LATE END OF YEAR REPORT. SHIT HAPPENED
(AND THANKFULLY, LOTS OF EPs)
BREXIT BRITAIN will inevitably move musicians away from artistry and towards careerism, as they will need more than a modicum of success to finance a tour. European stages will miss out on seeing all but the most compromised, moneyed British acts and Britain itself will suffer more so. Tragic.
Against this sorry backdrop, what a single-minded and brave album Torn Sail's Leisure & Technology is, and what a much needed tonic it has been. The temptation to make money and chip away at the formula that brought the band to the attention of the Balearic cognoscenti must have been huge but he's fearlessly changed the textures and tones inherent in the debut by instead presenting field-work elements and lyrical experimentation into its body.
These make a massive difference when translated through loud-speakers and really add a sonic fizz that properly plays with the senses. As with the majestic debut, you soon acknowledge its importance and drop everything for a listening experience akin to the reverence normally found in a church service. Only Robert Plant and Mark Hollis have traversed a similar path and created similar magic in their music.
Another mind blowing album was George Koutalieris's Stop, Look, Listen. After years experimenting with AOR guitar and electronica with exciting results, he really delivers the Balearic goods (that's the second time I've used that word), and transports the listen to sunnier climes in a wholly organic way. Like the best holiday, only without the cramped flights and sore feet. Now all we need is a vinyl pressing. I've already started a pressure group, as I'm sure if George frequented British boozers in a Nado tee in the days of comparative freedom, there would be one.
Moonboot's sole contribution to my year (a first) was to big up the amazing Common Saints Idol Eyes EP. Thank you for that. Thanks too to Box Bedroom Rebels for soldiering on and releasing Ciel's Movement EP. Wasn't Enough For Me is both playful and a tad unsettling, and sounds a bit like the inside of my head when it is time to wake up.
Peter Graf York's Expedition Bahn is a tropical melting pot of sound and the woozy title cut properly hits the spot. A superlative slice of trancey electronica for dub-heads. On a more conventional path and label, Laura Groves continues on her trajectory towards perfect pop. Her Infinite Wisdom EP (a lot of EPs) is full of pearls with the title track jaw dropping in its greatness.
Massive thanks to Julian for releasing Cracy Cocunuts magnificently insane Rubberdub Dance. I nearly paid silly money for it and was so pleased to see his post forewarning us of its imminent release. Would an exclusive only to my ears have sounded any better? Only slightly.
We only got one Begin twelve, despite Jim creating enough downloadable vault work to release a triple box set. All Day Daydream is the winner for me, but making his latest tune out of a found guitar definitely deserves an hats off as well. As with George, 'more vinyl' is the cry from the bungalow.
Good Morning Tapes became more than just a tee-shirt label and released some killer music. Skyrager's Rhizophere cassette landed at just the right time for my head space. Healing music of the highest order and thankfully no track-list as yet. All Welcome vol 1 compiles some magic moments, but vol 2 is better. D.K's work on the label is top drawer as well.
Finally, another thank you to Robert Harris for turning me on to a bounty of reissues with his boundless energy and enthusiasm, but especially for turning me onto the majesty that is Shoko Yoshida's Up and Down EP. Yes, another. Unintentional, I promise. I normally loathe coloured vinyl, but this pressing is lovely. Hats off to Hot Buttered for releasing this in style. Not been off the stereo since getting 2 copies.
As we supposedly step out of lock-down, I've learned a lot; life is precious, time is short, people are unpredictable, and records are in all honesty the only thing you can trust, other than Julian Cope books, and thankfully, on occasions, the people that make them.
I anticipate, small time, loss-making enthusiasts, writing letters to the home office seeking permission to fly seldom heard of acts over to play shows, will be the new normal. Bring it on.
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