BEST MUSIC DISCOVERIES - 2013

BEST MUSIC DISCOVERIES - 2013

I thought I'd take a moment prior to Christmas to note some of my favourite music discoveries from 2013.  I don't pretend to be the best in the world at identifying music.  Frankly there is so much out there that's brilliant, its almost impossible to keep up.   Admittedly some of the information here is taken from other reviewers and people that linked me up with the music.  I hope some of my friends might take a listen to these on spotify, rdio or just however you get your music.   Rdio is better for me and has my collection in full on it.  So here they are, the 2013 discovery list:

The Child of Lov

This was the most special discovery of the year as tragically The Child of Lov aka Cole Williams aka Martijn William Zimri Teerlinck died after surgery on December 10.   But what an artist.  It's fairly easy to categorise his musical influences: Prince, Stevie Wonder and pretty much funk artists in general.  What's impossible to fully capture in writing is his loving attention to sound.  This Dutch artist is a sucker for any dirty, funky, psychedelic sounds and he delivers these nearly better than anyone else in the genre.   I commend his videos to anyone interested in mixed media artwork (Heal, Give Me and Fly).  These are all available on youtube and all quite fascinating.   Don't expect any appearances from the reclusive Child of Lov in the videos though.  That said, for  a reclusive guy, Mr. William's music is certainly life affirming and celebratory - and there apparently was more to this story that I didn't know until recently.  Martijn apparently hid the fact that he pretty much knew his end was in sight due to a heart defect.  He also may or may not have left behind demos for a planned album for 2014.  He described the new work as a modern take on Sly and the Family Stone.  I cannot imagine anything more interesting to look forward to in 2014 than those demos.  So hopefully they get out there and show up on one of my lists next year.  RIP Martijn.

Video for Give Me: Child of Lov - Give Me

Video for Heal (with the hipster kids): Child of Lov - Heal

Video for Fly: Child of Lov Fly

Satellites.01 and Satellites.02

  

This blog is more about personal music discovery than publishing dates and methods of distribution.  But a side note that there seems to be a spate of artists that are intentionally trying to obfuscate to draw more attention to their music release - witness the surprise release by Beyonce of whatever she's putting out these days.  Did that sound scornful?  So Satellites may or may not fit this bill since the albums were issued with limited release.  But pretty sure this artist is nothing like Beyonce.  I discovered Satellites.02 at my local Rough Trade shop in Notting Hill.  When I researched further, I found I apparently was to have already known about Satellites.01 being the wanna be ageing hipster I am.  Because it was limited release and it was great and that makes it cool.  Satellites.01 and Satellites.02 are projects of the "enigmatic and deliberately anonymous" Johnny Vic.  An Englishman from Coventry displaced in Copenhagen (to live with his girlfriend).  OK, I have a soft spot for artists who are reluctant and plainly scared of criticism and scorn.  Johnny is obviously one of these guys - unless he's faking his desire to be anonymous and thereby engaged in the most elaborate musical scam since Sigue Sigue Sputnik.  This issue aside, Vic has a voice akin to David Sylvian and writes music that is emotionally and musically well thought out.   My friend Meghan took the plunge to listen to Satellites.01 and I hope more of you will do the same.  She particularly liked "Sale of the Century" which fuelled even greater interest for me in that track.  Frankly, I can't find much to not like here.  This is fine art done in an exclusively intimate packaging with real emotional and artistic commitment.   I look forward to his next venture . . . which may be Satellites.03 or something completely different.  May be some comparisons here to The The, but certainly a natural comparison would be The National meets Snow Patrol.  He takes a beating from the usual suspects - blaming him for being "too tasteful" and crap.  I think they got it grossly wrong and many would agree with me here.  This is a fascinating double release that I'll be listening to for a long, long time.  It grows on you.

Video for In A City: Satellites - In a City
Video for Sale of the Century: Satellites - Sale of the Century - Live

John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts

I recommend to any music lover that they should occasionally thumb through the monthly "best of" list from Rough Trade records - available online.  A Rough Trade album of the month selection I believe back in March (??) - was from John Grant.  John is a native Coloradan living in Iceland.  He has AIDS and is also still in love (obsessed) with an old boyfriend who rejected him.   This latter fact becomes clear in many of his lyrics.  Backing vocals on this album were supplied by Sinead O'Connor.  Do I need to say more?  Well, since you asked: a must listen on this album is the track "GMF"  which stands for "Greatest Motherf*cker".   His lyrical content here and on the other tracks is funny yet in a completely transparent way.  It's all a direct view into the artists mind - for better or worse.  And he's quite an interesting obsessive, very witty guy.  I honestly feel akin to John after listening to him through all the lyrical contour.  These lines from the song "Glacier" really struck me -

"This pain.  It is a glacier moving through you. And carving out deep valleys. And creating spectacular landscapes. And nourishing the ground. With precious minerals and other stuff.  So, don't you become paralyzed with fear.  When things seem particularly rough"

Here, John is describing the pain and transformation John experienced as a gay kid going through high school in a very intolerant society.  It's a message he is delivering to help others going through a similar experience.  This is personal on another level for me.  I spent many of my formative years as a victim of bullying because of my generally frail appearance - being called "faggot" and "gaywad" and "wussy" and other lovely yet equally dumb phrases.  These words really hurt me at the time.  Like John, I view this quite frightening period of my life as transformative, defining those "deep valleys" and "spectacular landscapes" that make me unique today.  I saw John Grant live here in London at the O2 Empire this past summer with a good friend of mine, Todd Eckert, who has been a friend since high school.   I didn't realise how genuinely funny John was until seeing him live.  Part comedian, part poet and musically a genius.  Transformative.  Do also pick up his song "Marz" from his prior album "Queen of Denmark." I hope to meet him some day.

Video of GMF: John Grant - GMF
Live Video of Glacier with Villager's Conor O'Brien: Glacier - Live

Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

I have a soft spot in my heart for unpretentious alt country.  For me, this album delivers unpretentious alt country in abundance.   I can't stop listening to it, as there are very few if any annoyances here.  I find the music comforting when I want to hear the "back home" sounds of the South.  I discovered this little Oklahoma band through the sage advice of my 16 year old step son Caleb King - who is really an expert in alt country and Texas country.  If you know me, you know I am loathe to credit much to the State of Oklahoma.  But maybe, just maybe, this band's Republic of Texas roots are just showing through.  I love Evan Felker's vocals.   Really genuine in sound and feel.  He's not afraid to be imperfect, clearly.  And he doesn't have to fake his flaws.  As for the lyrics, I never lived in a small town, but listening to this album lets me do a bit of exploration into the unfamiliar of small town America in the very familiar framework of country folk music.  Stick with it through "Empty as a Drum" - "Well two old red nosed whisky drunks were talking politics, it was time to hit the bricks, it was time for me to go . . ."  Goes on from there.  So freaking great.  It's 2012 in origin so I'm cheating a bit in calling this a 2013 discovery.   However, if you have any interest in country music whatsoever, throw this one on and maybe check out their 2010 album Diamonds & Gasoline.

Video of Gin, Smoke, Lies: Turnpike - Gin, Smoke, Lies

William Onyeabor - Who is William Onyeabor?

Oh wow was I overjoyed when I heard this album.  It's a 2013 re-release of the musical artistry of Nigerian musician William Onyeabor.  This is 1970s funkadelic from Lagos Nigeria.   These simple songs have a definite Bob Marley edge/vibe to them.  I feel cool for owning it via vinyl and rdio collection.  "Atomic Bomb" is a great track that I could let play for hours and not get bored.  Such cool music and rarely heard by many, which makes it a really fun find.  Onyeabor's songs do explore familiar territory.  But you get the feeling these may have been the precursors to songs like the Gap Band's classic "You Drop the Bomb on Me."  Lol.  Greatness.  Today, Onyeabor is some kind of born again Christian businessman in Nigeria and doesn't talk about music anymore.  So the party is quite definitively over.  Again, another recluse and reluctant artist.  But his skill is undeniable.   The compilation album is well curated.

Video - Who is William Onyeabor?: Onyeabor

Yamantaka//Sonic Titan - Uzu

My god is this a great album.  I'm sorry but no offense to the Muse lovers of the world, but maybe its time to spread your wings out a bit on the side of classical, baroque rock at a more challenging level.   My friend Todd Eckert introduced me to this one.  As with most of his recommendations, this one delivers and in this case takes f*cking over.  The songs exhume a larger than life acoustic architecture more akin to Metallica or early Genesis (the Peter Gabriel version) than the aforementioned Muse.   I'm going to start sounding silly at some point talking about this one as there is just technical aspects here I will never understand.  The best part of this album is that like great classically based rock of the past, the emotions feel very natural and maybe organic?  The vocals of Ruby Kato Attwood are gorgeous.  If you like a layered sound to your music, you are going to love this album.   Pass the gong please.

Wild Yamantaka \\ Sonic Titan Video for One: yamantaka

Baths - Obsidian

Baths is the stage name of electronic artist Will Wisenfeld.  A Californian who sounds like he lives in London.   He must live next door.  You could get this album just to listen to the opening of Miasma Sky, which I could repeat a million times.  There's this Blue Nile quality to the music here that just sets me back for a moment.   His lovely voice offers a warm emotional blanket over some very troubling fearful lyrics and techno inspired blips and bleeps.  I can literally feel him protecting me over the lonely, empty world of modern technology and discotechs.  This album is emotionally suited to our times.   It's not dance music but the music representing the feeling you get after accidentally falling into a nightclub scene that wasn't like it was made out to be.  The after party for those who never wanted to participate in the first place.  For those that don't know - an "ossuary" is a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains or an exclusive Berlin techno club.

Baths Miasma Sky (no video): Baths - Miasma Sky

Weekend - Jinx -

This is not Weeknd but Weekend.  I appreciate this indie rock act returning the f*cking "e" that had been missing.  I really dig this lesser known and not often discussed Brooklyn-San Francisco band.  The album was introduced to me by Todd Eckert.   Fun and interesting - albeit a bit of  throwback to my rebellious era.  So I'm biased here.  A bit of old Cure sounding guitar/bass lines.  I personally love the distant sound of the vocals.  "I feel sick sick sick sick  . . . in my heart."  I could imagine chanting this refrain at the end of their show.  Of course there would only be 6 of this doing that, so it could be quite awkward.  Anyway, the album makes me move off my couch and freaking bang my head.  Not just great, f*cking great.  Still sad that when you google "Weekend band" you get nothing but Weeknd stuff.   It's sad but for music nerds like me it does make them a bit more obscure and, therefore, that much more interesting.

Weekend Video: Weekend - Rosaries

Arcade Fire - Reflektor - 

This album is going to be the top of most lists and deservedly so.  Backing vocals on the opening track by David Bowie.  Enough said.  I see this album as Arcade Fire's version of U2's Achtung Baby.  Just such a solid record and packed with fun discoveries.  And fun for a band that hasn't always been fun in the studio.  Arcade Fire is now touring and I can't wait to see them.  FYI - watch for surprise shows in your town under the name "The Reflectors".  I love that they ask their audience members to adhere to a formal dress code.  That's just got to be a great time.  I suspect anyone who has read this far into my list already has a copy.

Arcade Fire Video - Directed by Anton Corbijn: Reflektor


Other Stuff I Listened to, Liked and Learned About this Year:

King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon.  Killer cool music from a true ginger rapper - Archy Marshall.  This is very fresh and very unique and should be in nearly everyone's collection.

Matthew E White - Big Inner - Super cool 2012 release that I just picked up on this year - late.  I actually think this one would be at my top, but just discovered it so, so late.  Great laid back vibe and really fun lyrical content.  Soulful.

Mutual Benefit - Love's Crushing Diamond - Dream Folk.  Fanfreakingtastic dream folk.  I love etherial noises in general and it's nice to hear the way this band works its way into a melody.  It's as if the music was pieced together in bits and you get to hear it piece its way together.

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories.  Great record and arguably perfect in many respects, particularly if you have a penchant for disco music.   But there's so much more packed in here than just disco.  Again, this album will be at the top of many "Best of" lists already and deserves the attention it gets.

Arctic Monkeys - AM - You already have this album don't you?  Oozes with cool.  "One for the Road" and "Why'd You Only Call Me When Your High" are just genius tracks.   A keeper and great party record.  Great live band.

Beady Eye - BE - I know.  It's Beady Eye so they suck, right?  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  This is the album where somebody - probably Liam - finally made a deal with the devil.  It won't get the attention of the other big hitters this year or even older Oasis work, but it's arguably one of the best things ever done by a Gallagher brother.   I just love the track "Flick of the Finger".  Such an anthem.  I want that for my anthem when the evil army of Clay is formed.  Kind of a party army really.

Jagwar Ma - Howl - Again, a truly cool and fun listen.  If you are a fan of the Stone Roses, you are a fan or should be of Jagwar.

My Bloody Valentine - m b v - A collection of songs that is over a decade in the making?  MBV is a really weird act but also really brilliant.   The edges of distortion here are lovely.  Such a cacophony of sound.  As you might imagine, it doesn't all fall together neatly but there are some truly great bits here and some odd ones.

The National - Trouble Will Find Me - Another great album from a great band.  Really enjoyed seeing them at ACL Fest.   There's hardly a thing wrong with this album - if you like The National, you will like it.  If you feel it's too glum, go watch them live and you will likely get it.

Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven - Super cool electronic music.  Just good fun all the way around if you don't mind some clinking and clamouring.  Pure art, so not for those that want a lot of melody.  Could be up top easily, but far more experimental than the others.

Queens of the Stone Age - … Like Clockwork - Cool album as usual from these guys.  Straight up rocking tunes from a band that can really rock live.  I think this album is the best vocal showcase so far of their albums.

Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest - Great electronic music.  Lots of Mark Isham influence.   Again, really for fans of electronic music and people who are interested in atmosphere more than melody.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - The Speed of Things - Great American indie.

Disclosure - Settle - Hard not to enjoy this pop dance sensation.

White Lies - Big TV - Cool music starting to get X radio airplay.  Only a matter of time before they hit.  I think its super cool that the created a song about the big TV in their hotel room.  Lol

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II - maybe the best psychedelic guitar work I've ever heard.  Such a groovy band really.  A bit out there on the edges, which is nice.

Toy - Toy - Toy actually released a new album in December, but I'm saving that for 2014.  What I do know is that this album freaking rocks.  I love "Dead & Gone".  May be my favourite track of the year. As an album, it can drone a bit but so much potential here with this London collective.

Young Knives - Sick Octave - Ambitious new record that's on a whole different level from prior Young Knives work.  I had the honour to meet Henry Dartnall about a year ago when he and Todd Eckert came by my flat for a few beers.  I got a preview of "White Sounds" and we talked music in general and our mutual admiration for the Seattle sound and the band Fugazi.   I never expected the full bit that was done here which is pretty wild.  Great song writing.  Love the finishing touches on White Sounds.  Glad he didn't listen to my drunken fool suggestions - or maybe he did as his vocal on "I took a hundred of these" sounds a bit Fugazi after all.  Need this album on rdio soon (I hope)

2014 and beyond - I'll try and endeavour to update new discoveries with an irreverent reporting style.  I hope others can share or comment along.   I already know the new Toy is going in somewhere.  Cheers!