Call me perverse, but when I read through Lodestone’s Labour of Love, The List of 2020, the albums that attract my interest most are those that got the fewest votes. Or perhaps no votes at all.
Here is a chance to give them an extra mention.
I’ll kick off with Americana, a gorgeous ACT album by harmonica player, Gregoire Maret, together with ever reliable Bill Frisell on guitar and Romain Collin on piano. It was mentioned by DuCool in his 45 best albums of the year.
What a gem! Three superb musicians at the top of their game playing some modern standards.
Some of you may comment it’s a little MOR. What’s the German term? Mitt zum Autobahnen?
Frankly, I don’t give a damn,
Who else deserves an extra mention?
It is a joy reading through all your lists…
The Unthanks, the Sixteen, Claire Martin, reen Seagull, Wire, the Lemon Quartet, Eighth Blackbird, Eels, Pere Ubu, ???
Thanks to Tiggerlion for mentioning Diversions Vol 5. The Unthanks singing a capella. Sheer joy!
.
Here is one of the songs.
At least two voted for this one…The Unthanks a capella is a wonderous thing…
Two votes??
That is a national scandal.
I was struck by Ka on first listen. Saly he got one measly vote. Give him a listen. He is very special.
There ae several Ka animated vids..
Worth a look.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUxIziCYgMymo4DG-eLu-SQ
I was sure some people voted for The Unthanks.
How about Pere Ubu? By Order Of Mayor Pawlicki is a stunning live album. Shamefully, I mentioned it without actually voting for it.
You out it on the map for us, Tigs, As good as a vote i my book.
3 people voted for The Unthanks “Diversions” and 1 for their”Live And Unaccompanied”. None of those four was Jeff Tweedy.
Might have been voting for the same release – full title is:
Diversions Volume 5 – Live and Unaccompanied.
I really like the Unthanks and have all of their albums – however I really dont like that Magpie song. I have see them do it 2 or 3 times live, the vocals are great but the song is just horrible and dirge like .
They have done much better than that and Mount the Air is just phenomenal.
Funnily enough, “that Magpie song” is one of my favourites…let democracy prevail, as they say in America…
Yello obviously. An absolute masterpiece from European men in their 70’s.
Your PR campaign hasn’t gone unnoticed, and one of your suggestions made it on to my covid playlist. I enjoyed the new album, but find that too much Yello in one sitting gives me indigestion.
There’s an air of Swiss Madness about that video.
Handsome P Wonderful mentioned the Sixteen’s recording of Handel’s Acis & Galatea.
Sounds very promising…
Read more here..
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/handel-acis-and-galatea-christophers
Mike H was the only one of us to vote for Blue Note Re-.imagined.
I like the sound of it.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/04/blue-note-reimagined-a-rollercoaster-tribute
It’s a good album, but wasn’t one I immediately loved, considering I’d spent months listening mainly to jazz (catching up for the 50 years that I didn’t!) and was looking forward to this one a lot. It is growing on me each listen though.
Can confirm it is an excellent album – I may have voted for it but didnt think various artists albums counted.
Spotlight on some new classical
Morrison voted for Michael Harrison and Roomful of Teeth’s Just Constellations
Tiggerlion went for Eighth Blackbird singing David Land and other modern composers.
A trailer
Here are the Blackbird doing a Tiny Desk a while back.
‘
Toothy! Beaky! New classical ensembles can go down a storm at festivals.
Here are the Kronos Quartet at Roskilde. ¨
They were stupendous.
Oi, @kaisfatdad, I rely on you to kick up a celtic storm: worrabout The Chair, Project Smok and, in their second appearance in two years, Stornoway’s finest, Peat and Diesel. All voted alone by me.
Fear not Retro. I will run amok with Project Smok and other tuneful Scots!
I now know where to look for news about the best roots music from north of Hadrian’s Wall.
https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/scotlands-folk-oscars-move-online-and-launch-award-best-online-performer-3050379
I assume that The Dedicated Men Of Zion’s Can’t Turn Me Around album received no votes, but anyone into Southern soul and gospel should check it out. It has a very 70s feel and they are fine vocalists.
Splendid, Alias! When I heard that they record for the Bible and Tyre Recording Company, I just knew I was going to enjoy heir music.
Ooh, that album’s going on the list.
If I may – I mentioned during the vote that my number 15 pick Resistance Revival Chorus would surely be popular with many on here if more widely heard. Mine was the only vote they got!
Good luck with this! By my calculations there are nearly 370 albums with single votes – one a day for a year?
I am still going through those with two votes – including Americana – as mentioned in your OP – voted for by duco01 …and Morrison.
370 albums! This is going to be fun, Salwarpe!
It’s like a lucky dip. I’m putting tracks on the playlist and then listening on random when I am out and about. I stumble across something that delights or surprises me all the time.
Like this ezquisitely melodic gem, Shortly after takeoff, by B C Camplight
What a very interesting man!
https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/bc-camplight-shortly-after-takeoff-album-review
Well, I can imagine it’ll be fun for you, Mr. Pollyanna Pangloss! You somehow find the good in everything. Apologies to the three who placed BC Camplight in their list, (sometimes at the top), but that did nothing for me.
Pollyanna Pangloss!! You cheeky rascal!
It’s odd (and rather positive too) how one listener can bowled over by a song while another is left scratching their head wondering what the fuss is all about.
Same thing with gigs. Sometimes I will go to watch a band at Roskilde that everyone is talking about and be left baffled. Foo Fighters was a good example. The crowd were ecstatic. I was very under-awed.
Thank you for taking it in the gently teasing spirit that was intended and which I thought you might. I do rather admire that indefatigable positivity in you – the site benefits enormously from it – even if I am too much of a sourpuss to share it. Though I do share your underawe at Foo Fighters – I’ve never understood their attraction.
If I find any singletons I like (apart from 4 of the 5 I posted), I will share them on this thread.
Thanks for those kind words, Sal. In these dark, dangerous, unpredictable times, I find it more important than ever to take joy in the small things that cheer me up.
Have you no delights from Deutschland to share with us?
My faves, Labrassbanda, did not get a mention in the AW poll.
They sing about the important thing in life! Coffee, beer, lederhosen and dancing.
You always post LaBrassBanda. And I know I like mashups, electroswing and conglomerated world music. But not this.
If you want fun music from last year, can I recommend The Allergies?
I’m going back to Erland Cooper – mystic music from Orkney, courtesy of @Paul-Hewston and @ip33 – magical stuff.
Let’s not forget Colombia!
Here is something to get our teeth into..
https://www.shock.co/lo-mejor-del-2020/los-35-mejores-discos-colombianos-del-2020
Heavens to Betsy – 35 more albums to listen to. There were two Colombian albums on my AW list – I think I saw them listed on this shock link.
35 albums? You’ll zoom through them in no time. We can’t have you putting your feet up!
I am sure you will have a lot of fun!
I follow Soundsandcolours on Twitter, and would recommend their English language website to anyone interested in Latin American music and films.
This is their list of best reissues of the year.
https://soundsandcolours.com/articles/brazil/best-reissues-of-2020-57202/
Another scoring nul points is for fans of electronic post punk industrial music, the self titled album by Mumia. Never officially released before, it was a DIY cassette, so I guess it counts as a 2020 album. Here are a couple of tracks.
Post Punk Electronica from Sao Paulo! That was certainly an ear-opener.
https://www.deejay.de/Mumia_Mumia_LA003_Vinyl__958525
This came rom the same stable:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKnamGMB9Cs
I think I was the only one to vote for Monophonics, which can only be because no one else has heard them. Saying that, I realise that we all think we’ve found a gem and if only people would listen they would love, but seriously, listen to this, and if I’m wrong and you don’t enjoy it I’ll eat my face mask.
Monophonics ‘Last One Standing’
I was definitely the only Afterworder to mention Anders F Rönnblom in my list! He’s a perennial favourite of mine, keeps making brilliant, verbose, slightly odd albums, doesn’t get any press or reviews anymore, releases his albums on his own label these days (the last one I bought came signed and numbered) and pretty much make one album every year. Most of them are great, but they’re probably not for everyone…and the lyrics are all in Swedish…
Here’s one of my favourite tracks from 2020’s “Blärk! Ballader och Mysterier”:
I enjoyed that, Locust. Wonderfully eccentric.
He is a bit of a Xmas favourite, it seems.
Do feel free to post any more artists singing in Swedish that you feel deserve our attention!
Well, @Kaisfatdad, if you insist… 😉
Slowgold (=Amanda Werne) had a brilliant album out this year, “Aska”, which made my list. Here’s a live version of “Nåt” (from Bengans music store):
And Mattias Alkberg made my list as well with the album “Bodensia”. This is “Tänk på alla planeter”:
Nice work, @Locust. Two gorgeous tracks
.Slowgold really won me over with her exquisite guitar playing.
Blimey! I am out of touch. She’s even been a guest on Jill’s Veranda and I hadn’t noticed her.
Your old fave Sarah Klang was on the box on New Year’s Eve. I rather enjoyed it
Sumptuous!
Let’s have one more from Sarah!
I reckon this one only got a mention in my selection.
Sensible Grey Cells – Get Back Into The World.
Captain Sensible and Paul Gray take time off from The Damned and produce an album of garage-psych with plenty of melody. Many songs sound like they would’ve made the cut on a Damned album (particularly the title track with echoes of Grimly Fiendish/Phantasmagoria era – which featured neither the Captain or Paul).
You are indeed correct – your vote secured them the coveted, (fact check here please, Gary) Position Number 260
Twighlight of the Gods! Any more fact checking and I’ll have no time to gobble my knöbb.
Lush, suggestive, sensual and cinematic: this German combo, from DuCool’s long list, really hit the spot for me.
Give Bohren & Der Klub der Gore a chance.
This is definitely an outlier among outliers, although it was in my top ten – I find it very uplifting and play it often. Have a go…
Glad you mentioned that one, Mike. I noticed it and felt it was exactly the kind of album this thread was created for. Modern classical and perhaps a little tricky to pigeonhole.
Here are Guitar Trek live.
Hope they pick up a few new fans.
Exquisite.
Let me hereby, take my hat off to all of you who voted for LPs that no one else had ever heard of.
And which you probably suspected no else was going to like. But you went for it anyway.
Extra special respect also to those who produced a whole list of albums that no one else mentioned.
Extra work for Laird Lodestone of Wrongness but extra rabbit holes for the rest of us to vanish down.
Here are just a few ….
Cory Wang & Jon Baptiste
Fay Hield
Espen Eriksen Trio
Peat and diesel
Calum Au and Claire Martin
The Lemon Twigs
I was having a sing with Fay Hield in Hazel Grove carriage sidings last night. (true) I know how to show a woman a good time etc etc
I am seriously impressed, Cheshire. Friend of the Stars, or what?
Unless Bob Dylan flew over to buy a few bottles of Chateau Lodestone or Benny Andersson popped into Locust’s supermarket to cop some surströmming, that story s going to take some beating!
Cue for another song from Fay!
Twit that I am, I can’t get past the fact that that’s her real name and not a whimsical spoonerism.
I mean, nowadays there’s a lot of wordplay with recording artists’ names – you get artists called stuff like Bob Vylan, Girl Ray and the totally spoonertastic Com Truise. Why, I believe there are even some contributors on here who use the old switcheroo..
(*I was going to say Kurt Vile, but I looked him up and that’s his actual frickin’ name..!)
I could not believe that was his real name either. Amazing!
With a moniker like that, show business really was the only option!
No, it’s just that one of the delights of folk music is that the stars don’t get up their own backsides. Fay runs a singing session every month and the wonders of technology mean I can join even when I am at work.
I couldn’t help thinking there was something not quite right with the Callum Au / Claire Martin album. Beautiful arrangements and, naturally, sung very well by Ms. Martin. I think her voice is just a little bit too low in the final mix. At times the vocal seems a bit swamped by the orchestration.
Unless of course that’s just my aged ears.
Ive enjoyed the new wave pop of Public practice. I imagine not been able to tour really hurt new bands like this last year. I imagine they’d have gone down well at a festival.
The album “Lost Ships” by Elina Duni & Rob Luft, on ECM records, evaded our top 100. I don’t know how many other votes it got, but it was in my list in 15th place, so I gave it five.
You (16) and @Morrison (4). An interesting alternative Albanian/Balkan voice to Dua Lipa.
Elina is wonderful. And Rob Luft plays like an angel.
I’ll be watching out for him!
Here we go! A whole hour of live music from Elina, Rob and Fred with an intimate jazz club setting-
Enjoy!
Still only 26 years old. The boy could go far..
And how!
I am going to enjoy browsing through your list, Mike.
Lots of new names! Here is another bright young talent with a very enjoyable Roy Ayers cover.
Very classy stuff. Quite apart from loving the sound they make, good vibraphonists/marimbaists are always interesting to watch.
Salwarpe has discovered Erland Cooper.
“Mystic music from Orkney, courtesy of @Paul-Hewston and @ip33 – magical stuff.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB4uqD1IOiw
Thanks to Retro, I’m exploring a slightly rowdier side of Orkney.
And if we are doing the Orkney Islands we need to be “thorough” and watch Fara.
They started their career as the Chairettes, backing the Chair.
Thanks to those of you who have put Erland Cooper on the AW map. Orkney composer and multi-instrumentalist, he is a very interesting chap.
Here is a track from his latest release: Eynhallow.
It is on Spotify.
I cycled past Eynhallow Sound in August. Was glad to be on dry land (obvs, what with being on a bike). It’s a churn of water boiling; can’t be easy on a boat.
Erland has a decent backstory: Erland and the Carnival in the noughties and then The Magnetic North, before striking out on his own.
We had a young fella called Rowland who worked as a trainee doc with us a few years back. I think, when he mentioned he was brought up on Orkney, he was a little surprised when the senior partner asked whether, therefore, whether Erland was his brother. He was.
It’s the way you tell them! Wonderful story about Erland’s brother.
And those songs from his back catalogue are splendid. I will investigate further.
Here’s a little travel film about Eynhallow for our Cycling Cat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVdjPCzUhI8
The Magnetic North albums are lovely, especially the one about Skelmersdale.
Thanks for the tip, @Paul Hewston. Erland and the magnetic North were a new discovery.
To my shame, I did not know where Skelmersdale was, I presumed it was a picturesque village on Orkney.
Ooops! I got that wrong.
This in-depth interview got me sorted.
https://thequietus.com/articles/19816-the-magnetic-north-interview-skelmersdale
Here’s a track from the album
That’s a good one, KFD. He incorporates the natural rhythms and sounds of human speech in his songs excellently. Here’s one from the Heather Blether album from last year
https://youtu.be/KLs6nPu0wWw
And keeping to the spoken word theme, here’s a shaggy story about Phil Lynott (and much more) from Arborist – A Northern View (as chosen by monsignorbonehead and Blue Boy
And as I reach the end of the AW album of the year choices made by at least two people, here is a story song particularly appropriate for now, this very hour:
Tyler Childers- Long Violent History, chosen by Junior Wells and Drew Too:
Long Violent History
Tyler Childers
It’s the worst that it’s been since the last time it happened
It’s happening again right in front of our eyes
There’s updated footage, wild speculation
Tall tales and hearsay and absolute lies
Been passed off as factual when actually, the actual
Causes they’re awkwardly blockin’ the way
Keeping us all from enjoyin’ our evening
Shoving it’s roots through the screens in our face
Now, what would you give if you heard my opinion
Conjecturin’ on matters that I ain’t never dreamed
In all my born days as a white boy from Hickman
Based on the way that the world’s been to mе
It’s called me belligеrent, it’s took me for ignorant
But it ain’t never once made me scared just to be
Could you imagine just constantly worryin’
Kickin’ and fightin’, beggin’ to breathe
How many boys could they haul off this mountain
Shoot full of holes, cuffed, and laid in the streets
‘Til we come in to town in a stark ravin’ anger
Looking for answers and armed to the teeth
30 aught sixes, papaw’s old pistol
How many, you reckon, would it be, four or five?
Oh, would that be the start of a long, violent history
Of tuckin’ our tails as we try to abide?
Oh, would that be the start of a long, violent history
Of tuckin’ our tails as we try to abide?
Magnificent!! You are on a roll, Salwarpe. That song is wonderful and the video compliments it so well. That is going on my FB page.
Our explorations of the Also-Rans is yielding many treasures.
It is snowing out on the streets of Bagarmossen. Inside, my explorations continue,
ip33’s list makes for enjoyable and wonderfully varied browsing.
Just a few examples…
Welsh
Gothic
Melodic and light-hearted
Effervescent
Quirky Australian
Surprise Chef impressed me enough to make my list
I’ve been impressed by what I’ve heard from Surprise Chef.
When I first played it, I thought “WTF is that? It sounds terrible”. This is often a sign that something is worth listening to again. And that was the case.
BTW, your list was one of the first I listened to. A bit too much jazz for my taste, but
Andrew Wasylyk and particularly Nubya Garcia were great.
I’ve become jazz-obsessive lately. Currently adding some modern neo-classical to offset that.
I am making no complaints about a very jazzy list from you, Mike.
So many gems!
Like James Copus.
But if you want to do another list to cover modern neo-classical, we are all ears!
Is it time for the ones that missed the list list? I have just bought the terrific farewell album from the Pretty Things, a mere 56 years after their chart debut, if posthumous to the death of long term eternal sole member, Phil May. (Dick Taylor bailed for a while around Parachute)An acoustic duet album between May and Taylor, with occasional backing from 2nd guitars, harp, fiddle and, on one track, banjo. A bit like their mid set sets, the two blow a storm. May in better voice than ever, despite his emphysema having put the electric band to rest, like an older, frailer Robert Plant. I think somebody gave it a vote. I wish I had. Easily up to the 5stars of the Stones blues album of a year or three back.
You understand my intentions very well, Retro.
It is definitely time for the ones that missed Lodey’s Masterwork. Time to go both off piste and off list to explore the glories of 2020.
My mate, music journalist, Big Nisse, chose Unfollow the Rules as his album of the year .
That certainly makes me interested.
Lodestone’s Labour of Love?
Red Red Wiiiiiiine….
I think I gave the only votes two particular acts, which surprised me as I was sure that they would be on the AW radar.
Seth Lakeman’s A Pilgrim’s Tale – Good album overall, no standout tracks – better treated as a whole. Spoken-word intros to each song by Paul McGann provide cohesion. Here’s the opening track…
Jerry Joseph’s The beautiful Madness – I almost left this out but gave it 20th position in the end. I was initially disappointed that most tracks didn’t live up to the promise of ‘Dead Confederate’ but I’ve played it again this week and it’s growing on me more and more…backing musicians are most of Drive-by Truckers and Jason Isbell plays slide on the aforementioned ‘Dead Confederate’…
Two albums with historical themes that both sound rather interesting.
Spotify offer two versions of Seth: with and without the narration: an excellent approach.
Here is some background for the likes of me.
http://www.folkwitness.co.uk/album-reviews-2/seth-lakeman-a-pilgrims-tale/
Nick Stimson from Plymouth’s Theatre Royal wrote the narrative.
Never heard of Jerry Joseph, but now I am rather curious to hear more.
I have the Jerry Joseph album bought after hearing Dead Confederate. Initial reaction was underwhelmed but need to give it another spin.
I haven’t even looked at the Swedish releases from 2020.
But I am very keen to hear the new Lps from
Vasas Flora och Fauna
and Ane Brune
Ane Brun released two albums a month apart – they are both good but the second of the two better showcases both her songs and her voice.
I bought her rarities disc as recommended by @duco01 and she does an amazing cover of the Beyonce song Halo.Played over and over.
Erm … it must’ve been someone else who recommended the Ane Brun disc, Steve, because I don’t know any of her records!
Glad you like Ane Brun, SteveT.
I can’t say I know her work well, but I do like what I have heard,
So if it wasn’t the Duke and it wasn’t me, who was it that recommended her?
In an attempt to answer that question, I stumbled across a recent Blogger Takeover. Among other things, I found @Locust talking about her new book shelves and her colleagues’ total disinterest. That made me a tiny bit sad.
Get yourself down to the English Bookshpo on Södermalm and you will soon find fellow enthusiasts, Locust.
And when for heavens sake, are we going to have that socially distanced, covid-friendly mini mingle??
Hmm, sad? I don’t know if I told that anecdote badly or if you’re reading it wrong, @Kaisfatdad, but telling that story to members of my family and friends have made us cackle with laughter in 2020! 😀
As for a covid-friendly mini mingle – let’s at least wait for some warmer weather if we’re going to stand outdoors shouting at each other from a distance… 🙂
Sorry @Locust!
You are right! I just read it wrong. It was late and I had drunk a few glasses of Scotch.
As regards that Mini Mingle, why don’t we meet down at Söderbysjön, one winter evening and have a Barbie??
It is bound to be fun!
@Kaisfatdad, Söderbysjön? Never heard of…so many lakes, so little time! 😀
I remember eating outdoors in winter from my childhood. Always too cold, and when standing in front of an open fire (trying not to burn my hotdog dangling on a stick in the flames) the backside remained ice cold while the front got toasted to a crisp.
You do know that the Arctic cold is on its way this coming week, right, and staying for most of January? We’d probably avoid Covid, but all come down with pneumonia! And all of our intellectually brilliant conversations about obscure jazz, throat singing and unlikely pop hits will be drowned out by the clattering of our teeth…
At least let’s wait for spring to have sprunged before the mingling can begin!
Thanks for mentioning Sounds and Colours, Alias. Talk about a treasure trove!
Here are their 20 best albums of 2020. That will keep Salwarpe and me busy!
https://soundsandcolours.com/articles/brazil/best-albums-of-2020-56992/
At No 20 is Ati Lane from Peru
Like KFD, my thanks to Alias. Unlike KFD (Kentucky Fried Donuts?), it won’t keep me as busy, as I’ll just be sampling the Colombian albums, thanks to the ridiculous arbitrary rule I’ve set myself, which does have the benefit of avoiding being completely swamped by new music. I already know Meridian Brothers – Cumbia Siglo XXI, which is one of my 5 of the year, and I think I recognize one other, but I look forward to listening to the others.
Aren’t we due the yearly post from our chum in the Latin radio outback: always full of local delicacies. Handle with a birds name in it? (As in dickie bird, not dolly bird.)
My memory has failed me there. I’m baffled. Where does he live?
There’s an American guy in Salvador, Brazil. Can’t remember his name.
Swallow something?
Swallow Roberts.
Not sure how it configures as a nom-de-blog/forum.
You don’t mean @Murkey, do you?
Excellent detective work @Salwarpe.
Here is his list for 2020 which includes Murder most foul.
Oh, you’re talking about me!
Actually, that isn’t the final 2020 playlist, that’s here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wa3v2SW1HP0teVWZ1RGHh?si=9ca90da801534baf
I’ve not had a chance to type up the spiel, hence it’s not had a post here yet. Busy times this lockdown innit?
I’m afraid I may not be who you were after though, being just another boring white guy in England that just happens to have a penchant for what we’re not allowed to call world music anymore.
Glad you like Ane Brun, SteveT.
I can’t say I know her work well, but I do like what I have heard,
So if it wasn’t the Duke and it wasn’t me, who was it that recommended her?
In an attempt to answer that question, I stumbled across a recent Blogger Takeover. Among other things, I found @Locust talking about her new book shelves and her colleagues’ total disinterest. That made me a tiny bit sad.
Get yourself down to the English Bookshpo on Södermalm and you will soon find fellow enthusiasts, Locust.
And when for heavens sake, are we going to have that socially distanced, covid-friendly mini mingle??
Time for a few Locust favourites!
Courtney Marie Andrews
Alice Bohman
Mattias Alkberg
Moses Sumney
It’s almost 2.00 am and the snow is falling enthusiastically over Stockholm.
And YTube just suggested that I listen to Yazmin Levy.. I am NOT complaining about that!
One from her lesser known catalogue, under a different name and face?
Different name, different face, different body and different language!!
But Yazmin and Yasmin are both of our time.
Here’s something that probably passed people by Warm Digits – one of @IP33 ‘s also rans. I think it’s excellent.
Another great find.
Yes indeed! @ip33 did us proud.
I really liked AK/DK.
Here is one from their archives. Lagom! The most Swedish word there is!
I like Warm Digits – they have shared history with Field Music. This was my favourite track from the album, which features Emma Pollock (ex-Delgados) on vocals and sounds a bit like early Simple Minds.
If you like clearly-plucked acoustic guitar arrangements, Matt Elliot may be for you. I wasn’t sure, but I let it run, and I ‘m tuning in to some absorbing sounds – thanks to @pawsforthought for listing him high in your chart!
Glad you’re enjoying that @salwarpe Please feel free to recommend something in return.
Now there’s a challenge! I’m not sure what you’d like, or what you don’t know.
I’m using KFD’s here post to notate my new discoveries from the 2020 poll (round about the 220 mark of over 550 albums – so a way to go), so you might find some of the ones I like so far higher u[ the thread. I’ve listened to some of the Happyness and Nadine Shah albums on your list – both impressive and bold in their way.
Next on my way down is The Third Mind, voted for by @SteveT and @Johnny99. I like a good psychedelic jam (The Quick and the Dead) and this is quite splendid:
I’m really enjoying the way you use this thread as a place to report about your discoveries, Sal.
I put the playlist on set to Random whie I’m doing something else and see what comes up.
This morning Baxter Dury made me want to hear more.
I can hear his dad’s influence but he has definitely found his own style.
Thanks, @Kaisfatdad. I’m here for the long haul. No early adopter, me. I could imagine being impressed by anything on the lists. Except Morrissey and Elvis Costello – there are limits.
Baxter Dury was one of the first to impress me. I haven’t heard all the album m yet – will listen this afternoon. But what I have heard, like the first track (and video), captivated with its creativity, intensity and just enjoyability. I enjoyed listening to it.
He’s very saucy and sleazy in a good (Wake Up and Make Love to Me) way
It’s like Alan Rickman is singing to me.
Wow, love that. Never listened to Dury Jr before. Superb. I’m gonna have to buy that.
Great lyrics too:
I don’t think you realise how successful I am
I’m like a shipping tycoon
Full of promise and cum
I’m a salamander
Short riff lover boy
Causing grief to the bleeding eyes
I’m the turgid fucked-up little goat
Pissing on your fucking hill
And you can’t shit me out
‘Cos you can’t catch me
‘Cos you’re so fat
So fuck ya
I’m Miami
I’m the great sleeper
I’m the bookkeeper
I’m the vicar
I’m the main course
I’m Morgan Freeman
I cut master Neon Angels
I’m the night chef
The eye doctor
Mister Maserati
I’m king of the migraines
Soiled Lord of Tears
I’m the urban goose
I’m a river of dead fish
I’m Miami
YouTube chose this for me: Baxter Dury doing an intimate gig in Paris a couple of years back. He has an excellent band.
Try it! @Gary and @Salwarpe.
Cool, thanks KFD. I’ve become a fan. Bought the last album and absolutely love it.
I’m really enjoying this – thanks for posting, @Kaisfatdad. He’s got a great voice and easy, louche attitude. I feel like I’m in that room.
Thanks @salwarpe. I’ll have a listen to that later. I was planning on asking the massive about opening tracks for an album. Nadine Shah’s is my favourite of the last year. Totally sets the scene (as it were) for the rest of the album.
Responding to the acoustic sounds of Matt Elliot and the raw power of Nadine Shah, maybe this is something that appeals?
I like the unapologetic full throated choral voices and the thudding drum of Della Mae, courtesy of @Vince-Black – thanks, Vince!
Actually, I’m really getting into Della Mae. Looking back into the archives, I see Vince has been a bit of a lone voice singing their praises. Let me join him – they are a delight and a joy.
Really like that East/West tune- It just keeps going and going and going. Just going to check out Della Mae now. This is really keeping me on my toes.
Give Alabaster DePlume a spin – soul soothing music that breathes out like wafts of smoke from a saxophonist more like Jan Garbarek than Ornette Coleman.* Thanks to @duco01 for making this his number 5 album of the year.
* Not that there’s anything wrong with Ornette Coleman.
I’m still at it, and my latest new discovery is Anders F Rönnblom – BLÄRK! Ballader och Mysterier
A bit like a Swedish Neil Young, singing and duetting (about I don’t know what) over comfortable rock melodies and fuzz guitar solos.
Thanks to @locust for making this number 16 in her albums of the year.
Swedish Neil Young?
Northern man, better use your head, don’t forget what your Henning Mankel book said
There’s colours in the street, er, yellow and blue
The cheesecake and the damage done
Keep on rocking in the systembolaget
Interestingly enough, another very talented artist that @Locust recommended is also a big Neil Young fan, namely Slowgold.
When she was on the very popular Jill’s Veranda show, she chose to cover a couple of his songs.
And Amanda can play the guitar like ringing a bell.
Now there is a Swedish band that I intend to see live in 2025!!
Here is Ellen Sundberg, another talented, young Swedish singer who is a big NY fan.
KFD – the plentiful pump that scarcely needs priming!
Thanks – maybe some time in this life I will get around to hearing all the songs you post – I will definitely give these 4 their Warholian 15 minutes.
Almost done – just the country cheese of Ellen to go (ugh – really not for me). Slowgold sound worth checking out next – jumping ahead from ‘A’ to ‘S’ for Aska. I like the first song a lot, but Neil Young covers are a two a penny, and the keyboard player in the third has terrible posture – sit up, man! Or adjust your instrument to a sensible height. You’ll thank me in later life, I can tell you that, and no mistake, no indeed.
Rock musicians is it?
Drinking….smoking….taking drugs….STIs…
But what will get them in the end is BAD POSTURE.
The last Swedish artist I thought I’d be able to get the Afterword (well, @salwarpe and @kaisfatdad at least, which is two more than I expected) to enjoy was Anders F! This development cheers me up immensly! 😀
It’s funny, however, that the two of you talk about Neil Young in the same breath as Anders and Slowgold…I just happen to detest Neil with all of my heart. I have a real Neil Young allergy, and when he was playing with Crazy Horse in the headline slot at Stockholm Music and Art Festival a few years ago, I had to leave during the triple guitar solo that started the gig, even before Neil had a chance to start singing with his horrible nasal voice!
He’s just not for me.
Good to be able to cheer you up, @Locust. The Neil Young comparison was just a first reaction to the sounds. I’m sure he’s very different, but I do tend to reach for some familiar association when listening to something completely new, especially in a language I don’t speak. I used to find Neil’s voice nasal, but it’s something I’ve overtime because I love the sound his music makes. Now, I find Kyle Minogue more nasal.
You stick to your guns, Locust!
You may surprise yourself with the reactions you get when you post your favourites. And that goes for everyone, really
I’ve seen Neil Young live a few times and I think he is stupendous. But I would not dare to try to convert you.
Delighted to hear, Gary, that Baxter Dury has a new fan in Monopoli.
Not a one-vote-wonder at all. But yesterday was the first time I listened to this song by that Eddy girl. Crikey! Sheer pop magic!
Chris Flegg is someone I’d not even heard of when the polling for our best of 2020 took place. Despite the fact he’s only a few miles away in St Albans and “Twenty’s Plenty”, his lockdown solo album, is apparently his 11th release.
Twenty (hence the title) pleasantly varied tracks in 55 minutes, all solo acoustic and all beautifully played and recorded.
Veteran broadcaster Walter Love played a couple of tracks from this album to close out his BBC Radio Ulster show “Jazz Club” recently, which is how I became aware.
Here’s a live rendition of one of the tracks, “Market Street Rag”.
Getting down to the ‘B’s and folktronica from Bibio, voted for by @Paul-Hewston is my latest ‘find’. Beautiful combinations of melodies create lovely counterpoints, like this one:
Cheers, Paul!
Several new names on Paul’s list
At the top of was idiosyncratic Willie J Healey
And from Melbourne, we got the wonderfully catchy Bananagun.
Lastly, dance sounds of The Phenomenal Handclap Band
The exploration goes on through the Bs. Black Thought (conscious rap), Blake Mills (Artisan guitarist) , Block 33 (mod Oasis), Bob Vylan (angry punk grime), Brad Mehldau (jazz piano), Brendan Benson (rock/power pop), Brennen Leigh (country)
For now I’m sticking with Brent Cobb (experiences of rural living in a conversational tone, a laid back narrator, easygoing even when forlorn) – pretty good listening on a cold , snowy January morning. Thanks, @androo1963!
Brad Mehldau is an old favourite here. One of the first jazz instrumentalists to experiment with post-punk material. These days they all seem to be doing jazz interpretations of Radiohead and the like. Brad was a forerunner.
I’m grouping all the jazz records, so when I’m done, I can give them the time to play out – they aren’t so immediate as other albums_ I think they need the time to do them justice.
The quartet album “Round Again” by Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade is a good’un.
One I’ve yet to listen to – I’ll give it a spin.
I’m now in the ‘C’s and Clint Mansell has me spellbound – not since the days of Box Frenzy have I enjoyed his music so much – on drab days, a cover of Lou Reed’s Berlin seems like the perfect day’s accompaniment. Thanks, @Kid-Dynamite.
Thank you Sal! I probably didn’t mention the backstory behind the record in my list, but for anyone who is unaware:
It’s a funny thing – obviously this project was born out of deep sadness, and the source material isn’t renowned for being a huge barrel of laughs, and yet I find something joyful in this reimagining.
Thanks for filling us in on this very moving back-story, Kid.
Thanks, as well, @Kid-Dynamite. I had read that, which affected my mood in listening to it. I don’t really recall the original Berlin, but remember not liking it very much – very down. I agree with your sentiment – not necessarily joyful, but certainly life-affirming.
I’m now listening to something else, quite different, from you – Craven Faults – loops and repetition. The sort of thing Sonic Boom might aspire to. I like the idea of the music being travelogues – geographically descriptive. There’s a surprising amount of music in the poll that is rooted to particular places. Is this a function of the lockdown, possibly, or just coincidence?
Now I have come across something quite extraordinary.
Craig Armstrong/Calum Martin – The Edge of the Sea. Thanks, @fitterstoke, this is a remarkable album. I catch my breath to listen to it.
“The Edge Of The Sea
Composers Craig Armstrong and Calum Martin have today released on Modern Recordings their brand new collaboration ‘The Edge of the Sea’, an album exploring the unique spiritual tradition of Scottish Gaelic psalm singing.
‘The Edge of the Sea’ consists of two new works: ‘Martyrdom’, and ‘Ballantyne’; with the concept being realised by bringing together a curated congregation by Calum’s from the Isles of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, along with the outstanding talent and enthusiasm of the Scottish Ensemble”.
@salwarpe – I’m fairly sure I discovered this as a consequence of a recommendation here. I’ll see if I can find who it was & give credit where it’s due…
Great work, Fitter and Sal. Exactly the kind of small gem that could escape our attention.
I’m nicking it for my Burns Nighty celebrations.
Don’t burn your nightie, KFD! Or is that how you celebrate in Sweden? Candles on heads, underwear on fire, Arthur Brown on repeat play?
Getting down with the D’s. Daniel Avery appears twice. Though ‘Love and Light’ sounds like fun ambient electronica, the collaboration with Alessandro Cortini – Illusion of Time is immense and absorbing in its powerful haze of drones and deep tones. l love it. Thanks, @Izzy.
I haven’t heard it all, but it has mesmerised and captivated me from the off. It sounds good with cheap headphones – I can’t imagine what it would be like with big bass woofers*
*Can I have a bag on me head, now?
Daniel must be a good name for getting down, dark and droney. Another from the @Kid-Dynamite stable is Daniel Davies – Signals. This is excellent stuff and accompanies the ‘Illusion of Time’ album very well – good if you like thumping along the bottom of the ocean accompanied by whales singing.
son of Dave Davies out of The Kinks, don’t you know? Has also done a lot of work with John Carpenter
I didn’t know much about him at all, but the very next video on YT after the album is Davies playing the Escape From New York theme with John Carpenter (his godfather) – quite an upbringing.
And now it’s ‘Lost Themes’, the first track of which has a great driving rhythm
I’m still working my way down to Zion Train…
I got through the ‘E’s without anything sticking (though Elkhorn – The Storm Sessions was a pleasant, Bill Frisellesque album of mellow guitar acrobatics – ta, @duco01), and I’m a fair few through ‘F’s as well. Fenne Lily- Breach didn’t make me sit up and take notice, but did wrap me in a warm hug of sound as I do a late shift at my keyboard. Thanks, @Martin-Horsfield – one of several previously unknown gems on your list.
Down to the ‘G’s and Ghost Funk Orchestra gives me a good feeling on a cold Monday morning.
Thanks to @Izzy for listing this one.
At the end of another long day in front of the screens, something like Gidge can be a real tonic of soothing sound.
Thanks to @Handsome.P.Wonderful for calming Swedish electronica
The ‘G’s are proving a rich mine of wonderful music. The posthumous Gil Scott-Heron album is a great mix of his voice with ‘arrangements that move between dirty blues, angelic spiritual jazz, and free-form drumming’ (Pitchfork) by Makaya McCraven. One to return to. Good of @Morrison to slip it into his also rans,
And then another Gil – Gill Landry – turned up. @Carl said of his selections, ‘many of these are likely to remain unheard by many Afterworders’, and I thought at first – oh. Another country singer. Great. Normally I would move on to the next alphabetical artist. But I gave this one a play, and I am so glad I did. It’s a really rewarding listen. Particularly this track. The way the bass and the bass voice create space for the violin to snake around within is almost exactly my kind of umami. I love it. Thanks, Carl!
In the ‘H’s, let me celebrate High Pulp. Electric guitar and sax and organ and trombone make for a gloriously vibrant, rambling sound, easy on the ear and the tempo. Warming sounds for a chilly Monday. I make that number 3 from @Izzy. Thanks for including it!
High pulp – Mutual attraction vol.1
No singletons in the ‘I’s – (I’d already rated I Like Trains and Ingrid Andress). And I’d almost run through the ‘J’s without turning up anything, till I turned up the Dear Joans – Glasgow accented observational pop songs coloured with well-chosen instrumentation. A delight. Thanks to @Salty for making it part of your 2021 list.
Into the’K’s and Kamaal Williams plays the sort of jazz I like – lots of rhythm. The album ‘Wu Hen’ is wonderful (Apart form one overly tooty saxophone track, but I’m going to post a live concert with him on keyboards, accompanied by bass and drums – beautiful creative accompaniment to a Monday afternoon doing mundane tasks:
I don’t think anyone is looking at this thread anymore, but in case they are, thanks for another quality selection, @Izzy!
Further into the ‘K’s and there’s a lot of jazz isn’t there? Not objecting to it, but it doesn’t grab me much – probably takes more listens to appreciate. Keaton Henson isn’t jazz – intimate fragile-voiced songs just right for blanketing up on the couch and blanking out the world
Thanks, @Carolina!
I am really liking the ‘K’s. This track from Kelly Lee Owens album, Inner Song is so perky and brain-rippling I am infected by its rhythms – liquid flows of joy!
Thanks, @Sewer-Robot! Your pop radar is functioning well.
More from the ‘K’s – Khruangbin and Leon Bridges – Texas Sun, Very easy on the ear. Already known in Afterword circles, but new to me.
Thanks, @myoldman
Bloody ‘L’s! Just in case you were wondering, I am still at it. This is my first pick from the 12th letter of the alphabet – Leyla McCalla, courtesy of @simon22367 (thanks!). A bilingual treat of almost spoken word songs over a Waits-ian tumble of different instrumentation, it’s definitely something to sink my ears into
Leaving the ‘L’s and what a find – LYR. Oh this is good. The poet laureate, Simon Armitage, his spoken words hanging in the air as they emerge in his Yorkshire dialect, trailing unfurling meanings against a melodious, disjointed rhythmic musical collage of intertwining sounds. As one reviewer says: “Call in the Crash Team is a beautiful place for listeners to reside extensively, if not for their own answers in Armitage’s words, then at least for temporary immersion in a project rich with intrigue and emotion against elegant musical tapestries”.
Thanks, @neil-dyson – an absorbing find
Into the ‘M’s – some 17 to enjoy and I’m already captivated by the seductive charms of Marie Davidson & L’Œil Nu. Good bilingual pop fun – thanks to @Martin-Horsfield
Almost through the ‘M’s – I must recalibrate my ears – After Marie, this is the first I’ve really fallen for. But it is lovely stuff – old school ska/reggae from Mungo’s Hi-Fi with Italian-born, Paris-based singer Marina. So comfortable to listen to. Thank you, @retropath2!
Into the ‘N’s, and it’s mellow melodies from Mexico with the sweet sounds of Natalia Lafourcade (Un Canto por México, Vol. 1).
Slightly cheesy, but done so well, the mariachi guitars, trumpets and violins give a soft voice for her flawless voice. Thanks, @Sewer-Robot
So far I have listened to 20 albums from the lists with piano as the main instrument. None of them have grabbed me with such insistence as Neil Cowley. Having heard Building Blocks Pt. 1, 2, 3, listed by Lodestone/Tweedy (what’s going on there?), I just went on and on listening to more and more of his music. Maybe he’s a modern day Richard Clayderman with beats, but I don’t care. I love it.
From ‘N’ I seem to have slipped past ‘O’, ‘P’, ‘Q’ and ‘R’ straight into ‘S’. I’m sure I’ve skipped over plenty of quality music, but if so, it didn’t resonate.
Not so with Snowdrops – Voutes, championed by @Eyesteel – I’ve only heard the first track, but it hosts sounds of awesome beauty and resonant tone, gentle enough to be calming, odd enough to give it dynamism. Probably I could take more ‘odd’, but it beckons with a beguiling finger to roll out of my speakers for hours.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/02/snowdrops-volutes-review-ondes-martenot-christine-ott
Carry on carrying on!!
I really like strong female voices singing in German, and Sophie Hunger, who is Swiss, apparently sings in British English, French, Swiss German, German and Swiss Italian. This track is a mix of pop melody, oddball electronics, sudden tempo changes and vocal swerves from straight singing to harsher tones. What a pleasure! Thanks to @fentonsteve!
I love this album and it sounds great.
In a similar genre, I should, on paper, enjoy Jane Weaver’s records more than I do, but I find them a bit hit and miss.
Start of a new week, and the ‘S’s are really fulfilling. Sparkle Division, courtesy of @IP33 make a delightful noise – sort of gently humming industrial sounds, ornately decorated with smooth organ and sax tones, riffled through with bass and beats to keep it moving. Soft but intense, with the sax sometimes honking out like in this track.
End of the week, and although Teyana Taylor, Thad Cockerell, Third Root and Thurston Moore were diverting, it is Tim Bowness who has next captured my imagination. Not all songs hit the mark, but there is something about the gentle instrumentation accompanying his quiet but distinctive voice that draws me in – there is something of Paddy McAloon in his tones and Prefab Sprout in the music – not showy, but confident in what it is.
I like the video for this song, suggesting the rise and fall of civilisations
The album cover depicts what I imagine is a typical AWer’s front room.
Thanks to @simon22367 for posting!
Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela? What’s not to like? Drumming tight as a gnat’s chuff, and beautiful toots from the horn.
Nice one, @seekenee!
you’re welcome! 😀
@col-d kindly placed Tunng – Dead Club in his (?) list. An album of uplifting songs about death. Meditative, contemplative, unafraid, gently opening the lid on a taboo subject to desensitize to the end of life. Nothing else like it in the AW 2020 chart. Remarkable. When I go back to Maldon, when I drive through past Lidl, I will think of this song:
Thanks, Col!
@col-d – another wonder! The Warlocks – Chain. Any band* that cites Velvet Underground, Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Jesus and Mary Chain is going to go on my playlist for a test
*Apart from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, of course.