My Records of the year...

Gary Shaw posted:

2017 - Part Three (This segment brought to you courtesy of Voltarol and numerous ice-packs)

Space/Stoner Rock (Needless to say all need to be played very loud)

Oulu Space Jam Collective - Deep Harpalonia

Finnish hippie space cadets (much in the vein of Oresund Space Collective) that specialise in long live jams, the content of which is determined by the group members at the time. In this case the basic drums/bass/guitar are augmented by sitar and melotron (sadly fake, but who cares) and on the video a nice lady dancing with a hoop.

Often with this type of music, the attention wanders after a bit, but here they keep the atmosphere going for an hour. If you like this try also Harvest Sage.

Bandcamp Link

 Samsara Blues Experiment - One With The Universe

Good old fashioned 70s-style stoner rock from Germany. Their whole catalogue is excellent and this is well up to standard.

Bandcamp Link

Space Debris - Behind The Gate

More German heavy rock. This time instrumental with lashings of Hammond organ and Hendrix-cum-Trower guitar.

Bandcamp Link

The Spacelords - Water Planet

Definitely something in the water in Germany these days. Drums, bass, guitar, swooshy synths. Instrumental. Psychedelic hard rock in an Earthless style. If this appeals go next to their “synapse” album and whack Pyroclastic Monster up loud.

Bandcamp Link

Lamagaia - S/T

Swedish. If you like early Hawkwind’s take on space/krautrock, then this is there or thereabouts. Mostly instrumental.

Bandcamp Link

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Feed The Rats

English (hooray, I hear some say). Brutal, no-nonsense stoner metal that says “Yes, we’ve listened to a lot of early Black Sabbath and Motorhead!”. This is the short track off the album.

Bandcamp Link

 Classical

Though I bought a fair few classical albums this year they were, with this one exception, released prior to 2017, so didn’t count.

Víkingur Ólafsson : Philip Glass: Piano Works

This might be a bit of a revelation to those who think Glass’s piano work is one-dimensional.  Here Ólafsson takes a goodly sample and puts them in a new light without taking too many liberties with them. Beautifully recorded too. Recommended to fans of Glass as well as those dipping a toe in the minimal water.

Absolutely No Idea What These Are

Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, James McAlister – Planetarium

Planetarium was originally a modern classical piece written by Nico Muhly and subsequently turned into something quite different (in parts) by Stevens and Dessner. Consequently it’s very diverse but rocky bits, and Sufjan-y bits, electronic bits and orchestral bits. This makes it a bit cifficult to get hold of on the first few listens, but after that it fits together really well.

I’ll post a few videos to give a little perspective…

And lastly this live one of the more out-there bits…

 Charlie Cawood - The Divine Abstract

Brought to you courtesy of DenisA, without whose live adventures this place and my music collection would be a lot duller. Not a clue as to categorising this, but it’s instrumental, a mixture of all sorts of things Eastern and Western. The closest I can come is Penguin Café.

No videos, but I urge you to gallop over to Bandcamp.

Bandcamp Link

Aquaserge  - Laisse ça être

There’s something about French music…this is a bit pop, a bit prog, a bit psychedelic, a bit mad. A bit Albert Marcoeur, a bit Stereolab. No one track is exactly the same style as another, yet it makes a whole. Another contender for album of the year.

Bandcamp Link

Re-issue Of The Year

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Especially the 24/96 version. This remix simply transforms it and even more than normal serves as a Tardis, taking me back 50 years. Sigh.

Not Bad, But Expected Much Better

All Them Witches – Sleeping Through War

Very good musically, appalling production (compressed, loud)

Steven Wilson – To The Bone

A little lacking in the usual Wilson magic

 

That's it. And well done if you got this far without shouting "Pseud!"

Lots of stuff here that I may not not like but much more that I never knew I would.

Gary’s the man.

Part 5.

Lee Ranaldo - Electric Trim (lovely support from Sharon Van Etten) 

I bought the album on seeing & hearing the Lee's wonderful guitar in this clip. Seeing Lee at Rough Trade East was also rewarding & I'm looking forward to his 'Band' gig at Hoxton Bar & Grill next year.

Full Album

Teleman - Fünf 

A late comer to Teleman, but I like their infectious tunes, with better vocals than 'werk. They worked with 5 different producers on this EP, which to my ears was an unqualified success. On my list to see on their next UK tour.

https://telemanmusic.bandcamp.com/

Teleplasmiste - Frequency is the New Ecstasy

Teleplasmiste is the duo of Mark O Pilkington (Strange Attractor, Raagnagrok, Urthona) and Michael J York (Coil, Cyclobe, Guapo, The Stargazer’s Assistant). The pair explore electricity and nature, through the use of two identical, extremely rare Fenix II semi-modular synthesisers, as well as acoustic drone instrumentation, including bagpipes, with the intention that the ear finds it hard to distinguish between electronic and acoustic elements.  Seeing the modular synths in action at 'The Islington' was one of the highlights of this years gigs. If you like space & weirdness, then this is for you. Beautiful vinyl artwork BTW.

https://teleplasmiste.bandcamp...y-is-the-new-ecstasy 

Thumpermonkey - Electricity

This EP was recorded this year, as a prelude to their new album to be released next year on Sel Belamir's (Amplifier) Rockosmos label. In fact, Thumpermonkey's new record was completed 2 years ago, but the band were looking for a sympathetic label to help widen their appeal. In the last 5 years the band provided me with the most physical & transcendental experiences in their 'live' performances. The only other band to achieve a similar effect was, 'The Necks', at their Jazz Café gig this tear, where we watched & swayed, standing up!

Track 1 - Garmnnbozia

Track 2 - Tzizimime

Track 3 - This Is Not A Fire

In this video, drummer Ben Wren and bass player Sam Warren take you on their journey through “This Is Not A Fire” - http://geargods.net/playthroug...-a-fire-playthrough/ 

Track 4 - Woadscrivened

Rael Jones piano leads into the final track of the EP (Micharl Woodman animation) & is a signpost to an expansion of the bands 'live' & recorded output. Just wait till you hear a track called, 'Giraffes in my front vision' on the new album. It's been performed for at least 2 years & I hope the video is released of it's performance from the 'The Sebright Arms'. 

https://thumpermonkey.bandcamp.com/album/electricity

More stuff to listen to from this year, so I'll post some more next month.

Many thanks for your great suggestions and fav records.... Love this forum:-)

Don Antionio I saw supporting Alejandro Escovedo and they are the sort of band that you go to live muisc to hear, wonderful night, not quite caught on the album but a nice low key classic for me.

I have to admit to liking The Waterboys 2017 reinvention. Mike sounds happy and his voice is in good order.

ditto Peter Perrett, although not sounding like JJ cale reminds me of the happy in his shoes type of music making.

Isbell really is a talent, great thoughtful tunes.

Tony Allen at 77 and Robert Finley at 62 hopefully show the way for this mid-50 year old. Both just excellent in their genres.

Oh and nearly forgot

I'm not sure how this would be classified nowadays, Obaro Ejimiwe's voice is isaac Hayesesque with a massive attack melange of sounds.

.sjb

Nik Hakim. Green Twins.

An interesting fact.   From 31st 12 2017, every adult was born in the 1900s.  Every minor was born in the 2000s.

If I had to pick one release during 2017 it would be this:

Ok, I'm a Nerina Pallot fan and I expected it to be good but it comfortably exceeded my expectations by being superb. Perhaps her best yet.

If I was to guess at the album I have played the most during 2017 it would be this:

I discovered it through the forum and was blown away.  What a talent. 

  Robert Plant - Carry Fire.                                                                                  Jack White - Acoustic Recordings.

  Fink - Resurgam.                                                                                                  Justin Adams (featuring Anneli Drecker) - Ribbons.

   I'm stuck for choice as to a solitary Record of the Year for 2017.

   These four have become better and better with repeated listenings, and have all risen to the top of my Desert Island Discs playlist. 

Innocent Bystander posted:

As I don’t keep a record of my plays I cannot give a definitive list, so this is really only my retrospective impression of my 10 most played records, in no particular order - but it probably really only represents the past 3 months. Of these only #1 is a new release this year, and 1, 4, 8 & 9 were new to me this year.

1. Roger Waters – Is this the life we really need?
2. Roger Waters – Ca Ira
3. Marillion – Script for a Jester’s Tear
4. Vivaldi – Cantatas – Bellezza Crudel, Tone Wik & Barokkanerne (2L)
5. Grieg – Peer Gynt op23 full version with vocals - San Francisco Orch., Herbert Blomstedt (Decca London)
6. Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
7. Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1^st album)
8. Tarja Turunen – Beauty and the Beat
9. Blackmore’s Night – The Village Lanterne
10. Deep Purple – Deep Purple (self-titled 3^rd album)

Some good choices in that list, 1 2 6 7 9 10 especially 

dave marshall posted:

                 

  Robert Plant - Carry Fire.                                                                                  Jack White - Acoustic Recordings.

               

  Fink - Resurgam.                                                                                                  Justin Adams (featuring Anneli Drecker) - Ribbons.

   I'm stuck for choice as to a solitary Record of the Year for 2017.

   These four have become better and better with repeated listenings, and have all risen to the top of my Desert Island Discs playlist. 

Some great albums, I’m not familiar with Jack white but will search it out on tidal

MDS posted:

If I had to pick one release during 2017 it would be this:

Ok, I'm a Nerina Pallot fan and I expected it to be good but it comfortably exceeded my expectations by being superb. Perhaps her best yet.

not familiar with this album, will have to add to the Sunday morning check out list

An album I've just been introduced to through a Guardian article on 2017's Hidden Gems that I think would have been one of my top for 2017 had I heard it before...

Eloise posted:

An album I've just been introduced to through a Guardian article on 2017's Hidden Gems that I think would have been one of my top for 2017 had I heard it before...

I've enjoyed that this year but what on earth is going on with the cover!

Bruce Woodhouse posted:

Eloise posted:

An album I've just been introduced to through a Guardian article on 2017's Hidden Gems that I think would have been one of my top for 2017 had I heard it before...

I've enjoyed that this year but what on earth is going on with the cover!

She's obviously a fan of Star Wars Episode VIII and had fore knowledge...

Lana Del Ray .     Lust for Life.

Sloop John B posted:

Don Antionio I saw supporting Alejandro Escovedo and they are the sort of band that you go to live muisc to hear, wonderful night, not quite caught on the album but a nice low key classic for me.

I have to admit to liking The Waterboys 2017 reinvention. Mike sounds happy and his voice is in good order.

ditto Peter Perrett, although not sounding like JJ cale reminds me of the happy in his shoes type of music making.

Isbell really is a talent, great thoughtful tunes.

Tony Allen at 77 and Robert Finley at 62 hopefully show the way for this mid-50 year old. Both just excellent in their genres.

Oh and nearly forgot

I'm not sure how this would be classified nowadays, Obaro Ejimiwe's voice is isaac Hayesesque with a massive attack melange of sounds.

 

.sjb

 

If you like Isbell try Evan Bartels as he was one of my best discoveries this year.

Probbaly in my Top 10 of the year. 

Ewemon,

I enjoy Jason Isbell, so I will give Evan Bartels a try.

Thanks.

This is one tread that Tidal Kicks in , i can canavas all recomendations

how good is that 

streaming is a Must if you are not 50 album only şort of a guy or Just can buy  them all 

Pink Floyd - The Final Cut on Vinyl

Emre posted:

This is one tread that Tidal Kicks in , i can canavas all recomendations

how good is that 

streaming is a Must if you are not 50 album only şort of a guy or Just can buy  them all 

I take it that by ‘streaming is a must’ you mean online streaming rather than streaming from your own local store. 

It holds no interest for me: I think it is expensive for something that doesn’t give me the long term surety that comes from buying the music (and that is quite apart from any other limitations of the medium).

In practice with about 1200 albums of my own in my local store I never have enough time to play them all - in fact with so many that I keep going back to I probably don’t play much more than a quarter of them in a year, so I don’t have an ongoing craving to add to seek out new music, and when I do learn of something that I’d like to check out, the likes of Spotify and other sources like uTube and artists’ websites and even online store samples are good enough ...and free. Sound quality may be limited, but adequate to decide if I like the music - and if I like I buy.

You are stil online streaming.... for free, i pay 5£ for Hifi tidal so almost free as well

i have a couple of good listen before I shell money on lp or cd

 Download new albums to my Walkman when I travel 

if you like to discover new music - types artists albums - it is a dream come true for me

i remember the days I used to pick cds from my favorite store listen them 1m each an buy couple

Emre posted:

You are stil online streaming.... for free, i pay 5£ for Hifi tidal so almost free as well

i have a couple of good listen before I shell money on lp or cd

 Download new albums to my Walkman when I travel 

if you like to discover new music - types artists albums - it is a dream come true for me

i remember the days I used to pick cds from my favorite store listen them 1m each an buy couple

Yes, though only a few minutes, and to sample rather than listen properly. But online is indeed good for that - and indeed I remember the days of spending hours in record shops looking, picking a few to listen, then maybe buying one or two. There was something nice about that, however online is certainly more convenient.

Ewemon: "If you like Isbell try Evan Bartels as he was one of my best discoveries this year. Probably in my Top 10 of the year. "

Jeff Anderson posted:

Ewemon: "If you like Isbell try Evan Bartels as he was one of my best discoveries this year. Probably in my Top 10 of the year. "

I think it is very good as well, but had I walked into a room where it was playing without knowing the artist, my first guess would have been Steve Earle.  Not a bad thing, but  a bit disconcerting as I wouldn't have thought to ask.  Perhaps the weakness is in me.  But the recommendation is appreciated as always.  It is in the 2017 album folder. Thanks.

Yep Jeff it has that Steve Earle/Jason Isbell/Chris Knight feel to the album.