Category: Album

What to say about 2024 in music… Charli XCX finally made it to the top rung, which got Taylor Swift sharpening her claws. Drake dug his own grave and kept digging. Oasis announced a reunion tour which I’m sure will be called off the week before because Liam took a bite out of Noel’s ham sandwich.

Anyway here are some of the albums I liked:

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1) Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Confident and carefully composed, this album is always changing on both a micro and macro level. Integrated, lush and atmospheric, it shows an act on top of their game. Despite it being a big, expensive corporate release, I couldn’t imagine picking anything else as album of the year. Seems like a classic to me.
If you like this, try: Jamie xx – In Waves for more intermittently-danceable lavish production

2) Les Frères Timal – Sé sa menm

Infectious mix of Guadeloupean island riddims and Metropolitan French psychedelic electronic production. It’s a vibrant and fun album with enough depth to reward repeat listens. I listen to it every time I need a pick-me-up.
If you like this, try: Sam Redmore – Modulate, which is not nearly as good but it’s house with world music flavours if you’re eager for more

3) Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk

One of the very best of the year, this psychedelic album is everything you can possibly fit into a pop record: there are glitchy bits, chamber bits, synthy bits and somehow it all comes together pretty well. An easy pick that will make lots of album of the year lists but it deserves the acclaim and I couldn’t leave it out.
If you like this, try: Charli XCX – Brat for more acclaimed and inventive pop

4) Cosmo Sheldrake – Eye to the Ear

Bassy, intriguing art pop, carefully crafted with lots of nature recordings. I’m a fan of the Sheldrakes and clicked with this one, even though he’s not the strongest singer and it’s a little long, it kept me interested throughout.
If you like this, try: Field Music – Limits of Language for more skilled and memorable art pop

5) Anna Massie – Two Down

Bright Highlands folk from a young master of the form. Interleaving whimsical songs (even a couple of covers) with instrumental pieces where she accompanies herself on guitar, banjo, fiddle and even mouth-trumpet, this is at once modern and traditional, doesn’t take itself too seriously and is an enjoyable listen.
If you like this, try: Yasmin Williams – Acadia for more often-instrumental guitar folk

6) YACHT – New Release

Catchy, synthy post-punk which is varied, maximalist, silly and good – just how I like it. Choruses can be a little inane but it’s a solid album overall.
If you like this, try: Pipe-eye – Pipe-defy for more heavily-decorated silly and catchy songs

7) Laura Marling – Patterns in Repeat

Continuing her prodigious career with this beautiful, integrated, mature release, Laura Marling had the best folk album this year in my opinion. A serious listen without being draining and a great album.
If you like this, try: Song People – Like Somebody Calling Your Name for promising folk-inspired songsters at the start of their career

8) Fievel is Glauque – Rong Weicknes

Wild Belgian jazz pop with a maximalist approach. It’s weird but with plenty of structure to anchor the improvising. This middle approach may alienate both free jazz fans and music fans turned off by freer elements but I enjoyed it.
If you like this, try: playing it again because I didn’t find anything else this year that sounds even a little like this

9) Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion – Rectangles and Circumstance

American composer Caroline Shaw teams up with New York quartet Sō Percussion for this jazzy art pop record with plenty of atmosphere, skilful songwriting, strong percussion and a beautiful voice.
If you like this, try: Lucy Rose – This Ain’t the Way You Go Out for skilled jazz-pop with more of a piano focus

10) BIG SPECIAL – POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES

Belonging firmly to the Angry Young Men revival led by Yard Act and Sleaford Mods, this one at least has better lyrics. Shouty, sweary working-class post-punk from the Black Country, it likely won’t win any fans who aren’t into this kind of thing but I believe it’s one of the better examples.
If you like this, try: Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia? for a funkier take on the genre

It was a year of surprises = André 3000 played the flute, Lil Yachty went prog and Rebecca Black made a competent hyperpop album. While not being a great music year overall, there were excellent new releases from Penelope Scott, ANOHNI and The Go! Team, among others. Here are ten albums which interested me this year:

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1) Madeline Kenney – A New Reality Mind

All the elements of this electronic folk pop(?) album came together very well – the lyrics, vocals, composition, production are all great. Her choices are always fascinating without being inaccessible and I really enjoy listening to it closely.
If you like this, try: Lloyd Cole – On Pain; Birdy – Portraits

2) African Head Charge – A Trip to Bolgatanga

The longstanding psychedelic dub act deliver a journey through several African genres and influences which feels surprisingly cohesive overall. Great vibes.
If you like this, try: Bixiga 70 – Vapor; TEKE:::TEKE – Hagata

3) Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine

A second helping of Parks’ artistic R&B-based pop, effortlessly poetic and entrancing.
If you like this, try: Vagabon – Sorry I Haven’t Called; Joy Oladokun – Proof of Life

4) Oneohtrix Point Never – Again

Glorious strings start to glitch and begin one of the wildest rides ever recorded. An ambitious electronic album from the experimental producer, executed to perfection and probably the best album of the year. It takes great skill to sound this weird and this good at the same time.
If you like this, try: Faten Kanaan – Afterpoem; Katie Gately – Fawn/Brute (which isn’t electronic but it sure is weird)

5) Alison Brown – On Banjo

A fun, pretty instrumental set that manages to avoid being a rote exercise in bluegrass by featuring many other instruments, allowing the banjo to often fade into the background, anchoring the confidently composed songs without overpowering them.
If you like this, try: Joey Alexander – Continuance; Dave Stewart and Hannah Koppenburg – Cloud Walking

6) Nuit Incolore – La loi du papillon

Unapologetically bombastic queer French dance pop with far-reaching influences and a layered, maximalist sound.
If you like this, try: Munya – Jardin; Wild Nothing – Hold

7) Laura Groves – Radio Red

Shipley, West Yorkshire’s very own Laura Groves returns as a full-fledged adult, 14 years after her debut as Blue Roses. This is a beautiful, carefully-crafted alternative pop album with musical and lyrical depth.
If you like this, try: Ailbhe Reddy – Endless Affair; Beyonne – Temporary Time

8) GoGo Penguin – Everything is Going to Be OK

Manchester jazz trio provide a consistently interesting and enjoyable ambient set with electronic flourishes and memorable hooks.
If you like this, try: Eluvium – (Whirring Marvels In) Consensus Reality; Mammal Hands – Gift from the Trees

9) Joanna Sternberg – I’ve Got Me

Strong emotive songwriting, sparse but playful accompaniment and a characterful, gender-neutral voice make this my favourite folk album of the year.
If you like this, try: boygenius – the record; Ben Folds – What Matters Most

10) be your own PET – Mommy

A welcome return from the Nashville punk rockers, Mommy is a rousing and humorous kink-themed set that touches on aging, insecurity and grabbing life by the throat anyway.
If you like this, try: Paramore – This is Why, Black Honey – A Fistful of Peaches