Lobbying for ILM's Top 77 Albums and Tracks: Justify Your Picks

*i would be remiss if I don't ask y'all to take a listen.

"Food Stamps" made my tracks ballot

nice

Well The Norwegian Girls Choir's Folketoner is my niche-y niche pick of the year. It's an elite choir, I guess, a competition choir, girls aged 6 - 26, with various sub choirs for younger singers and recruitment. They're musically adventurous and work a lot with contemporary classical composers who write for them. Worked several times with Maja Ratkje, Frøy Aagre, etcetera. This album is simply performances of old Norwegian folk songs, but a pretty essential contribution to that genre in my opinion. Their signature sound is super sharp and precise, leaning towards minimalist but playful, and this is an ominous, sometimes supernatural-sounding album, an approach that fits well with the melancholy quality of these old songs.

I don't want to sound like an asshole, but the reason girls choirs work so much with contemporary composers is not because they're more musically adventurous, but because there's no established repertoire for girls choir...

I'd love to see one of the vapowave tapes make the cut. My current favorite from the list is the Nmesh one, but I get the feeling that death's dynamic shroud is the popular choice. What say you all?

i might vote for the NMESH.

"IT'S A RANGE!" "ooooooooh!"

death's dynamic shroud are probably going to make my ballot. the closest anything since has gotten to Rival Dealer for me & surprisingly cathartic.

I don't want to sound like an asshole, but the reason girls choirs work so much with contemporary composers is not because they're more musically adventurous, but because there's no established repertoire for girls choir...

― Frederik B

May be true, but close relationships with noise musicians, for example, is not a default mode. Plenty of girls choirs out there doing less interesting and adventurous. I didn't say they were adventurous simply for working with contemporary composers.

xps
death's dynamic shroud will be my top choice of the bunch i think
have a few in there but my original list had pharma just outside my 25

Please don't sleep on Self Esteem's 'Your Wife', it really is a stunning bit of sultry electro-pop, the kind that fits easily into the shambhala thread but somehow stands apart from it too

death's dynamic shroud made my long list, will re-listen!

I'll be voting for it for sure. Not getting Rare Emoji Collection into the 2015 traxpoll was a crime that will hopefully be rectified now

"Your Wife" very nearly made my list, always rooting for Slow Club folks

xps shudda voted album then ;)

Thought Classroom Sexxtape was decent with one massive highlight - this album is much better all the way through

ha was just kidding about
if anything i'm the opposite :/

Algiers are gonna make the albums poll I hope. I would love it if the title track made the 77 too as it's stunning

They were the only act I put in both ballots

Got a good feeling about Akrakabo too! :-) I agree with what Frederik said about it upthread. It's such a sensual onslaught, it takes a few listens to catch your breath and get a grip on what's going on, but the part when it all falls away for a few minutes is like glimpsing a moment of raw beauty in among chaos

We had a thread for SACRED PAWS and it's great to hear some UK guitar music that is for once original and joyous and really well-played. Think classic 90s Matador indie with a high-life vibe. The track 'Strike a Match' is the pick.

^^ voting highly for sacred paws

if I may do my bit for Sacred Paws, I absolutely loathe it, which usually helps to push something up the 77

you loathe it imago? strong words. i'd be interested to know why

cough cough

thread to dis hyped 2017 releases that you don't get/don't like/wanna complain about

he hates drums, or something

Speaking of excellent Scottish bands, I'm very surprised to see just a couple of mentions of Glaswegian kosmik funk marvels Golden Teacher on ILM. Their album was apparently recorded live at the city's famous Green Door Studio and spans a huge range of styles from disco to dub to spaced-out Lindstrom-esque fuckwizardry and it's REALLY REALLY good

This is the lead track, and maybe the most obviously accessible song on there. It goes interstellar after that youtube.com/watch?v=GFpnkgd6iok

Re-TROS seconded although my fave Re-TROS jam is "At Mosp Here"

kraut dance thingie that bests anything on the new LCD Soundsystem album

*obliterates into tiny shards

Kinda astonished that Dave "Question Time" has never been mentioned on ILM. Devastatingly powerful and on-point, my track of 2017 by a country mile. https://youtu.be/4ff6CjYBhoI

if I may do my bit for Sacred Paws, I absolutely loathe it, which usually helps to push something up the 77

― #TeamHailing (imago), Tuesday, January 9, 2018 4:01 PM (three hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Oh, Sacred Paws

Just skimmed through the nominations, was Lingua Ignota All Bitches Die not nominated?

Doesn't look like it. You can vote for it in the metal poll though!

really encourage everyone to check out Wednesday Campanella - Superman. imaginative & idiosyncratic dance-pop with great energetic vocal performances from KOM_I & a similar all-over-the-place vibe to Art Angels except much more rooted in dance music. lead single Aladdin almost made last year's tracks 77, it's sort of like Thriller-meets-freestyle

this is great :)

Just skimmed through the nominations, was Lingua Ignota All Bitches Die not nominated?
― Siegbran, Tuesday, January 9, 2018 9:34 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Doesn't look like it. You can vote for it in the metal poll though!
― o. nate, Wednesday, January 10, 2018 2:13 AM (nine hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It was not nominated in the metal poll either it seems (or rejected as it's indeed not metal?). Anyway, absoluetely great record. This combination of Diamanda Galas-inspired apoplectic singing/howling + early/medieval music + doomy electronics is right up my alley.

Oh, wow, that's really something. Her cover of Bad Boys!

@Siegbran - simple error on my part, I've added it to the metal noms list

I agree it’s unclassifiable and not metal, but it contains enough metallic characteristics for me to vote for it there in good faith and thematically it’s plenty dark to fit in there.

really encourage everyone to check out Wednesday Campanella - Superman. imaginative & idiosyncratic dance-pop with great energetic vocal performances from KOM_I & a similar all-over-the-place vibe to Art Angels except much more rooted in dance music. lead single Aladdin almost made last year's tracks 77, it's sort of like Thriller-meets-freestyle

I seem to always be several months behind Suiyoubi no Campanella's releases (or is it always Weds Camp in English now? This is a recent development and I get confused easily), so it's not had time to settle in as a full favourite, but they really are such a great band, deserve way more recognition around here.

Also, yeah, Aladdin kills.

yeah Wednesday Campanella has been the official english name for a little while now. it's been really impressive how they keep getting better & better, while being so prolific. i'd imagine ilx would be all over them if it weren't for the language barrier, it's not like the jpop thread gets much traffic

Tbh I don't think anything's topped Jeanne d'Arc for me, but they've definitely upped their game in terms of writing out-and-out bangers.

agreed that "jeanne d'arc" is still their best, always happy to hear new music from them, though.

thanks davey for nominating Caterina Barbieri - Patterns of Consciousness, lovely stuff

Feel duty-bound to observe that Cleric - Retrocausal is now on Spotify and would make a nice if slightly terrifying addition to the second albums playlist

it wasn't nominated! but the single "grey lodge" was and has been added... that was the only single that I couldn't find anywhere, so thanks!

it certainly was nominated ffs

so salty
it's on the Youtube playlist yes? fine.

sorry. long day

randomer - smokin

crazy techno song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9cWhfJ8NJw

sorority noise - you're not as _____ as you think you are (album)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tZauks6QnI

if you care to trust someone who just got into emo this year, this was the best emo album of the year (besides another one that will not be mentioned or voted for because the singer did sex crimes)

Jen Cloher's self-titled album is definitely worth hearing! She's Courtney Barnett's partner, and the album features much rumination as to the notion of being a seasoned musician and watching the career someone you love (and who also happens to be much younger than you) take off really fast, as well as the way touring can affect personal relationships. Fans of Courtney or PJ Harvey might find something to enjoy.

Can I also suggest Kah-Lo's "Fasta". Kah-Lo previously featured on Riton's "Rinse & Repeat", which placed #55 in last year's poll. Her disaffected, bored vocal works well with the song's sleek verses - the chorus provides levity as contrast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI5G09Z-lXY

last chance for me on this track and i didn't even nominate but everyone in the world should toss a vote for akanamali in your singles ballot imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKxFS8L6AlQ

or at least play that one song once. i don't ask much.

I love that Sun-EL Musician track!

if there's still people who haven't voted, let me once again talk up Aussie power-pop goddess Alex Lahey, who released I Love You Like a Brother, the hookiest rock record of 2017:

"i haven't been taking care of myself" - the mission statement, the track I nominated: https://youtu.be/d9TqFgWAWiU
"lotto in reverse" - angry break-up, inventive chord progression: https://youtu.be/qBYR_jFwrmo
"there's no money" - power ballad, she sings the hell out of it: https://youtu.be/mVTkDRC-08E

vote for the album, please

xp aw i think akanamali made my longlist but got cut for the 25 :(

last chance for me on this track and i didn't even nominate but everyone in the world should toss a vote for akanamali in your singles ballot imo

OK I'm sold

A bell end writes: where do I go to vote? (Asking for a friend, obvs.)

Christ - just found it. Ignore me.

Shuffling through the tracks nominations and most are straight dog poop.

subaquatic/subterranean deeeeeep ambient tech:

Money Morning - Corporate Karma

http://clone.nl/item47474.html

Shuffling through the tracks nominations and most are straight dog poop.

― Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident Nerve Damage Lawyer (_Rudipherous_), Wednesday, January 17, 2018 9:58 AM (nine minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

there's a thread for this, jack

DJ Swagger - "Lost"

great lofi house with a sweet looped sample

This year I started paying attention to Afropop for the first time and discovered so many great songs that I hardly listen to anything else lately. Out of the tracks I nominated, this one is my favorite:

Sauti Sol feat. Patoranking - Melanin

I think I like how combines some elements that sound very traditional (like the acoustic guitars on the intro, the "na na..." chants) with stuff that sounds decidedly more modern (the bassline, some synth pads) in a way that just works. Also, all vocals are flawless.

Wish I'd heard Hieroglyphic Being, Sarathy Korwar & Shabaka Hutchings 'The Doctrines Of Swedenborg' before voting!

Shuffling through the tracks nominations and most are straight dog poop.

― Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident Nerve Damage Lawyer (_Rudipherous_), Wednesday, January 17, 2018 5:58 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Check mine. Mine are great

xp melanin is awesome!

Wish I'd heard Hieroglyphic Being, Sarathy Korwar & Shabaka Hutchings 'The Doctrines Of Swedenborg' before voting!

― nashwan, Wednesday, January 17, 2018 5:58 PM (two days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I nominated this! It's amazing and everybody should vote for it

Thank you or something for nomming Skee Mask, which has led me to discover (a) Skee Mask; and (b) Stenny.