2016 Picks

Personally, I need to listen to more releases, but the best thing I've heard from this year has to be Oranssi Pazuzu's Värähtelijä. An absolutely stunning mix of black metal, noise rock, psychedelia that has a very strong atmosphere. I'd compare with Swans' last two albums, due to its strong repetition, but also to noise rock bands such as The Jesus Lizard, and some proto-math rock bands such as Drive Like Jehu, with, obviously, a huge black metal element. It is also perhaps the best sounding guitar record I've heard all year, as well. The bass tones are fuzzy, the guitar tones are always in that perfect crevice of frequencies, the drums are huge. The whole thing feels gigantic. The album plays out like a well directed horror movie. Or like you're about to be devoured by Shelob. 

Otherwise, I've listened to many EP's. I did enjoy Kendrick Lamar's new B-side album, but it was as described, a B-side album. Give me and everybody else some recs, guys. 

I am greatly looking forward to Radiohead, Kayo Dot, and Swans (three of my favorite current bands releasing albums this year? No way!). Still need to listen to releases by David Bowie, Savages, Massive Attack, Tortoise.

Ergo - As Subtle As Tomorrow 

Gutbucket - Dance

The ones I'm looking forward to are:-

Knifeworld

Bent Knee

Yugen

Panzerpappa

Miriodor

Nik Bartsch Mobile

Deus Ex Machina

Meant to be 2016 but more likely 2017

Gosta Berling Saga

Thinking Plague 

Present

+ 1.

Robert Nix - Once in a Blue Moon https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertnix6

He messaged me shortly after I restarted my Twitter account so I had to buy it. Really nice art/alt/new wave stuff. Great production and cool use of multiple layers of vocals.

Ian Fletcher Thornley - Secrets

Only got to listen once so far but it's a nice quieter album (if anyone knows his other bands Thornley or Big Wreck). Think I read that no click tracks and as few takes as possible were used for a more 'natural' feeling.

Also check out the neat-o MRI music video.

Ultimate Care II – Matmos

Varmints – Anna Meredith

The Birds Outside Sang – Florist

The Gamble – nankeen

Void Beats Invocation Trex – Cavern of Anti-Matter

Varahtelija – Oranssi Pazuzu

Voix – Aluk Todolo

Trotro – DJ Katapila

Brute – Fatima al Qadiri

The Catastrophist – Tortoise

ATGCLVLSSCAP – Ulver

Adore Life – Savages

Before A Million Universes – Big Ups

Queer Lodgings – Ozark Soundscape

Jesu/Sun Kil Moon – Jesu and Sun Kil Moon

Here Be Monsters – Motorpsycho

Love Over Will – Alex Smoke

Spirit Phone – Lemon Demon

Elevenses – Daevid Allen’s Weird Quartet

Zelalem – Mikael Seifu

Fun For Family and Friends – Paper Days

Nevermen – Nevermen

Suicide Songs – MONEY

Wabi-Sabi – Cross Record

January Sun – Kedr Livanskiy

Painting With – Animal Collective

No Burden – Lucy Dacus

Paradise – Pop. 1280

Emotional Mugger – Ty Segall

Big Black Coat – Junior Boys

Wait & See – Majical Cloudz

Post Pop Depression – Iggy Pop

Arcology – Thug Entrancer

Night Thoughts – Suede

Jream House – A Pleasure

Akroasis – Obscura

The Middle Sister – Guy Blakeslee

Pool – Porches

Full Circle – Loretta Lynn

Is The Is Are – DIIV

Looks set to be a low key year in general, though I am expecting big things from Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, James Blake, Run The Jewels, Death Grips, and Ash Koosha.

And there's also going to be a new And Also the Trees record very soon, and possibly At the Drive-In.

Nahh don't worry my friend - I'm glad someone took the time to launch this thing. Easily one of my fave threads during recent years. 

As for 2016; well it seems to have started off with a bang, and there are quite a lot of the already mentioned upcoming releases that I'm equally looking forward to. 

Great releases thus far include:

David Bowie - Blackstar (Believe the hype....especially if you're a Bowie fan)

Ulver - ABCDEFG (Semi-Krautrock-Ambient thingy that floats like a dream)

Ukandanz - Awo (Ethiopean jazz rock meets zeuhl in a wonderfully rambunctious way)

Fire! - She Sleeps, She Sleeps (Fiery and tooting as only Mats Gustafsson can be + psychedlic guitars = yum)

Tim Hecker - Love Streams (This is oh so beautiful compared to his last album 'Virgins' that sounded like artsy muzak)

Aluk Todolo - Voix (Very good release but somewhat underwhelming coming in the wake of Occult Rock. For fans of unorthodox metal with somewhat blurry intentions)

Motorpsycho - Here Be Monsters (The ending cut 'Black Dog' alone should make this an autobuy. The rest of it ain't too shabby either)