EDIT – Dec 30th.
I realise I compiled this list too early.
10. Kill It Kid – Kill It Kid
With an average age of just 21, these youngsters from Bath have dipped into and dusted off classic American rock, blues and country to come up with one of the most enjoyable guitar-based albums of the year. If this is the sound of their debut, expect much more from them in the years to come.
9. Broadcast And The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age
A psychotic collaboration between Ghost Box’s Hauntologist supremo, Julian House, and Brummie psych duo, Broadcast, results in a series of 23 clipped pieces; this is an album to be listened to as one giant, mysterious piece. If John Lennon was still alive, I like to think he’d have made a record like this.
8. Hudson Mohawke – Butter
The second entry for Warp Records comes from Scotland’s former DMC champ. Butter is, as the cover suggests, a lush and lurid experience fully composed on FruityLoops! With banging beats and Rn’B stylings from the late ’70s and early ’80s, Butter is stylistic, frequently stupid, occasionally bewildering and a complete hoot of an album.
7. Belbury Poly – From An Ancient Star
From the Ghost Box stable comes Jim Jupp’s latest excursion as Belbury Poly. Having been accidentally sent his previous (and brilliant) album, The Owl’s Map, I was eager to hear this. Moving backwards from what sounded like the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Jupp’s mixolydian muggy moogs tackle Neo-Druidism with typically affected aplomb. Conjuring up images of Oliver Postgate’s TV characters appearing in episodes of Tomorrow’s World, Jupp has carved out a gorgeous ’70s niche of his own.
6. P.O.S. – Never Better
Minneapolis uber-rap label Rhymesayers unleashed a handful of great albums this year, but P.O.S.’ is the one that excelled. Featuring future classic, ‘Purexed’, Pissed Off Steph had the full package this year – right down to the stupendous CD artwork. With deep, conscious content, raps hotter than the sun, and beats to match – the anticipation of P.O.S.’ next record alone could be enough to see him stumbling into the overground. Brace yourselves.
5. Russian Circles – Geneva
Chicago’s three-piece rock outfit, Russian Circles, crafted the most melodically and dynamically interesting instrumental records of 2009. Call it post-rock, call it metal, call it what you want. The fundamental success of Geneva is down to the fact that it just rocks harder than any other distorted record I’ve heard in 2009. Packed with dynamic interplay between the three musicians, it’s intelligent, muscular music.
4. Blakroc – Blakroc
Sharing their name with Vernon Reid’s BlackRock coalition, this collaboration between The Black Keys and various rap artists that includes (amongst many others) NOE, Rza, Ludacris, ODB, Q-Tip and Mos Def makes for one of the best hip-rock albums…ever. Thanks to The Black Keys’ stirring instrumental work, Blakroc 2 can’t be far away.
3. Madness – The Liberty Of Norton Folgate
Yes, it’s Madness. Specifically, its the sound of Madness writing and releasing their best album to date. Filled with pop melodies and deep roots reggae, this is my feelgood record of the year. If you’re sick of all the tiresome London-bashing, stick this on and expect to be carried away on a nutty carpet-ride over the Thames. Wondrous.
2. Bibio – Ambivalence Avenue
The third album to chart from Warp comes from Stephen Wilkinson (Bibio). Packed with a dedication to vintage tones and love of all things electronic, Ambivalence Avenue is a simple album filled with complex production. Though rubbished on some messageboards that compared this to earlier work, this will stand as the defining work of the young producer.
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Surprised? I was. After listening to Yellow House, I initially found Veckatimest (the fourth Warp album here!) to be much safer than Grizzly Bear’s previous. However, on further listening, it’s easy to see why this ridiculously named album will feature on lists this year. Not only do the tight vocal harmonies and deft musical melodies carry emotional gravitas, the record’s production standards are heavily progressive. Yes, though it’s filled with reverb, and regurgitates the spirit of the sixties, it simultaneously captures hip-hop grooves and challenges every alternative band on the planet to achieve this level of comprehensive ability.
Veckatimest unequivocally distils the essence of what this generation is attempting to do: use modern production styles to reinvigorate an era when music was at its most revolutionary. Broadcast, Bibio, Kill It Kid, Belbury Poly, BlakRoc are all at it, and, when the results sounds this good, who cares how derivative it is? Not I. No, sir.
Don’t forget to download my mixtape of the best of 2009!