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:
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