Hype and Slander: What are you voting for in ILM's 2021 End of Year Tracks and Albums Poll?

Holy shit @ that Bethan Lloyd track. I don't have much space for anything new on my ballot but I am making space!

That's sick, thanks for highlighting it

Also as a purely non-eligible public service announcement, saxophonist Kenny Garrett released an album late last year with Thundercat's brother on drums, and it's fantastic. Definitely would have nominated had I heard it in time.

Some kind of Special Citation, Laurie Anderson Award, whatever you want to call it, should go to Moses Sumney, director and star ov film x album Live From Blackalachia, which takes place during a day and evening in the mountains of North Carolina---no audience, so no "How ya doin Blackalachia" etc., but you are there. A seven-piece band total, I think (three horn players eventually appear in the gloaming, all in good time), opening with what I think of as psych metal then losing me a little in second quarter diffusion of prog-associated balladry, but coming back strong and then some with the rest, incl. slow motion acrobatics of falsetto, my least favorite (and then some) form of singing--even got a little tired of it on prev. Sumney albums---but this is incredible, incl even some use of microtones? reminding me of Arthur Russell's cello bow at times---and visuals are totally appropriate at all times---meant to compare w audio-only, as usual, but this time I couldn't look away.
(Only thing comparable in recent years: The Chicks' Gaslighter, with commissioned videos by female directors for each track, but those are discrete, while this is seamless---despite cut-ins of "low-fi video," like it says in the credits, also times of day and evening can switch, never twitch.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o406mzKAcvI

Will be voting for the Anz EP and probably You Could Be as well but annoyed I didn't nominate Last Before Lights - absolute banger

That Live From Blackalachia film blew my mind with its ambition. Loved it. Album's on my list.

Really need to check out the Moses Sumney, for some reason it just registered as an a/v project and I never did

Faves in bold

Billy Nomates - Heels: So much attitude and anger and straight up swagger, all entirely earned by the time we hit the song’s braying climax. The tone is totally different but I’m reminded of Annie Lennox at her most sneering. It took a listen or two to come into full view, but I was eventually fully won over. Great ass-kicking stuff!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPQW8GIVgB4

Birds of Maya - Busted Room: Overlong and overloud. The washing machine churn was kind of interesting but it never found another gear.

Black Coffee with Celeste - Ready for You: This is the sort of music my partner likes to listen to in the morning when she makes us pancakes: affirmative, hopeful, uplifting, disco spinning in one place. The sun-kissed, sax heavy and slightly amapiano-ish production is what wins me over.

Black Dresses - Concrete Bubble: Screamo angry clanking alternating with coffeehouse poetry slam. As a thermal vent its effective but it’s not doing much more to me than scalding.

Black Merlin - Scape One (Gordon Pohl Remix): An extremely long walk down a Tangerine Dream hallway while the trains rattle by overhead. Luscious loading music for eventual ascension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_MZO4ybBqM

black midi - Marlene Dietrich, Slow: I’m a little embarrassed to say that i can’t entirely get with black midi? All my weirdo jazzbros go ape over this shit and I can’t quite get it in the groove. Feels squarely in the Mr Bungle / Ariel Pink camp of squeakadelica, a headspace I can generally play well in and yet… Nevertheless: Marlene has a very Destroyer-doing-Burt-Bacharach vibe and Slow is sorta mopey Zappa with a number of interesting motifs. These two are definitely my fave songs I’ve heard from them so far.

Blanck Mass - Phase I: I was gonna nominate In Ferneaux for best album before I noticed someone put the first track off the EP in the singles selections. Phase II is definitely worth your time but I will agree that the front half is the superior side. So many twists and turns and cracks against the curb, it’s a real atmospheric journey, deliberate and thoughtful throughout though mostly without part two’s friction and grime. I committed to this haunted house ride for a week early last year and I never had cause to regret it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onhnkc2wIzQ

Blaqnick - The Whistling Man: I promise I don’t ALWAYS mind when the song is unfinished. Case in point is this combo platter of vicious beat, super simple synth bounce, squelching electronic steel drum and a squad of basketball-playing baby birds squeaking new shoes across a newly waxed parquet court. It’s a bunch of odd elements that adds up to less than a complete track but who cares because it fucking slaps. CHIRP CHEECHIRPA!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi9t5Zm65m8

Blasterjaxx - Zurna (Dimatik Remix): Arena EDM digitalis that really wants to know are you seeing THESE LIGHTS OH MY GOD THE LIGHTS WOOO I LOVE THIS PLACE what time is mom picking us up HEY DUDE HEY DUDE DO YOU KNOW MOLLY WOOOO

Blawan - Under Belly: Fuck, this is such a spaced-out bubbly banger of a hit, a calliope on fire with the biggest ass you’ve ever seen. Look at the size of them pink Baby Elephants!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayzv3kIwyuc

Bleachers - Stop Making This Hurt: I’m going to say this once: Jack Antonoff is unhealthy for the culture and I look forward to the moment when our collective white blood cells clear him out of pop's arteries.

Blood Cultures - Set It on Fire: Totally new to me and absolutely tremendous, super busy and hummable but difficult to pin down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQUFBkYmc6U

Blxst - Don’t Forget with Drakeo, Overrated: Not entirely sure what this guy is providing that twenty other guys in exactly the same lane are doing much better already. Maybe I need to find the song that showcases him at his best? Neither of these were that for me.

Body/Dilloway/Head - Body/Erase: Nearly eighteen minutes of approaching storm, soft at first and then noisy as 2021. Hardly easy listening, but I could handle this nicely as the entirety of a live set. Unfortunately, as part of a listening project, it’s a bit of an obstinate minotaur.

Boldy James with Roc Marciano, Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist - Photographic Memories: A good showing by everyone involved but the understated production and slightly gloomy mood dampens my enthusiasm.

Bomba Estereo - Deja: I always forget that I like Bomba Estereo a lot. This has the qualities of their best stuff: sunny, rhythmic, blissed out and entirely pleasurable.

Borai with Denham Audio - Make Me: Ginsu-sharp ravebait with an undeniable vocal hook and enough energy to power the marquee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czfcRpxLVYY

Born at Midnite - Pop Charts: Twee self-referential navel gazing that suggests hyper pop has had enough of the 80's and is now coming for your 70’s AM radio hits.

THE BOYZ - THRILL RIDE: Answering the question of what Rockin’ Robin would sound like in a Kpop key. Badass boy band banger brings brazen beats, bare booty boppin’, bumpin' bass, bitchin' breaks. Good video too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMs2CIiqRDI

Branco - HUNDO: Fleet-footed Danish rap with a trap beat and a solid guitar spine. Even though I’ll avoid giving a look at the lyrics, I bet I could likely win a handful of kroner betting on the subject matter. It's about Mette Frederiksen isn't it? And drug sales.

It's far too late to have any influence over the results, but I may as well mention a few of my favourite album nominations for no reason other than posterity:

Monogem - Gardenia sounds luxurious - like travertine, areca palms and humidity - and marks a turning point in the Mexican-American artist's career, in that it's her first release featuring lyrics mostly in Spanish, and her first one as a mother. One of the best lying-in-a-hammock albums since We Are KING probably.

Ngaiire - 3 is another album by a new mother, the latest from one of my favourite vocalists ever. When I shilled heavily for Blastoma about five years ago now, it finished just outside the 77, and I'm not sure 3 contains as "high highs", but it's very well made, consistent and beautiful. I'm mostly impressed that someone other than me nominated it!

While we wait for Javiera Mena's new album and for her to potentially conquer Eurovision (!) (oh, and vote for "Culpa" in the tracks poll, please), Princesa Alba - besitos, cuídate is fulfilling the coveted Chilean disco-pop spot on my ballot. She's been making excellent music for a while now - last year's Dua Lipa xerox "Ya No Quieres Quererme" one of many notable examples - and the full length delivers, despite not featuring that song. The title track sounds like self-titled era Britney.

I was very charmed by Joy Crookes - Skin - personal, political, and inventive, and if the UK is still anointing heiresses apparent to Amy Winehouse (RIP), then with this Crookes stakes out the strongest claim yet.

Agnes - Magic Still Exists came out shortly before the ABBA album and it was hard not to compare the two, especially as monster single "Here Comes The Night" seemed to riff gently on "Gimme Gimme Gimme". A storming mission statement, this album is utterly relentless (it's only at the final track, a ballad, that the pace slows) and gave 30-something gay men everywhere (myself included) an extreme case of heart palpitations. Another joy this year was finding her performance for Swedish television of 2009 worldwide hit "Release Me" in late 2020, in which a disco uplift was applied to fantastic effect.

An entirely different kettle of fish was Maple Glider - To Enjoy Is The Only Thing, a quiet, wintry meditation on loneliness from a Melbourne artist. Good to play while looking out the window at the rain during lockdown - I speak from experience!

I also presume every ballot will contain Rochelle Jordan - Play With The Changes, an alloy of Kelela, Aaliyah, Erika de Casier (vote for her too!) and Tinashe that floored me on first listen. If not, then reconsider!

Branco - HUNDO: Fleet-footed Danish rap with a trap beat and a solid guitar spine. Even though I’ll avoid giving a look at the lyrics, I bet I could likely win a handful of kroner betting on the subject matter. It's about Mette Frederiksen isn't it? And drug sales.

― i cannot help if you made yourself not funny (forksclovetofu), 20. januar 2022 06:47 (eleven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

So glad you liked this :) Danish trap is awesome. I can already say this one from the biggest rap star in Denmark will be placed very highly on my 2022 ballot.

Did you hear Ieva Jokubaviciute's Northscapes, Fred? Some nice Sorensen on it.

No, I haven't heard it, but I will definitely check it out :) All of the Nocturnes were recorded this year by Katrine Gislinge btw: https://www.dacapo-records.dk/en/recordings/sorensen-12-nocturnes

Oh cool, thanks for the tip.

You're welcome. And btw, if you want more modern Danish piano music, you NEED to listen to the new Gustav Piekut recording of Langgaard. His 'Afgrundsmusik' is the first time it has all made sense to me.

cosign for the quality of Northscapes, great record.

I voted a while ago, but that Ola Kvenberg album Drugs A. Money nominated that people were talking about earlier is really cool

Happened upon this while looking for another post, but this Gooooose piano + breakcore track rules

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2N6KIijTW0

First time hearing it because it was on a comp and not on Svbkvlt's Bandcamp, lol

(s/o to silverfish)

xxp to rob Isn't it? Even if the astrohippodromical opening track stands out, for me at least.

Really enjoying the entire Audiobooks album, which unfortunately wasn't nominated

I think the final Ola track is my fave, but I haven't gotten to know it that well yet

The Gislinge recording of the Sorensen nocturnes is very nice. I didn't hear a string quartet on the bonus track, though?

Low's "More" sounds like the direction I wanted Sleigh Bells to take and that's a compliment

glad that black merlin/gordon pohl track stood out to you forks. a few years ago i decided to burrow further into the rabbit hole of my own particular taste with more time set aside for concentrated listening and far less time keeping up with what other people are talking about, so it's always nice to get some reassurance that others can still hear what i'm hearing

"Luscious loading music for eventual ascension"

and this in particular is a perfect descriptor imo

anz track on local action is good, sultry, restrained with a hypersoul belter ready to escape the cage at any point. It's certainly no 1-2 step, the electro influence is less apparent, but it'll do as an end of night tune.

Finn and India Jordan one is moronic beyond the pale, giving off the perilous odour of John McTernan's unwashed socks. I can feel the puke starting to rise, the last thing we need is RA/Crack mag approved influencers pickybacking on donk/bassline 10 years after the sound has already exhausted its subcultural relevancy (why don't these people make bassy tech house seen as that's what the core bassline audience listens to today?) At least revival jungle and revival deep house is catering to crowds for which these sounds never went away. This stuff seems to consciously divorce itself from engaging with its core audiences, despite being in the geographical vacinity. A curiously one-sided dialogue, I want to be a lover but only ever for myself. If one wanted to be cynical they could go on a rant about informal segregation, and fuelled with even more beer it'd never stop...

Illuvia - Iridescence of Clouds
Gorgeous swoony ambient drum & bass, which is better than that sounds since both the breaks and the synths are brilliantly done.
change display name (Jordan), Tuesday, 4 January 2022 22:44 (two weeks ago)

Again, this is my problem with this stuff. Whilst the music is perfectly pleasant it's in this narcissistic indie mode of not wanting to engage in dialogue with the culture it's referencing. I can link hundreds of records that sound exactly like this from junglists who have continued to do their thing through the 00s. Now as devils advocate you can say, yes, but it is all that comes out of the speakers that matters. And whilst that is true enough, it's also the problem with the people who became graduates of Reynolds and Finney's writings, in that they don't have the contexts that both of these authors have. So whilst Si knows about Bassbin and Inperspective, yer average twitter personality who pontificates about hardcore continuum nick land jungle doesn't, because they haven't hooked onto the narritive arc of a genre but its snapshot in a particular spatiotemporal configuration. And therein lies the implicit limitations of the rockist/poptimist culture wars so beloved of the majority of indie refuseniks on this forum, that both approaches are essentially predicated on an overwhelmingly American epistemic foundation, where the brand becomes the thing. Sounds can be abstracted from their contexts rather than sound being the sonification of environments (not the images conjured.)

Anyway, without wanting to sound all totally negative, give these mixes a try:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HYVY3unXtRo30q3yWxPT-fPgzWgwLbI2/view?usp=sharing
https://soundcloud.com/atmoteka/code-atmoteka-70

Code is really the don of this ambient but extremely funky style of dnb.

Here's a Bandcamp-only song I'd like to rep for: https://patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/track/mystic-folk
Dunno how to describe it really. Wild cutesy prog-EDM banger with a hint of Autechre and two guest vocalists trading fx-slathered verses that builds to the most almighty climax?
― imago, Friday, 14 January 2022 13:13 (one week ago)

Liked it until the vocals came in, was hoping for more of a todd edwards style ultra-cut up.

I nominate this track from William Parker. Guitar might be redolent of Mahavishnu Orchestra but the rhythm section is some seriously heavy jazz funk. top top stuff. No fat on the bones here.

https://open.spotify.com/track/7pe9Q8Mi9ESLDmQzrCNMCk?autoplay=true

Looking forward to the C-Z commentary today before deadline

Next year I'm just nominating artists that start with the letter A

Huge thanks to whoever nominated that Hardfloor track as it's ace and I'd not heard it before but it appears to have come out 5 years ago?

Loving the Bethan Lloyd track. According to a friend she does these wild singing workshops out in the Welsh mountains. Sounds terrifying

I’ve got about 200 left to go on the playlist, heard so much great music, yet my every waking hour is still haunted by the Backardigans.

Is there a YouTube playlist?

Huge thanks to whoever nominated that Hardfloor track as it's ace and I'd not heard it before but it appears to have come out 5 years ago?

― groovypanda, Friday, 21 January 2022 10:32 (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

That was me, and you're right. In my defence, I mostly buy off Juno and this shows it as being released this year - https://www.junodownload.com/products/hardfloor-25-gyeahrs/5155335-02/.

Isn't it good, though?

xp, there is!
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg5Jd-S3s1GE4z_e7plH3u1sAPEsew2DS

Again, this is my problem with this stuff. Whilst the music is perfectly pleasant it's in this narcissistic indie mode of not wanting to engage in dialogue with the culture it's referencing. I can link hundreds of records that sound exactly like this from junglists who have continued to do their thing through the 00s. Now as devils advocate you can say, yes, but it is all that comes out of the speakers that matters. And whilst that is true enough, it's also the problem with the people who became graduates of Reynolds and Finney's writings, in that they don't have the contexts that both of these authors have. So whilst Si knows about Bassbin and Inperspective, yer average twitter personality who pontificates about hardcore continuum nick land jungle doesn't, because they haven't hooked onto the narritive arc of a genre but its snapshot in a particular spatiotemporal configuration. And therein lies the implicit limitations of the rockist/poptimist culture wars so beloved of the majority of indie refuseniks on this forum, that both approaches are essentially predicated on an overwhelmingly American epistemic foundation, where the brand becomes the thing. Sounds can be abstracted from their contexts rather than sound being the sonification of environments (not the images conjured.)

tl;dr: I am miserable and don't enjoy anything.

didn't we ban that guy fairly recently

Eh, I don't agree but I don't mind the perspective.

i think the POV is kinda similar to but less aggro than the guy that was banned

Nah it’s the same dude

I think this might be the third form he's taken on the ilx

sir, this is a Jack in the Box

forks keep em coming. I think I'm loving your own, bold selections of highlights more than what I'll enjoy the actual results.

You're the MVP

Almost certainly too late to convince anyone to add it to their list but this is my favourite by a wide distance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ehw-bUuj_M
It's just fun, which is what I needed in such a shitty year.

Ah yeah that's a good one too!

I think I'm finding my actual 2021 favorite songs of the year in this thread.

aw thanks Moka. I'm enjoying the deep dive and the incentive to think more on these.

Faves in bold. This is a particularly good batch.

Bree Runway - HOT HOT: Pop dancehall that leans harder toward the former than the latter in a way that smacks of Rihanna’s early day, though “ride a boy’s face like a Yamaha” is more later era Ri-Ri i suppose. Didn’t care for this at first, then the cadence earwormed me.

Breeze Brewin - King Oxymoron: Killer New York 90’s-style indie hip hop with (jugga)knotty flow, bars for days with clever emphasis (“if you declare me moron/better be there with sword drawn”) and similarly vintage Marco Polo production. This is entirely in my lane and I will for sure be listening to the whole album.

Brent Faiyaz - MERCEDES, Show U Off, Wasting Time (with Drake): I like Faiyaz’ voice a lot; there’s some Maxwell there, filtered through a loose-throated Baltimore (?!) accent. Both Mercedes and Show U off are honeyed treats that give him center stage, though Wasting Time treats him as a feature and Drake sucks, so…

BRÍDÍN - Floating: Another “only on ILX” find from an Irish artist who I’ve never heard of. This is a lovely ballad of looped and altered vocals, percussion, electronics and harp, floating and swooping like a bird in a parlor searching for a window, all feathery ballet and sweet sound with no aim other than to please itself. Kudos for the recommendation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HRH_qVODSg

Brijean - Hey Boy: An exceptional chill-out mix of samba and blunted seventies funk disco sensibility that would make for manna from heaven at that transitional moment when people are filtering back onto or off the floor for or from the next drink. Is it a vibe? I think it’s a vibe.


Brothertiger - Heaven: My first comparison was Mike and The Mechanics but my partner said Mister Mister and I think that Soul Sister is onto something. Even without the patina of lived or false nostalgia, this is talented enough stuff that it’s still quite enjoyable. I might like it better if it had a bit less fidelity to its 80’s source material so maybe I should try something else by the same artist?

Bruise - Joy: Ecstatically thudding house gospel that’s happy to lather on dancefloor schmaltz until it fairly bubbles. Joy indeed!

Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak are Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open, Skate: I would go so far as to call myself a fan of A.Paak but would also go so far as to say I frankly loathe the music of Bruno Mars. Everything I’ve heard from the Silk Sonic project reminds me of the old adage that an ounce of horseshit mixed with two gallons of ice cream results in two gallons and an ounce of horseshit. These tracks are immeasurably corny and funk-faking to me, pastiche of the worst variety.

The Bug with Flowdan - Pressure: Predictably dark, filthy nightmare dub from the guy who does it as well as anyone. I don’t think I’ve heard Flowdan anywhere except with The Bug but together they’ve been consistently grinding out obsidian scaffolding with deft footwork and wordplay for like 15 years or so. I’ve been sold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN9k6Dz1SX0

Burial - Dark Gethsemane: Overpacked cinematic trip that shifts gears more than once on the way to a sudden but not unpleasant dead end. The journey is the goal here I suppose and, cliche or not, there’s enough thought and care that goes into this lengthy series of ideas that the pieces are fully enjoyable even embedded in this very mannered presentation. I didn’t try the EP when it came out and I’m curious enough to hear what this sounds like in situ that I’m dog-earing the cover for future exploration.

Burna Boy - Kilometre, Question: Each a big chune in its own way. Kilometre is a stuttering, gyrating party starter; Question is a soft exhale of smoke and echoing bass at the park barbecue. If you can only listen to one, I suppose I’d pick the last on the strength of its exceptionally charming video. I cherished both dearly this year and either would fit perfectly on any best of the year ballot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rOer3k2DWg

Busta 929 - Ngixolele, Mmapula: A New Amapiano Challenger Appears! I was mostly AWOL on the always-worthwhile amapiano thread this year with other distractions and just look at what I missed. Both tracks are A+ material from a producer who finds new and original means of expression while coloring within the lines. I clearly need to put Busta 929 permanently on my radar. Did you know about him? You should know about him! I should probably also get up to speed with the vocalist Boohle; she sounds amazing on Ngixolele.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_xsdC6iYgM

Busy Signal - Bring Rum: ILM's favorite balloon artist has been grinding out good music all year but Rum all by itself is one of the five best pop songs I heard this year. I listen to it at least once a week. It’s still fucking amazing in that way that Busy’s best work is, infinitely replayable. I hold out some hope maybe this will place in the 77. Grab a woman every man every woman grab a man and just
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll5aPrf2zE0

Cabiria - DISCO-CAFÉ: Indie-psych-dance with a distinct Broadway streak and Spanish weirdo flair. By the time the sax comes in, I bet you’ll probably be in too deep to only like it ironically.

Cake Pop - Black Rum: This was my nomination, this year’s Gecs that I will ride or die for. Sped-up absurdist nihilism that slaps is most of what I’m looking for out of hyperpop and this morsel of adult swim feels like a signpost demanding better from music, from life, from our diversions and our dreams. It’s also a track that I genuinely enjoy listening to but that I could simultaneously see alienating any gen x parent that doesn’t understand why junior thinks playing Ride the Lightning in the F150 is hella lame. Keep pushing those little daisies, kiddos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edp0LIUcq28

Camp Cope - Blue: Lo-fi Aussie indie with a country twang and emopunk backbone, surprisingly good.

Cardi B - Up: My nomination and another one I’d argue as a top ten pick. Cardi is probably the biggest name in hip hop, even in a year when she only released one solo track, way back in February. Fuck though, what a great song: minimal and perfect production that puts Cardi at the center so she can absolutely rap her ass off. Somehow I don’t think I ever saw the video! Let’s watch it together?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiBgLOcuKU

Carly Pearce - Next Girl: I fell hard for Pearce’s debut album and, even though I haven’t given enough time to her 2021 LP, I expect nothing but high quality pop country anytime her name is on the product. Next Girl fits the bill, well constructed both lyrically and musically. If you’d like to hear what radio country sounds like when it’s good, you could do worse than starting here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5KKh5gFock

Caroline Loveglow - Patience Etc…: Bedroom pop via The Cure, lots of glam and languor and velour. Holds up pretty well to the fifth play.

Caroline Polachek - Bunny Is a Rider: The hype on this track was so inflated that I gave it a quick spin, rated it mediocre then forgot about it. But what do you know, on repeat it really proves quite good. Yeah, the lyrics are nonsense (“dirty like its earth day”?), but who cares? A deft synthesis of a lot of gimmicks (the whistle, the marimba, the chimes, the autotune, the baby chirrups, the scratching) held together with a solid bass line and entirely effective vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_V2ccs_Urk

I'm listening to lots other than this nomination list just now and I imagine the poll rollout is going to dominate my non-work/non-physical therapy attention for awhile but I could see coming back and doing more of these later in February as long as anyone's getting anything out of them. Me included!