I love an end of year list. It's been a strange year (again) and once again music has definitely helped. These are probably my favourite albums of the year - I'm sure there's some I've missed; Dot Allison's Heart Shaped Scars was a strong contender, but I haven't found myself going back to is as much as the others. I'm sure I'll come to love Richard Fearless' Future Rave Memory, but it's only ben out a couple of weeks and didn't really sit right with me on the sunny autumn day when I tried to listen to it. I'll come back to it in the depths of January. Similarly, I just haven't got into the Low album - I think that might take a while too
Mogwai – As the Love Continues
Always one of my favourite bands of the last 25 years, and they’ve never released a duff album yet, but the last few did start to feel a bit Mogwai-by-numbers. This was a really strong album though and has been a constant all year – I think it’s up there with their best; a top 3 ‘Gwai album (CODY and Hardcore Will Never Die being the others). I love how the 90s influences they probably had as teenagers come through at times – they’ve definitely dusted off copies of Siamese Dream.
St Etienne – I’ve Been Trying to Tell You
Gorgeous, dreamlike and not a million miles away from BoC in places, with the odd touch of MBV too. I love how they’ve been so specific in trying to evoke memories of 1997-2001-ish, which looking back was a bit of an odd time culturally – it’s really got a lovely hazy summer atmosphere to it. The best thing they’ve done since Tiger Bay I reckon
Jane Weaver – Flock
Along with Mogwai, probably the 2021 album I’ve played the most. Anyone who loves Stereolab and Broadcast (and who doesn’t?) should give it a listen – it’s a great pop album, with just enough off-kilter psychedelia to make it something really interesting as well as being just a really enjoyable listen.
Emma-Jean Thackery – Yellow
One of the biggest discoveries for me this year; there’s so much going on here – think Alice Coltrane and 70s Miles Davis; really cosmic jazz, but always with one foot on the dancefloor too. I’d heard the single on the radio and thought it was *fine*, but gave the album a chance and my God it is great – stick it on some headphones and pour a large whisky (or your relaxant of choice) and just DIVE into it.
Bicep - Isles
I haven’t been clubbing for years, and quite frankly I’d probably hate it if I went to one again (I’m writing this wearing a cable knit jumper, drinking rooibos tea and listening to Fairport Convention – draw your own conclusions), but this album – possibly enhanced by +1 year of staying in A LOT – made me yearn for a packed dancefloor. It was a total nostalgia trip, with echoes of Orbital, Leftfield and loads of others from that era when I was 15 and everything was exciting.
Hannah Peel – Fir Wave
Just a gorgeous, gorgeous album. I keep coming back to it and keep finding new things in there. Along with Sophia Kourtesis' Fresia Magdalena (which was officially an EP so makes a different list...) it provided a perfect soundtrack to a hot and sunny holiday on a cliff-top cabin in Cornawall
Obay Alsharani – Sandbox
I’ve written a bit about this album and included a link to Obay’s background (https://www.twoism.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=14761&p=294902&hilit=obay#p294902). It’s an incredible story and the album is just fantastic. Definite shades of BoC in there.
Pearl Charles – Magic Mirror
The 1st track is ABBA via Laurel Canyon and the whole album has a great MOR / cosmic country feel. It doesn't reinvent the wheel at all, but it sounds lovely
GLOK – Pattern Recognition
I made Andy Bell’s 1st solo album one of my favourite albums of last year, so it’s funny including a different album by the same person under a different name this year; he’s a busy and talented dude. It’s background music in the best possible sense of the word (in the same way that The Campfire Headphase is but Geogaddi isn’t). There’s definite echoes of Weatherall in a few of his guises on here, which is fine by me.