Something like an ageless bridge across nu jazz, ambient electronica, soft grooves and laidback head music. Soothing, relaxed, nice feelings, a light and gentle touch on the soul.
Toro y Moi – Outer Peace
Most of this album is crap because I cannot stand auto-tune. But Ordinary Pleasure is a lovely pop track, I vouch for that one.
CUTS – A Gradual Decline
Melancholic, part wondering, part sharp and penetrating, electronic with a shoegaze attitude. And a powerful concept: “addresses the planet’s current fragility using actual field recordings of ice collapsing from glaciers.”
Alice Merton – Mint
I was thinking how are some of these tracks so familiar? Then I realized No Roots is a single from 2017, and a soundtrack on The Blacklist, and I also heard her perform live last year. And then I remembered that her concert was raw, under-produced and kind of amateur, which is a striking contrast to what I hear on this record. Her quality as a pop music performer and the stage presence of her band were so much out of sync, and this new debut album underlines this again, at least the part about her potential. I wonder if she will drop her skin and move on with a professional band at some point, or will choose a non-mainstream route and stick with the “high school sweethearts”.
Charlotte Adigéry – Zandoli
Talking about earbugs, Paténipat is another one recently.
Estrons – You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough
They say alternative, NME says punk, and this is my idea of good indie rock. And a blast first record.
Black Devil – Disco Club
Timing, Forget the Timing is my latest unescapable earbug for quite some time now. It is beyond my comprehension how this track (and album, for that matter) could be made in 1978. And its story of being rediscovered and reissued by Richard D. James. Mind. Blown.
Booka Shade – Cut The Strings
I listened to all Booka Shade releases of 2018 just recently in the year after and there was quite a bit of output to dig through. Cut The Strings was the long player of the year, and a brilliant and beatiful album at that. But there was a long list of EPs, too, with mixed feelings but definitely more pros than cons. I can totally vouch for all the remix EPs from the LP, and the Quantum Leap and Rosebud EPs.
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
The most surprising movie of 2018 for sure. It was surrealistic, completely mindfuck, unexpected, and a great experience as a flick. Also made a well articulated point as social narrative.
On a different note: I haven’t heard of The Coup before. WTF?! It is a perfect friend of everything RATM, and I know Street Sweeper Social Club well, so I know the voice of Boots Riley just fine. I just haven’t heard of his original band before. So now I’m on a Coup listening spree, obviously. Although I haven’t really got through re-listening the movie soundtrack several times.
Another note: Tessa Thompson. I’m just getting into her so much. (Mean this the right way.) I first came across her in Westworld – great character, first seldom enough appearances to be mystical, then when being more active another kind of mystique. In Thor she was badass. In Annihilation she was not a driving force but another mystery not fully explored or explained. So maybe this is her thing. And this is our thing (as audience) with her. She is casted well and always had this mystical vibe around her so far. And this time again the artsy girlfriend character with her kinks and girl next door attitude. Hit home.
Fischerspooner – Sir
From the electroclash to the gayest album cover of the year.