Year-End Critics' Polls 2013

hadn't heard of it! will check it out

this awesome song is on it, you might not dig the guy's voice on this one track though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M_R25FMx8c

Follakzoid and Sungod are two of my big ones year

The Holden record will be right up there for me. Checking out Sungod, sounds up my street...

The Holden record is a real piece of work. Too much to take in first time around. I'm not surprised that Hopkins crossed over and this didn't. It's so strange and dense whereas Immunity is just real purdy.

i would've thought strange-sounding records to which one's first reaction is "whoa" would get more critical traction! and it's not like the holden record doesn't have a LOT of prettiness on it - "renata", the gorgeous last two tracks

but even so if you just want purdy dance why not go for something with a bit more connection to where dance music's at this year (maya jane coles and maxmillion dunbar in particular) than something which brings nothing to the table than stuff from 2005

I think you're being harsh on the Hopkins there. Some of the sound palette is certainly Border Community circa 2005, but not all of it. Friends of mine who like it but don't know BC stuff have been comparing it to Four Tet and Eno too. I think the way he uses pianos and space on the second half of the record is something quite substantially different to Holden et al. I like the Holden record more than the Hopkins one - it feels more alive, more epic, more dangerous, more weird - but the Hopkins record is still very good.

xp Boards of Canada perhaps taking up the limited critical attention for that kind of record? In any case the Holden LP is way better.

Because some albums gather momentum and some don't. I've been hearing people talk about Immunity since it came out and then it was Mercury nominated. Whereas the Maya Jane album, which I love, seemed to disappear. Plus Immunity is pretty and emotive so it's easy to like after you've heard it once. People who aren't expert in a certain genre are drawn to albums with buzz, just like they'll vote for Yeezus as their favourite hip hop album. It's annoying for people who are deep into those genres but there's no mystery to it.

Exactly.

probably played the mjc album more than any other this year, it seems to be the one I default to in a number of circumstances

how has machinedrum done on these lists?

People who aren't expert in a certain genre are drawn to albums with buzz, just like they'll vote for Yeezus as their favourite hip hop album.

haha this sentence concisely sums up basically every complaint i've ever had about EOY lists (apart from the usual gender/race issues). i feel like this is ok for casual listeners but i should expect more of professional critics

dance music is never going to be represented in any real way in end of year album polls.

Lex, there are vast tracts of music about which you know very little. Why should every critic be expected to go deep into every genre?

Suspect the main reason the Hopkins album got so much traction is that it was released by Domino and therefore was listened to a load of people who otherwise wouldn't bothered. It also got a sizeable market push, "new Eno" type interviews in the Guardian etc, plus I saw it advertised in Tube stations even before the Mercury nomination.

he was mentored by eno or something wasn't he?

OTM. Domino did a good job on it, plus Hopkins already had rock-mag recognition because of Coldplay, Eno and King Creosote. Holden hasn't out out an album in seven years and he doesn't have the cult status of Boards of Canada. It might not be fair - as if EOTY polls are about fairness - but it's no mystery.

nobody here even expected the holden record to be good.

That's OTM but I'm not sure how it's relevant. FWIW the Holden record placed in the top 20 in the fucking Mojo list so it's hardly being overlooked.

it does suggest less chance of publicity. anyway if it's holden v hopkins in the authenticity race... lol.

james holden, keeper of the electronic music flame v jon hopkins, white british pretender.

Well, if nothing else this squabbling has made me listen to 'Renata'. It's pretty. Not earth-shattering, but pretty. I was kind of hoping it'd be some sort of tribute to 'Rheinita' by La Düsseldorf, though. Not sure why I thought that was likely.

I think of the Holden album as being even less grounded in dance music than the Hopkins one. I don't get the sense that either are particularly concerned with dancing at all.

don't think holden or any of border community ever has been really... despite some accidental hits.

well, bit more than accidental hits but they're p comfortably indie imo.

Beginning last night and going through this morning, I've listened to the James Holden, Jon Hopkins, Daniel Avery and Laurel Halo albums that have been mentioned a bit over the last chunk of this thread. Into Holden and Avery, not into Hopkins and Laurel Halo at all.

x-post
Album-wise maybe not but I saw/danced to Holden twice last summer and the Inheritors material (supplemented with, eh, beats. and tweaked considerably, I'll give you that) went down really well on both occasions

The Holden doesn't seem to be on Spotify (in the U.S.), does it?

Oh wait, never mind: it's under "Holden," not "James Holden."

was 'DJing' at a house party in dalston on saturday, someone commandeered the set up begging me to play a tune (it was the birthday girl so I couldn't say no). she played the 2nd track of the Hopkins record and people went nuts for it.

yp, can a mod ban me? i have literally nothing to offer any thread ever

it's really popular alright. anecdotally i feel like people i know who are generally more into indie are into it.

i bought one of his old records for my parents a few years ago, the v global communication chilled thing he did. i was trying to get them into music so i got them that and the gotan project album. not altogether negative response.

xpost

the 2nd track of the Hopkins record

its a good track though!

Yeah Open Eye Signal's great. Good choice birthday girl.

Didn't really follow 'Don't Fight the Feeling' by Master Force but you've got to be a man of the people at these things really haven't you.

People who aren't expert in a certain genre are drawn to albums with buzz, just like they'll vote for Yeezus as their favourite hip hop album.

haha this sentence concisely sums up basically every complaint i've ever had about EOY lists (apart from the usual gender/race issues). i feel like this is ok for casual listeners but i should expect more of professional critics

― lex pretend, Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Haven't you in the past noted on ilx threads how you have not heard certain 60s rock records, and certain late 70s/early 80s punk and postpunk records, yet you still offer your take on rock.

I think you're being harsh on the Hopkins there. Some of the sound palette is certainly Border Community circa 2005, but not all of it. Friends of mine who like it but don't know BC stuff have been comparing it to Four Tet and Eno too. I think the way he uses pianos and space on the second half of the record is something quite substantially different to Holden et al. I like the Holden record more than the Hopkins one - it feels more alive, more epic, more dangerous, more weird - but the Hopkins record is still very good.

enjoying this secret circuit album nickb! moroderesque bassline on "parascopic rope", nice

glad you like it!

the black deer album is another good one along similar lines, maybe a bit closer to holden though

Listening to James Holden now and baffled about what's so strange and challenging about it. Maybe this will become obvious when I've heard more of it.

Still no love for After Dark 2? People that is a doozy. Even though there is no roots rock influence, I find myself playing it constantly.

"Caterpillar's Intervention" is the best new RIO track I've heard in ages.

Still sounds like Atlas by Battles to me when it starts up

I had no idea there was a Secret Circuit album, their tracks have been popping up on Balearic/disco mixes for years and I've always enjoyed them.

What is RIO? I love Caterpillar's Intervention and keep meaning to search out more stuff like it.

the black deer album is another good one along similar lines, maybe a bit closer to holden though

i have a few of the 12s, must check it out.

RIO = Rock in Opposition. Half joking, but only half. Could definitely imagine this being made by a Fred Frith associate.

I had no idea there was a Secret Circuit album, their tracks have been popping up on Balearic/disco mixes for years and I've always enjoyed them

i did search on ilm for mention of them and yes, it was bringing up all sorts of blueski results from 2003 or 04 or something

I feel so out of touch bc as a dance music person, I have no idea what the fuck most of these records you guys are talking about are.