Bob’s favourite spins of 2020

 

Bob’s favourite spins of 2020

Yes. 2020 was a shit-show. It was a crap-crepe filled with maggots, topped off with hair clippings from Donald. But... there was music. Music kept me from going completely bananas.

While my musical tastes include pretty much anything but pop-country genres, these rankings are mostly electronic / hiphop / experimental / hard rock / ambient favours. No, there is no Taylor Swift. I would LOVE to hear your top 10 irrespective of your musical tastes. Enjoy.

1. Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind. I don't know what it was about this album that just hit the spot on so many emotions. You might have heard the highly addictive Kerosene! but I think my favourite track on the album is Asteroid Blues which has this super funky space jam and wicked bass line. Also a big fan of Medicine Burn which sounds like a gentle car crash. Super album.
2. Thundercat - It is what it is. Man... the falsetto 70s vibe with gnarly 6 string bass is absolutely nuts. The production level on this album isn't shabby. You'll either HATE or LOVE this album. While Dragonball Durag is probably its best sounding track, my hands down favourite is Interstellar Love. The plush open jazz vibe is so refreshing. Brilliant, beautiful sound... not bad for an ex-bassist for Suicidal Tendencies.
3. ... And you will know us by the the trail of dead - X: The Godless Void and Other Stories. Yeah.. late 2019 entry. Don't care its my list. Great lyrics, rich sound. I mean listen to "Into the Godless Void" and tell me blood doesn't start pumping through your veins. The super-addictive song Don't Look Down has a different gentler vibe from some of their expected sounds, but no complaints. Check out Something Like This. 
4. Daniel Avery - Love + Light. It is no dig nor a chip at originality when I say that his sound is similar to Aphex Twin: Indeed it is not, but it is similar in the ability to mash different genres effortlessly and have a completely listenable album. London Island is a 6 minute transcendental meditation piece... Dream Distortion is 6 minutes of Detroit minimal techno... Searing Light, Forward Motion is a barrage of Drum-n-Bass with acid vibes. But hands down favourite is Into the Arms of Stillness which simply magical... reminiscent of a Boards of Canada ethereal sound, which is definitely a top 5 track this year. Infinite Future, has sweet breakbeat ambience and thunderous bass... the 3:30 minute mark is bliss.
5. Alva Noto - Xerrox Vol 4. ... speaking of ambient, there really is no comparing with multi-talented Alva Noto. This is the 4th instalment which certainly follows the same traditions of earlier works, maintaining a very deep pensive sound with minimal and strategically placed noises, and -with all honesty- is probably not my favourite so far. It is very much 'thinking music' where the entire album slips by without you even noticing. Some bright spots for me are Neige, which really belongs in a Blade Runner movie, and Voyage, its' most melodic, for which is the perfect soundtrack when watching rain fall.
6. Pearl Jam - Gigaton. This one might be controversial. But I like it. Grown up grunge? SIgn me up baby. Dance of the Clairvoyants make one really wonder where this band might go. 
7. DJ Krush - TRICKSTER. DJ Krush has some pretty phat beats... perhaps not as phat as some earlier works but there are some standouts. Full of nastiness and youth, it remains consistent and listenable. Hidden Shadow sounds like a well aged Gotan Project. 
8. Julianna Barwick - Healing is a Miracle. This is the kind of music you need during a pandemic: something to lift your spirits, and remind better days are ahead. Whereas this album has much more 'music' and perhaps less vocal, I think it points to some growth in her singular style. It has a less hollow sound. Inspirit is a great example of how her chorus (of 1!) blends in with other noises unlike other albums. I love this super low-fi live video posted this summer... all that sound!
9. Deftones - Ohms. Deftones you say? The sound and production is awesome. Just when you think they can't get louder... I can't say it beats some of their older stuff but it ranks high because it sounds so good! Urantia is their release which is probably a top track. I am partial to the full on rage in The Spell of Mathematics... the claps and finger snaps at the 3 minute mark are perfect!
10. Public Enemy - What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? After all the shit we saw this summer, need I say more? I mean...  Public Enemy Number Won .. but this video means nothing without hearing the scratching at the 3:40 minute mark. I still get chills listening to Rebel Without A Pause, ... remember this important message? Listening to Fight the Power 2020 just makes me mad.... the year is 2020.

Some notable mentions / Singles

Rest in Peace Florian Schneider.

Special K: Sandman: Yes... thats my kid... he released an album early last year. Lifestyles is very good. Really! And he collabed with my nephew on a sweet track Live it Up (feat. Frank Hops)

Rammstein, Haifish (Haiswing remix by Olsen Involtini). Hand down my favourite track released this year. I mean, c'mon! A song that starts with Monte Python in a "London Calling" guitar riff, topped with a big brass sound and swing? This, my friends, is how you do a remix!

Robert Hood: Mirror Man... for an hour of refined Detroit Techno. Nothing Stops Detroit

Mark Pritchard: Rakatak: Unbelievably good. Don't listen to this in a quiet room.

Solitary Dancer: An angel for everyone. Here is the iTunes link. 

The Advent - Vast: A great end-to-end album. 

Datawave: Genotype1 - super space banger!

Asian Dub Foundation: Frontline - Still fighting the good fight!

Enjoy