Concerning re-issues/archival releases, without question New York Noise Vol. 3 belongs on any Best Of 2006 list, as does Ike Yard. But you knew that already, I hope.
(the inevitable dumb) BEST OF '06 (thread)
- Thread starter francesco
- Start date
I'll say the best album this year was Scott Walker - "The Drift" to my mind it pisses on everything else from a great height. Not totally sure its better than "Tilt" (its a little over-long for a start) but it was the most ambitious album released this year, and the one that rewarded the most examinations (indeed what was most disappointing about even the good releases this year was how their magic was so swiftly spent after the most cursory of listens...)
There was lots of other good stuff, but I will especially remember the Burial album, as much for the discourse surrounding it as the actual album (good though it is all the tracks Ive heard him produce AFTER have been better if anything...).
Dubstep obviously, can't be arsed to name the tracks but I'm thinking Pinch, Mala, Distance, Shackleton. Kode9 for his live DJ sets, Skream for the Stella Sessions...
Live experiences: Gang Gang Dance, Battles, Supersilent... proving that electronic manipulation and live music can be a dynamic experience beyond merely observing a man prodding a laptop, and can obviously be 1000 times more exhilarating than any conventional rock show. Also Sunn0))) at Frieze and Ryoji Ikeda/Ava Noto at Tate Modern.
Pop: Cassie, Timberlake, Nelly Furtado (singles)... there's still some juice in the fruits of late 90s early 00s futureshocked R'n'B production aesthetic
Junior Boys, The Knife, Hot Chip (albums).
There was lots of other good stuff, but I will especially remember the Burial album, as much for the discourse surrounding it as the actual album (good though it is all the tracks Ive heard him produce AFTER have been better if anything...).
Dubstep obviously, can't be arsed to name the tracks but I'm thinking Pinch, Mala, Distance, Shackleton. Kode9 for his live DJ sets, Skream for the Stella Sessions...
Live experiences: Gang Gang Dance, Battles, Supersilent... proving that electronic manipulation and live music can be a dynamic experience beyond merely observing a man prodding a laptop, and can obviously be 1000 times more exhilarating than any conventional rock show. Also Sunn0))) at Frieze and Ryoji Ikeda/Ava Noto at Tate Modern.
Pop: Cassie, Timberlake, Nelly Furtado (singles)... there's still some juice in the fruits of late 90s early 00s futureshocked R'n'B production aesthetic
Junior Boys, The Knife, Hot Chip (albums).
childrentalking
Well-known member
I'd say Jason Lescalleet's The Pilgrim takes the prize for "most ambitious"...
hurricane run
Well-known member
The only new releases i consumrd this year were
Rafael Toral Space Haven't made up my mind and sometimes that's the point of this sort of thing
The 1990's single which is joyously stupid as is
the Another Brick in the wall remix
run_time - the sub club is in Glasgow
Rafael Toral Space Haven't made up my mind and sometimes that's the point of this sort of thing
The 1990's single which is joyously stupid as is
the Another Brick in the wall remix
run_time - the sub club is in Glasgow
What was that like? I imagine if Ikeda was doing his Dataplex thing bastard-loud it would be fantastic.
There was a thread somewhere to discuss it, but in summary I thought it was pretty great, Ikeda exactly as you say (datamatics audio-visual at high volume), but it was Alva Noto who was the real revelation, similarly audio-visual performance, but more noise/ambient, but more abrasive and yet emotive than that sounds.
I saw the US premiere of Ikeda's multi-media piece C4i two years ago and it was one of the most compelling things that I've ever experienced, period, full-stop. In a small art gallery, audience sitting on bleachers in front of a huge screen stretched across a concrete floor, towers of speakers on both sides, I sat first row. Very, very loud. The video component was equally well done. What an excellent piece. Apologies for going off topic.
childrentalking
Well-known member
brotherjames
Member
Wolf Eyes: Human Animal
Wolf Eyes: River Slaughter
Charalambides. A Vintage Burden
Beach House: Beach House
To Live and Shave In La: Noon and Eternity /Scott Walker: The Drift
Sonic Youth: Rather Ripped
Burial: Burial
Wooden Wand and The Vanishing Voice: Gipsy Freedom
Vanishing Voice: Nordic Visions
MV & EE with the Bummer Road: Mother of Thousands
Wolf Eyes: River Slaughter
Charalambides. A Vintage Burden
Beach House: Beach House
To Live and Shave In La: Noon and Eternity /Scott Walker: The Drift
Sonic Youth: Rather Ripped
Burial: Burial
Wooden Wand and The Vanishing Voice: Gipsy Freedom
Vanishing Voice: Nordic Visions
MV & EE with the Bummer Road: Mother of Thousands
My favourites this year were The Bug, Xylitol and Skream. The rest was shit. I sort of liked The Horrors for 2 minutes, til I saw an interview with them and discovered they were just a bunch of plummy gobshites who want to talk about recording studio techniques and the Internet (BORING).
Reissue-wise, 'New York Noise 3' is exceptional - seems to go beyond the usual compilation remit and unlike so many other no wave records (including No New York) seems to plunge the listener into its own unique world. It's like a neverending 4am in an underground Vietnam disco on too many purple hearts, and that's praise by the way.
Cunts most in need of a kicking - whoever recorded that fucking Leo Sayer-sampling dance track (and everyone who bought it), The Feeling (and ditto) and the Fratellis. And the Basement Jaxx for that lazy, lame piece of shit they released.
Reissue-wise, 'New York Noise 3' is exceptional - seems to go beyond the usual compilation remit and unlike so many other no wave records (including No New York) seems to plunge the listener into its own unique world. It's like a neverending 4am in an underground Vietnam disco on too many purple hearts, and that's praise by the way.
Cunts most in need of a kicking - whoever recorded that fucking Leo Sayer-sampling dance track (and everyone who bought it), The Feeling (and ditto) and the Fratellis. And the Basement Jaxx for that lazy, lame piece of shit they released.
PHP:
Cunts most in need of a kicking....
Definitely agree: the Fratellis, the Feeling, the Kooks, Razorlight, etc. Basically the NME (No More Excitement) fucking dickhead student roster. To all Big-Sweeping-Tony-And-Guy-Fringe-plus-scarf-and-Converse wannabes, take your vintage rolling stones tour t-shirt and fuck off.
On the plus side, Promiscuous Girl. "you already know..."
...and not forgetting:
Cham - Ghetto Story
Tony Matterhorn - Dutty Wine
Arpanet - Inertial Frame
Urban Tribe - Authorized Clinical Trials
Woolfy - The Warehouse (although this might wear off in a couple of weeks, can't tell yet)
X2 Vs Saturn V - Primitive Cypher
kind of re-issue corner:
Dj Pierre - Box Energy FINALLY RELEASED ON 12"!!!!!
Cham - Ghetto Story
Tony Matterhorn - Dutty Wine
Arpanet - Inertial Frame
Urban Tribe - Authorized Clinical Trials
Woolfy - The Warehouse (although this might wear off in a couple of weeks, can't tell yet)
X2 Vs Saturn V - Primitive Cypher
kind of re-issue corner:
Dj Pierre - Box Energy FINALLY RELEASED ON 12"!!!!!
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That New York Noise #3 comp is bloody great. Been loads of reissues of obscure NDW / minimal synth ephemera this year, some of which have been a real revelation: Holger Hiller & Thomas Fehlmann's 'Wir Bauen Eine Stadt' on Gagarin Records, Saal 2, Dino Martini, Bene Gesserit (from vinyl-on-demand and wsdp). It probably all seems like pretty marginal stuff, but they really deserve a wider hearing!
As for new stuff, well - it's been a bit thin on the ground really. I've really enjoyed The Knife album, DAT Politics' 'Wow Twist' is great fun. Have listened almost non stop to that Joanna Newsom album since it came out, ditto the new album by Circle 'Miljard', which sets aside the motorik prog metal for piano and electronics minimalism. Some of Chris Clark's new album is quite nice... As many people have noted, there's seems to have been a creeping torpor this year, but with maybe some interesting stuff happening on the margins.
As for new stuff, well - it's been a bit thin on the ground really. I've really enjoyed The Knife album, DAT Politics' 'Wow Twist' is great fun. Have listened almost non stop to that Joanna Newsom album since it came out, ditto the new album by Circle 'Miljard', which sets aside the motorik prog metal for piano and electronics minimalism. Some of Chris Clark's new album is quite nice... As many people have noted, there's seems to have been a creeping torpor this year, but with maybe some interesting stuff happening on the margins.
DigitalDjigit
Honky Tonk Woman
I only bought about 4 new records this year that weren't a reissue or re-edit. And only one was good enough to really be Best of the Year. It's Gosub - We Are Still Searching on KONDI. For those who like the early Drexciyan sound.
I gave up following new music this year. What's the point? It's all going to be available on the internet forever.
I gave up following new music this year. What's the point? It's all going to be available on the internet forever.
the one by him on point one is the winner there is a really over the top echoey slow drexciya like track on there thats ace.
hucks
Your Message Here
Album - yoyoyoyoyoyo by spank rock. if you can get beyond the ludicrous sexism it's pretty solid quality, plus the singles and remixes were all awesome. saw them live and they were pretty good fun, too.
burial as well, and actually more so over time. plus i liked the remix of blackdown, and that track on the mary anne hobbs thing might be my track of the year.
biggest disappointment - the dr octagon album. i feel cheated.
burial as well, and actually more so over time. plus i liked the remix of blackdown, and that track on the mary anne hobbs thing might be my track of the year.
biggest disappointment - the dr octagon album. i feel cheated.
Guybrush
Dittohead
An interesting statement, and a very true one at that. Newness is overrated anyway.
You still have to find your particular e-needles of choice in the ever growing i-haystack.
Can't see it getting any easier with time...
Zeitgeist?
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