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Róisín Murphy – Róisín Machine
Yup, still no idea why she isn’t a bigger star. But she’s over that, so why shouldn’t I be? When I wanted musical triumphalism late in the awful year, this is what I turned to. The beats allow movement and the dynamics allow progress. And the sub-bass is just…. But the artwork? Hmmm.
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Nick Cave – Idiot Prayer (Alone at Alexandra Palace)
This one requires a very particular head-space. Solo voice and piano and close miked, it is painfully intimate. I only want to visit these sorts of spaces once in a while, but it’s worth it when I do.
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Fabric presents Chase & Status – RTRN II FABRIC
C&S offer a 44 track survey of DnB, including a few of their own exclusives and a bunch of “deep cuts”. Many DnB compilations are shoddy, with poor selections and slapdash mixing, but this is a must have. Pro tip: Make sure to play on gapless settings, Many tracks are very short and the mixes are tight.
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Yello – Point
I would love to hear the Dolby Atmos version, but the Plain Old Stereo version is great just as it is. They also released an app (iOS only, unfortunately) called the Yellofier and it appears to do exactly what it says on the tin (video demo here). So that’s how easy it is to make a Yello song? On the evidence of this record, it’s not.
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Tara Clerkin Trio – Tara Clerkin Trio
“Soundscape” is a word which can cover a multitude of wanky muso sins, but it’s also useful as more than a lazy pejorative. Here we have experimental noises, pop. acid(y)-jazz and who knows what else. Space, as ever, is important too. One of those “Every time I listen to it I hear new things” records. From Bristol, if that tells you something,
HAIM – Women In Music Pt. III
Run the Jewels – RTJ4
Four Tet – Sixteen Oceans
Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death
Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
Cabaret Voltaire – Shadow of Fear
Soccer Mommy – color theory
Grimes – Miss Anthropocene
The Orielles – Disco Volador
Disclosure – ENERGY (Deluxe)
Late entries:
V.A. – Ninja Tune on Repeat playlist
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You