1. Four Tet
Three
2. Cult member
Ethernet
3. Max Richter In A Landscape
4. Kiasmos II
5. Kelly Lee Owens
Dreamstate
6. Pye Corner Audio The Endless Echo
7. Erland Cooper Carve The Runes Then Be Content With Silence
8. Suzanne Ciani Buchla Concert At Galeria Bonino New York April 1974
9. Caribou Honey
10. Floating Points Cascade
11. Adam Wiltzie
Eleven Fugues For Sodium Pentathol
12. Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan Your Community Hub
13. Ariel Kalma, Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer The Closest Thing To Silence
14. Various Artists Do You Have The Force? Volume 2 — Jon Savage's Alternate History Of Electronica 1978–82
15. Lilacs & Champagne Fantasy World
16. Jon Hopkins RITUAL
17. Craven Faults Bounds
18. Andrew Wasylyk & Tommy Perman Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On
19. Hawksmoor Oneironautics
20. Loscil Umbel
KOKOKO! BUTU
DAVE OKUMU - I CAME FROM LOVE (LIVE FROM THE ROUNDHOUSE)
SOPHIE SOPHIE
潘PAN PAN THE PANSEXUAL
ODETTA HARTMAN SWANSONGS
YANNIS & THE YAW LAGOS PARIS LONDON
MICHELLE SONGS ABOUT YOU SPECIFICALLY
THE JOY THE JOY
THE WAEVE CITY LIGHTS
Synthpop Hyperpop
Ethan: It’s been a big year in the pop world. Chappell Roan has appeared overnight at the top of the conversation, Sabrina Carpenter is now doing sold out tours, and Charli XCX has gone from cult / club classic to a mainstream pop icon. Meanwhile Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has wrapped up and her new album didn’t live up to the hype, thus clearing an avenue for new pop acts to take the stage.
And so, they did! Magdalena Bay’s second effort ‘Imaginal Disk’ isn’t just one of the best pop albums of the year, it’s also one of the best albums I’ve heard in ages! It perfectly draws the lines between experimentation and tradition, as well as being emotional and fun. Maisy introduced me to these a couple years ago now when they were far more underground, so the attention the duo are now receiving is great to see!
There’s a “too good for it” attitude towards pop music in certain circles, but I firmly believe that maintaining this attitude causes you to miss out on some of the most fun music of the year. Between its insane marketing, Fantano’s coveted 10 rating, and the two extra versions, if you still haven’t listened to Brat yet, that’s on you and you’re missing out!
Other highlights include Clairo leaving the bedroom aesthetic behind to explore immaculately produced sophisti-pop, Dua Lipa’s new record which pushed her into a Glastonbury-headlining position, and the posthumous final SOPHIE record.
Honourable mentions go to the new releases from Porter Robinson, Sabrina Carpenter and Beyonce. All great albums that I couldn’t include for one reason or another!
1. Magdalena Bay Imaginal Disk
2. Charli XCX
Brat
3. Billie Eilish
Hit Me Hard and Soft
4. Clairo
Charm
5. Confidence Man
3AM (LA LA LA)
6. Fabiana Palladino Fabiana Palladino
7. Dua Lipa Radical Optimism
8. Kylie Minogue Tension II
9. SOPHIE
SOPHIE
10. Lynks ABOMINATION
Books Of The Year
William And Jim Reid: Never Understood: The Story Of The Jesus And Mary Chain
Simon Raymonde
In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor Raymonde And Me
Kathleen Hanna Rebel Girl: My Life As A Feminist Punk
Alan McGee How To Run An Indie Label
Huw Stephens Wales: 100 Records
Colin Greenwood
How To Disappear: A Portrait Of Radiohead
Will Hodgkinson Street-level Superstar: A Year With Lawrence
Rebecca Hook
The Hacienda: Threads
Jon Savage
The Secret Public
Joel Gion
In The Jingle Jangle Jungle: Keeping Time With The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Lindsay Reade A Continual Farewell: My Life In Letters With Tony Wilson
Alex James Over The Rainbow: Tales From An Unexpected Year
Stuart Murdoch Nobody’s Empire
DJ Paulette
Welcome To The Club: The Life And Lessons Of A Black Woman DJ
Marcus J. Moore
High And Rising: A Book About De La Soul
Patrick Clarke Bedsit Land: The Strange Worlds Of Soft Cell
S.H. Fernando Jr. The Chronicles Of DOOM: Unravelling Rap’s Masked Iconoclast
Simon Reynolds Futuromania: Electronic Dreams, Desiring Machines And Tomorrow’s Music Today
Miranda Sawyer Uncommon People: Britpop And Beyond In 20 Songs
Dickie Felton I Am Hated For Loving: A Morrissey Tour On The Brink
Staff Charts
Darryl
44 years after forming and Einstürzende Neubauten are still making the freshest and most essential music out there; ‘Rampen (APM: Alien Pop Music)’ is a brooding avant-garde masterpiece, and an easy pick for my album of the year. Snapping hard at its heels was the brilliant debut from BIG SPECIAL, along with the glorious and heartbreaking ‘Iechyd Da’ by Bill Ryder-Jones, and the untouchable Fontaines D.C. with their awesome ‘Romance’ album. The ‘Night Train’ album meanwhile was a worthy overall winner on our Collections chart, it’s so good to hear a compilation with a well thought-out theme across multiple genres!
On a personal note Lety and I have been busting the holiday budget again with some amazing trips to the Philippines, Arrochar, Paris, Isle Of Skye, a Pyrenean mountain side for the Tour De France, Bali, St. Abbs (twice), and there’s a trip due to Germany in December for some proper Christmas markets action and beer quaffing.
On a downside for us, 2024 was tarnished by the sad passing of one of our cats; the GOAT Lilly — RIP little one. X
Laura
1. Einstürzende Neubauten: Rampen (APM: Alien Pop Music)
2. BIG SPECIAL: POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES
3. Bill Ryder-Jones: Iechyd Da
4. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
5. Various Artists: Night Train: Transcontinental Landscapes 1968–2019
6. Goat: Goat
7. DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water
8. Moin: You Never End
9. Nilüfer Yanya: My Method Actor
10. W.H. Lung: Every Inch Of Earth Pulsates
11. Amyl And The Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness
12. Yard Act: Where’s My Utopia?
13. Kneecap: Fine Art
14. English Teacher: This Could Be Texas
15. Coyote: Hurry Up & Live
16. Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes
17. Galaxie 500: Uncollected Noise New York ‘88–’90
Another year chock full of great releases and as usual the running order here could change pretty much every time I look at it. There are a few perennial favourites making a return: Nick Cave, Fontaines D.C., Ezra Collective, and Michael Kiwanuka always deliver, but as always some new (and not so new) names have won me over too. Current faves amongst them are the abstract melodies of Moin, the shimmering pop of Umarells and the smokey blues of Peter Alexander Jobson. My album of the year from Horsebeach has been my most played record this year by a long way, but the fabulous Night Train comp has run it a close second. Yard Act’s album is ace and they were also one of my live highlights this year, along with Horsebeach, Jalen Ngonda, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and local bands Fruit Tones and West Side Cowboy who I’m looking forward to hearing more of in 2025. And speaking of the new year, it’s already shaping up to be a good ‘un with newies from Antony Szmierek, Divorce and Heartworms already on the horizon. Thanks as ever for your support this year and here’s to a great 2025.
1. Horsebeach: Things To Keep Alive
2. Various Artists: Night Train: Transcontinental Landscapes 1968–2019
3. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
4. Ezra Collective: Dance, No One’s Watching
5. Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes
6. Yannis & The Yaw Feat. Tony Allen: Lagos Paris London EP
7. Moin: You Never End
8. Yard Act: Where’s My Utopia?
9. The Mystery Lights: Purgatory
10. Andrew Wasylyk & Tommy Perman: Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On
11. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Wild God
12. Deadletter: Hysterical Strength
13. Kneecap: Fine Art
14. Peter Alexander Jobson: Burn The Ration Books Of Love
15. Bill Ryder-Jones: Iechyd Da
16. Nadine Shah: Filthy Underneath
17. Umarells: One More Day
18. English Teacher: This Could Be Texas
19. Loose Articles: Scream If You Wanna Go Faster
20. Various Artists: Tony Thorpe Presents: Post-Punk Theory — Alpha
Liam
Well, it’s been another absolute mega year for music. As you can see, some of my usual favourites are in my top 20, but plenty of discoveries have been made — with the likes of Van Houten, Belong and Whitelands nestling themselves alongside DIIV and Fontaines D.C.
As for gigs this year, highlights include two amazing seated shows for Bill Ryder-Jones and Adrianne Lenker. Then on the shoegaze front, both Slowdive and DIIV absolutely blew my head off as usual. And finally, I managed to catch one of our 2023 highlights Nourished By Time at the Pink Room at YES — which was absolutely spellbinding stuff!
In terms of record collecting, two of my absolute shoegaze holy grails have been reissued this year — the self-titled Ozean EP and Drop Nineteens’ Delaware. Two records I never thought would ever make their way into my collection and I still can’t believe I have them.
So how about 2025? Well, there’s only one thing on my mind — Oasis. Me, Andy and Barry haven’t stopped playing them in the shop since the announcement and we don’t plan to. For those of you who were lucky enough to bag tickets, I’ll see you in the field!
Andy
As anyone who’s ever met me on the counter will know, I am (a boring bastard!) an honorary member of the 6Music dad’s Mick Head Appreciation Society. I used to get teased by my colleagues for waffling on and on about my musical hero, Mick, and lately this hasn’t been quite as bonkers an affair as Mick has had an incredible resurgence. This year, the highlight must be his appearance in our shop to play an acoustic set. The cliché about “never meeting your heroes” couldn’t be further from the truth as Mick turned out to be quite a shy and lovely man. The gig itself was one of my best days at “work” ever. At the end of this year, he’ll be playing a sold-out show at the Liverpool Philharmonic which promises to be a very special night for him and for me: as a young boy I used to go every Christmas to watch my dad singing Handel’s Messiah in the choir there. I’d fall asleep, to be woken by the triumphant trumpet at the end — only to endure another fifteen minutes of Hallelujahs! Finally, good luck to Ryan. The shop’s not the same without you! And Happy Christmas everyone!
1. DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water
2. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
3. Van Houten: The Tallest Room
4. Bill Ryder-Jones: Iechyd Da
5. Adrianne Lenker: Bright Future
6. Ozean: Ozean
7. Moin: You Never End
8. Shellac: To All Trains
9. Horsebeach: Things To Keep Alive
10. Belong: Realistic IX
11. Cloud Nothings: Final Summer
12. Deary: Aurelia
13. Yannis & The Yaw Feat. Tony Allen: Lagos Paris London EP
14. Confidence Man: 3AM (LA LA LA)
15. Whitelands: Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day
16. Drop Nineteens: Delaware — 2024 Coloured Vinyl Reissue
17. Nourished By Time: Catching Chickens EP
18. Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes
19. Umarells: One More Day
20. The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World
1. Horsebeach: Things to Keep Alive
2. Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band: Loophole
3. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
4. White Denim: 12
5. Beachwood Sparks: Across The River Of Stars
6. Bill Ryder-Jones: Iechyd Da
7. Michael Kiwanuka: Small Changes
8. Primal Scream: Come Ahead
9. Emma Anderson: Spiralée: Pearlies Rearranged
10. MGMT: Loss of Life
11. Jessica Pratt: Here in the Pitch
12. Villagers: That Golden Time
13. Camera Obscura: Look to the East, Look to the West
14. Liam Gallagher & John Squire: Liam Gallagher & John Squire
15. W.H. Lung: Every Inch of Earth Pulsates
16. Soccer Mommy: Evergreen
17. The Jesus And Mary Chain: Glasgow Eyes
18. Los Bitchos: Talkie Talkie
19. DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water
20. Goat: Goat
Barry
It seems like 2024 has been a particularly fruitful year in terms of electronic and ambient music, with a couple of the artists I’ve liked in years past making a welcome return into my listening pile. Though I’ve always liked Laura Marling’s work, I didn’t expect her new one to be quite so high up my end of year chart. It’s a beautiful outing anyway, and one that brings me right back to her early, minimal folky days. The top trio this year was particularly hard to choose, but I always come back to the ol’ modern classical for comfort, and Mr. Richter has a heavy weighting in my music selection nowadays, as I’m both ageing and slowing. GY!BE will always appear in my end of year if they have a new one out, and ‘No Title…’ is one of my favourite things they’ve done for a while (see also Efrim’s inclusion in the brilliant and highly surprising ‘We Are Winter’s Blue…’ LP). Some classic, dancefloor ‘tronica from KLO and Caribou, filmic synthplay from pals Polypores and WRNTDP and a few others and BAM, there’s the list. Laters.
1. Max Richter: In A Landscape
2. Four Tet: Three
3. Godspeed You! Black Emperor: NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD
4. Adam Wiltzie: Eleven Fugues For Sodium Pentathol
5. Andrew Wasylyk & Tommy Perman: Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On
6. Laura Marling: Patterns In Repeat
Millie
My chart this year has been heavily influenced by my husbands resurgence into the world of indie music, as much as I try to hold on to my well structured chart of soul and jazz, they’ve crept in from continuous exposure to them on long car journeys, these being: English Teacher, Fontaines D.C. and Yard Act. I barely recognise myself!
Yes, I did casually drop in there that I’m married! I tied the knot in May, that’s my exciting news for this year. It’s funny how integral music was as a part of the big day, from Ezra Collective to Kanye West. It’s safe to say we danced the night away.
Charli XCX and English Teacher soundtracked our honeymooning’ down in Cornwall through winding countryside roads, very contrasting albums but sometimes it just works like that. It’s wild how an (overplayed) album from a certain time in your life can be intertwined with memory so I’m looking forward to revisiting these albums in ten, twenty years time and reminiscing on what a BRAT summer was all about.
Others I have to mention, Ezra Collective ignites my love of jazz further and Kneecap, well, that’s also a new one for me but I love it. Happy Christmas to all!
7. Charli XCX: Brat
8. Kelly Lee Owens: Dreamstate
9. Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume II (Expanded Edition)
10. Polypores: There Are Other Worlds
11. Chat Pile: Cool World
12. Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan: Your Community Hub
13. We Are Winter’s Blue And Radiant Children: No More Apocalypse Father
14. English Teacher: This Could Be Texas
15. Cult Member: Ethernet
16. Svaneborg Kardyb: Superkilen
17. Pye Corner Audio: The Endless Echo
18. Harmonia: Musik Von Harmonia — 50th Anniversary Edition
19. Soccer Mommy: Evergreen
20. Caribou: Honey
1. Charli XCX: Brat
2. Yard Act: Where’s My Utopia?
3. Ezra Collective: Dance, No One’s Watching
4. English Teacher: This Could Be Texas
5. Kneecap: Fine Art
6. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
7. Amy Gadiaga: All Black Everything
8. Kokoroko: Get The Message
9. Nubya Garcia: Odyssey
10. Beyonce: Cowboy Carter
11. BADBADNOTGOOD: Mid Spiral
12. ZG: Out Of The Unknown
13. Nala Sinephro: Endlessness
14. Confidence Man: 3AM (LA LA LA)
15. Joe Armon-Jones & Hak Baker: Wrong Side Of Town
16. AR / BS: Garies
17. Elaine Vassell / 3rd Zone: Never Give Up / You Stole My Heart
18. Yaya Bey: Ten Fold
19. OneDa: Formula OneDa
20. Nubiyan Twist: Find Your Flame
Matt
Maybe one of my most diverse EOY charts to date (an entry in nearly every section!) — a testament to the quality of music right across the board we’ve had this year. Rave maverick Acrelid impressed us all at Red Laser through a wild live show — and backed it up with a fully realised artistic statement (I implore you to check out his youtube — John Richardson). Plenty of Northwest representation as always, so fist bumps to all the massive flying the flag. Bagged a couple of bucket list reissues from my prerecord shop days of *cough* Napster downloads (can you guess which ones?). Mega buzzed to unveil our first ever “Nightfall” Compilation this year — many thanks if you let us use a track for that. I’m optimistic to see what this new club Amber has in store for us (give us a residency please!).
Shouts to Behind The Groove, Wild Forts, Earthly Pleasures, Seamus Presents, Room2Move & Warp Speed Chug for some mega gigs; and Love International, Home Of The Drum and We Out Here for festival fun and frolics. And of course, all TWH revellers. Take care of each other and see you front right near the subs! ;)
Mine
My 2024 began in the backroom of a Levenshulme boozer, watching a now infamous karaoke performance (ex-staffer Patrick’s rendition of Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights, for those interested). Fortunately, things became much more harmonious after that, although as is so often the case, it feels like the year has come and (nearly) gone in the blink of an eye. I am writing these words a little earlier than usual as I am about to embark on my first holiday in about 100 years (no I’m not exaggerating) and by the time I’m back it’ll be November, and probably grey and miserable. Something to look forward to… until I board a plane in a few days I will probably be obsessing over my end of year chart positions, knowing full well that I will have changed my mind about every single one as soon as it’s too late to make any amendments. Be that as it may, I’m sure I’ll survive. Hope everyone has a great, and not too hectic, run-up to Christmas and a mega 2025. See you soon!
2. Mark William Lewis: Pleasure Is Everything / God Complex
3. DJ Absolutely Shit: Boing Boing Boing Boing / This EP Is Not Called Memoirs Of A Crust Monster
4. Various Artists: Sounds From The Flightpath Estate — Volume 1
5. Various Artists: Mega Misses From The Manctalo Discotheque — Compiled By Il Bosco
6. Spooky: Gargantuan — 2024 Reissue
7. Los Hermanos: On Another Level — 2024 Edition
8. Erika De Casier: Still
9. SOPHIE: SOPHIE
10. Various Artists: They Move In The Night
11. Various Artists: You’re Not From Round Here
12. Various Artists: Down The Local
13. Bodhi: Laurus Ascending
14. Traces: No One (Can Tell I)
15. Horsebeach: Things To Keep Alive
16. Apta: Submerge EP
17. Guests: I Wish I Was Special
18. Klangkollektor: Dub Tapes Vol. 1
19. Kwengface X Joy Orbison X Overmono: Freedom 2
20. Amyl And The Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness
1. Various Artists: Fantastic Voyage: New Sounds For The European Canon 1977–1981
2. Mount Kimbie: The Sunset Violent
3. OP-ART: The Final Act
4. Various Artists: ALFA/YEN Records 1980–1987: Techno Pop And Other Electronic Adventures In Tokyo
5. Vicious Pink: Unexpected
6. Talking Drums: Volume 7
7. DJ Subaru: Lots Of Love
8. AR / BS: Garies
9. Glass Beams: Mahal
10. Ortrotasce: Dispatches From Solitude
11. DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water
12. Various Artists: Rock Rendez Vous: Musica Moderna Portuguesa 1985–1986
13. Liela Moss: Transparent Eyeball
14. Michal Turtle: Same Songs, Different Room
15. Various Artists: Mega Misses From The Manctalo Discotheque — Compiled By Il Bosco
16. Molly Nilsson: Un-American Activities
17. Various Artists: Do You Have The Force? Volume 2 — Jon Savage’s Alternate History Of Electronica 1978–82
18. Rude 66: Conditioning Consciousness
19. Moon Diagrams: Cemetery Classics
20. The Telescopes: Growing Eyes Becoming String
BECAUSE MUSIC
Martin
The oldest known attempt to record music for future reproduction dates back to 1,400 BC. It’s a hymn to Nikkal, a Mesopotamian goddess, what of, exactly, we don’t know, it’s notation, lyrics and tuning instructions inscribed on a clay tablet, composer unknown.
Music is such a fundamental part of the human experience that, 3,400 years later, we are every bit as compelled to find the means to acquire, record and create it, even in the toughest of times. That a bunch of organised soundwaves has always had such a profound impact on people, to console, inspire, sadden, enrage, calm or arouse is more than a little mystifying. Maybe less so its ability to bring people of all kinds together. In this job you never know what (or who) is waiting around the corner, and that is a beautiful thing.
2024 has been the perfect illustration of all of that. The quality and variety of music has been as exciting as ever, and, as for the people who come through our door, it’s been a pleasure. We couldn’t do it without you.
Love to everyone xxx
Pasta Paul
What another great year of music! Mildlife’s ‘Chorus’ takes my top spot with its perfect combination of funk/soul/ electronic/indie, plus its ace art work. I saw some amazing gigs, with Air playing ‘Moon Safari’ in full at the Royal Albert Hall and Jack White at Liverpool Academy both highlights. Beth Gibbons at the Albert Hall was particularly special and Say She She at The Ritz were so good that I went to Hanger 34, Liverpool, to see them a second time!
Trips to London to see the legendary Cymande (Shepherds Bush Empire), DJ Harvey (Koko), Greg Foat (Jazz Cafe), and Across The Tracks in Brixton were fantastic! I also had the pleasure of seeing Bodega launch their album at the super cool, intimate Baby’s All Right, NYC — and then to catch them when I got back home, at Band On The Wall.
I made it to one big festival this year: We Out Here, in Dorset — a glorious setting, and it didn’t rain once! Going wild swimming every morning was the perfect way to start the day.
A DJ highlight: playing on the main stage at the Albert Hall. Rest In Power, Danielle Moore. You are loved and missed.
1. Van Houten: The Tallest Room
2. DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water
3. High Vis: Guided Tour
4. Mdou Moctar: Funeral For Justice
5. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
6. Hania Rani: Nostalgia
7. Pom Poko: Champion
8. We Are Winter’s Blue And Radiant Children: No More Apocalypse Father
16. Various Artists: Down To The Sea & Back: Volume Tres. The Continuing Journey Of The Balearic Beat — Compiled By Balearic Mike & Kelvin Andrews
17. Various Artists: Night Train: Transcontinental Landscapes 1968–2019
18. Various Artists: Basso Presents: Sitting In Trees
19. Various Artists: Be With 10 Years: Joyride + Labour Of Love
20. Various Artists: Luke Una — Everything Above The Sky
Will
1. Shellac: To All Trains
2. Jack White: No Name
3. St. Vincent: All Born Screaming
4. Bite Marcus: Amalgamation
5. Goat: Goat
6. J Mascis: What Do We Do Now
I feel confident describing 2024 as a banner year for music — Shellac consolidated their legacy, Bite Marcus challenged sound and society, Jack White rocked on his own terms, and Mascis tapped into a gorgeous vibe. The number of times I’ve jumped around the shop babbling about how stupidly good a new release is in my third year of working here dwarfs that of the previous two.
Playing in Humongous Fungus, a band made up of great friends and like-minded musicians, has made this year a gift. From our live debut with lovely Ethan’s Squelch! last December, to recording our first EP in April, I’ve started to live my dream while building treasured interpersonal relationships with some unbelievably cool Manchester underground artists. The high point of this was performing at Academy 2 in March, where I learned how much of a crowd a 10m guitar cable will let me interact with. After a brief hiatus, we will be making our triumphant return to the stage in December and not slowing down for anything, so no need to keep your eye out for us — you won’t know what hit you even if you did.
7. Judas Priest: Invincible Shield
8. Pixies: The Night The Zombies Came
9. Fu Manchu: The Return Of Tomorrow
10. Kurokuma: Of Amber And Sand
11. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Wild God
12. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
13. Chat Pile: Cool World
14. The Folk Implosion: Walk Thru Me
15. Magdalena Bay: Imaginal Disk
16. Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She
17. DIIV: Frog In Boiling Water
18. Mary Timony: Untame the Tiger
19. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard: Flight b741
20. Squelch!: A Professional Lie
Ethan
2024 was a very productive year for me. I put out an EP, toured the UK a little, rediscovered my love for video games, went to an excessive number of gigs and kept powering through my degree.
On gigs, the best one I attended this year has to be American Football closing Outbreak Festival. Seeing them play their debut album in full was equal parts exhilarating and tear-jerking. Close second goes to seeing Turnstile in Paris as well!
Paris was one of a couple trips I took this year. I also attended Primavera Sound with my girlfriend, which was an amazing experience and just as good as the year prior!
Unfortunately, they’ve missed the mark with 2025’s lineup, so it’s time for me to start looking at other European festivals. Maybe I’ll end up in Lisbon next summer?
As for my hopes for 2025, I’m begging for a Sunny Day Real Estate tour in the UK. Other highlights would be that rumoured Lorde album coming out, or Humongous Fungus to finally drop. I’m also still praying for another Frank Ocean album, but I’m gradually losing faith…
1. Magdalena Bay: Imaginal Disk
2. My Rushmore: Tell Everyone We’re Dead
3. Julie: My Anti-Aircraft Friend
4. Fontaines D.C.: Romance
5. Charli XCX: Brat
6. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard And Soft
7. Quadeca: Scrapyard
8. Floating Points: Cascade
9. Chat Pile: Cool World
10. Tyler, The Creator: CHROMAKOPIA
11. Fat Dog: WOOF.
12. Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven
13. Jack White: No Name
14. Knocked Loose: You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
15. Porter Robinson: Smile! :D
16. Clairo: Charm
17. Shellac: To All Trains
18. Bladee: Cold Visions
19. Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She
20. Faye Webster: Underdressed At The Symphony
Fred
Starting at Piccadilly Records this year has given me a new appreciation for music even if I have only worked here for a short time. I’ve previously worked at a distributor this Summer, so seeing the records I’d helped package now passing into customers’ hands felt incredibly surreal. Working here has already introduced me to many artists I’d never heard of, like Goat, whose new album quickly became my favourite release this year. Two bands I discovered this year led me to even more music, the first was when I heard Greg Sage and Wipers, their album “Is This Real?” blew me away the first time I heard it—soon listening to most of their discography. Seeing J Mascis at Gorilla was a highlight for me here as although it was a truly amazing show in its own right, him announcing that he would play his cover of “On the Run” by Greg Sage cemented it as one of my favourite gigs I saw this year. The second band, Skinny Puppy, led me to many artists, new and old, that cited their influence, such as JPEGMAFIA. Although I found it very difficult to find any physical media of theirs that could be bought outside of America, it was amazing to find out one of my favourites, ‘Too Dark Park’, had been reissued. Also, it wouldn’t be right not to mention how amazing ‘No Name’ really was to me, with its secretive marketing that led up to an amazing latecareer album from Jack White.
1. Goat: Goat
2. Jack White: No Name
3. J Mascis: What Do We Do Now
4. Wipers: Is This Real?
5. Skinny Puppy: Too Dark Park — 2024 Reissue
6. Redd Kross: Redd Kross
7. JPEGMAFIA: I Lay Down My Life for You
8. Melt Banana: 3+5
9. Ministry: Land of Rape and Honey — 2024 Reissue
14. Childish Gambino: Bando Stone and the New World
15. Forgetting You Is Like Breathing Water: Forgetting You Is Like Breathing Water
16. Kiasmos: II
17. Kelley Stoltz: La Fleur
18. MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks
19. Swami John Reis: All of This Awaits You
20. Los Campesinos!: All Hell
Compilation 2024
Culling tracks from artists in our EOY Top 30 chart, the Piccadilly Records Compilation 2024 couldn’t really start with anything but “Favourite”, the sun-dappled closer from Fontaines D.C.’s superb new album.
It’s a warm, impeccably melodic piece that works just as well introducing the collection here as it does rounding out ‘Romance’. Next up, and an appropriate follower to the sunshine sounds of FDC, Horsebeach with my favourite track from his stunning new album, ‘Things To Keep Alive’. “In The Shadow Of Her” sees the ‘Beach in full swing, with huge hooks and soaring distorted washes giving way to shimmering jangle and rolling bass. The killer duo of Nilüfer Yanya’s “My Method Actor” and DIIV’s “Brown Paper Bag” continue the quiet / loud formula too, with the former’s funky dual basslines and syncopated percussive swing perfectly setting up for the slo-mo chug and airy dreamlike vocal wooze of the latter. We’ve not quite finished on the A-side though, with Tony Allen’s percussive and collaborative skills turning Yannis Philippakis’ project into a fascinating fusion of funk, Afrobeat and jazz, before Hamish Hawk brings us back to earth with the minimalistic majesty of “Juliet As Epithet”.
As we flip over, things get a little more intense with the pummeling noise and punky throb of BIG SPECIAL’s “THIS HERE AIN’T WATER”, perfectly tenderising the ears before the funky slap bass and lyrical fire of “Better Way To Live” from KNEECAP’s narrative masterpiece ‘Fine Art’. We’ve got a pretty special little addition from Goat here too, with a vinyl exclusive edit of the fabulous “Goatbrain”! Mount Kimbie up next with synth swells and snapping, saturated drum machines sitting beneath King Krule’s distinctive vocals, resulting in something that perfectly sits between the oeuvre of both artists, leading nicely into “Guess It’s Wrecked” from Moin, both brilliantly avant garde and staggeringly propulsive. That leaves us the iconic duo of Adrienne Lenker’s perfectly titled, tentatively optimistic “Sadness Is A Gift” from her evocative new album, and the throbbing stadium bliss of W.H. Lung’s ‘I Will Set Fire To The House’.
Side A
Fontaines D.C. Favourite
Horsebeach In The Shadow Of Her Nilüfer Yanya Method Actor
DIIV Brown Paper Bag
£15.99 or get both Piccadilly Compilations for £29.99
Yannis & The Yaw (Feat. Tony Allen) Walk Through Fire
Hamish Hawk Juliet As Epithet
Side B
BIG SPECIAL THIS HERE AIN’T WATER
KNEECAP (Feat. Grian Chatten) Better Way To Live
Goat Goatbrain — Radio Edit
Mount Kimbie (Feat. King Krule) Boxing
Moin (Feat. Olan Monk) Guess It’s Wrecked
Adrianne Lenker Sadness As A Gift
W.H. Lung I Will Set Fire To The House
Piccadilly Records Nightfall Compilation 2024
‘Nightfall’ is the sibling compilation to our main chart compilation, taking in a more clubby after-dark vibe featuring tracks from our electronica, dance singles and jazz charts.
Opening the set is “Twinkling Stars”, a track by Nine Circles and taken from our No. 1 collection, ‘Night Train’. Warming us up for the night ahead with its radioactive synth work and eerie vocals, it drifts hypnotically into modern synthstress, Kelly Lee Owens’ “Love You Got”, which starts to give us all the tingles and expectation of a Big Night Out through its 4/4 kicks and soaring vocals.
Kelly’s been a regular on our racks for some time so this was an obvious inclusion. Next, we’ve got Ishmael Ensemble and Tranquil Elephantizer hitting the jugular via two highly charged and evocative club tracks which leave little chance to catch your breath.
“Trisha” exploded earlier in the year when Luke Una played it on his Worldwide show and the Felix Dickenson remix we’ve bagged here buzzes with energy.
On to side B and after all that excitement we’ve got Psychederek who slows the pace with his inspired and genius, jazz-funkthemed take on the Manchester anthem “Pacific State”, taken from his Sprechenreleased, “Alt EP” (and originally penned by 808 State of course). The wind-down continues with Balearic bliss from Gábor Pörneczi aka Coyote, and smoochy soul from Private Joy — our Pops, who’s enjoyed a string of successful collaborations before blowing us away with her solo debut on Rhythm Section. Then it’s the turn of Kiasmos and Jasmine Myra to usher us into a more horizontal listening position as we await the comforting onset of slumber.
“Sworn” is a delicate, piano-driven piece which pulls at the heartstrings; while “From Embers” tucks us into bed with a heavenly track rich with saxophone and seemingly godly synchronicity between its musicians. Night night x
Side A
Nine Circles Twinkling Stars
Kelly Lee Owens Love You Got
Ishmael Ensemble Fever Dream
Tranquil Elephantizer Trisha (Felix’s Live Drum Italo Monster Mix)
Side B
Psychederek Pacific State
Coyote Both Gone — Live
Private Joy Eyes On You
Kiasmos Sworn
Jasmine Myra From Embers
£15.99 or get both Piccadilly Compilations for £29.99
