COMP & CIRCUMSTANCE
I FINALLY got to see Jim road test his wonderful Begin live experience. Albeit, a beer festival wasn't the perfect setting, but as a precursor to greater voyages ahead, it was fitting. However, I'm well into my middle years and real ale still tastes of flower beds to my palate. Other than that solitary excursion, it was home listening all the way for me.
Lunaria's All is Dream is ace and once again thanks to Box Bedroom Rebels who by turning me onto Mandarinaduck's Gardensouls gave me a shade to the formers light. A constant cassette twinning par excellence. Another big unsurprising winner of late has been Balearic Social's Tommy Sessions vinyl, whose side-A closer, played loud, offers a total surrender to sound. I could never float around at speed with the cassette version turning around. The vinyl however offers an arms aloft behind the sofa moment for sure. Another year highlight was watching Lawrence of Belgravia in my jim-jams and in my front room, away from the Mancunian glitterati who were out in force last time I watched it. Telly heaven.
Latterly, the year has been all about compilation albums. Fan-bloody-tastic ones. Ritual Chants, a triple-triple album trilogy by Psychemagik, is a work of wonder. I only pre-owned 4 cheapies I'd sourced through various blogs, mixes, etc (Especially the seek magic Gurvitz cut New World and Aficionado Facebook group RIP), so, I got a good money's worth. Some braver folk could take out 70 quid and dare to buy better, but not me.
The same bloody day Soundway dropped Doing it in Lagos. Proper choice cuts and proper crisp sound. I doubt Tony Monite's Only You could sound any better. It was almost matched by Rush Hours' Surinam Funk Force, a comp that featured my favourite jam of the year Tirsa Song by Soundtrack Orchestra and Silvy. Heavenly Sweetness, prolific as ever, hit pay dirt for me with Digital Zandoli, especially O.R.E.A'S Biguine Inferno. A really special moment.
As if that wasn't enough cashola spent, Light in the Attic only goes and releases a European themed counterpart to I am The Center. A wondrous collection The Microcosm that leaves my jaw on the floor. If you're as tired of reading as I am writing, I will spare you my father rambling about how bloody good this is. Seen in this light, how can 2016 have been a bad year?
A further question is, what happened to the Torn Sail LP? It looked all systems go but has slunk back into folklore tales of extended mixes and major labels. I hope they're true, as at this rate Horsebeach will release their 12th studio album before it. 'Tis fitting that at some future point they will play my local theatre and sell it out inside an hour.
