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Unsung Forum » Best of 2019 |
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Kid Calamity 9045 posts |
Edited Nov 25, 2019, 13:26
Nov 25, 2019, 13:26
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Are we ready to start a year round up, yet? I've had an extraordinary year for seeing live music. And, I've discovered lots of new stuff. I'm gonna scurry away to a dark corner and go through my calendar and shuffle through the newest purchases of the last twelve months.
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Kid Calamity 9045 posts |
Nov 27, 2019, 13:58
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I've not been disappointed by much that I've seen live or purchased. In fact, I don't recall what they were really. Best Albums Purchased (not necessarily 2019 releases - and I can't be bothered to check): Black Midi: 'Schlagenheim' Henge: 'Attention Earth' Snapped Ankles: 'Stunning Luxury' Best Live Lamb, Eels, Just Mustard, Squid, Stealing Sheep, Fat White Family, Stereolab, Snapped Ankles, Father John Misty and Ex:Re all at Green Man Festival Snapped Ankles and BEAK> Hare & Hounds, Brum Nick Harper at Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury Robyn Hitchcock at some church in Chester Crazyhead and Global at Kozfest Paddy Steer and Purple Heart Parade at Lost In The Woods Gathering Crayola Lectern, Black Helium and vert:x at Glastonbury Psychfest The Telephones at The New Avalon Ballroom Weekender, Glastonbury Guranfoe at Sonic Rock Solstice
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Monganaut 2375 posts |
Dec 27, 2019, 17:51
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Not really bought a whole lot this year, though here are a few bits and bobs that floated my boat, in no particular order..... Membranes - What Nature Gives.... Absolutely love this record. As far as I'm concerned it's the best thing the Membranes have released, and I've been with them (on and off) since 'Spike Milligan's Tape recorder'. Peaking Lights and Lee Perry et al - Life of The Plants Lee Perry and Peaking lights shouldn't really work, but it kinda does. Analogue and FM sounds mix with Perry's weird ramblings rather well. https://stonesthrow.bandcamp.com/album/life-of-the-plants Rema Rema - Fond Reflections This is a re-issue of sorts, a collection of everything they produced that wasn't officially released way back when. Though the band never released an album proper, this is as near as you'll get. CD version has more tracks than vinyl. Feat Marco Peroni before the Ants, and the two members of the Banshees who got kicked out, along with Gary Asquith (later of Renegade Soundwave/ Wolfgang Press) it's very much a dark post punk sound. I've really enjoyed it since I bought the download last Jan, so much so that the CD version was one of my Xmas Pressies (thanks Han!). Big Black did a cover of one of their tunes back in the 80's, and that was as much as I recall about them till this release. Web reviews are more miss than hit (as in most peeps don't like it) but I've really enjoyed listening. https://www.post-punk.com/cult-post-punk-band-rema-rema-to-release-their-debut-album-that-never-was-fond-reflections/ Arrington De Dyoniso - Honey And Poison Another I bought early in 2019 and have muchly enjoyed. Mostly cos' it reminds me of prime era Pop Group, even down to his vocals, which are the spit of Mark Stewert. https://arrington.bandcamp.com/track/honey-and-poison U-Bahn - U-Bahn Australian Devo lovers create fabbo out there album https://u-bahnband.bandcamp.com/releases Dire Wolves - Grow Towards the Light This is one I can love or hate depending on mood. Generally it's an Amon Duul II kinda improv vibe. The first track I find annoying whatever and always gets skipped unless it appears on shuffle and I don#t notice, but the rest is rather enjoyable alongside a smoke or glass pf your fav' poison. https://direwolvesbbib.bandcamp.com/ Follakzoid - I If you're familiar with Follakzoid then you pretty much get what you expect, but good stuff nonetheless. https://follakzoid.bandcamp.com/album/i Moon Duo - Stars Are The Light At first I thought this was a bit lightweight for Moon Duo, but it's quickly become my fav release by them. Also killer gigs! https://moonduo.bandcamp.com/album/stars-are-the-light-2 Mystery Lights - Too Much Tension These guys have that 60's Chocolate Watchband vibe down pat, though intermixed with weird Suicide electronic warblings. Love this album, it's hard to believe it's a new release not some long lost weird garage classic. https://themysterylights.bandcamp.com/album/too-much-tension EP's Squid - Town Centre Nice little 4 track from Brighton/London based youngsters. Heard bits on Marc Riley show and loved it. https://open.spotify.com/artist/685XjGzGztyivfR3fAjoxo Re-issues Rational Youth - Cold War Night Life (Expanded) This is a reissue but new to me. If I'd a heard this back in the day I'd have loved it, (as I do now). Top slab of Fad Gadget/John Foxx-esque syth pop. https://rationalyouth.bandcamp.com/album/cold-war-night-life-expanded-and-remastered Pop Group - Y (Definitive Edition) If you know it, I guess you love it? Disc 3 live tracks are nice, but not really essential. https://mutebank.co.uk/products/the-pop-group-y-definitive-edition-3cd-set Coil - Live 5 (St Johns Church Gdansk)/ Live Copenhagen https://www.thighpaulsandra.co.uk/store/c5/FLAC_%2F_M4A_%2F_MP3.html Comps/ Various Artists Dancing in Darkness EBM, Black Synth & Dark Beats from the 80's Nice collection if you're too lazy to pick out the originals from your collection :) https://www.juno.co.uk/products/dancing-in-darkness-ebm-black-synth/723249-01/ Electrical Language; Independent British Synth Pop 78-84 Good collection of well know and less well known synth tunes. https://www.juno.co.uk/products/electrical-language-independent-british-synth-pop/732418-01/ Optimism-Reject; Punk and Post-Punk Meets D-I-Y Aesthetic Another goody if you can't be arsed to raid your shelves :) https://www.juno.co.uk/products/optimism-reject-punk-post-punk-meets/738690-01/ Further Perspectives & Distortion – An Encyclopedia Of British Experimental And Avante-Garde Music 1976-1984 Post punk extravaganza of known/unknown. Cherry red records are on fire at the moment with their great comps. Most of the above are on Cherry Red releases. https://www.juno.co.uk/products/further-perspectives-distortion-an-encyclopedia-of/752636-01/ 40 Years of Synth Punk Free (or what you wanna pay ) from bandcamp ... https://synthscene.bandcamp.com/album/40-years-of-synth-punk-volume-1-free-download Sure there have been a few others I've mentioned over the year, but that's all I recall fer now. Have a good one!
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Fitter Stoke 2611 posts |
Dec 29, 2019, 10:31
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It's been a good year, musically speaking. (Just as well, because politically it's been a sodding disaster.) I've been well impressed with most of the old guard's 2019 product and am struggling to nominate an overall favourite. But, if forced, my vote for album of 2019 would be Edwyn Collins' 'Badbea', a quite remarkable pop album from a perennial talent. Van Morrison, Neil Young, Isildurs Bane, Geraint Watkins and Snarky Puppy have also delivered fine new albums this year. I've also really enjoyed very different live albums by Peter Hammill (the inexhaustible 'Not Yet Not Now'), Marillion ('With Friends From The Orchestra') and Paul Weller. Of these, it's Weller's 'Other Aspects' which pips it for me. The 'True Meanings' songs work even better in the live context. Which reminds me, I have to give an honourable mention to Springsteen's 'Western Stars - Songs From The Film' which achieves the not inconsiderable feat of rendering a strong studio album redundant. Best reissue of the year is Gong's 'Love From the Planet Gong' box set covering the Radio Gnome albums and 'Shamal', all of which have never sounded better than here. It's particularly great to have 'Flying Teapot' available again in its superior, original 1973 mix. The live stuff is excellent as well. Not strictly a reissue is Dylan's 'Rolling Thunder Revue' box, which I'm still exploring with pleasure. I haven't been to any live concerts this year. Venues, bouncers and some gig-goers annoy me far too much these days! Happy 2020, fellow vibers.
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