bun-u

Fifteen of the best for 2005

Ok we all love a list, so here’s a list of the albums (and occasional mixtape and complication) that have done it for me in 2005.

1. Ariel Pink - Worn Copy/The Doldrums/House Arrest

Probably my favourite new sounds this year were made by California’s Ariel Pink. Ariel Pink has recorded several CDR albums on 8-track since around 1999 and now three of these have now been released on Animal Collective’s imprint Paw. The soundscape produced by cassette recording is very much part of the sound as near perfect Beach Boys pop motifs are wilfully obscured and distorted to sound like it’s coming through a not-quite-tuned-in radio hosted by a DJ playing dusty warped cassettes.
Favourite track: Ocean of weep (on House Arrest)

2. The Focus Group - Hey let loose your love

The Focus Group is Julian House (formerly Broadcast’s record designer) and he (together with the rest of the Ghostbox artists) has been exploring the often dark childhood nostalgia last explored by the likes of Position Normal and People Like Us. Forgotten library sounds, schools programme soundtracks, radio workshop explorations are all delved into here on tracks that mostly run under 2 minutes. The whole package is made complete by the Polytechnic text book-style covers.
Favourite track: Hey let loose your love

3. Animal Collective - Feels

Incredibly, this is the Animal Collective’s 7th album and also most commercial-sounding release. It also catches them at something approaching their peak. Following on from last year’s excellent Sung Tongs album, Feels feels more like the product of a full band, with Avey Tare, Panda, Geologist and Deakin all pitching in to create the densely layered, moving and regularly catchy songs.
Favourite track: Banshee Beat

4. Bun B -Trill

In 2005 US rap’s epicentre moved to Houston, Texas with Mike Jones, Bushwick Bill and Pitball all releasing big-selling and critically acclaimed LPs. Surpassing them all though is former UKG player Bun B, with Trill. Though possibly let down by the occasional weak track, Trill makes it into this list with the sheer weight of tracks like Draped Up, Pushin and The Story.
Favourite track: Draped Up

5. Various - Target presents Aim High Volume 2

Roll Deep’s Target and Danny Weed at the controls for this year’s best grime mixtape (and DVD to boot). The signature accordion sounds are everywhere while the scene’s best MCs deliver big bars over the 25 tracks on offer.
Favourite track: (Riko & Godsgift's) Dead That

6. The Books - Lost and Safe

Perhaps the most delicately produced album of the year, the Books pluck sampled voices and arranged them inside simple compositions made with guitar, banjo, andpercussion. Based on moments of contemplation and often crammed with pent up emotion, the album creates a more melodic path for the Books after their first two albums.
Favourite track: An Animated Description Of Mr. Maps

7. Isolee - We Are Monster

The only dance music entry in the best of list, Isolée is Rajko Müller who has been making minimalist house since the mid 90s, Beau Mot Plague being a huge dancefloor hit in1997. We are Monster continues Isolee’s use of warm tones, pulsating rhythms and crushing melodies. This sound is both simple delivered yet feels cleverly crafted. Favourite track: Schrapnell

8. Kanye West - Late Registration

Though not quite reaching the heights of the awesome College Dropout, Late Registration is still one of this year's best rap albums. The album has a strong input from co-producer Jon Brion and this has undoubtedly has helped West’s sound evolve .
Favourite track: Gone

9. Electrelane - Axes

Axes sees Electrelane take a huge advance on their sometimes patchy previous work. Now transcending their influences, they are full of fire ripping into the modern age and on their game. Favourite track: The Partisan

10. Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice - Xiao

Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice are part of America’s emerging ‘avant folk’ (or whatever you want to call it) community. Here folk is used as the catalyst for blending improve, jazz and psychedelic influences, while the occasional Funkadelic and kraut rock grooves can also be heard.
Favourite track: Paper trail blues

11. Kevin Blechdom - Eat my heart out

Thankfully the work of the now-defunct San Francisco duo Blectum from Blechdom (1999-2001) is gaining its deserved credence, which it failed achieved at the time. Both Blevin and Kevin have since released excellent solo records, with Kevin Blechdom's perhaps closer to the duo’s original manifesto. Eat My Heart Out continues in a similar vein as Blechdom’s first LP Bitches Without Britches, though the pushing-the-boundaries-of-good-taste quota is higher (mirrored by the visual aesthetic on the original front cover – not the one shown).
Favourite track: The Porcupine and the Jellyfish

12. Roll Deep - Creeper Mixtape Volume 1

There are supposedly 5 of these Creeper mixtapes around, but they’ve been held back by Relentless, who understandably were keen for Roll Deep fans not to have too many distractions from the official In at Deep End release. For me, the first Creeper mixtape (I haven’t heard the others) provides a better Roll Deep manifesto than the slightly disappointing album.
Favourite track: (Wiley’s) So sure freestyle

13. Hot Chip - Coming on Strong

Reminding me a little of Max Tundra’s LP from a couple of years ago, Hot Chip are a kinda like a strange fey Indie take on disco, soul and funk. Sounding a bit like Belle and Sebastian playing Prince numbers or awkward indie kids attempting to be sexy.
Favourite track: You ride, we ride, in my ride

14. Lightning Bolt - Hypermagic Mountain

Roaring bass, drums and screwed vocals creating easily the noisiest album on my list this year.
Favourite track: 2 Morro Morro Land

15. Ruff Sqwad - Guns and Roses Mixtape Volume 1

The first third (8 tracks) of this mixtape is a ball of Ruff Sqwad energy mixing their love of guitars, dense sound and fiery lyrics.
Favourite track: We bring it down

And Bubbling under...

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Jackson and his Computer Band - Smash
Richard Hawley - Coles Corner
Belbury Poly - The Willows
The Advisory Circle - Mind how you go
The Fall - Fall Heads Roll
Antony and the Johnsons - I am a bird
Juana Molina - Tres Cosas
Richard Devine - Cautella
Annie - Anniemal


Singles (grime)

Ruff Sqwad and Roll Deep - Sidewinder
Ruff Sqwad and Roll Deep - All day long
Skream - Late night request line
Ruff Sqwad and Wiley - Together
Young.dot – Young.dot EP
The Essentials - State your name
Roll Deep - When I’m ere (Wiley rmx)
Davinchie - Dirty Canvas 3
Crazy Titch – Singalong (Imp Batch - Gype riddim)
JME - Serious/Radio guys
Ruff Sqwad - Underground
Doctor - Jealousy and hate
Trim and Scratchy - Trim and scratch
Wiley - Tunnel Vision
D Double - Freestyle (on Grime)

Singles (other)

Bun B - Drapped up RMX (ft. Lil Keke, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Aztek, Lil Flip)
Mike Jones - Still tippin’
Three Six Mafia - I gotta stay high
Vashti Bunyan and Animal Collective - Prospect hummer EP
iWayne - Can’t satisfy her
Damian Marley - Jamrock
Amerie - One thing
Cesaria - Angola (Bateau Ivre Rework By Pepe Bradock)

posted by David M @ 4:20 pm