It is that time of year when all music bloggers are contractually obliged to tell you about the music they have enjoyed in the last 12 months. So let's get it over and done with.
Favourite albums of the year
Ten albums in alphabetical order by artist, with Bandcamp links so you can consider them when deciding how to spend your Xmas vouchers. The usual caveat applies, i.e. half the list might be different if I did it again in a few days' time. I'm already thinking about the ones I left off.
"Back To The Swamp" - Bas Jan
"I Play My Bass Loud" - Gina Birch
"The Berlin Sessions" - Dur Dur Band International
"A River Running To Your Heart" - Fruit Bats
"Prestige" - Girl Ray
"Beautiful Dreams" - Acantha Lang
"False Lankum" - Lankum
"AGO" - Nana Benz Du Togo
"Joan Of All" - SBT (Sarabeth Tucek)
"Leisureland" - Wreckless Eric
I should also give a special mention to the Hominis Canidae series of monthly samplers of new independent Brazilian music. They are always interesting and are available on a 'name your own price' basis, so there is really no excuse for not trying a few of them.
Gigs of the year
It has been a bit of a vintage year for gigs this year, so rather than the usual handful here are ten. Even with the expanded list there are plenty of others that missed out but which I enjoyed very much..
The Abyssinians @ Jazz Cafe
Gina Birch @ Oslo Hackney
Bonny Light Horseman @ Union Chapel
Bush Tetras @ New Cross Inn
Lonnie Holley @ Cafe Oto
Jeanines @ Shacklewell Arms
Lola Kirke @ Bowery Ballroom
Lankum @ Barbican
Spare Snare @ The Waiting Room
SBT @ Ramsgate Music Hall
Assorted sounds and visions
As is becoming traditional here, we finish off with some of my favourite tracks from 2023 that aren't on any of the albums mentioned above and have not previously been featured here during the year - if only to show that the zeitgeist is infinite.
"Nshingilile" - Witch
"Times Square" - Adele Bertei
"100 Weight Of Collie Weed" - Prince Fatty (featuring Earl 16)
"Pale Rider" - Cactus Lee
"Will You Follow Me Home?" - Meg Baird
"Iyeke Lent'oyenzayo" - Mthandeninonke
"Wi-Fi" - Spare Snare
"Feej" - Jantra
As well as being mostly mellow, I noticed after selecting the videos that two of them are animated and the other two feature fairgrounds. Make of that what you will.
Some good surfing there Ernie!
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ReplyDeleteAn excellent round up, Ernie, and a reminder of how much great music I encountered this year through your blog alone. Many on the albums list I've yet to buy, but I couldn't resist Nana Benz Du Togo.
ReplyDeleteAs for gigs, the first four by themselves had me wishing I lived in London. As you say, it's been a pretty great year for live music and 2024 looks like it won't disappoint.
What a nice young man
DeleteThose albums of the year deserve more than a cursory Friday night glance so I'll be back next year!
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