Mark Zip Poop 2021


Buy Black Country, New Road  - For the First Time New or Used via Amazon   Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
Black Country, New Road – For the First Time
This is the I-can’t-help-but-cringe record of the year for me. Post-punk, very English, overly enunciated, self-aware. The music is expansive, angular, sometimes dissonant, and often close to pompous. And still irresistible. “I am invincible in these sunglasses. I’m a modern Scott Walker”

Buy Various Artists / Elvis Costello / The Attractions - Spanish Model New or Used via Amazon   Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
Various Artists / Elvis Costello / The Attractions – Spanish Model
“This Year’s Model” might be my favourite Costello. Here we have the original tracks used (from the UK version with a couple of extras like “Radio Radio”) as backing for new Spanish language versions of the songs sung by a huge variety of singers from across the Spanish-speaking world, Spanish stars as well as Latin American ones. Elvis’s clever word-play doesn’t quite translate and it helps to be bilingual, but it’s not required, the attitude comes through. Sometimes playful, more often excoriating. Having women sing several of the songs is a great twist. And The Attractions kick ass, of course. Co-producer Sebastian Krys’s mix is a bit more forward than the original and the great basslines come through more than before.

Buy Mdou Moctar -  Afrique Victime New or Used via Amazon   Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime
The yearly guitar-wank quota filled by one record.

Buy leaford Mods - Spare Ribs New or Used via Amazon   Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs
The yearly snotty scum quota filled by one record. “I wish I had the time, to be a wanker just like you”

Buy Saint Etienne  - I've Been Trying To Tell You  New or Used via Amazon   Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
Saint Etienne – I’ve Been Trying To Tell You
Layered and atmospheric. Do we need to see the movie that goes with it? It’s about recapturing and remembering late 90s Britain. Hmmmm

Buy Toumani Diabaté & London Symphony Orchestra - Kôrôlén New or Used via Amazon   Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
Toumani Diabaté & London Symphony Orchestra – Kôrôlén
Contender for most frustrating release of the year. A beautifully recorded 2008 performance. The moments when the orchestra does NOT overwhelm the Malian ensemble are magic. But the moments where it doesn’t work are so jarring. On balance, however, it’s rewarding.

Madlib w/ Four Tet – Sound Ancestors
Kiwi Jr. – Cooler Returns
black midi – Cavalcade
Susana Baca – Palabras Urgentes
Amythyst Kiah – Wary + Strange
Billie Eilish – Happier than Ever
Teenage Fanclub – Endless Arcade

Francois K YouTube Channel
A sporadic collection of mixes made for Twitch livestreams and other studio-bound experiments. His series of “stems” live dubs are fascinating excursions into reworks of familiar songs using chunks of the original tapes.