2011

PHOTO: LUCY TESCO

It's that time of year again, so without further ado, behold my 2011 top 10. (With an extra 2 notched on the end for kicks.)

1/ Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra
I think I've made my obsession with this record clear, more than once. 'Swim Good' being both my most played and most loved track of the year, I don't feel I need to say much more.

2/ The Weeknd - House of Balloons
Fucking and drugs and vocals oh so sweet. 'Wicked Games' is more than definitely the new 'Cry Me a River' (JT).

3/ Pure X - Pleasure (Acephale)
Heroin blast indeed. Fuzzed out and genteel, this is total blanket music, drown in it, smother.

4/ Alva Noto - Univrs (Raster-Noton)
Clearest production in this goddamn list. Hard and crisp, crystal stabs.

5/ Hype Williams - Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting reel (De Stijl)
This record is basically taking ketamine and drinking red wine in a warmly lit yellow walled room.

6/ Zomby - Dedication (4AD)
Gunshots, melancholy and impeccable style from this mystery electronic maestro.

7/ Nicolas Jaar - Space is Only Noise (Circus Company)
Refreshing and new, drawing from undeniable jazz influences doused in high octane electronics from the past twenty years. Guess he had his ears pricked from birth then.

8/ Tom Waits - Bad as Me (Anti-)
No I'm not biased but this is the coolest man in the whole world.

9/ Drake - Take Care (Universal)
He's clocked on to where pop music is headed and this album paces itself perfectly.

10/ Cosmin TRG - Simulat (50 Weapons)
This was pretty much all I listened to for a time.

11/ Wild Beasts - Smother (Domino)
Flawless, constantly flawless.

12/ Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills are Wildcookie - Cookie Dough (Tru Thoughts)
Jazzy! Excellent and entertaining lyrical content, perfect listening for a Sunday afternoon while you're prepping your roast. Shimmeh shimmeh.

HEROIN BLAST.

PHOTO: NEMO KAZUMI

The light spun me like I was high. Too much concentrated, too little balance. The air grew thick and heavy, doused in feedback and ache.

 Twisted Mirror by PURE X

PURE DELIGHT.

DUST AND RATTLESNAKES.

PHOTO: BENOIT GROGAN-AVIGNON

There was a time, a phase rather, where I listened to pretty much JUST garage band stuff. DIY groups were my thing - the less I could make out the vocals, the better. The more I felt I needed to strain to find the song, the greater deserving the band was of my appreciation. This phase was short lived.

But like all great loves, something remains. It's done something to broaden your sensibilities and you'll find yourself falling back on it, revisiting it from time to time. You remember why you liked it so much, despite the fit not being 100% right.

Boneyards are making some pretty sweet garage right now. Formed by ex-Easy Hips pioneer, James Burgess, the three piece sound like some dudes looking to have a good time. On a beach somewhere. In the sun. Soaked in fuzzed out guitars, Burgess' vocals, though drowned out, sound summertime sweet. It's early days for these guys, but Italian Beach Babes have just put out a cassette of stuff and their live show is getting to be pretty honed. Catch 'em while they're hot, even though the weather isn't anymore.

Human Nature by BONEYARDS

DO ME BABY.

PHOTO: BENOIT GROGAN-AVIGNON

If you're someone who generally likes to be in the loop, then I expect the term “boudoir'n'b” will mean something to you. For those of you who don't really care what's going on and instead favour the more passive form of being “on it”, let me explain: “boudoir'n'b” is fucking music. But I guess you can't really plug it like that.

Brothers Andrew and Daniel Aged have not simply been pulled out of a hat (pulled out of the winning gene-pool); the two siblings have in fact been coming up on the inside for some time now, acting as session musicians for such big names as Elton John, Beck and Pharrel. Their debut ep for 4AD, 3, is an oeuvre wholly their own: written, produced, mixed and engineered by themselves, we know we are not dealing with just a boyband.

Because they do look like a boyband, it's just that their sound doesn't quite fit the mould. On listening to 3, you would have to be deaf not to draw immediate, nay, ode-worthy comparisons with the king of fucking music, Prince. First track, 'Swear', holds that same holy sensuality: the delivery of the vocals, the lyrics themselves – it's all a little familiar. The grand hook, “Do you... swear?”, breathless and desperate, holds a candle to tracks of the 'I Would Die 4 U' ilk. To say it sounds like a tribute does not render it contingent though; it is a fantastic slice of pop, synths and all. Stronger than second track, 'Heart Crimes', which feels a little like filler... like a weak glue holding 'Swear' to the final song, 'Millionairess'. It is this closing number which really takes the biscuit – again, echoing Prince-like themes, the title word panting, sweat oozes from the body. Hip pop-y, but ultimately, boudoir'n'b.

3 is a great introduction to Inc. It is clear where they are coming from, and seems even clearer where they are going. Let's just hope this direction doesn't lead them too straight down the Paisley road.

Inc. "Swear" by moderntonic.com