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. I dealt with my live music experience in a post just before Xmas so this one just covers recordings.
Speaking for myself I'm not sure 2024 stands out as a vintage year for new music. I have heard lots of decent stuff, and no doubt missed even more, but relatively little I would describe as exceptional. Hopefully this statement will prompt one of you to tip me off to a record that will go on to change my live forever.
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. at least half the list might be different if I did it again in a few days' time.
"100% Sahara Guitar" - Etran de L’Air
"The Universal Fire" - Jeffrey Foucault
"Hiddo Dhawr" - Sahra Halgan
"Strange Medicine" - Kaia Kater
"King Jammy's Unites The Nations With Dub" - King Jammy
"Funeral For Justice" - Mdou Moctar
"Sage Warrior" - Sonny Singh
"Easygoing" - Skinny Dyck
"Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St" - Swamp Dogg
I excluded compilations from the list but if I had not the compilations of vintage Ghanaian, Nigerian and Congolese grooves featured in the last post of the African odyssey would have been contenders. As of course would "Sounds From The Flightpath Estate".
Assorted sounds and visions
We finish off with some of my favourite tracks from 2023 that have not previously been featured here during the year - if only to show that the zeitgeist is infinite.
"Amidinine" – Etran de L’Air
"Imajighen" – Mdou Moctar
"Neene Africa" – Tidiane Thiam
"Coal Miner & Little Boy Blue" – Don Aaron Mixon
"Universal Fire" – Jeffrey Foucault
"My House" – Lola Kirke
"Wild One" – Cindy Lee
"The South Atlantic (feat. This Is The Kit)" – Public Service Broadcasting
"My Father's Sheep is Dead" - Milkweed
"Tafari The Captain" – Xana Romeo
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