Best Albums of 2013 ... So Far!

Sounds interesting Franklin, I will give it a look in.

Jason.

+1 for Goldfrapps tales of us, another good album London Grammar If You wait.

1.   These New Puritans – Field Of Reeds
I completely wonderful album, best this year by a long way and a future classic. In many ways it’s comparable to Spirit Of Eden, not just in the way it’s such a departure from their last, or that it breaks all the “rules” of song structure, or that there don’t appear to be many tunes but in the way that it repays every listen (so far, and I can’t stop playing it) with something new.

2.  Midlake – Antiphon
In comparison with the above (and in fact with almost anything), this is very mainstream and approachable. The strength is the quality of the songwriting which, considering they lost their lead singer and sole songwriter before making this, is nothing short of amazing as well as sounding
like a Midlake album.

3.   Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)
Love the direction he's moving in now.The title song is particularly beautiful.

4.   Karl Bartos - Off The Record
The surprising thing about this album is that it’s basically a mop-up of stuff he’s had hanging around for up to 20 years, albeit tarted up for this release. It’s way better than anything Kraftwerk have come up with in the comparable period, and it’s clear from this album what a huge impact he had on writing many classic-period Kraftwerk songs.

5.   Banco de Gaia - Ollopa: Apollo Remixed
I find it hard to believe that Toby Marks has been going as Banco since 1989 but this year he could have had two entries in the best ofs this year, as the regular album Apollo, was very good. Ollopa (get it?) is Apollo remixed by his mates, and it’s another step up on what was already very good.

6.   Arbouretum - A Gourd Of Gold
I thought their last regular release, Coming Out Of The Fog, was fairly ho-hum due to the last of really good songs. This mini-album cures that by covering some ace Gordon Lightfoot songs, including an epic Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald to which Dave Heumann’s voice is perfectly suited.

7.   Grumbling Fur – Glynnaestra
A mixture of crunchy synths and early Eno songs.It’s also a grower.

8.   Ghost B.C – Infestissumam
The spirit of mid-period camp-horror Blue Őyster Cult Lives! Devil worship with cod-metal stylings that can’t be taken seriously, but with really infectious tunes. I can see why devotees of their first album
(played pretty straight and rather dull as a result) were a bit put out by this one. Their loss!

9.   Jacco Gardner - Cabinet Of Curiosities
Dutch neo-psych pop in a mixture of styles somewhere between Syd Barrett and Toytown, this is so good because it matches the style with excellent tunes (something neo-psych often forgets).

10.   Föllakzoid – II 
Chilean krautrock (with Moon Duo-style recessed vocals) gem. The tracks are mostly very long, but they benefit from extending the motoric groove so that it becomes hypnotic rather than boring.

11=   Juno Reactor - The Golden Sun Of The Great East
Another blast from the past, and like Banco de Gaia they’ve come back from a bit of a slump with a corker. Lots of world influences in amongst the psych/Goa/trance stuff.

11=   Wolf People – Fain
Another, for me, straight rock release – reminiscent of the Horslips at their peak this is rated highly because they write such good songs.

11=   David Starfire – Ascend
Asian Underground refuses (just about) to die. This is an American/Indian hybrid that has a ton of thumping bass beats.

11=   oOoOO – Without Your Love
This is a really subtle album, mixing downbeat “Witch House (RIP)” electronica with downbeat songs. Creates a lovely atmosphere.

11=   Pollard/Daniel/Booth – 6
One of a pile of excellent archive releases from Brendan Pollard, this is just about the best: Berlin School electronica with tons of atmospheric mellotron and sequences.

11=   Public Service Broadcasting - Inform - Educate – Entertain
Top stuff, continuing from last year’s excellent E.P. The format hold up well with a full album, but what
next?

11=   Shpongle - Museum Of Consciousness
More
world music-influenced psych/Goa/trance. Very good but just a shade below their best, otherwise I’d expect this to be in the top 10..

11=   Eat lights Become lights - Modular Living
Another motorik krautrock band (this time English), and it’s very good indeed./ But how many more re-treads of Neu/La Dusseldorf before it wears thin?

11=   Jon Brooks - Applied Music Vol. 1 - Science & Nature
Download-only album of electronic music very much in the Radiophonic Workshop mould. Again, the style would be worth little if he couldn’t back it up with content/tunes. Which he does.

11=   Bombay Dub Orchestra - Tales From The Grand Bazaar   
Asian Underground (still!) lives. This time a beautiful Anglo-Indian collaboration that’s delightfully
chilly.

11=   Forest Swords – Engravings
Weirder electronica – very typical of Tri Angle Records (see also Haxan Cloak, a close miss for this year’s list)


Re-release Of The Year:

XTC – Nonsuch
Apart from being a top album to start with the remix is of stunning sonic quality.


Might have contended if released earlier, but hard to evaluate in time:

Goat - Live Ballroom Ritual (Afrobeat with a dash of Slits...from Sweden)
Moon Wiring Club - A Fondness For Fancy Hats (electronics/beats/plunderphonics)

Agree with you there. Wonderful stuff. Perhaps seems to be channeling Thom, but that's hardly a bad thing.

Gary,

I'm in agreement with you on These New Puritans. I don't have any music like theirs in my collection and have been mesmerised by the Brass & Chamber style arrangements. I first heard them on the Steve Davis Radio show, played by Kavus Torabi. I think it's his No.1 as well. I'm looking forward to their gig @ The Barbican next April, with a big band & Electronics in tow. Maybe I'll see you there. Long time no see. I must put my list together soon.

ATB

Denis

I've not been myself (not that I've been anyone else mind) Denis. I'll see you at the Barbican though - can't wait!

Tastewise I'm all over the place so don't be disappointed when you discover most of it is crap 

For example, there will be a ton of people who find the adulation for TNP incomprehensible as recognisable tunes are very very slow to emerge, the bloke doesn't sing in tune that often etc., etc. I have great fun with friends playing "Guess the cover song" with the first track (no-one wins btw).

Apologies to all for not posting the usual Video links.

In that case, the Shpongle may be for you, and the David Starfire. OTT also released a live DVD this year that's a belter musically (if a little dull visually).

I attended the Polytechnic of North London (Kentish Town) before it was renamed a Uni and shortly after dinosaurs finally got bored with ruling the earth. The other campuses always had good bands on.

I have yet to see anyone mention this...

Agnes Obel, Aventine (PIASR615)